Read Online By Right of Arms by Robyn Carr - Free Book Online

would own her by law, rule her by power, and violate her by a husband’s right. Even God would not come to her aid.
    An odd shiver passed through her as she walked beside him. Never in her life had she been controlled by such power. She had been the only strength, but for her there had been no strong arm to lean upon. She judged her feelings to be born of the most wretched despair. But she could not place the genesis of the strange tightening of her stomach, the lightness of her head. When he momentarily released her arm, she felt peculiarly alone.
    Her mind soared out of control.
When it is just we two,
she wondered,
and he has left his sword and shield, when his man does not stand ready at the door to beat me into submission, when he is as naked as God made him … will he prove to be a man … or a beast?
    * * *
    The hearth burned low in the lord’s chamber. The few remaining candles flickered as they died. A bright spring moon filtered through the window and cast a beam across the bed.
    Aurélie stood before the hearth, distractedly watching Hyatt as he removed his tunic and laid it carefully away. The day had exhausted her will to resist him in any way. Father Algernon, though stunned and appalled, had blessed the reluctant union, with only her father and Sir Girvin present. The meal in the hall, served without any special flair or celebration, had taken long to pass. Aurélie was not sure whether anyone knew there had been a wedding. She had whispered the news to Perrine, who blanched white and covered her gasp with a shaking hand. It seemed as though Hyatt’s men were considerate with their jesting and drinking, but having spent little time in their company, she couldn’t be sure if they were more than usual.
    As the moon began to rise, Hyatt bid Lord Lavergne a good night and led his bride to his bedchamber. She stood awaiting his command or demand, whichever might come.
Perhaps he will never know,
she thought.
    With his tunic and chausses discarded, he presented an exquisite figure of a man. Even in fear and grief a woman would notice his magnificent, hard-muscled body. He was lithe and graceful when not clumping about in armor; his shoulders were broad and his arms thick and strong. She had never seen a man in any state of undress and found herself curiously staring at the thick mat of hair that covered Hyatt’s chest.
    As he approached her, she steeled herself and closed her eyes. Her fate was sealed and she would be used. Silently she prayed that he would not hurt her too badly. She felt his hands on her hips and the softness of his beard on her neck.
    “You make this difficult, Aurélie,” he breathed in her ear.
    She stiffened in his arms. “Call your man,” she offered, the edge to her tone as sharp as a knife.
    His seductive laughter filled the room. “Though he would be willing and all my men serve me quite well, there are some things a lord must do for himself.”
    He tilted her chin and lowered his lips onto hers, catching her off guard with his gentleness. He moved over her mouth slowly, using tenderness to disarm her. Although thus far only his words had been brutal, she had not expected him to be kind; she had expected to be conquered. Yet he caressed and fondled, as lovers of her dreams had done.
    She felt the veil drop from her hair even as his hand began to unloose the braid that adorned her head. His other hand pressed against the small of her back, forcing her against him. Her cheeks flamed; a fiery trembling possessed her. This was not the ruthless warrior of her nightmares. As if he felt her change, his lips demanded more. She would not let her slackened arms rise to him, but it took great effort.
    He released her mouth and methodically began to undo the fastenings of her gown. She felt dizzy and knew that her body betrayed her. She gritted her teeth in shame and frustration, trying to remind herself that this man was the enemy, the murderer of innocents. Her mind taunted her—does he