Read Online Defy Not the Heart by Johanna Lindsey - Free Book Online
Authors: Johanna Lindsey
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intention of taking her off some where and blistering her ears with what he was feeling.
She spoke first, however, placing a tiny hand on his arm and leaning closer to him to say in a soft, half-whispered voice, “Sir Ranulf, do you come with me, please. I would have a private word with you ere we sit down to table.”
For all that “please” she included, it was still a command to his ears. That it suited him and was what he would have said, though not so nicely, did not change the fact he did not like being commanded by a woman. But she did not wait for his response, taking it for granted he would not refuse her. She turned away from the others, her hand not just resting on his arm now but gripping it, as if she meant to pull him along with her, as if she could if he chose not to follow. But he did follow her, only because he wanted that private word, too.
She led him to a window embrasure on the side of the hall between what appeared to be wall chambers. There were two steps up into the arched alcove, an area five feet wide and as deep as the thickness of thewalls, with two benches facing each other, lit brightly by afternoon sunlight.
She entered first, sitting on the left bench to face away from the dais. Ranulf took the other bench, though this left him in clear view of those still gathered at the hearth. He did not think that would stop him from venting his anger, as justifiable as it was, but again she did not give him a chance to have the first word.
“Thank you, my lord, for allowing me to apologize to you in private. The incident that resulted from my inattention is embarrassing for me to speak of, as I am sure it is for you, so I will be brief. I meant no insult to you in sending to you my personal servant. I was not thinking clearly when he beseeched me to let him attend you. Theodric is not usually so clumsy in giving insult, but in this case he tells me he did, and for that I beg your forgiveness, for myself and Theo. There is no excuse for his thinking you would be…he was simply besotted…oh, Jesú , this is more embarrassing than I thought.”
Reina squirmed uncomfortably, her cheeks flaming with color. The man was not helping her to end this. She had not been able to meet his eyes during this recital, but knew he stared at her, his own color high, waiting to see what more she would say. What more could she say?
With a sigh, she floundered on. “One has only to look at you, Sir Ranulf, to know you are not like…well, you must realize by now that Theo is different, that he is attracted only to…” She could not go on in that vein. “Verily, I am putting my foot in it.”
“Aye, you have that aright.”
Reina stiffened to hear his surly bass rumble at last.So he was still in high dudgeon, was he? She finally met his eyes directly and did not like what she saw in their depths, darkened now to indigo.
Coldly, offended herself that he could not be magnanimous after her apology, she said, “The mistake was mine. Theo cannot help how he is, but he has been with me for five years and is dear to me. I have already chastised him and will assure that you will not be reminded of the incident by his presence. But if you cannot see your way clear to forgetting the matter and wish to leave immediately, I will understand.”
Forget it or leave? Ranulf had to choke back what he would like to say to that ultimatum. The little bitch. She was forcing him to let the matter rest, denying him a chance to vent his fury now that she had put it this way. Of course he could not leave, not until night came and he could take her with him. But, by God, she had seen to it that he no longer had any regrets at all about delivering her posthaste to Rothwell. The two deserved each other.
With difficulty, Ranulf got out, “As you say, the matter is forgotten.”
“Forsooth, I cannot say I feel forgiven, Sir Ranulf. Do you wish to shake me again? Will that help?”
He glared at her for reminding him that he had also
She spoke first, however, placing a tiny hand on his arm and leaning closer to him to say in a soft, half-whispered voice, “Sir Ranulf, do you come with me, please. I would have a private word with you ere we sit down to table.”
For all that “please” she included, it was still a command to his ears. That it suited him and was what he would have said, though not so nicely, did not change the fact he did not like being commanded by a woman. But she did not wait for his response, taking it for granted he would not refuse her. She turned away from the others, her hand not just resting on his arm now but gripping it, as if she meant to pull him along with her, as if she could if he chose not to follow. But he did follow her, only because he wanted that private word, too.
She led him to a window embrasure on the side of the hall between what appeared to be wall chambers. There were two steps up into the arched alcove, an area five feet wide and as deep as the thickness of thewalls, with two benches facing each other, lit brightly by afternoon sunlight.
She entered first, sitting on the left bench to face away from the dais. Ranulf took the other bench, though this left him in clear view of those still gathered at the hearth. He did not think that would stop him from venting his anger, as justifiable as it was, but again she did not give him a chance to have the first word.
“Thank you, my lord, for allowing me to apologize to you in private. The incident that resulted from my inattention is embarrassing for me to speak of, as I am sure it is for you, so I will be brief. I meant no insult to you in sending to you my personal servant. I was not thinking clearly when he beseeched me to let him attend you. Theodric is not usually so clumsy in giving insult, but in this case he tells me he did, and for that I beg your forgiveness, for myself and Theo. There is no excuse for his thinking you would be…he was simply besotted…oh, Jesú , this is more embarrassing than I thought.”
Reina squirmed uncomfortably, her cheeks flaming with color. The man was not helping her to end this. She had not been able to meet his eyes during this recital, but knew he stared at her, his own color high, waiting to see what more she would say. What more could she say?
With a sigh, she floundered on. “One has only to look at you, Sir Ranulf, to know you are not like…well, you must realize by now that Theo is different, that he is attracted only to…” She could not go on in that vein. “Verily, I am putting my foot in it.”
“Aye, you have that aright.”
Reina stiffened to hear his surly bass rumble at last.So he was still in high dudgeon, was he? She finally met his eyes directly and did not like what she saw in their depths, darkened now to indigo.
Coldly, offended herself that he could not be magnanimous after her apology, she said, “The mistake was mine. Theo cannot help how he is, but he has been with me for five years and is dear to me. I have already chastised him and will assure that you will not be reminded of the incident by his presence. But if you cannot see your way clear to forgetting the matter and wish to leave immediately, I will understand.”
Forget it or leave? Ranulf had to choke back what he would like to say to that ultimatum. The little bitch. She was forcing him to let the matter rest, denying him a chance to vent his fury now that she had put it this way. Of course he could not leave, not until night came and he could take her with him. But, by God, she had seen to it that he no longer had any regrets at all about delivering her posthaste to Rothwell. The two deserved each other.
With difficulty, Ranulf got out, “As you say, the matter is forgotten.”
“Forsooth, I cannot say I feel forgiven, Sir Ranulf. Do you wish to shake me again? Will that help?”
He glared at her for reminding him that he had also
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