Read Online Demetrius (Brethren Origins Book 2) by Barbara Devlin - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Barbara Devlin
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forgot about ye.” Then everything came to her in a flood of awareness. The wedding. The reception. The pact forged in equal parts of trepidation and ambition. After rubbing her eyes, she noted his appearance, as he sat in a chair, in the corner. “Thou art garbed for travel.”
“As I remarked last eventide, we must depart for Chichester, with haste.” When he stood, she scooted from beneath the warm blankets and shivered. “The storm increased during the night hours, and we have a great distance to travel before this eventide, so I suggest ye clothe thyself appropriately.”
From her small sack of belongings, she pulled two sets of hose, a heavy wool cotehardie, and a surcoat. No, she did not usually wear both gowns at the same time, but a glance out the window revealed whipping winds and snow, so she cared not for fashion but for utility.
In a few minutes, after cleaning her teeth, washing her face, and smoothing her plaited hair, she shrugged into her thick, hooded mantle, while her husband stripped the bottom sheet from the mattress. “My lord, art thou muddled?”
“Nay.” From a sheath he produced a sharp dagger, cut his finger, and smeared blood on the pristine white material. “The King requires evidence of our secured vows, in fulfillment of his command, and I intend to satisfy His Majesty, that we might survive our first directive.” Then he draped the cover near the fireplace. “Gather thy personal belongings, as we shall leave this place, as soon as the cloth dries sufficiently enough to serve our purpose.” Scanning the area, he grabbed a large sack from the floor, collected various items, and secured his pack. “Thither is food in the solar, if thou art hungry.
“Thank ye.” In the outer chamber, she found bread and a light sop, along with some dried fruit, and she set forth two trenchers. “Wilt thou not join me?”
“Aye.” Given his size, she suppressed a shiver of apprehension when he neared, as Athelyna suspected he could break her like a sprig if he chose to do so. “Is something wrong?”
“Nay.” Adopting the role of dutiful wife, she served him an ample portion. “I am trying to accustom myself to our new life.”
“That reminds me.” Demetrius snapped his fingers. “When I deliver the sheet to His Majesty, I want ye to wait for me in the bailey, whither Arucard, Isolde, and our brothers gather for our departure.”
“Am I not summoned to the Great Hall?” Had she embarrassed him? Had she committed some grievous error, which led him to exclude her? “Art thou ashamed of me?”
“Wherefore dost thou think such things?” Frowning, he wiped his mouth with a napkin. “Arucard told me of a similar ceremony, the morrow after he wed, and I would spare ye the embarrassment Isolde endured, as thou art a modest lady. I would preserve thy gentle nature, which I admire.”
“Thou dost act for my benefit.” Again, she misjudged him and vowed not to repeat the mistake. “In future, I shall rely on thy right and true wisdom.”
“Art thou certain?” Arching a brow, he grinned, and she discerned he teased her. “Thou didst bite me, last night.”
“Well, I cannot make ye any promises, but I shall try.” As she recalled her pitiful assault, she laughed,. “And I am sorry about that. Did I hurt ye?”
“Thou didst leave me with a unique remembrance of our wedding. See?” To impress his point, he held up his hand and offered a pout she found rather endearing. “Thou hast damaged the skin.”
“Shall I soothe it with a kiss?” The words were spoken before she realized what she said, and she squirmed. “That is…what I meant was—”
“My lady wife, when the time is appropriate, and we enjoy a more familiar relationship, rooted in the bonds of friendship, I shall avail myself of thy generous expression.” Like a flash of sunlight on smithy-forged steel, the silvery gaze
“As I remarked last eventide, we must depart for Chichester, with haste.” When he stood, she scooted from beneath the warm blankets and shivered. “The storm increased during the night hours, and we have a great distance to travel before this eventide, so I suggest ye clothe thyself appropriately.”
From her small sack of belongings, she pulled two sets of hose, a heavy wool cotehardie, and a surcoat. No, she did not usually wear both gowns at the same time, but a glance out the window revealed whipping winds and snow, so she cared not for fashion but for utility.
In a few minutes, after cleaning her teeth, washing her face, and smoothing her plaited hair, she shrugged into her thick, hooded mantle, while her husband stripped the bottom sheet from the mattress. “My lord, art thou muddled?”
“Nay.” From a sheath he produced a sharp dagger, cut his finger, and smeared blood on the pristine white material. “The King requires evidence of our secured vows, in fulfillment of his command, and I intend to satisfy His Majesty, that we might survive our first directive.” Then he draped the cover near the fireplace. “Gather thy personal belongings, as we shall leave this place, as soon as the cloth dries sufficiently enough to serve our purpose.” Scanning the area, he grabbed a large sack from the floor, collected various items, and secured his pack. “Thither is food in the solar, if thou art hungry.
“Thank ye.” In the outer chamber, she found bread and a light sop, along with some dried fruit, and she set forth two trenchers. “Wilt thou not join me?”
“Aye.” Given his size, she suppressed a shiver of apprehension when he neared, as Athelyna suspected he could break her like a sprig if he chose to do so. “Is something wrong?”
“Nay.” Adopting the role of dutiful wife, she served him an ample portion. “I am trying to accustom myself to our new life.”
“That reminds me.” Demetrius snapped his fingers. “When I deliver the sheet to His Majesty, I want ye to wait for me in the bailey, whither Arucard, Isolde, and our brothers gather for our departure.”
“Am I not summoned to the Great Hall?” Had she embarrassed him? Had she committed some grievous error, which led him to exclude her? “Art thou ashamed of me?”
“Wherefore dost thou think such things?” Frowning, he wiped his mouth with a napkin. “Arucard told me of a similar ceremony, the morrow after he wed, and I would spare ye the embarrassment Isolde endured, as thou art a modest lady. I would preserve thy gentle nature, which I admire.”
“Thou dost act for my benefit.” Again, she misjudged him and vowed not to repeat the mistake. “In future, I shall rely on thy right and true wisdom.”
“Art thou certain?” Arching a brow, he grinned, and she discerned he teased her. “Thou didst bite me, last night.”
“Well, I cannot make ye any promises, but I shall try.” As she recalled her pitiful assault, she laughed,. “And I am sorry about that. Did I hurt ye?”
“Thou didst leave me with a unique remembrance of our wedding. See?” To impress his point, he held up his hand and offered a pout she found rather endearing. “Thou hast damaged the skin.”
“Shall I soothe it with a kiss?” The words were spoken before she realized what she said, and she squirmed. “That is…what I meant was—”
“My lady wife, when the time is appropriate, and we enjoy a more familiar relationship, rooted in the bonds of friendship, I shall avail myself of thy generous expression.” Like a flash of sunlight on smithy-forged steel, the silvery gaze
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