tired.”
“You carry a burden beyond your own body,” Roarke said, then patted her hand. “You must rest.
There are others here who can fill in.”
His gaze gravitated to Solara. “Your sister, for example, has nothing to do to occupy her time until Garick returns.”
Did he think her lazy? She had helped out whenever she could before now. Truly, the man was insufferable. “I have already offered my assistance.”
“I’m afraid I will need more than just a little help, Solara. If this pregnancy is anything like Mother’s, she was abed quite a bit in the beginning.”
“I will do whatever you ask of me.”
“Thank you. To begin with, I will need you to work with Roarke.”
“I do not need her to work with me!” Roarke shot off the bed, backing away as if Noele had just set him on fire.
“Of course you do,” Noele explained. “My sister knows nothing of running the keep. You know everything. In Garick’s absence I need you to show her what needs to be done.” Show her? Solara swallowed past the lump in her throat. “Surely someone else can—”
“No, I think it would be best if you and Roarke worked together. With Garick and I both unable to fulfill our duties, there is much to be done beyond the daily running of the castle. Decisions must be made, and I trust no one else but the two of you. Solara, Elise and Mina can help with some of the daily chores.
Roarke, put someone else in charge of training the guard so that your time is not consumed there.” Noele had changed from sister to Queen of Winterland. Solara had no choice but to do as she bid.
“Aye. We will see it done.”
Roarke nodded his assent, bowing his head. “You need but tell me what must be done, and I will make it so.”
Noele’s lips curled in a satisfied grin. “Perfect. Shall we get started, then? I have a very long list.” Chapter Seven
A very long list, indeed. Solara had no idea Noele was responsible for so much. Running the castle took up much of her day.
Apparently, her sister added on some of Garick’s duties for Roarke to do, because the way the list read, Solara would be spending a considerable amount of time with Roarke, going over accounts and holding meetings with the townspeople.
The last thing she wanted was to spend time in close proximity to Roarke. He’d made it abundantly clear he had no interest in being with her, and in fact could not wait for her to leave Winterland.
Now that she knew how he felt, or how he didn’t feel, she was anxious to move on to her new life. In the meantime, she would work alongside him in an effort to help Noele and Garick, and for no other reason.
They were to meet in Garick’s offices this morning. Nervous flutterings in her stomach would not go away, and she blamed it on worries about doing a good job for Noele. After all, she had much to learn in a short period of time.
Shortly, she would be queen of her own lands. The sooner she became accustomed to her duties, the better she would handle the transition.
After checking on Noele, she headed to Garick’s office. When she opened the door, she found Roarke sitting at the desk going over some papers. She admired the strength of his profile as he bent over two sets of ledgers sitting open on the desk.
He hadn’t heard her enter, so she took a moment to watch him.
Stars, he was a beautiful man. Her breath caught and held as he ran his fingers through his long hair, and she recalled the exquisite sensation of touching him in the gardens.
That night had remained so fresh in her memories, and yet made her long to recapture a moment which seemed to have occurred a lifetime ago. She closed her eyes and recalled the way he touched her, his earthy scent fueling her desire for him. The way he had brought her to pleasure had been a dream fulfilled.
With a sigh, she opened her eyes and found Roarke staring at her.
“Daydreaming?” he asked, his sharp gaze sweeping from her head to her feet.
She shifted, not wanting to
“You carry a burden beyond your own body,” Roarke said, then patted her hand. “You must rest.
There are others here who can fill in.”
His gaze gravitated to Solara. “Your sister, for example, has nothing to do to occupy her time until Garick returns.”
Did he think her lazy? She had helped out whenever she could before now. Truly, the man was insufferable. “I have already offered my assistance.”
“I’m afraid I will need more than just a little help, Solara. If this pregnancy is anything like Mother’s, she was abed quite a bit in the beginning.”
“I will do whatever you ask of me.”
“Thank you. To begin with, I will need you to work with Roarke.”
“I do not need her to work with me!” Roarke shot off the bed, backing away as if Noele had just set him on fire.
“Of course you do,” Noele explained. “My sister knows nothing of running the keep. You know everything. In Garick’s absence I need you to show her what needs to be done.” Show her? Solara swallowed past the lump in her throat. “Surely someone else can—”
“No, I think it would be best if you and Roarke worked together. With Garick and I both unable to fulfill our duties, there is much to be done beyond the daily running of the castle. Decisions must be made, and I trust no one else but the two of you. Solara, Elise and Mina can help with some of the daily chores.
Roarke, put someone else in charge of training the guard so that your time is not consumed there.” Noele had changed from sister to Queen of Winterland. Solara had no choice but to do as she bid.
“Aye. We will see it done.”
Roarke nodded his assent, bowing his head. “You need but tell me what must be done, and I will make it so.”
Noele’s lips curled in a satisfied grin. “Perfect. Shall we get started, then? I have a very long list.” Chapter Seven
A very long list, indeed. Solara had no idea Noele was responsible for so much. Running the castle took up much of her day.
Apparently, her sister added on some of Garick’s duties for Roarke to do, because the way the list read, Solara would be spending a considerable amount of time with Roarke, going over accounts and holding meetings with the townspeople.
The last thing she wanted was to spend time in close proximity to Roarke. He’d made it abundantly clear he had no interest in being with her, and in fact could not wait for her to leave Winterland.
Now that she knew how he felt, or how he didn’t feel, she was anxious to move on to her new life. In the meantime, she would work alongside him in an effort to help Noele and Garick, and for no other reason.
They were to meet in Garick’s offices this morning. Nervous flutterings in her stomach would not go away, and she blamed it on worries about doing a good job for Noele. After all, she had much to learn in a short period of time.
Shortly, she would be queen of her own lands. The sooner she became accustomed to her duties, the better she would handle the transition.
After checking on Noele, she headed to Garick’s office. When she opened the door, she found Roarke sitting at the desk going over some papers. She admired the strength of his profile as he bent over two sets of ledgers sitting open on the desk.
He hadn’t heard her enter, so she took a moment to watch him.
Stars, he was a beautiful man. Her breath caught and held as he ran his fingers through his long hair, and she recalled the exquisite sensation of touching him in the gardens.
That night had remained so fresh in her memories, and yet made her long to recapture a moment which seemed to have occurred a lifetime ago. She closed her eyes and recalled the way he touched her, his earthy scent fueling her desire for him. The way he had brought her to pleasure had been a dream fulfilled.
With a sigh, she opened her eyes and found Roarke staring at her.
“Daydreaming?” he asked, his sharp gaze sweeping from her head to her feet.
She shifted, not wanting to
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