talk.
“My father always said that he could hear me thinking through my ears and insisted that the chaplain teach me. To keep me occupied and out of his hair.”
“And did it work? Did you stay out of his way?”
“No.”
He laughed lightly, the threat gone from his manner as quickly as it had come. “Ah, then you understand the estate rolls?”
The sly dog; he’d gotten that information without any cost to him. “I do.”
He lifted a roll and unscrolled the first three pages. “Are they up to date?”
“As far as I know.”
“Reliable?”
“Meticulously accounting for their greed seemed important to each of my guardians. It’s all there for you.”
Hopefully, my own stores are well hidden in the columns of figures, or listed nowhere at all.
“That being said, de Monteneau, it’s past time that we come to an agreement about your conduct while you’re here at Carrisford.”
“ My conduct, madam?” He straightened, nearly to the rafters.
She’d never have dared make such a statement to any of the others, but this man seemed to thrive on order, and so she planned to offer him just that.
“Firstly, my lord, you will keep your door locked when you are bathing or in a state of undress.”
He took a slow step toward her, then pointed toward the door, his black hair mussed and nearly charming. “Madam, if you recall, you are the one who walked in on me.”
That very stunning recollection made her cheeks burn. All that sleek bronze skin, the dark mysteries of the man. The shape and the size of him.
“Completely by accident, my lord.” She looked down and studied her fingertips for fear of catching the man’s eye and lighting another blush. “You are living in my family quarters, my lord, not with your soldiers. This is our solar. My sisters are not used to a man living here. Therefore, you will comport yourself accordingly.”
“Will I?” The man grew treacherously calm all of a sudden, as though he were absorbing her words one by one, to use each later as weapons against her.
“You will also keep your men away from the village. It is mine, and of no interest to you and your soldiers. Which goes doubly for the womenof the village. They are off-limits to you and your men.”
“Off-limits?” He actually snorted.
“Completely. And so are my stores of food and the remaining livestock in the fields. I will conduct my own manor court, among my own people, without your interference.”
The longer she went on, the more quiet he grew, a storm collecting just beyond the mountains.
“You will not commandeer my villeins for your labors. That includes the laundress, the carpenter, the hayward, the cobbler, and anyone else who isn’t among your own personal entourage. Should you require laborers, then you will negotiate hours and wages with me.”
He was silent and staring for a very long time before he crooked a midnight eyebrow. “Anything else, my lady?” A dark and low question that moved the air with its chill and made her wonder if she’d gone a bit too far.
“Yes, my lord. That you will keep me informed of the war’s progress, so that I can be prepared should this bloody, uncertain war come this way again.”
He just stood there, unblinking, growing taller, his brow darker with every indrawn breath.
Feeling that she ought to run for her chamber, Talia put herself between the man and the door. “So, if you have no questions for me, then I’ll bid you a good night, my lord.”
Alex let the woman go, let her trail her hem across the scuffed tiles and out the door, let her believe that she could spout orders to him and that he would simply comply.
Or that he would risk everything he’d built his life upon on a scrap of feminine temper.
The woman would just have to learn differently.
He dried his hair, dressed, pulled on his boots, then took the double turn of stairs to her chamber on the landing above his.
Surprise had always served him well. So he lifted the latch on her door
“My father always said that he could hear me thinking through my ears and insisted that the chaplain teach me. To keep me occupied and out of his hair.”
“And did it work? Did you stay out of his way?”
“No.”
He laughed lightly, the threat gone from his manner as quickly as it had come. “Ah, then you understand the estate rolls?”
The sly dog; he’d gotten that information without any cost to him. “I do.”
He lifted a roll and unscrolled the first three pages. “Are they up to date?”
“As far as I know.”
“Reliable?”
“Meticulously accounting for their greed seemed important to each of my guardians. It’s all there for you.”
Hopefully, my own stores are well hidden in the columns of figures, or listed nowhere at all.
“That being said, de Monteneau, it’s past time that we come to an agreement about your conduct while you’re here at Carrisford.”
“ My conduct, madam?” He straightened, nearly to the rafters.
She’d never have dared make such a statement to any of the others, but this man seemed to thrive on order, and so she planned to offer him just that.
“Firstly, my lord, you will keep your door locked when you are bathing or in a state of undress.”
He took a slow step toward her, then pointed toward the door, his black hair mussed and nearly charming. “Madam, if you recall, you are the one who walked in on me.”
That very stunning recollection made her cheeks burn. All that sleek bronze skin, the dark mysteries of the man. The shape and the size of him.
“Completely by accident, my lord.” She looked down and studied her fingertips for fear of catching the man’s eye and lighting another blush. “You are living in my family quarters, my lord, not with your soldiers. This is our solar. My sisters are not used to a man living here. Therefore, you will comport yourself accordingly.”
“Will I?” The man grew treacherously calm all of a sudden, as though he were absorbing her words one by one, to use each later as weapons against her.
“You will also keep your men away from the village. It is mine, and of no interest to you and your soldiers. Which goes doubly for the womenof the village. They are off-limits to you and your men.”
“Off-limits?” He actually snorted.
“Completely. And so are my stores of food and the remaining livestock in the fields. I will conduct my own manor court, among my own people, without your interference.”
The longer she went on, the more quiet he grew, a storm collecting just beyond the mountains.
“You will not commandeer my villeins for your labors. That includes the laundress, the carpenter, the hayward, the cobbler, and anyone else who isn’t among your own personal entourage. Should you require laborers, then you will negotiate hours and wages with me.”
He was silent and staring for a very long time before he crooked a midnight eyebrow. “Anything else, my lady?” A dark and low question that moved the air with its chill and made her wonder if she’d gone a bit too far.
“Yes, my lord. That you will keep me informed of the war’s progress, so that I can be prepared should this bloody, uncertain war come this way again.”
He just stood there, unblinking, growing taller, his brow darker with every indrawn breath.
Feeling that she ought to run for her chamber, Talia put herself between the man and the door. “So, if you have no questions for me, then I’ll bid you a good night, my lord.”
Alex let the woman go, let her trail her hem across the scuffed tiles and out the door, let her believe that she could spout orders to him and that he would simply comply.
Or that he would risk everything he’d built his life upon on a scrap of feminine temper.
The woman would just have to learn differently.
He dried his hair, dressed, pulled on his boots, then took the double turn of stairs to her chamber on the landing above his.
Surprise had always served him well. So he lifted the latch on her door
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