Read Online Strangclyf Secret by Mary McCall - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Mary McCall
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He would train
her to be a good wife. He should not have any trouble molding her
into a dutiful handmaid who didn’t interfere with his well-ordered
life.
Bernon stared down at his
sleeping bride and his lips quirked. She had really cast off her
oars. She lay flat on her back with one arm flung over her and the
other lying limply by her head. A small slobber of drool trickled
from the corner of her mouth, which opened slightly with each
breath.
Tomorrow would be the
worst day of her young life. Thank the Almighty, he would not have
to watch her suffer.
~ * ~
Zut! Why would God not be merciful and let her die?
Maybe she had. ‘Twas it!
She was dead and her eternal punishment was little men with a
catapult flinging tiny boulders inside her skull and an eternal
need to relieve herself. And if she moved, her head would splatter
from a ricochet shot.
Barwolf opened one eye.
Searing light laid siege to her brain. An anguished moan rolled off
her lips as the little men started using bigger rocks. Now she had
another urgent need. Do they have chamber pots in hell, or should
she just toss up on herself and add that to the
punishment?
She’d best find out fast!
Holding her head with both hands, she sat up and swayed. By good
fortune, the basin sat conveniently on the bed beside her. After
several moments of heaves, she carefully lay back down and sighed.
The little men had quit throwing stones. Now her whole head just
ached from the residual bruises. She still needed to relieve
herself too. ‘Twould have to wait. She was exhausted.
Opening her eyes, she
blinked at the bright light then glanced from side to side. Thank
the Lord, she was not in hell. She was back in Bernon’s chamber.
She scrunched her face into a frown that made her head hurt worse.
She remembered giving Bernon the title, then she embarrassed Bernon
in front of the king. Then Cedd showed up and she penned a note to
Aurick. Then what?
Ah, then Bernon kissed
her. A light sigh escaped her lips as they curved into a dreamy
smile. The man could definitely make her body act strange. She felt
all fluttery and tingly just thinking about his delectable taste.
And the way his big, strong hands stroked her tender flesh. He even
said she pleased him.
Worry settled on her brow.
Did he mean it? After all, she possessed no experience and he was a
man of the world. He had probably kissed many women.
She would not think of his
kiss anymore. He had said ‘twas his duty to teach her, so ‘twas his
duty to make sure she learned well enough to please him.
What happened next? She
couldn’t seem to get her mind working today. Wait. Geno came and
they went to dine at the king’s table. She could not eat, because
she was so nervous. She was also furious at some tart for casting
lures at Bernon. Her mind went blank.
Zut! Why could she not remember? And why did she feel so
wretched?
Her eyes flew open. Had
they consummated their marriage? She fervently wracked her brain. A
vague recollection of two strong arms pulling her backside against
a warm granite wall came to mind, then something poked her bottom.
Aye, because she wiggled and a giant hand settled on her belly and
a gruff voice ordered her to hold still.
“ Well rot,” she grumbled.
“Bernon poked me and I missed the magic.”
At least he had slept with
her, so their marriage was consummated. Once she gave Bernon the
secret, he could reclaim Strangclyf. Soon life could get back to
normal—or whatever normal was going to become.
She couldn’t stay in bed
forever. From the light in the sky, the time must be past the
nooning. Why had Bernon let her sleep so late? She needed to find
him, so she could take care of the last part of her duty in the
transfer of the holding.
Barwolf rose on wavering
legs and relieved her urgent need. After donning Bernon’s under
tunic, which lay on the foot of the bed, she staggered over to the
ablution table and splashed cold water on her face. Merciful
heavens, a bath would feel
her to be a good wife. He should not have any trouble molding her
into a dutiful handmaid who didn’t interfere with his well-ordered
life.
Bernon stared down at his
sleeping bride and his lips quirked. She had really cast off her
oars. She lay flat on her back with one arm flung over her and the
other lying limply by her head. A small slobber of drool trickled
from the corner of her mouth, which opened slightly with each
breath.
Tomorrow would be the
worst day of her young life. Thank the Almighty, he would not have
to watch her suffer.
~ * ~
Zut! Why would God not be merciful and let her die?
Maybe she had. ‘Twas it!
She was dead and her eternal punishment was little men with a
catapult flinging tiny boulders inside her skull and an eternal
need to relieve herself. And if she moved, her head would splatter
from a ricochet shot.
Barwolf opened one eye.
Searing light laid siege to her brain. An anguished moan rolled off
her lips as the little men started using bigger rocks. Now she had
another urgent need. Do they have chamber pots in hell, or should
she just toss up on herself and add that to the
punishment?
She’d best find out fast!
Holding her head with both hands, she sat up and swayed. By good
fortune, the basin sat conveniently on the bed beside her. After
several moments of heaves, she carefully lay back down and sighed.
The little men had quit throwing stones. Now her whole head just
ached from the residual bruises. She still needed to relieve
herself too. ‘Twould have to wait. She was exhausted.
Opening her eyes, she
blinked at the bright light then glanced from side to side. Thank
the Lord, she was not in hell. She was back in Bernon’s chamber.
She scrunched her face into a frown that made her head hurt worse.
She remembered giving Bernon the title, then she embarrassed Bernon
in front of the king. Then Cedd showed up and she penned a note to
Aurick. Then what?
Ah, then Bernon kissed
her. A light sigh escaped her lips as they curved into a dreamy
smile. The man could definitely make her body act strange. She felt
all fluttery and tingly just thinking about his delectable taste.
And the way his big, strong hands stroked her tender flesh. He even
said she pleased him.
Worry settled on her brow.
Did he mean it? After all, she possessed no experience and he was a
man of the world. He had probably kissed many women.
She would not think of his
kiss anymore. He had said ‘twas his duty to teach her, so ‘twas his
duty to make sure she learned well enough to please him.
What happened next? She
couldn’t seem to get her mind working today. Wait. Geno came and
they went to dine at the king’s table. She could not eat, because
she was so nervous. She was also furious at some tart for casting
lures at Bernon. Her mind went blank.
Zut! Why could she not remember? And why did she feel so
wretched?
Her eyes flew open. Had
they consummated their marriage? She fervently wracked her brain. A
vague recollection of two strong arms pulling her backside against
a warm granite wall came to mind, then something poked her bottom.
Aye, because she wiggled and a giant hand settled on her belly and
a gruff voice ordered her to hold still.
“ Well rot,” she grumbled.
“Bernon poked me and I missed the magic.”
At least he had slept with
her, so their marriage was consummated. Once she gave Bernon the
secret, he could reclaim Strangclyf. Soon life could get back to
normal—or whatever normal was going to become.
She couldn’t stay in bed
forever. From the light in the sky, the time must be past the
nooning. Why had Bernon let her sleep so late? She needed to find
him, so she could take care of the last part of her duty in the
transfer of the holding.
Barwolf rose on wavering
legs and relieved her urgent need. After donning Bernon’s under
tunic, which lay on the foot of the bed, she staggered over to the
ablution table and splashed cold water on her face. Merciful
heavens, a bath would feel
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