Read Online Suzanne Robinson by Lord of the Dragon - Free Book Online
Authors: Lord of the Dragon
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swirled it around.
“Hold him upright,” she said.
De Valence did as she requested, and Juliana held the wine to Imad’s lips. The boy protested, but at de Valence’s command, drank. Stepping back, she watched de Valence settle Imad under the covers, but soon grew annoyed at the way he stared at the boy as if he expected him to expire at any moment. She turned her back to them, put away the wolfsbane, and retrieved her small jar of cinquefoil.
Alice had anticipated her, and brought the cooking pot used to heat tisanes and other remedies. In it was simmering watered wine laced with honey. Juliana put several pinches of cinquefoil into the brew along with hyssop and a little valerian. Alice returned the pot to a brazier and stirred it.
Looking up from replacing the herbs in her healing box, Juliana found de Valence staring at her. Under that assessing, speculative perusal, she grew uneasy. She shut the lid of the healing box, found the key and fumbled with it as she tried to turn it in the lock. He was stillstaring at her when she chanced a look, but his gaze was filled with surprise, and he nodded at Imad.
“His coughing has eased a bit.”
Juliana heard the note of astonishment in his voice and sniffed. “You mean he’s not dead?”
De Valence swiftly turned back to her. “You take offense easily, Mistress Juliana. Please understand that I wasn’t aware of your skills, and to find so lovely a maid gifted with such an art is unusual.”
Thunder of heaven, the man uttered compliments as easily as he snapped orders. Did he know how unaccustomed to flattery she was? Juliana eyed him with distrust, but he only met her glance with an easy, composed smile. Then he alarmed her by rising abruptly and approaching her.
She clutched the healing box in front of her and tried not to skitter backward. After all, Alice was with her. Still, she couldn’t help the tiny jump she gave when he took the box from her, set it aside, and clasped her hand. Bending over it, he brushed his lips against the skin on the back of it. She felt the soft pliancy of his mouth as it skimmed over the surface of her skin once, twice, a third time, in a caress of such intimacy that she found herself short of breath and unable to do more than stare at his bent head in astonishment. Then alarm descended upon her. He straightened, still holding her hand, and drew her close so that she felt his hip brush hers.
Using a vibrant and yet low tone only she could hear, he said, “I’m in your debt, fair Juliana. Tell me, damascened love, how may I repay you?”
She felt surrounded by heat and muscle, and transfixed by the memory of supple lips molding themselves to her flesh. Never had a man approached her so boldly or so intimately; the last of her courage deserted her. Ducking low to retrieve the healing box, she slipped outof his grip and put the container between them. She tried to speak, but her voice cracked, and she was forced to start again.
“I—I’ll leave Alice with the boy tonight.” She skittered backward toward the tent entrance, but he followed her. “She’ll keep the water boiling and give him a healing tea I’ve made.”
De Valence stepped around her and blocked the entrance. She collided with the arm he put out to stop her.
“You haven’t said how I may repay you.”
Juliana swallowed hard. “That’s unwarranted, my lord.”
“Look at me, Mistress Juliana, or are you afraid to?”
At this, she lifted her gaze to scowl at him.
“Ha! I knew it. The insolent little black duck.”
Eyes growing round with dismay, irritated that he could fluster her so easily, Juliana lifted her chin. She knocked his arm aside and marched out of the tent.
“Arrogant Viking,” she muttered to herself. She nearly stumbled when he called after her.
“Very well, Juliana mine. I’ll think of a way to recompense you in some fitting manner at the tournament. I’ll devote myself to the task, and to making you blush and quiver again as you
“Hold him upright,” she said.
De Valence did as she requested, and Juliana held the wine to Imad’s lips. The boy protested, but at de Valence’s command, drank. Stepping back, she watched de Valence settle Imad under the covers, but soon grew annoyed at the way he stared at the boy as if he expected him to expire at any moment. She turned her back to them, put away the wolfsbane, and retrieved her small jar of cinquefoil.
Alice had anticipated her, and brought the cooking pot used to heat tisanes and other remedies. In it was simmering watered wine laced with honey. Juliana put several pinches of cinquefoil into the brew along with hyssop and a little valerian. Alice returned the pot to a brazier and stirred it.
Looking up from replacing the herbs in her healing box, Juliana found de Valence staring at her. Under that assessing, speculative perusal, she grew uneasy. She shut the lid of the healing box, found the key and fumbled with it as she tried to turn it in the lock. He was stillstaring at her when she chanced a look, but his gaze was filled with surprise, and he nodded at Imad.
“His coughing has eased a bit.”
Juliana heard the note of astonishment in his voice and sniffed. “You mean he’s not dead?”
De Valence swiftly turned back to her. “You take offense easily, Mistress Juliana. Please understand that I wasn’t aware of your skills, and to find so lovely a maid gifted with such an art is unusual.”
Thunder of heaven, the man uttered compliments as easily as he snapped orders. Did he know how unaccustomed to flattery she was? Juliana eyed him with distrust, but he only met her glance with an easy, composed smile. Then he alarmed her by rising abruptly and approaching her.
She clutched the healing box in front of her and tried not to skitter backward. After all, Alice was with her. Still, she couldn’t help the tiny jump she gave when he took the box from her, set it aside, and clasped her hand. Bending over it, he brushed his lips against the skin on the back of it. She felt the soft pliancy of his mouth as it skimmed over the surface of her skin once, twice, a third time, in a caress of such intimacy that she found herself short of breath and unable to do more than stare at his bent head in astonishment. Then alarm descended upon her. He straightened, still holding her hand, and drew her close so that she felt his hip brush hers.
Using a vibrant and yet low tone only she could hear, he said, “I’m in your debt, fair Juliana. Tell me, damascened love, how may I repay you?”
She felt surrounded by heat and muscle, and transfixed by the memory of supple lips molding themselves to her flesh. Never had a man approached her so boldly or so intimately; the last of her courage deserted her. Ducking low to retrieve the healing box, she slipped outof his grip and put the container between them. She tried to speak, but her voice cracked, and she was forced to start again.
“I—I’ll leave Alice with the boy tonight.” She skittered backward toward the tent entrance, but he followed her. “She’ll keep the water boiling and give him a healing tea I’ve made.”
De Valence stepped around her and blocked the entrance. She collided with the arm he put out to stop her.
“You haven’t said how I may repay you.”
Juliana swallowed hard. “That’s unwarranted, my lord.”
“Look at me, Mistress Juliana, or are you afraid to?”
At this, she lifted her gaze to scowl at him.
“Ha! I knew it. The insolent little black duck.”
Eyes growing round with dismay, irritated that he could fluster her so easily, Juliana lifted her chin. She knocked his arm aside and marched out of the tent.
“Arrogant Viking,” she muttered to herself. She nearly stumbled when he called after her.
“Very well, Juliana mine. I’ll think of a way to recompense you in some fitting manner at the tournament. I’ll devote myself to the task, and to making you blush and quiver again as you
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