Cursed by Ice by Jacquelyn Frank

Author:Jacquelyn Frank [Frank, Jacquelyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-553-39342-2
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2015-03-31T04:00:00+00:00

Garreth went to his rooms, unable to shake the feeling of true disappointment that assailed him. He stripped away the majority of his clothing and called for a bath. He was soaking in the tub when there was a knock on the door.

“Come!” he called.

The door opened and admitted Sarielle. She saw him in the tub and immediately went over to him, kneeling beside him. She looked eager to talk, which he found funny because she had just removed herself from conversation a little while earlier.

“You chose a slave,” she breathed, her hands going to his bare arm.

Puzzled, he frowned. “I have. I’ve chosen you.”

She looked surprised at that.

“I … I meant for the twins’ governess. You chose a scourge.”

“Moyra. Yes. When I met her a few days ago when we were looking for the bennesah at his house. She seemed to have a care for the children and I didn’t want them being mistreated simply because of prejudices,” he said. He met her eyes. “And I feel the same about you. You should not be treated differently than any other intelligent, good woman simply because of the color of your skin. Because as far as I can see, that is the only difference between the scourge and the rest of the Kithians.”

“It is enough. Enough to mar the vision of those around us.”

“I can see that. It doesn’t follow that that is the way it should be.”

“You are right,” she agreed with a smile. “That is not the way it should be. But it will take time. Time you say you do not have to spend here. So … you must do what is best for your purposes, not for what is in your heart.”

“I do not think we are going to agree on this,” he said with regret.

“No, perhaps not. But it doesn’t follow that we can’t discuss it calmly and rationally as two intelligent beings.”

“Now it is you who is right,” he said with a smile.

“I like it when you smile,” she said with a smile of her own. “It changes the whole of your face. I insist you do it more often.”

“Do you not like my face otherwise?” he teased her.

“Oh, I like it otherwise. I merely like it more with a smile upon it.”

“Then perhaps you will put a smile upon it more often.”

“Hmm, and how do you propose I go about this?”

He suddenly reached over the side of the tub, lifted her up, and dragged her into the water with him, fully clothed. She cried out and tried to push away from him.

“At least let me undress! My skirts will soak up all the water!”

“Very well, but do so from here,” he ordered her.

She hastened to stand in the tub, water sluicing from her clothing, and quickly loosened the ties to her dress, then drew it over her head and dropped it by the side of the tub. She had not been in the tub long enough for her skirts to take on much water, but they still landed with a plop.

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