Lord of Fire, Lady of Ice by Michelle M. Pillow

Author:Michelle M. Pillow [Pillow, Michelle M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: General Fiction
ISBN: 9781625010087
Publisher: Raven Books
Published: 2012-12-31T23:00:00+00:00

* * * * *

“M’lord?” The midwife looked up in mild surprise. “How did you get in here?”

“Never you mind how.” Stuart slipped off his wet undertunic and threw it on the floor near the small fire. The full moon had outlined the hard lines of the castle and he had seen the lax castle guards easily in the pale blue light. They didn’t expect intruders, instead watching the distant competitions in the exercise yard, jesting and wagering at their posts. He’d swum the freezing waters of the moat and scaled the rough stone of the newly constructed wall to get back inside Strathfeld. The stonemason had yet to completely smooth the stone, making it easier to climb.

Stuart shook the water from his short hair and gave the woman an irate look. She crushed herbs and paused to scrape at the powder she prepared with her long fingernail to test its consistency and dig out a few unwanted specks. “I wasn’t about to sleep on the ground without the benefit of my servants, who even now slumber soundly within the keep.”

Serilda nodded and motioned to the bed. “Then sleep if it’s why yer here, m’lord.”

Even her flattery in using the title that was not his didn’t cheer him.

“Why did you not send word sooner, Serilda? Do you know how much harder things are now?” Stuart pouted in anguish, ignoring her invitation for sleep as he scowled.

“No, why don’t you tell me how hard things are?” Serilda glanced to where his shaft lay between his thighs and gave him a catlike smile. She busied herself grinding another handful of herbs into powder, crushing them onto a slight piece of marble with a flat stone.

“This isn’t amusing,” Stuart fumed. “I have spent my entire life catering to her fears, becoming her friend, so much so that five years ago I could take it no more and disappeared. I trusted you to keep me informed.”

“You soon forget,” Serilda said bitterly. “You also left me five years ago.”

“Nay, I have been back since then. Do you forget our nights together so easily?”

“Nay.” Serilda hid her emotions from her eyes, instead choosing to flash him a relaxed smile. “Though one can hardly claim that once or twice a year is being attentive, m’lord.”

“I never stopped you from finding pleasure elsewhere.” Stuart said with a lustful smirk. “In fact, I remember watching you get it elsewhere on occasion.”

Serilda chuckled. “I ne’er claimed I waited alone.”

“Is that why you didn’t tell me sooner? Because of your stupid woman’s jealousy?” Stuart walked to her table and leaned his palms on the wood. “I have already told you, if I was allowed to marry you I would have, but then we would be poor. Where would we live? In a cottage while you sold your poisons?”

“I did send you word,” Serilda shot back in irritation. “It was I who told you of the proposed marriage.”

“But you were to make sure it never happened. You knew well what I would have wanted.

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