The Siege Bride by Samantha Cayto

Author:Samantha Cayto [Cayto, Samantha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: LGBTQIA Romance Fiction
Publisher: Totally Entwined Group
Published: 2023-10-06T00:00:00+00:00

* * * *

“Honestly, Hal, I feel like a nursemaid, trying to keep our charges occupied and pacified to ward off a tantrum.” Colin lifted his head to the sky. “At least the sleet has stopped. Gods, what is the point of it? Make up your mind, weather—rain or snow. Doing both at the same time is ridiculous.”

Henry let his bannerman bitch and moan all the way to his tent. He welcomed the distraction, truth be told. All morning, he’d focused on the business of leading a large camp of soldiers and put aside how his day had begun with Kellen—mostly. Part of his mind was constantly dwelling on the boy. No amount of denial was going to change that fact. And in an act of pure cowardice, he’d invited Colin to eat with them to serve as a kind of buffer. The presence of the other man would keep Henry’s impulses in check. Plus, Kellen had had hours to consider what they’d done and how ill-advised it was for him to cozy up to what was for all intents and purposes the enemy. Henry didn’t think of himself as such, not even when it came to Cragmore. The duke was a wayward subject who needed to be brought to heel, not some foreign force to be subdued. Kellen was no more than a pawn in the game, and Henry had never held any bad feelings about the boy. He knew, however, that Kellen didn’t see it that way—or, at least, he hadn’t. Maybe… Nope, no sense in speculation. He would find out in a moment.

As soon as they entered the tent, the scent of hot soup caught his attention. Cook was waging the war against the weather in her own way, and it was much appreciated. Henry started stripping off his wet gloves as his gaze roamed around, looking for Kellen. The boy was exactly where he expected him to be, sitting by the brazier, a blanket wrapped around him for warmth. Kellen only glanced at him before his gaze skittered away.

Disappointed by the greeting and disgusted with his own expectations, he barked at Frederic. “Find Lord Kellen warmer clothes.” So saying, he tossed his cloak and his gloves at his squire before heading for the decanter of wine and pouring himself a generous glass of it. He sat heavily at the table. “Help yourself, Sir Colin. I’m not going to wait on you.”

“And here I was thinking you would,” Colin drawled before helping himself to both the wine and the soup.

Henry didn’t dare look again at Kellen, afraid his sour disposition would spill out and make the boy think he was mad at him. It didn’t matter anyway, because Kellen joined them at the table, leaving his blanket behind.

He filled a glass of wine for Kellen before breaking off a piece of bread and handing it to him. “Today is the kind that requires wine before dinner. It will warm your blood, and you should fetch your blanket to help keep you from getting cold.

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