The Warrior's Winter Bride by Denise Lynn

Author:Denise Lynn
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-09-15T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Slowly stretching awake, Isabella sighed. She hadn’t felt this well rested since being taken from Warehaven.

She yawned and threw back the covers, only to have her hand come in contact with a solid object. A quick glance brought her wide awake. Richard sat beside her on the bed, fully clothed.

Her cheeks flamed as her mind whirled, remembering last night. She jerked the covers back up over her body and then sank down beneath them.

‘I need to go back to the warehouse today.’

His tone was non-committal, flat. Where had the teasing man from last night gone? Unwilling to answer, she simply nodded. It wasn’t as if she required him for anything. Although she did wonder at the tweak of disappointment building in her heart.

‘We need to go over your plans for today.’

Confused, she asked, ‘Why?’

‘I need to know how many men you’ll need and what tasks you wish them to perform, so I can give them their orders.’

So, he had been serious at dinner last night. She was not permitted to perform her duties as the keep’s lady. ‘I have nothing planned for today. You can keep your men.’

His glare could have lighted the cold charcoals in the brazier, but she didn’t care.

‘Now you’re going to be contrary.’

He hadn’t asked a question, so she didn’t respond.

‘Why? Because you can’t get your way?’ When she remained stubbornly silent, he continued, ‘I am not going to give you control over men you know nothing about.’

Isabella turned her head away from him. She knew she was being petty and that it could possibly come to hurt her in the end, but if she let him take complete charge of what was supposed to be her position, one she had trained for her entire life, where would that leave her?

He grasped her chin and forced her head back to face him. When she closed her eyes, he tightened his hold. ‘Look at me.’

She ignored him, afraid of losing her will in the deep blue depths of his gaze.

‘God’s teeth, woman, I am not giving in on this. You will do as I say.’

At what sounded like a threat, she did look at him. ‘Or what?’

He stared at her for a few long heartbeats, then released her chin and with a vile oath rose from the bed. ‘You have no need of any men today?’

‘No.’

‘Have it your way, then.’ He strode briskly to the door, pausing to ask, ‘Are you certain?’

‘Very.’

‘Do not leave the keep.’

His unexplained order and the slamming of the door behind him brought her flying from the bed. She was an idiot, a stubborn, witless fool. Perhaps if she gave in to him now, after a while he would relent. She needed to stop him. Her hand on the door latch, she opened her mouth and heard Conal’s voice float through the still-closed door, making her pause to listen.

‘Did you bother to explain it to her?’

‘Explain what? That someone left a missive stating Lady Dunstan is in danger? We don’t know who left it, nor do we know what the danger might be.

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