Bound by Blood (Sons of Britain Book 2) by Mia West

Author:Mia West [West, Mia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-07-02T23:00:00+00:00

PART II:

BOUND BY BLOOD

~

Chapter 11

“Stop.”

Arthur froze at his mother’s command—an unthinking response, years in the training—and then took one cheeky step across the threshold. “This is my house.”

Lord Uthyr’s former residence had always been the grandest in the village. Boasting a large bedchamber, broad hearth, high beams, and ample space for more beds, the house was second in size only to the new house Uthyr had had built for himself over the past few weeks. Arthur still couldn’t believe he would soon be master of this place.

Well, master alongside Bedwyr, but no one knew that yet.

His mother stepped in his path, giving him a look that would have chilled his liver when he was a boy. These days she had to tilt her head up to aim it at him. He grinned and kissed her on the forehead. “Hullo, Mama.”

“Hullo yourself,” she said, as if she were unaffected, as if he hadn’t made her ruddy cheeks blush. She set a palm to his chest and pushed him out of the doorway. “It’s not yours yet, not until you’ve married.” She frowned. “I’ve put that item in your bedchamber,” she said quietly, “behind one of the bolsters.”

The small corked bottle of hen’s blood he’d asked for, to be sprinkled on the bedding for the traditional showing to their neighbors. His parents didn’t know his scheme to share this house with Bedwyr, but they knew he and Gwen wouldn’t be spending their wedding night in the normal manner.

“Let Gwen do the sprinkling,” his mother said, “or it’ll look as if you’ve gutted her.”

He chuckled. “I will. Thanks.”

She gave him another look then, one he’d grown accustomed to: a sort of persistent curiosity, as if she couldn’t suss his motives to her satisfaction. As usual, it tipped into outright suspicion. “I still don’t understand why you’ve invited Cai to live here with you.”

It had been the only way to justify the construction of a wall to create a second bedchamber. Most houses didn’t have them, but Uthyr, being warlord, had enjoyed a large bedchamber. Arthur thought Gwen should have the room to share with Elain. That would have left Bedwyr with a curtained space at the other end of the house—fine under normal circumstances and what he’d been accustomed to. But he’d be sharing his bed with Arthur, so they needed an extra measure of security: a wall with a door and a sturdy bolt.

As the presumed resident of the new bedchamber, Cai had considered the wall an extravagance. He wouldn’t give it a second thought when he found out where he’d be living instead. Maybe it would go some way toward salving his wounded pride.

“Aren’t you happy to be free of us?” Arthur teased his mother. “Think of it: all your furniture, upright and undisturbed, as it was meant to be.”

She scoffed. “You’ll only be at each other’s throats here. I feel for Gwenhwyfar.”

“It’s a large house. If he acts up, I’ll send him to his bedchamber.”

“Ha! I’d like to see you try it.

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