The Runaway Queen, A Fire and Fury Prequel Novella by Shantal Sessions

Author:Shantal Sessions
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: womens fiction, romance book, medieval times, secret baby, romance reads, romance action, medieval love, adventure love, romance clean, medieval drama

***

Rosamund hadn’t gotten out of bed in two days. She couldn’t seem to get past the trauma of Kieran’s murder, the events of it running through her head over and over again. Through fitful phases of sleep and wakefulness, she never had any rest. She’d tried to get out of bed a few times, but going up and down the stairs was exhausting and she’d completely lost her appetite. Eilis didn’t say much, just went about her chores as usual and made sure there was food left out for her. Rosamund was confused. She thought she’d overcome the effects from escaping Colestus, but this new ordeal, a man shot dead right next to her, had set her back. Was she disposed to strangling weakness or debilitating melancholy, unable to overcome the stresses in life? Was the poison in her body causing problems anew?

Whatever it was, she was determined not to let it hold her back anymore. No more wallowing; she must overcome. Rosamund swung her feet out of bed and faced the back wall, looking at the basin of water on a nearby table. A cloth was set out and the water was cold, but she decided the cold would feel comforting. She’d been warm, too warm sometimes, and had sweat a great deal the last couple of days. The linens didn’t smell very good and she would take it upon herself to wash and hang them out to dry tomorrow. It was twilight, the daylight beginning to fade, so she took the candle that had burned low and used it to light a new one. Rosamund lifted the dirty shift over her head and laid it beside her on the bed. She’d throw that in the washtub with the linens and ask Eilis if she had extra fabric to make a new one.

Reaching for the cloth, Rosamund dipped it in the water and smoothed it over her face, down her throat, on the back of her neck, letting the cool water flow down her body. It felt wonderful. Next, she cleaned her breasts, stomach, and arms. While she lifted her arm to clean underneath it, she turned her head toward the stairway and thought she saw someone dart away and hide behind the wall. It startled her and she grabbed a blanket from the bed to cover herself.

“Eilis? Is that you?” Rosamund called. “I’m just washing. I’ll be down in a moment.” No one answered for some time and it made her anxious. “Hello?”

“Uh, no,” Gabriel said, clearing his throat nervously. “It’s me.”

“What are you doing?” Rosamund cried and covered herself more fully with the blanket.

“I was bringing you something to eat. I didn’t realize you’d be . . . I’m sorry, Rose. I didn’t mean to barge in on you.”

She could hear his footsteps plodding down the stairs.

“Gabriel?”

The footsteps stopped, the stair creaking under his weight.

“Please bring the food up. Going up and down the stairs makes me tired.”

“But you’re not dressed.”

“I’m covered now.”

Gabriel walked back up the stairs and peered around the corner before entering the loft.

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