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“We were only trying to give her a bath. Betina made the water nice and warm, o’course, but she won’t go near it, sire! She keeps throwing things, and hitting us, and?—”
“I see,” I remarked mildly.
“You’d think she’d never been in water before at all!”
But there was no time for her to say anything further, for by then we had reached the door to her room and I opened it, just in time to see something smash against the wall. “It’s a good thing you got me,” I assured the girl, giving her a brief smile of thanks before I stepped in the room. “And don’t worry—you will be well compensated for your… trouble.”
Blushing anew for different reasons this time, she bobbed a curtsey. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
As soon as I stepped in the room, I saw two maids huddling in the corner—one bearing a visible angry scratch—while my waif essentially terrorized them with her anger. I also saw the tub that had been filled with water probably now long gone cold.
Wanting to capitalize on the fear she held them in, she was grabbing a clock off the wall.
I launched into action, crossing the room in long-legged strides and grabbing her wrist.
She whirled around, her green eyes flashing fire in her incensed face.
I’d never found her more lovely.
When she realized who had her, she wilted in my arms.
She feels… rescued, I realized. Which means she felt there was something to fear.
“Thank you for your service, ladies. I’ll take things from here.”
The two maids stood to their feet and made haste to get out of there, though I couldn’t miss the looks they gave her on their way out.
Once the door closed behind us, I let out a long sigh and regarded my charge. I had taken her in, not knowing a thing about her. She couldn’t tell me who she was or where she was from, and I had no way to search it out. For she and I, there would have to be another way of communicating.
“Look at me,” I commanded, my voice hard.
She obeyed at once, and when she saw my face, apprehension lit her green depths.
Good. Smart enough to know when she’s in trouble. “They were trying to give you a bath?”
Her red head bobbed vigorously and she must have had much to say on the matter because her hands were flailing about as she mouthed silently. Though no words reached my ears, her distress was well evident.
I pulled her to me, rubbing her back for a moment until she settled. I felt the weight of her body against mine, and suddenly knew with startling clarity that this was what I wanted for the rest of my life. Her. Whether hellion or angel—and clearly, she could play both roles to perfection—I wanted to be the one by her side. And little did she know, I knew quite well how to handle a hellion.
Taking her by the hand, I led her to the bed. The fight seemed to be sapped from her, though I had a feeling I might find it renewed when she heard what I had to say. “Turn around,” I ordered gently. When she complied, I untied her dress and pushed down the many layers of fabric and petticoats.
She stepped out and turned to me, suddenly seeming shy.
Because of her tirade… or something else? I wondered, as I pushed down the silky pantaloons she wore. She was a mystery, but I found that excited me in ways I’d never before experienced. Or maybe it was merely her. Maybe I would be willing to do anything if it meant being with her. It was an entirely new feeling, and I felt as though my heart expanded when I looked at her. Making room to let her all the way in.
I sat down and regarded her with a stern expression. “You cannot go around harming my staff.”
Some of the anger I’d seen earlier rose in her cheeks and when she opened her mouth and began gesturing again, there was no doubt she was still in the temper the maid had mentioned.
I caught both of her hands and held them to me, pulling her closer. “I don’t know what they did that upset you, and we’ll deal with that later. But first, I must deal with you.”
The words were said with weight, and I could see she felt it, for her eyes went round.
Good. I would have preferred the fun first, but perhaps it is best she learn now how I intend to keep a wife. “It is not seemly for anyone under my care to be abusing the palace staff. Am I understood?”
She was regarding me with ever-growing awe and did not respond in any way to my question.
That was the problem with her not being able to speak, for I did not know if she was being defiant, or simply did not understand the question. There was nothing to be done for it, however, and seeing as she would be getting a thrashing either way, I had no qualms bringing my hand down sharply on her exposed buttock.
