AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“The privy is through there.” He points to a small door. “If you would like to empty the contents of your stomach into something other than my boot.”
Sigrid turns to face him, her veil fluttering with the quick movement, but I’m too focused on keeping my food down to do the same.
“I just tell her about the mountain sickness.”
He looks me over with a deliberate slowness.
“Ah, yes. That must be what ails her.” His voice is condescending, and if I could lift my head from this pillow, I would throw it at him.
I just glare at him instead, but at least I don’t vomit. I’d rather be caught dead than have him watch me run naked to the privy.
Yes, things are going splendidly.
Sigrid makes a quiet exit, leaving me in a stilted silence with my...husband.
“Do they always wear the masks and veils?”
“Yes.” His clipped tone leaves no room for further questions.
Swallowing back another round of bile, I gesture to the passageway and try an attempt at humor to change subject. Anything to make the man act like less of an ass.
“So, is that how you go to visit your more agreeable wives?” I lift my lips in what I hope is an apologetic smile.
“Are there agreeable wives out there somewhere?” He doesn’t smile back, but he doesn’t quite frown either, so I take it as a victory. “Sadly, it leads only to my own chambers.”
He sits on the foot of the bed near the tray, dumping nearly the entire bowl of honey onto one of the bowls of porridge. Adding a scoop of deep purple-colored berries, he proceeds to drown the whole thing in milk before finally mixing the horrid concoction together.
I grab my own bowl, carefully keeping the sheet close to my chest, and begin to eat it plain. He looks on in clear revulsion.
I sigh.
“Is there a reason you came intomyrooms to pass judgment on the way I eatmybreakfast?” I quip.
His eyes narrow.
“And by your rooms, you mean the rooms inmycastle?”
So much for him acting like less of an ass. His words are a slap in the face, a cruel reminder that I have nothing here, not even a small pocket of space to let my guard down long enough to eat a sands-damned bowl of porridge the way I like it.
I feel my face turn to stone while I attempt to collect whatever vestige of dignity I can muster while naked in a bed that doesn’t remotely belong to me.
“My mistake,” I say quietly. “In that case, do help yourself to any pocket of sanctuary I eke out in this lifeless tomb of a castle. It’s not as though I could stop you,” I add.
He closes his eyes for a prolonged blink, and when he opens them, they are completely devoid of emotion.
“I don’t suppose you’d like to see the rest of this...lifeless tomb, then?”
Like is a strong word, but I need to know my way around this place sooner than later.
“That would be helpful,” I answer honestly. “I can dress and meet my guide within the hour.” The quicker I get out of this oppressive room, the better.
“The staff is busy,” he all but snaps. “I will be your guide.”
Wonderful.
“All right, then,” I say, but even I hear the grim resignation in my tone.
We finish our breakfast in silence before he leaves me to dress.
