offer.”
“And what were the terms he offered?”
She sighed in remembrance and it hurt his heart to hear such a sad sound from her lips.
“Too good to be true for certain. I really should have known better. He swore I would be fed every day at least once, perhaps twice on Sundays. He said I would be given two dresses to start and whatever was needed to keep them mended. He also said I would have fresh straw for my bed every month.”
Anger boiled in Orestes’s veins. So little. Food once a Gods-be-damned day? Straw for her bed and only two simple dresses she would mend herself? And Simon hadn’t even kept such meager promises to her. She had been lured by nothing and received even less.
He took a deep breath and released it slowly, hoping she wouldn’t mistake the anger he couldn’t keep hidden as directed at her. Though he really didn’t want to know, he had to question her further.
“Astrid…did you receive any of that at all? How often have you been fed and where have you slept?”
“He did give me one dress, but I’m sure you saw it didn’t last well through the work and everything. I slept beneath a counter in the kitchen and I only ate when there was enough left after the last meal.”
He closed his eyes and breathed through the urge to roar in outrage. “ After the last meal. You mean after my brothers and I had already eaten? You were given scraps from our table?”
When she didn’t immediately reply he opened his eyes to find her frightened gaze locked on him. She was trembling but he had been so angry he hadn’t even felt it. He pulled her onto his lap and was happy she went willingly. With one hand, he gently cupped her face and held her gaze with his own.
“Never think I’m angry with you. That’s the farthest from the truth. I’m angry because of how you’ve been treated. I swear my brothers and I would never have allowed it if we had been aware, and all I can do is beg your forgiveness for our negligence.”
She melted into his arms. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“Now you will have feathers rather than straw for your mattress and all the food you can eat at any time you feel hungry. And though I prefer you naked, you will soon have silks and satin to cover your skin.”
She stiffened and a look he could only decipher as fear crossed her face. “So much?”
Her fear confused him but he nodded. “And more if you desire it. Why does that frighten you?”
“Is this a cruel joke? Do you plan to give me so much only to take it away as easily?”
He didn’t mean to scowl at her but knew he had when she cringed.
“Of course not. Have you not learned enough of me these past few hours?” he asked. Tears immediately sprang into her eyes and he felt like an ass. “No, my sweet, don’t cry. I’m sorry. There’s no need to cry.”
Was there anything that rendered a man as helpless as a woman’s tears? He’d faced fully armed monsters three times his size and never batted an eyelash. But the sight of Astrid’s tears terrified him.
“Astrid, please…please don’t cry.”
“I’m sorry. I just…why am I even here? With you?”
He didn’t pretend to misunderstand her question. Had in fact expected it at some point. The problem was he didn’t know the answer.
“I’ve already told you I think you’re beautiful. I’ve watched you serve our meals these past few nights and you intrigued me. I’m only sorry I waited so long to speak to you. I have no excuse for not realizing how you were being treated.”
She shook her head and waved that away with one hand as if it was of no account. But to him it was everything and something for which he would always carry guilt.
“How can you find me even passably pretty with all my scars? And before that glorious bath? I was such a mess.”
Her mention of the bath brought the sight of her glistening wet skin to mind and his cock responded beneath her hip. Her eyes widened and he knew she felt him hardening.
“Does that
“And what were the terms he offered?”
She sighed in remembrance and it hurt his heart to hear such a sad sound from her lips.
“Too good to be true for certain. I really should have known better. He swore I would be fed every day at least once, perhaps twice on Sundays. He said I would be given two dresses to start and whatever was needed to keep them mended. He also said I would have fresh straw for my bed every month.”
Anger boiled in Orestes’s veins. So little. Food once a Gods-be-damned day? Straw for her bed and only two simple dresses she would mend herself? And Simon hadn’t even kept such meager promises to her. She had been lured by nothing and received even less.
He took a deep breath and released it slowly, hoping she wouldn’t mistake the anger he couldn’t keep hidden as directed at her. Though he really didn’t want to know, he had to question her further.
“Astrid…did you receive any of that at all? How often have you been fed and where have you slept?”
“He did give me one dress, but I’m sure you saw it didn’t last well through the work and everything. I slept beneath a counter in the kitchen and I only ate when there was enough left after the last meal.”
He closed his eyes and breathed through the urge to roar in outrage. “ After the last meal. You mean after my brothers and I had already eaten? You were given scraps from our table?”
When she didn’t immediately reply he opened his eyes to find her frightened gaze locked on him. She was trembling but he had been so angry he hadn’t even felt it. He pulled her onto his lap and was happy she went willingly. With one hand, he gently cupped her face and held her gaze with his own.
“Never think I’m angry with you. That’s the farthest from the truth. I’m angry because of how you’ve been treated. I swear my brothers and I would never have allowed it if we had been aware, and all I can do is beg your forgiveness for our negligence.”
She melted into his arms. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“Now you will have feathers rather than straw for your mattress and all the food you can eat at any time you feel hungry. And though I prefer you naked, you will soon have silks and satin to cover your skin.”
She stiffened and a look he could only decipher as fear crossed her face. “So much?”
Her fear confused him but he nodded. “And more if you desire it. Why does that frighten you?”
“Is this a cruel joke? Do you plan to give me so much only to take it away as easily?”
He didn’t mean to scowl at her but knew he had when she cringed.
“Of course not. Have you not learned enough of me these past few hours?” he asked. Tears immediately sprang into her eyes and he felt like an ass. “No, my sweet, don’t cry. I’m sorry. There’s no need to cry.”
Was there anything that rendered a man as helpless as a woman’s tears? He’d faced fully armed monsters three times his size and never batted an eyelash. But the sight of Astrid’s tears terrified him.
“Astrid, please…please don’t cry.”
“I’m sorry. I just…why am I even here? With you?”
He didn’t pretend to misunderstand her question. Had in fact expected it at some point. The problem was he didn’t know the answer.
“I’ve already told you I think you’re beautiful. I’ve watched you serve our meals these past few nights and you intrigued me. I’m only sorry I waited so long to speak to you. I have no excuse for not realizing how you were being treated.”
She shook her head and waved that away with one hand as if it was of no account. But to him it was everything and something for which he would always carry guilt.
“How can you find me even passably pretty with all my scars? And before that glorious bath? I was such a mess.”
Her mention of the bath brought the sight of her glistening wet skin to mind and his cock responded beneath her hip. Her eyes widened and he knew she felt him hardening.
“Does that
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