inspect it closer. It was raised on a dais with three steps leading up to it. It was big enough to sleep three people comfortably. Possibly even four or five in closer quarters if they slept sideways. She reached out and touched the red velvet curtains hanging from black iron rods all around the bed.
“Do you like the bed curtains?” he asked.
“They are … fine,” she said, trying to hide her awe, knowing the man was doing everything in his power to impress her.
“And look at this,” he said, taking her hand and pulling her toward the window. “The glass has been hand painted with scenes I chose personally and the colors outlined in more gold.
“Whatever for?” she asked. “I shouldn’t think one needs to have gold on a window, let alone a wall!”
“I have it because I can,” he told her, which made absolutely no sense to her. “And no tice the floor in the room. I’ve covered it with mats to walk upon and in the center I’ve decided to take a carpet from the wall and use it on the floor as well.
“Walking on such a fine, expensive carpet? I would think you’d use it instead for added warmth and leave it upon the wall.”
“But I don’t need it for warmth , not really. Look across the room.” He took her chin gently in his fingers and turned her head. “I have a fireplace built right into the wall for added warmth. No more waking up during the winter with frost on my face. This is going to be the warmest room in the entire castle.”
“Well, that’s nice,” she said, thinking this man was not only pompous, but greedy as well.
“So … how would you like to sleep in my bed tonight?” he asked.
“My lord!” She pulled away from him. “I thought I made myself clear earlier when my knee met with your groin.”
“Nay, not with me and as my mistress – just by yourself. My father will not be arriving til the morrow at the earliest. I want you to sleep here tonight. As my guest.”
She wondered just what he was up to. She knew he wanted something in return. He didn’t respect women, and he certainly didn’t like her enough to give up his bed and the best room in the castle.
“Why don’t you just come out and tell me what it is you want in return. If you don’t want to ravish my body, than what is it you desire in exchange?”
“Who says I need something in return?”
“I am sorry, my lord, but I don’t believe this is from the goodness of your blackened heart. ’Tis no secret that you hold no respect for women, and if you are willing to give me your bed and private chamber, then it must be something very important to you. So do tell me what it is, and keep me in suspense no longer.”
“In exchange for a night in my chamber, I just want you … I want you to not mention to my father … your idea of bettering the defenses of the castle.”
So, it all made sense to her now. He was embarrassed that such a wonde rful idea came from a woman and wanted to keep it a secret.
“And what would happen if your father found out a woma n was designing your castle?”
“I wouldn’t advise it, my lady. How do you think I earned my horrid reputation? If you think I disrespect women, you will change your mind once you meet my father.”
“This means a lot to you, doesn’t it?” she asked. “To impress your father.” She realized she had just discovered one of his weaknesses. And she was damned well going to use it to her advantage.
He looked away and clenched his jaw and Amethyst could see that something was really bot hering him. “I ask it as a favor, Lady Amethyst, that’s all.”
He called her by her name, and she liked it. She knew there had to be a little light within the darkness of his heart after all. She’d always been full of optimism, so decided that it wouldn’t hurt to give the man another chance.
“All right, I’ll sleep here tonight, and keep my mouth shut around your father. But you need to do something for me in return.”
“I am. I am giving you my
“Do you like the bed curtains?” he asked.
“They are … fine,” she said, trying to hide her awe, knowing the man was doing everything in his power to impress her.
“And look at this,” he said, taking her hand and pulling her toward the window. “The glass has been hand painted with scenes I chose personally and the colors outlined in more gold.
“Whatever for?” she asked. “I shouldn’t think one needs to have gold on a window, let alone a wall!”
“I have it because I can,” he told her, which made absolutely no sense to her. “And no tice the floor in the room. I’ve covered it with mats to walk upon and in the center I’ve decided to take a carpet from the wall and use it on the floor as well.
“Walking on such a fine, expensive carpet? I would think you’d use it instead for added warmth and leave it upon the wall.”
“But I don’t need it for warmth , not really. Look across the room.” He took her chin gently in his fingers and turned her head. “I have a fireplace built right into the wall for added warmth. No more waking up during the winter with frost on my face. This is going to be the warmest room in the entire castle.”
“Well, that’s nice,” she said, thinking this man was not only pompous, but greedy as well.
“So … how would you like to sleep in my bed tonight?” he asked.
“My lord!” She pulled away from him. “I thought I made myself clear earlier when my knee met with your groin.”
“Nay, not with me and as my mistress – just by yourself. My father will not be arriving til the morrow at the earliest. I want you to sleep here tonight. As my guest.”
She wondered just what he was up to. She knew he wanted something in return. He didn’t respect women, and he certainly didn’t like her enough to give up his bed and the best room in the castle.
“Why don’t you just come out and tell me what it is you want in return. If you don’t want to ravish my body, than what is it you desire in exchange?”
“Who says I need something in return?”
“I am sorry, my lord, but I don’t believe this is from the goodness of your blackened heart. ’Tis no secret that you hold no respect for women, and if you are willing to give me your bed and private chamber, then it must be something very important to you. So do tell me what it is, and keep me in suspense no longer.”
“In exchange for a night in my chamber, I just want you … I want you to not mention to my father … your idea of bettering the defenses of the castle.”
So, it all made sense to her now. He was embarrassed that such a wonde rful idea came from a woman and wanted to keep it a secret.
“And what would happen if your father found out a woma n was designing your castle?”
“I wouldn’t advise it, my lady. How do you think I earned my horrid reputation? If you think I disrespect women, you will change your mind once you meet my father.”
“This means a lot to you, doesn’t it?” she asked. “To impress your father.” She realized she had just discovered one of his weaknesses. And she was damned well going to use it to her advantage.
He looked away and clenched his jaw and Amethyst could see that something was really bot hering him. “I ask it as a favor, Lady Amethyst, that’s all.”
He called her by her name, and she liked it. She knew there had to be a little light within the darkness of his heart after all. She’d always been full of optimism, so decided that it wouldn’t hurt to give the man another chance.
“All right, I’ll sleep here tonight, and keep my mouth shut around your father. But you need to do something for me in return.”
“I am. I am giving you my
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