arrogant expression, Sir Corbett’s eyes swept her willowy form, lingering at the soft white hollow of her throat then following the sweet curve of her jawline to meet her angry glare. “Any other maidservant would be shuffling around, never daring to meet my eyes, let alone argue with me. But you,” he said as he strolled toward her. “You dare much with the new lord of Orrick.”
He let his gaze drop to her breasts, then ever so slowly lower to her toes. She felt burned by his frank appraisal of her, and she bit her lip in vexation. Then his eyes made a leisurely return up her feminine form, pausing at her rose-hued lips before raising to her now-furious eyes.
“You must be Lord Barton’s … personal servant.” He grinned. “I’ll give him credit for good taste. But I should think he’d dress you in finer gowns if you treated him well. Don’t you treat him well?”
Although taken aback by his innuendo, Lilliane managed to respond in her iciest tone. “I treat him well enough. I’ll have you know the lord of this castle is an honorable man—”
“But a man nonetheless,” he taunted.
“No doubt he has his flaws,” she retorted angrily. “For instance, he was sorely mistaken when he selected such a base and lowborn fool as you for a son-in-law!”
It was the wrong thing to say.
In an instant he had her by the arms, and she was completely unable to break his grasp no matter how she struggled.
“You’d best take a care and not anger he who shall soon be your master.”
“You’ll never be my master.” She panted as she fought him. But he only clasped her against his broad chest until her breasts were pressed hard against him.
“Oh, I’ll master you, my pretty little maid. But which will be more effective?” He mocked her with a gleam in his dark eyes. “Strength or seduction?”
His face lowered and for a wild instant she thought he meant to kiss her. She tensed, determined to avoid him, and closed her eyes tightly. When he chuckled, however, then suddenly released her, her eyes flew wide open and she stared at him in surprise and suspicion.
His eyes were warmer now, lighted from within as from a low and smoldering fire. But his words, when he spoke, were as arrogant as before. “You’ve a fair face, and even that dreary gown cannot completely hide your soft, rounded form. But it’s your mistress I’ll be bedding. You’ll have to be satisfied with the old lord.”
Then he unbuckled his leather sword belt and set it aside. He sat down on an upholstered bench and stretched his long, muscled legs before him. “Help me to my bath. I’ve weeks of travel to wash away. And a new bride to impress,” he added sarcastically.
Lilliane did not respond at once. Her mind was working so quickly she did not know how to react. A part of her wanted to tell him in no uncertain terms what she thought of his appalling manners. He had been at Orrick but a few hours, and already he chased the serving maids. He didn’t even have the decency to wait until after the wedding. The fact that her father fully intended to marry her to this wretch and, further, considered him a man of honor was galling beyond belief. A knight indeed! This great grinning brute who sat before her most assuredly knew not one whit about chivalry!
But then that would be his undoing, she reminded herself.
With her resolve firm she faced the arrogant man. A faint smile played upon her lips. “It’s unlikely you can do anything that would impress the Lady Lilliane.”
He did not immediately respond and she realized he was staring at her softly curving mouth. Disturbed, she looked away, a frown returning to her face.
“It is no matter how particular she proves to be. She will submit to her husband’s will. Now come here and remove my tunic.”
It took all her willpower to hold her anger in check. Only by reminding herself of her goal to rid herself of him once and for all could she force herself to do as he ordered. Still, her
He let his gaze drop to her breasts, then ever so slowly lower to her toes. She felt burned by his frank appraisal of her, and she bit her lip in vexation. Then his eyes made a leisurely return up her feminine form, pausing at her rose-hued lips before raising to her now-furious eyes.
“You must be Lord Barton’s … personal servant.” He grinned. “I’ll give him credit for good taste. But I should think he’d dress you in finer gowns if you treated him well. Don’t you treat him well?”
Although taken aback by his innuendo, Lilliane managed to respond in her iciest tone. “I treat him well enough. I’ll have you know the lord of this castle is an honorable man—”
“But a man nonetheless,” he taunted.
“No doubt he has his flaws,” she retorted angrily. “For instance, he was sorely mistaken when he selected such a base and lowborn fool as you for a son-in-law!”
It was the wrong thing to say.
In an instant he had her by the arms, and she was completely unable to break his grasp no matter how she struggled.
“You’d best take a care and not anger he who shall soon be your master.”
“You’ll never be my master.” She panted as she fought him. But he only clasped her against his broad chest until her breasts were pressed hard against him.
“Oh, I’ll master you, my pretty little maid. But which will be more effective?” He mocked her with a gleam in his dark eyes. “Strength or seduction?”
His face lowered and for a wild instant she thought he meant to kiss her. She tensed, determined to avoid him, and closed her eyes tightly. When he chuckled, however, then suddenly released her, her eyes flew wide open and she stared at him in surprise and suspicion.
His eyes were warmer now, lighted from within as from a low and smoldering fire. But his words, when he spoke, were as arrogant as before. “You’ve a fair face, and even that dreary gown cannot completely hide your soft, rounded form. But it’s your mistress I’ll be bedding. You’ll have to be satisfied with the old lord.”
Then he unbuckled his leather sword belt and set it aside. He sat down on an upholstered bench and stretched his long, muscled legs before him. “Help me to my bath. I’ve weeks of travel to wash away. And a new bride to impress,” he added sarcastically.
Lilliane did not respond at once. Her mind was working so quickly she did not know how to react. A part of her wanted to tell him in no uncertain terms what she thought of his appalling manners. He had been at Orrick but a few hours, and already he chased the serving maids. He didn’t even have the decency to wait until after the wedding. The fact that her father fully intended to marry her to this wretch and, further, considered him a man of honor was galling beyond belief. A knight indeed! This great grinning brute who sat before her most assuredly knew not one whit about chivalry!
But then that would be his undoing, she reminded herself.
With her resolve firm she faced the arrogant man. A faint smile played upon her lips. “It’s unlikely you can do anything that would impress the Lady Lilliane.”
He did not immediately respond and she realized he was staring at her softly curving mouth. Disturbed, she looked away, a frown returning to her face.
“It is no matter how particular she proves to be. She will submit to her husband’s will. Now come here and remove my tunic.”
It took all her willpower to hold her anger in check. Only by reminding herself of her goal to rid herself of him once and for all could she force herself to do as he ordered. Still, her
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