Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 98745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
“How lucky am I that I have such a wise wife,” he said with a touch of sarcasm.
Her smile bordered on a laugh. “I am pleased to see you finally realize it.”
He tapped the tip of her nose as he reminded, “I am in command, wife.”
She rested her cheek against his and whispered, “I love it when you are in command.”
“Bloody hell, Leora!” he scolded, drawing his head back. “You know what those words of yours do to me?”
“I have no idea,” she said with playful innocence and slipped her hand between his legs and grinned, feeling his arousal.
He grabbed her hand and tore it off him, though he would have much preferred her hand to remain there, however, now was not the time or place—unfortunately.
“Behave,” he ordered.
She frowned. “Is that what you truly want of me?”
He placed her hand on the table, then quickly gave one of her nipples a squeeze.
She gasped and cast a quick glance around the room, grateful no one was there to see his improper behavior, the servants still congregated in the kitchen over the news of Adele.
“What if someone was about to see that?” she scolded. “No one could see what my hand did beneath the table, whereas yours—”
“Play with me, wife, and I play back, so be prepared to accept the consequences of your actions. And nay, I prefer you not behave.”
She smiled sweetly. “That is good to know, and I believe I will have no trouble accepting the consequences of my actions.”
“I will count on that,” he said and gave her a quick kiss. “Now let’s go see if we can find if anyone was spotted missing from their chore.”
Leora slipped quietly out of bed, not wanting to disturb her husband, who was sleeping soundly. Chief’s head popped up from where he slept by the hearth, but she gave him a quick pat and told him to go back to sleep and he did. Her mind was jumbled with thoughts that she was trying not only to make sense of but to fit together, preventing her from sleeping. She grabbed her nightdress off the chest near the bed and slipped into it. They had coupled shortly after entering their bedchamber, both eager and needy. Noble had fallen asleep soon after while she remained awake. Knowing sleep would not come soon to her, she decided to seek a spot where she could think. She eased the bedchamber door open slightly, just enough for her to slip past, then left it as it was for her return. She made her way to the bedchamber that was meant for her, but Noble forbade her to sleep anywhere but beside him in their bedchamber.
Her bedchamber was dark, and she lit one of the candles from the blazing torch in the sconce on the stone wall outside her door. She used it to light a few other candles in the room and to set the dried logs in the hearth to burn and chase the chill in the room that had her shivering. She did not intend to remain there for the night. She would return to their bedchamber since she did prefer sleeping beside her husband. She simply needed a place to pace and to think.
It had been disappointing to discover that all the prisoners who had been brought there had been accounted for today. Noble’s warriors had assured him that the men were watched and never let out of their sights. Did that mean someone in the clan had attacked Adele? Could her attack have had nothing to do with Leora? She had also found out that the troop of men her husband and his warriors had tracked down had been found dead, every one of them. Had the two fractions hunting the reddish blonde-haired woman come to blows? Was she and Sky still being hunted by them? But what of the man who looked at her and knew right away she was not the woman he searched for? Was that someone who was only looking for Sky and had nothing to do with the Lowlanders who searched?
Leora kept pacing in front of the hearth unable to clear her mind. She worried about Sky and when she got a chance she intended to speak with Wendell and see what he could tell her about her sister. But from what she had learned thus far, Sky appeared safe where she was, and until this matter could be resolved, she might be better off remaining at Clan Ravinsher. She just wished she could visit Sky and see for herself how her sister was doing.
Her thoughts drifted back to Adele. The young woman had yet to wake, and the nuns were doing all they could for her. Wendell remained by her side when the nuns permitted. The incident had caused worry in the clan with speculation that someone among them had been the one to attack Adele, leaving everyone suspicious and on edge. It was imperative they discover who attacked Adele and why.