envoy had arrived at Montefort Keep; and that had to be to offer for the witch’s hand in marriage to one of the royal lackeys. That thought did not sit well with Aaron Jasper. He needed to act quickly before she became the wife of some high and mighty nobleman. Only, what plan could he put in motion to capture the raven haired enchantress? Especially now that the keep was heavily guarded like a fortress with the king’s entourage present within its walls!
Aaron Jasper had to ponder his course of action to get the witch into his clutches and into his bed. He cared not if there would be casualties in the midst of it. Just what; how could he route out the king’s men so that she was free for the taking like a ripe plum? Yes, there would be ways to cause trouble and Aaron Jasper was a master of just such plans. He would send his scout back to learn the nature of the visit of the king’s men. He would plot his course once he gleaned the information. Just the thought of the reprehensible things he planned for the du Montefort witch brought fire to his loins.
~Chapter Fifteen~
Erik was restless. During the entire walk back to the keep he could think of one thing and one thing only. He felt foolish for his musings. He was a warrior and he was trained in discipline and self-restraint. But for the love of God, he could not stop thinking about kissing Rhianna. It was absurd. Just that, after seeing her in her element, Erik’s heart was opened to the gentle kindness and care she had shown to her people. On their walk back, they had stopped to visit an elderly couple who had outlived their offspring. She took them some honey and some fresh bread and helped tidy their dwelling as neither could get around very well anymore. Erik’s heart already brimmed with pride at the care he witnessed Rhianna bestow on the sick child, but her compassion with the old couple was something that gutted him. While his own parents were far from elderly, Erik imagined that his Rhianna would treat them equally with love and when they entered their golden years, Rhianna would be a comfort to them as well. His Rhianna …he almost laughed to himself. Just the past day he had dreaded marrying a vile spell-casting hag and here he had claimed her as his own. The truth of the matter was that Erik now wanted to wed her, despite her thorns, for the rose would be worth any pricks, Erik was certain. He was insanely attracted to her. She was beautiful and he could see in her dealings, she had a passionate nature. He wickedly would like to nurture that passion elsewhere. Only, he was pretty certain she did not like him very much. She had tolerated his companionship and was even pleasant to him, but he could sense she was guarded. Rhianna would not be an easy woman to win over, but for some reason, Erik suddenly really wanted to try.
~~~~~
Rhianna went about her daily tasks and tried to put the many disconcerting thoughts out of her mind. She tried to put thoughts of her betrothal behind her. She was not ready to marry the Viking, that she was certain. Except, she could not get the image of him chopping that wood from her thoughts. She tried to not think on it, but it crept back time and again even when she was doing mundane things, like planning the evening meal and checking on the stores in the buttery and kitchens. She thought that if she went to her private herb garden to gather medicinal plants, she would lose herself in her task. She always loved being out in her garden and finding the choice leaves, roots or petals for her many uses. Whenever she had found herself sad or anxious, even a few moments out in the fragrant patch would help her wash her cares away. As she sat on a cloth beside some of her lavender plants, she pulled out weeds that wanted to disrupt the good things growing beside them. Instead of losing herself, she was plagued with thoughts of him . He could be the most infuriating man she had ever known, but he was also
Aaron Jasper had to ponder his course of action to get the witch into his clutches and into his bed. He cared not if there would be casualties in the midst of it. Just what; how could he route out the king’s men so that she was free for the taking like a ripe plum? Yes, there would be ways to cause trouble and Aaron Jasper was a master of just such plans. He would send his scout back to learn the nature of the visit of the king’s men. He would plot his course once he gleaned the information. Just the thought of the reprehensible things he planned for the du Montefort witch brought fire to his loins.
~Chapter Fifteen~
Erik was restless. During the entire walk back to the keep he could think of one thing and one thing only. He felt foolish for his musings. He was a warrior and he was trained in discipline and self-restraint. But for the love of God, he could not stop thinking about kissing Rhianna. It was absurd. Just that, after seeing her in her element, Erik’s heart was opened to the gentle kindness and care she had shown to her people. On their walk back, they had stopped to visit an elderly couple who had outlived their offspring. She took them some honey and some fresh bread and helped tidy their dwelling as neither could get around very well anymore. Erik’s heart already brimmed with pride at the care he witnessed Rhianna bestow on the sick child, but her compassion with the old couple was something that gutted him. While his own parents were far from elderly, Erik imagined that his Rhianna would treat them equally with love and when they entered their golden years, Rhianna would be a comfort to them as well. His Rhianna …he almost laughed to himself. Just the past day he had dreaded marrying a vile spell-casting hag and here he had claimed her as his own. The truth of the matter was that Erik now wanted to wed her, despite her thorns, for the rose would be worth any pricks, Erik was certain. He was insanely attracted to her. She was beautiful and he could see in her dealings, she had a passionate nature. He wickedly would like to nurture that passion elsewhere. Only, he was pretty certain she did not like him very much. She had tolerated his companionship and was even pleasant to him, but he could sense she was guarded. Rhianna would not be an easy woman to win over, but for some reason, Erik suddenly really wanted to try.
~~~~~
Rhianna went about her daily tasks and tried to put the many disconcerting thoughts out of her mind. She tried to put thoughts of her betrothal behind her. She was not ready to marry the Viking, that she was certain. Except, she could not get the image of him chopping that wood from her thoughts. She tried to not think on it, but it crept back time and again even when she was doing mundane things, like planning the evening meal and checking on the stores in the buttery and kitchens. She thought that if she went to her private herb garden to gather medicinal plants, she would lose herself in her task. She always loved being out in her garden and finding the choice leaves, roots or petals for her many uses. Whenever she had found herself sad or anxious, even a few moments out in the fragrant patch would help her wash her cares away. As she sat on a cloth beside some of her lavender plants, she pulled out weeds that wanted to disrupt the good things growing beside them. Instead of losing herself, she was plagued with thoughts of him . He could be the most infuriating man she had ever known, but he was also
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