She lifted her shoulders in a shrug. “I suppose I’ll just put it in a pot of boiling water and try to find some soap.” She picked up one of the warm biscuits and offered it to him. At the sight of his bare chest, she blushed again and stared at the ground.
Karl took the biscuit, and the smooth buttery taste crumbled into his mouth. They weren’t terribly sweet, but the fact that she’d made a successful attempt at cooking was unexpected.
“You see? It’s not so bad living like this.” Serena ate another biscuit and waited for his reply.
Karl could only nod, feeling more and more like the bastard he was. She’d been beaten and abused by her father, and what had he done in return? Forced her into three days of living like a servant. It was no way to treat a woman, particularly one he intended to marry.
He stared at her, wondering what he was supposed to say now. In the end, he offered, “You don’t really have to wash my shirt.”
She stepped in front of him. “Oh, no. I won’t have you claiming that I reneged on our wager by refusing to launder your shirt.” With a pointed look, she added, “You can borrow clothing from Father Durin. Perhaps a hair shirt might teach you humility.”
“I doubt it.” He hid a smile as he took another biscuit. Then he crooked his finger in a silent gesture to follow him. “I have fish for our supper.”
Serena picked up her book of cooking receipts and his shirt, following him back to the kitchen where he’d left them. “I’ll cook them, once you’ve cleaned them.”
“Our agreement was—”
“No.” She stopped him, taking his hand. “You’re not leaving me with this.”
Before he could say another word, Serena brought him to stand beside her. “You’re very much mistaken if you believe that ordinary women stand by and do all of the work while their husbands watch. I’ve already made biscuits. If you want the fish, then you clean them.”
Then she pointed a finger at him, “Unlessyouwish to give up?”
Chapter Eight
“I’m not giving up our wager,” he insisted. “But there are other tasks to be done. I have to cut wood, if you want to stay warm tonight.” The prince came up beside her but Serena would have none of his excuses.
“And you have to fill that large pot with water.” She pointed to an iron cauldron hanging above one of the hearths. “If I’m to wash your shirt.”
“That won’t work with me, princess. Our agreement was that you’d complete the tasks of an ordinary woman for three days. Not that you would coax me into doing them for you.”
She rested a hand on the door frame, studying him. “I never agreed to be your slave for three days. I agreed to work at your side.” His expression was emotionless, his eyes holding no promises. “Why would I want to wed a man who thinks I’m incapable of doing anything right?”
“That isn’t what I think.”
She cast a glance toward the fish. “Then at least show some fairness in this wager.”
His hazel eyes hardened, but he picked up a knife. Serena opened her book of cooking receipts and skimmed the pages for a way to cook the fish. Then she searched for information on how to launder a man’s shirt but came up with nothing. There was a cake of lye soap, so she decided to slice it up and add it to the cauldron. Once the prince got the water boiling, it would melt the soap and make the water better for washing.
After the better part of an hour, she found Karl with a pile of fish parts and two tiny fillets, barely larger than her palm.
She covered her mouth with a hand, and he glared at her. “Don’t you dare laugh.”
“They’re rather…small, aren’t they?”
He stood up. “The size doesn’t matter, Princess.” He dipped his hands into a basin of water and washed them, keeping his eyes locked upon her. “I think you’ll find that there’s not a single bone in them.”
“I might still be hungry afterwards,” she ventured.
His smile turned wicked. “Then there are other ways I could satisfy you.” He leaned a hand upon the table. Before she could move, he cupped the back of her neck and pulled her in for a kiss. His mouth was warm, taking hers in a softly demanding conquest.
It shook her down to her knees, though Serena tried to keep her balance against the table.
“I’ll take care of your needs, Princess.” He stepped away and added, “I’ll start a fire in the hearth and fill the pot with water. Then I’ll prepare fires to warm up the abbey interior. Bring the fish inside when it’s ready.”
After he’d gone, she steadied her breathing, understanding that the kiss was only another weapon in his arsenal. He’d made it clear that he intended to try and seduce her into marriage.
Serena distracted herself with the book while he made good on his promises. It would take a long time to boil the water forKarl’s shirt, but she put it into the pot of water. Her gaze fell upon her own clothing, and she picked up her muddied cloak, adding it to the laundry.
