Daisy laid on the bed for a while, rubbing her sore backside, her mind swirling over all the new thoughts Sir Barrett had given her about making love. She had never pleasured herself before. Maybe she had touched herself a little as a child, before her mother told her it was wrong. But she didn’t remember the incredible sensations—the heat and need, the relaxation afterward.
She was tempted to touch herself again, not to purposely disobey Sir Barrett, but because she just needed to understand it all better. And while hepunished her, she didn’t actually believe he minded all that much. This was part of his game, and she was breaking rules, but at least she was playing it with him.
But the thought of meeting the ladies drew her off the bed and out the door. She found them in the spinning room, laughing and talking.
“Come in,” the princess called, seeing her hesitate at the door.
She curtsied and came forward.
The princess stood from her wheel and came forward, taking her hands. “Forgive me; I feel I have not given you a proper greeting. I am Annika. This is Greta, Ute, Grite, and Elsa. Greta and Grite are my cousins, and Elsa is my sister. Ute is Prince Erik’s sister.”
She curtsied again. “I am Daisy. I have been serving as lady-in-waiting to Princess Susanna of Hohenzollern.”
“Welcome to Rothburg. Sir Barrett has had you so… occupied. Are you all right?” she asked, peering into her face.
She felt the stares of all the women, and blushed. “Yes, my lady.”
“Sir Barrett has not treated you with the chivalry he is usually known for,” Annika said, speaking slowly as if choosing her words carefully. She glanced at the other ladies.
“But it’s plain he is quite taken with you,” Greta added quickly. She was the same lady who had told her Sir Barrett was not a complete ogre the day before.
“Yes, yes, I agree. It is wonderful to see him so engaged with a lady—unusual for him,” Elsa said.
“Does he not… has he courted any ladies before?” She didn’t know what compelled her to ask, because she definitely did not want to hear the answer. Her body tensed, her fingernails pressing into the flesh of her palms.
“No, not since I’ve been here,” Annika said, looking to Ute.
“Never,” Ute said definitively. “He probably didn’t think any would have him, since he’s a basta—” She stopped when the rest of the ladies gave her warning looks.
Daisy drew herself up, heat suffusing her face. “I don’t care one whit about the legitimacy of his birth,” she declared. “I am proud to be his wife.” She lifted her chin, daring one of them to say he was unworthy.
Annika darted forward and grasped her hand, tugging her to a chair beside her. “Sir Barrett is a brave and noble knight, well-deserving of a well-bred wife like you. Please take no offense. Rothburg has its hierarchies like all castles. Sometimes it is easier to find a mate elsewhere, as he has.”
Her cheeks still burned, but when she searched the princess’ words, she could not find any offense, so she let it go.
Chapter Six
The blizzard came out of nowhere. It had been cloudy, yes, but she hadn’t felt this storm coming. She needed to get back to the castle immediately or she could be lost out in the woods. This was the kind of storm where men became disoriented, freezing to death only to be discovered a mere twenty yards from a building.
She grasped the four white rabbits she’d trapped and ran through the snow, the cold air burning her lungs and making her chest ache. The path would be lost soon, but she wasn’t far. She had only walked a half mile or so, if she remembered correctly. She picked up her speed even more, the toes of her boots sliding out behind her with each step. Almost there, almost there.
Thank God—she thought she saw the castle up ahead. Which meant she must be out of the woods. The snow blew too hard to even see the trees. She’d come out to trap, with the idea of sewing rabbit fur into the collar of Sir Barrett and Penrod’s cloaks. She made a poor wife in terms of weaving, but the fur would set them apart, give them something special.
Why hadn’t she told anyone where she was going? If she got lost out here, no one would even know where to look. Not that she would want them to risk their lives over her stupidity. She tripped and fell into the snow, the icy flakes searing her face. Cursing, she struggled to her feet and ran on. Yes, that must be the castle up ahead.
She reached the gates just as a rider tore out of them at a breakneck speed. He must have seen her because he turned the stallion sharply in her direction, causing him to rear and whinny.
Barrett.
He had come for her. Relief, gratitude, and fear poured from her in equal measures. His destrier galloped toward her, not slowing in the least. Was it him? As he passed her, he bent down and caught her about the waist, wrenching a choked scream from her throat. She clung to the rabbits and he set her on one knee, guiding his horse in a circle and back through the gates.
He didn’t say a word.
She had no breath to speak, but if she did, she would not have known what to say to him. She teetered precariously on his knee, supported only by the strength of his arm. She did not dare steal a glance at his face, but she could feel anger pouring off him in waves. He rode the horse straight up to the castle doors and dropped her to her feet.
“Wait for me in our chamber,” he said tersely.
She rushed forward, not looking back, her heart thundering in her chest. She thought to give the rabbits to Penrod to take to the kitchen, but she did not think she could manage a conversation. Instead, she removed her wet cloak and boots and carried everything up the stairs with her. She did not have to wait long.
