His grace dismisses my gratitude with a wave of his hand. “You have Karl to thank, not me. It seems neither of us will be called upon to dress you after all. Karl, how go our preparations?”
The manservant levels his attention once more upon the duke. “I took the liberty of reclaiming a number of other items which my lady may find useful on the journey, my lord. I have those stowed with our own supplies ready to leave. I trust that too meets with your approval?”
The duke shrugs, seemingly unconcerned one way or the other. “I’m sure Natalia will appreciate your efforts. I don’t suppose you could see your way clear to reclaiming my tunic and boots? And make sure the horses are readied. I want to leave within the hour.”
“Leave, my lord? You are leaving?” I quash the surge of disappointment this news elicits. I should be relieved. I am not.
“Weare leaving, my lady. And at some point on our journey we will need to press a priest into service. You are not yet my duchess, at least not to my full satisfaction. I intend to remedy that at the earliest opportunity.”
“No! No, sir, I cannot marry you.”
“No? It is probably a little late for such sentiments, and after this morning’s sport I really believe you should.” His grace has managed to locate his own boots and is dragging them onto his feet. His leer at me is pure lust.
I squirm lest Karl should spot it and surmise at least some of what has already passed between myself and the duke, but the man seems intent on collecting the discarded buckets from last night and clearing them from our sleeping quarters. I have cause for further embarrassment when Karl discovers the vessel I used to relieve myself earlier. He makes no comment though, just picks it up and strides from the tent.
“Lady Natalia, please get dressed. Then you will eat. We will be a long time on the road and weddings cans be taxing work. You will require a full belly.”
“No, my lord. I cannot come. I will not. I will not be your wife. I am to be a nun.”
Again that chuckle. “My lady, you would make a singularly poor nun. I do, however, detect the makings of a decent duchess. Get dressed now, please.”
I gather my makeshift cloak around myself. I am scared, my stomach is churning, but I feel compelled to make a stand. “I will not. I have told you, I am to take holy orders.”
“You will take orders, Natalia, but they will not be holy. Your clothes, then break your fast. Do not make me repeat myself again.”
The memory of my spanking at his hands is too recent for me not to shiver in alarm. His tone has hardened, his expression no longer teasing. But I must make him listen. He must see that this is impossible.
“I am promised to God. It has always been my intention to enter a convent.”
“Your plans have changed. Christ has ample brides already. Our convents overflow with them. I am sure the good lord can spare me just one. If you insist upon spending half your life on your knees I have no objection to that, but it will not be in a cold chapel.”
“This is blasphemy, your grace. And I do not understand you, where else would I kneel?”
His sensual leer forewarns me that somehow I have drifted into a trap, an ambush of which I had been blissfully unaware. “You may kneel at my feet, Natalia. Naked, of course. You will take my cock in your mouth and worship that.”
The flush reaches to my very bones. Heat engulfs my features. I cannot, simply cannot believe he has uttered such a thing to me. How can he be so crude, so, so… explicit? And what earthly reason might my quim have for the sudden wet gush that sends moisture dribbling down my thighs?
“My lord, you are, you are… despicable. I allowed you to spank me, and to touch me. I should not have, I should have fought you. I should have protested, even though you would have easily overpowered me. But even so, there is no reason for you to say such things to me. I am a lady, not a, a…” My words trail off. I cannot bring myself to mouth the denial.
“A whore?” The vocabulary of the duke of Richtenholst is hampered by no such scruples. He stands and approaches the bed, then takes my chin in his hand. He tilts my face up, forcing me to meet his steady gaze. “No, you are not a whore, not in the usual course of things. You are a lady, a respectable lady of the royal court. But in my bed, you aremywhore. And this is not to be deplored. This is what I want from you. It is what I will demand. Your willing surrender. And you will love it, Tally. All of it.”
“I will not. I cannot.”
“You can and you will. And you will start now, by obeying me. You know the consequences if you do not.”
“Your threats do you no credit, sir.”
“We are talking of promises, not threats, Natalia. I made my promise to you earlier, before I spanked you. You know how it is to be between us.” He pauses for a moment or two, just long enough for me to recollect his words. He told me he would be a firm husband, but fair too, and loving. I have had a glimpse of all these qualities, and privately I own that were it not for Sophia I would gladly accept what he offers. It seems though I am to have no choice in the matter.
His palm slides from my chin and down my neck, dragging the blanket with it. He reaches further, pulling the fabric from around my shoulders to pool at my waist. It never occurs to me to resist. His hand cups my breast, lifting it, feeling the weight. His thumb brushes my nipple, and I gasp. Still he does not allow me to drop my gaze.
“Do not test me further on this. I will be back in a few minutes. I expect to find you dressed, fed, and ready to accompany me as we embark on our journey to Richtenholst. Until then, my lady…” He leans down to kiss my lips.
Then he is gone, the tent flap swinging behind him.
Chapter Six
What is it about the wench that has me in such knots? She’s pretty enough, granted, with her hair the colour of pale honey, and her little heart-shaped face. Her grey eyes alternate between dove-like acceptance and stormy defiance. I crave both. I knew her body would be perfect, and it is. She is slender, supple, on the surface she appears fragile but I detect an inner strength. Her peachy bottom, upturned, inviting her punishment is a sight that will remain with me for many a day. Rarely have I gazed on such perfection. And her response to my touch was divine, her climax given to me on command.
