Adopting a soothing voice, like the one she always used on Gwen, Beth said. "There is no disrespect here. She is sore and hoping to let out a bit of anger."His lips quavered. "On you?!" He shouted and hit his fist on the table. Beth jumped, becoming afraid. What had come over Lord Carlisle? He had never raised his voice before, or at least not in her presence. Before that day in the Blue Room she had doubted he could be angered. He always seemed so in control of his temper.Lord Carlisle breathed down. Folding his arms again, he calmly ordered. "Leave."Against better judgement, Beth did not heed. She had not come to quarrel with him. They had only recently fixed their relationship and were friends once more. Things could not go wrong again.And she was not so below him, why should he command her like a servant or a lackey. She was neither and was as stubborn as he was. Beth was determined to have her way.With Lord Carlisle still fuming, Beth sent her hands through her hair not mindi
* * *The King was on the balcony, leaning on the balustrade, watching when Charles finally arrived Mainecroft Castle. He bowed as soon as he alighted the coach, before walking into the main halls, going up to him. Strictly speaking, he stomped in.Charles had gone to his estate, WhistleHall, when he left Carlisle Crest that night, instead of going to an inn as he had wanted to or the castle. He needed the solitude to compose his emotions and get utterly drunk. He could do neither.He was angry; enraged still. The volumes upon volumes of alcohol he had consumed could not drown the dark emotion in him. Beth saw no good in what they had. Was he the only one who thought they were once again on neutral ground?Charles strode into the balcony and was not surprised to find Brand too. The private council meeting with the King should have started hours ago. The young prince sat away from his brother, legs propped up on the small table before him, slowly sliding his thumb over the sharp edge of
What was the need to be so vexed over his protection? Why was she depriving him the right to protect her? Charles felt the unexplainable urge to smoke. He was her husband! How dare she question that? His breathing became intense.She refused his protection. She denied their marriage. Many women of the ton would give an arm to be affiliated with him in marriage. She teased him with a false hand of friendship, and now she thought the worst of him?! How could she ever think he would use his hand harshly on her?Charles was beyond livid. He only wanted to protect her. He had wronged her in the greatest way possible that night on the hill, and even though he had almost never regretted it, he did sometimes for her sake.She had been drunk that night, but his mind had been clear as the sky on the finest day. He should have stopped her. He should have been sensible enough. Maybe he shouldn't have believed when she promised not to regret it. She left before he awoke and her action meant one thi
Brand kissed his teeth and sighed, brushing the topic away. "What is to be the agenda for this private council? Is it Lord Denney?""Except he does something foolish, no." They entered the great room. "The pirates seem to pose a greater threat than our overzealous and greedy uncle." He sat and asked them to do the same. "They have grown gutsy. Out." He commanded the servants present. They obeyed."The pirates?"Alexander nodded, the smile on his face vanishing as his countenance switching capriciously. "I need you and your troops out on the sea. We must go to battle.""Battle?""You thought it has not reached me yet, or did you think trade disputes and profit acquisition would make me turn a blind eye to the happenings on the sea?"Brand blinked, shocked. "How did you come about this knowledge?""I am King and news reaches me from my scouts." He smiled wickedly. "You should be punished for insubordination."Brand rose to his feet and bowed fully. "Please forgive me, Your Majesty. I was
* * *Carlisle walked out of the room and Alexander was following after him, seeming eager to see the man who was waiting, but Brand wished to speak to him and that he must do. He hurried after him."Edmund." Alexander called his man."Alexander!" Brand called. Edmund came to him as he turned to answer his name. "I must speak with you, now." Alexander opened his hands in askance and he replied. "It is important."Edmund began to exit the room. "He will wait a bit more.""No." Alexander countered. "Send him in. He can wait, but I am too eager to."Edmund bowed. "Your Majesty."As he left, Alexander returned to the room, planting himself again where he had sat before. "All is well, I presume?"Brand walked to stand before him, consciously blinking his left eye with the right. "I met with Lord Denney again, or rather he met with me. He was waiting for me as soon as my ship docked."Alexander scoffed. "He is quite persistent.""He is." Brand pushed his hair from his face and let it hang b
The mist was heavy, causing the air to be extremely cold and humid. The grass was wet under her and the wetness was slowly seeping through the trousers she wore. Abandoning common sense, she continued to sit on the ground even though she was almost soaked through to her drawers.Her nostrils were starting to hurt from the perfect cold, and even though her feet were toasty warm from inside her boots, her hands were numb and her fingers frozen to the point of falling off. But, she was loving it because somewhere deep in her, she knew it would not harm her, at least not today.The lady inhaled deeply and exhaled strongly, her breath misting as well. The cold wind blew against her face and rather than not, it warmed it, caressing her slowly as it passed by. She found the hilltop to be both a place of austerity and a seat of solace. The cold wind froze her in place and the wet grass nourished her liberty, holding her away from everything that troubled her.She did not remember how she got
* * *"Eric!!!" Waking up with a start, Beth screamed out of her sleep, stretching out her hand, reaching for who was nowhere before her. Her breathing was rapid and it quavered violently. In her head, she relived the last part of her dream as she froze in place.She saw him fall from the cliff again, as he had done many times before. She still held out her hand, desperately wanting to catch him, to not let him fall, to hold on to him.When it finally came to her that it had been a nightmare, Beth dropped her outstretched hands and sobbed into her pillow, she screamed her life out, beating on the pillow as though it was the culprit. The same, the same nightmare.She wiped the tears off her cheeks and sat up so quickly her head spun. Pulling her legs to herself, she hugged her knees to rid herself of the loneliness, of the sadness. She let her eyes run the entire space of the room it could cover until it rested on the adjoining door to Lord Carlisle's bedchamber and blinked to push bac
* * *Her shoes pounded lightly on the marbled floor as she made her way to the kitchen. The railing had been cleaned and as she slid her hand past it walking down the stairs, Beth appreciated the maids. They always did a fine job.The Christmas Ball was in two days, she needed to ensure all was perfect, and that the Ball would be a success. It would be her first Ball as Lady Carlisle. She did not wish to fail and set the wagging tongues loose.The halls were alive with activities and outside the gardeners were busy snipping and packing away. She had been so engrossed with the geography book she had found in the library, time had slipped by. She always knew the world was vast but she had never guessed how much. Beth couldn't wait to be done with her chores for the day and return to it. But there was so much to do.She had to ensure all invitations had been sent out, finalize the food list – which she was on her way to do – select the drinks, and meet with her dance instructor. Beth wa