Read Dragonblade Trilogy - 03 - The Savage Curtain for Free Online

Jedburgh
Abbey for eleven years where I was taught the arts of sewing, cooking,
gardening, flower cultivation, shearing sheep and wool dying. I was also taught
to read and write Latin and French, and I can play the mandolin.  I am not a
mindless, cowering female so you should know the manner of woman you have
married.”
    By this time, Stephen was
standing over her with his hands on his hips, listening to her speech.  She
spit it out rather angrily and he realized he very much wanted to smile at her
spunk.  But he kept his smile hidden, his manner strictly professional.  He
didn’t want to let his guard down, not even for a moment. He’d known too many
women in his lifetime that would use that sort of thing against him.  Until he
knew Joselyn better, it was best to keep up appearances.
    “Thank you for the education,” he
said, bordering on sarcasm. “Since you are not a mindless, cowering female, I
am assuming you realize that I am not undressing for my own comfort.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “We must consummate this
marriage.”
    She blanched but admirably kept
her composure. “And if I refuse?”
    “I would advise against it.”
    The pale blue eyes flashed. “Why?
Will you rape me, too, if I do not submit to your husbandly attention?”
    “I will do what is necessary to
accomplish the task.”
    The man was as cold as stone and
she believed him completely.  Joselyn felt the sting of tears as she gazed up
at him, quickly averting her eyes so he would not see. But it was too much; the
strain of recent events took their toll and tears came as she started to
unfasten the leather girdle around her slender waist.  She stood up from the
mattress and let the girdle fall to the ground; by this time, the tears were
rolling and she sobbed as she began to unfasten her surcoat.  The surcoat hit
the floor and she went to work on her heavy hose, reaching underneath her shift
to unfasten the ties and unrolling each one from her shapely legs.  She was
weeping deeply by the time she yanked the linen shift over her head, exposing
her naked torso to the cold room.  With a final yank of frustration and
futility, she pulled her undergarments free and tossed them on to the floor.
    “There,” she wept, covering her
naked chest with her arms and wiping her face at the same time. “Do what you
must. I have made it simple for you to take what you want.”
    Stephen had stood still as stone
throughout the entire exchange; even now, as she stood before him in all of her
naked glory, his cornflower blue eyes were fixed on her face.  There had been a
brief moment when he had visually inspected his new bride and what he saw did
not displease him; she was magnificent.  He also knew that it took an abundance
of courage to do what she had just done and he was impressed. A small seed of
respect sprouted for the woman as she stood a few feet away, sobbing pitifully
yet prepared to do as she must. He knew it hadn’t been easy for her and in that
instant, the compassion he kept so carefully guarded began to find release.
    Stephen was not a cruel man by
nature; he was, in fact, inordinately kindhearted, which is why he kept himself
so closely guarded. He stood there for a moment, listening to her weep.  Then,
very slowly, he reached down and picked up the tartan that he had flung on the
ground.  Moving to her, he gently wrapped it around her naked body.
    “Come,” his voice was a raspy
whisper. “Lay down on the bed.”
    She was weeping so heavily that
she couldn’t speak. “But… but….”
    He shushed her softly, picking
her up bodily and laying her upon the old, scratchy mattress when she seemed
unable to do it herself.  Pulling off his soiled tunic, he turned her towards
the wall and laid down beside her.  Gathering her up in his arms, he wedged her
soft body into a comfortable position against him.
    “Sleep now,” he murmured into the
top of her head.
    “But… but…,” she tried to twist
around to look him in the