Read The Pearl Savage for Free Online Page A

take
on the greed so prevalent with her, looking down at her decanter, its
weight not as heavy now that she had stripped it of its contents.
“Yes, I need not be here.” She swayed and King Otto steadied her
by grasping her elbow.
    Clara backed away, Olive’s arm
around her waist, Olive her touchstone. King Otto led Ada away,
several times steadying her. With each step she took, Clara’s
breathing quieted. Then her attention was caught by Prince Frederic.
    He stalked to where she and Olive
stood and she felt Olive stiffen behind her. “Your hair…it is
everywhere, you had better clean it up.” He reached out to stroke a
piece that had been released when the Queen tore it free of its pearl
bindings. Clara jerked away from his touch.
    Frederic’s hand fell away, his gaze
darkening and then his hands were suddenly around her ribcage,
jerking her forward. He wrenched her out of Olive’s embrace, against
his body and a small pain sound escaped her mouth which made him
smile. His hands moved down lower, encircling her waist. “You will
like my touch… very much,” he said as he bent down to force his
hated mouth against hers, just as Charles entered her chamber.
    “Release her, Prince Frederic.”
Charles’ expression was thunder contained. He and Olive looked at
each other and she gave him helpless eyes.
    Frederic set her away from him and
she shuddered. Charles would pay for that comment. Charles did not
care as of yet. He suspected Frederic’s character but Clara had more
than suspicion:
    She had foreknowledge.
    He turned to Charles. “Have a
care, Mr. Pierce. Our interaction is none of your concern,”
speaking with quiet menace. He was showing restraint, Clara did not
believe it. It was so unlike him.
    Charles’ hands were fisted. “If
you were not Prince, I would beat you senseless.”
    “Ah…but I am, am
I not ?” Prince Frederic said, a cruel smile sliding into
place.
    Charles’ frustration was evident,
his impotence clear. “Have you no honor? She is a woman for Guardian’s sake.”
    “Yes, I am very aware; soon to be mine.”
    “She is not a possession… a
thing to own!” Charles threw his hands up in the air.
    The silence fell upon them. The only
sound was of the steam sconces, their flickering flames along the
chamber walls hissing their presence, the time piece on the wall,
clicking the seconds as they passed into before.
    Prince Frederic suddenly laughed, “I
will let this interchange disappear, I can afford to be gracious with
those beneath me. After all,” his gaze slid possessively over
Clara, “soon, I will see to it that her eyes never behold you
again.”
    Stinging heat bit into Clara’s eyes
and she knew they were the tears yet unshed, burning for release.
    “You cannot take away her
companions.”
    “You will not ‘go away’, you will
simply be unwelcome in our kingdom.”
    Clara gasped, “We have not yet
chosen where we may settle.” She could feel her eyes brim and held
them wide so those tears which threatened would not fall. Olive moved
up beside her, clasping her hand.
    Charles gave her an anguished look.
He alone could intuit what near servitude it would be in this
loveless match; the abuse she would suffer with Frederic. Something
unimagined but balancing on the chasm of her consciousness. Far worse
than the Queen’s drunken efforts.
    Frederic gave a brilliant smile,
tipping his hat at Clara and Olive, who stood stunned at his bizarre
behavior, then he gave a small bow to Charles, who fumed.
    Charles and Frederic stood staring
at each other in aggressive regard, one pale and one dark, evil
encased in lightness.
    He walked out without a word,
leaving the massive door ajar.
    Clara glided over to her fainting
couch and slowly lowered her body onto it. Silent tears gliding down
her face, partially covered by a curtain of hair. She watched dully
as Olive, broom and receptacle in hand, gathered the fallen pearls
which still littered the floor like glittering tears.
    A