Conquering Sabrina by Arabella Kingsley Read Free Book Online Page A

sexual encounter and she wanted to feel close to him that night. Besides, her bottom could not take another spanking. Dutifully, she allowed him to lead her to the master bedroom, eager to sleep and rest her chattering mind. She would make more sense of all that had happened in the morning and gain an appropriate perspective on what she needed to do next.

Chapter Five
     
     
    Sabrina woke late the next morning. It hadn’t been a dream. She was still in Raoul’s bed, but he was nowhere to be seen. He had cradled her tenderly in his arms for most of the night, soothing her fears and filling her with the love she had been denied for so long. With a traitor’s heart to her cause of independence she had responded by melting against him, relishing the protective strength of his arms around her. She was no longer alone in her life.
    Sitting up, she felt the chill in the room immediately. Reaching for her dressing gown, she remembered what Raoul had said about draughts in the chateau the night before. Sabrina parted the silver grey drapes and stole a look out of a large arched window.
    A heavy winter’s frost covered the ground, giving the deceitful appearance that snow had fallen the night before. The room was positioned at the back of the large chateau and overlooked the formal gardens and wide lake in the distance. A light cold mist hung in the air. The sun tried in vain to penetrate the covering here and there, lending a breath-taking fairy-tale quality to the idyllic scene.
    Sabrina picked up a photograph on a table next to a vase of fresh Casablanca lilies. They were her favourite flowers. She smiled, considering that Raoul may have had them put in the room for her. The photograph showed her sitting on a horse next to Raoul on his. They were both leaning over towards each other engaged in a kiss. It was impossible to mistake the love between the two figures. Sabrina touched the figures in the picture and stroked her fingers over Raoul’s face. How could she forget her own husband?
    “Madame Valoire, are you all right?”
    It was Francine, bringing a breakfast tray into the room. Sabrina changed her frown into a gentle smile and nodded, thanking the woman for her concern. She put down the photograph and walked over to inspect the contents of the tray as Francine put it down on the table in front of the sofa. The woman moved away and busied herself lighting the open fire. Sabrina came to stand next to her.
    “Francine, please call me Sabrina. I hate Madame Valoire. It makes me sound ancient. Francine, is this all true or am I dreaming?” she said with humorous wonder, taking in her rich exuberant surroundings.
    Francine stood up and gave a small sarcastic laugh. Sabrina prickled.
    “No, Madame Valoire, you are not dreaming. Monsieur Valoire has really missed you. He never gave up looking for you. He has suffered too much. I only hope that you see fit to remember the wonderful life he has given you. You owe him that,” she said with a stiff measure of haughty disapproval. “And if you please, I prefer to use your correct title, Madame Valoire.”
    Sabrina raised an eyebrow. It seemed Raoul wasn’t the only one who bore some resentment and anger at her disappearance. She nodded, still shocked by the older woman’s forthright speech. Yet she considered it might work to her advantage. Perhaps Francine would also be forthright in giving her some information regarding the day of her disappearance.
    “Francine, what happened on the day of my disappearance? Did Raoul and I argue over something? I remember arguing with someone at party. I think it was here. It’s so faint and vague. Do you know what happened?” Sabrina asked, seizing her opportunity for information not coloured by Raoul’s influence.
    Francine’s face turned ashen. Sabrina watched her turn to the door to make sure no one was standing there. She opened her mouth to speak, but then quickly closed her lips together tight, obviously thinking better of what