Snow by Deborah M. Brown Read Free Book Online Page B

you must lie with him… Sometimes sacrifices need to be made for the greater good.” He withdrew from her body, rolling onto his back to look up at the crimson canopy above them.
    Sacrifices .
    Anais couldn’t shake the feeling that the only one making a sacrifice would be she.
    She glanced again at Charming, blushing as she realised he was looking at her. Encourage him . “I trust you find our hospitality to your liking, my lord?” she said stiffly.
    “I find everything infinitely delightful,” he said, letting his black eyes roam boldly over Anais’s body. “However…” and here he turned to glance at Snow White, “…I find myself eager to claim my bride. I trust the settlement discussions draw to a rapid conclusion?”
    “Indeed,” replied Anais. “Everything proceeds as it should.”
    A small, secret smile curled one corner of his wide mouth. “Excellent. Then the wedding can take place on the first day of spring as planned.”
    It wasn’t a question.
    Anais nodded. “One more month, my lord.”
    Charming raised Snow White’s hand to his lips. “The longest month of my life,” he murmured.
    Was that a blush on the Snow Bitch’s cheeks? Anais sneered into her goblet.
    One of her stepdaughter’s ever-present dwarves approached the table and bowed. The tallest one, the one whose dark eyes always seemed to look upon the world with suppressed fury. Anais had heard some of her women sigh over this one and begrudgingly she could acknowledge that he was indeed comely with his high, sculpted cheekbones and chiseled jaw. However, unlike some of his companions, this one had never given any of the ladies a second glance, thus they were destined to sigh in vain.
    “Are you ready to retire, my princess?” he asked now. He had a low, husky voice. Charming had turned with a scowl at his approach as if to berate him for his presumption at interrupting. Another expression ran across his face, too swiftly for Anais to recognise it, and then with a smile he released Snow White’s hand.
    “Indeed the hour grows late. Don’t let me keep you from your bed.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “At least not yet. But in a month’s time… I doubt I shall let you out of your bed.”
    This time there was no mistaking the colour that flooded Snow White’s face or the anger in the dwarf’s eyes. She rose to her feet, offering Charming and Anais a deep curtsey before taking the dwarf’s offered arm and allowing him to lead her from the dais.
    Charming watched them leave, his eyes narrowed. Then, with a faint laugh, he shook his head and took a thoughtful sip from his goblet. “They go everywhere with her? Her dwarven companions?”
    Anais nodded. “Inseparable.”
    “I’ve never had much truck with dwarves, but that one seems a handsome enough fellow.”
    Anais shrugged. “There are many who would agree with you. I know that several of his companions are great favourites with the ladies of the court. But not that one. I’ve not heard of a lady who has had success in bringing him to her bed.”
    Charming smiled, taking another sip of wine. “No. I shouldn’t imagine they would.” His fingers drummed idly against the tabletop as he stared into his goblet. Lifting his head he looked out across the room towards the table where Rui sat. Was it Anais’s imagination or did something spark between them, some awareness that she wasn’t privy to? Charming rose abruptly to his feet. “I shall retire too, Your Majesty,” he said. “With your gracious permission?”
    Anais nodded.
    As Charming departed, Rui made his way to her side, leaning over her chair, his fingers playing with the loose curls of hair at her neck.
    “What did you talk of?” he murmured. “Did you let him know you were interested…?”
    “He had more interest in his blushing betrothed,” replied Anais waspishly. “Or in that dwarf of hers, for that matter.”
    “The dwarf?” Rui’s fingers stilled for a moment. “Charming hates