Stealing a Lady's Heart: A Regency Fairytale (Fairfield Fairytales Book 1) by Tammy Andresen Read Free Book Online
Authors: Tammy Andresen
they stopped at a door and the man to her left pulled out a large set of keys. They clanked as he opened the lock and the door swung in.
Blessedly a hot bath had already been poured and the male servants left as the female servants began bathing her in the hot water. Lord Bard had been right. The blood was difficult to wash and her skin was scrubbed pink to remove it all.
Charlotte was dressed in a fine wool gown. It told her that the day would be no warmer than the night, as the sun began to peek its first rays into her only window. So, she was facing east.
Her hair was dressed, pulled tightly back and coiled up so no strand could escape. It was in stark contrast to her normal loose style. The sun coming through her window burned her eyes, a reminder that she had barely slept the night before.
While she desperately wanted to escape, she needed some rest to make that happen, neither her mind nor her body would work correctly in its current state.
Lord Bard entered the room. He surveyed her appearance. “You are terribly beautiful. I don’t know when I have seen a lady more comely than you.”
She arched her eyebrows. Normally a scathing retort would have left her lips but she was exhausted and frightened. So she said nothing.
He stepped closer to her. His thumb touched her lips. She shivered with revulsion and fear. “You will be mine,” Lord Bard gritted out.
Charlotte turned her head away unable to look at his hard face and beady eyes any longer. His lips curled into a hard thin smile as he grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him. “Just so you don’t get any ideas, you will have a roommate. The priest will be here at first light tomorrow morning to make us man and wife.”
Her eyes grew large with fear. That didn’t give Graham much time. A sob escaped her.
His smile grew. “You could do worse than a marquess.”
“I don’t see how that is possible,” she sneered.
He smacked her hard across the face and she staggered back. “Obedience,” he growled.
Charlotte’s eyes filled with tears, but she refused to let them out. Lord Bard walked to the door and ushered a soldier inside who took a chair next to the window. She was sure another would be stationed just outside the door. Lord Bard turned back to her. “Eat and get some rest. I want a beautiful bride for my wedding day.”
With that, he was gone. He left the door open and for a wild second, Charlotte thought she could escape. But before she could even take a step, a line of servants come in bearing trays of food. Part of her wanted to refuse the marquess’ hospitality, but she would need her strength. She ate until she was full.
When she was done, the soldier stepped out, and servants changed her into new night clothes. Apparently she had been dressed for Lord Bard’s brief visit. She lay down in the giant bed and fell fast asleep.
STEALING A LADY’S HEART
CHAPTER SIX
Graham, however, did not sleep at all. As the men disappeared from view, he raced back through the woods toward his family. There was no use chasing men on horseback. Besides, he knew where they were taking her. He cleared the woods and picked up speed as he neared his brothers. They ran towards him. “Ready the wagon. Swords, bows, muskets, rope, hooks, any other weapons you can find.” Graham shouted as he slowed momentarily.
“Nick, get any northern nautical maps you have. I’m sailing for Oronsa Island.” Then Graham took the stairs two at a time and sprinted down the hall to his room where he threw open the chest at the end of his bed.
A master blacksmith had helped him forge a sword using metal that had been a gift from his instructor. He had never used it before because he had never owned a possession like this in his life. It was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen until he met Charlotte, but he would trade this sword for her safety in a heartbeat. It didn’t matter that she could never be his. It only mattered that she
Blessedly a hot bath had already been poured and the male servants left as the female servants began bathing her in the hot water. Lord Bard had been right. The blood was difficult to wash and her skin was scrubbed pink to remove it all.
Charlotte was dressed in a fine wool gown. It told her that the day would be no warmer than the night, as the sun began to peek its first rays into her only window. So, she was facing east.
Her hair was dressed, pulled tightly back and coiled up so no strand could escape. It was in stark contrast to her normal loose style. The sun coming through her window burned her eyes, a reminder that she had barely slept the night before.
While she desperately wanted to escape, she needed some rest to make that happen, neither her mind nor her body would work correctly in its current state.
Lord Bard entered the room. He surveyed her appearance. “You are terribly beautiful. I don’t know when I have seen a lady more comely than you.”
She arched her eyebrows. Normally a scathing retort would have left her lips but she was exhausted and frightened. So she said nothing.
He stepped closer to her. His thumb touched her lips. She shivered with revulsion and fear. “You will be mine,” Lord Bard gritted out.
Charlotte turned her head away unable to look at his hard face and beady eyes any longer. His lips curled into a hard thin smile as he grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him. “Just so you don’t get any ideas, you will have a roommate. The priest will be here at first light tomorrow morning to make us man and wife.”
Her eyes grew large with fear. That didn’t give Graham much time. A sob escaped her.
His smile grew. “You could do worse than a marquess.”
“I don’t see how that is possible,” she sneered.
He smacked her hard across the face and she staggered back. “Obedience,” he growled.
Charlotte’s eyes filled with tears, but she refused to let them out. Lord Bard walked to the door and ushered a soldier inside who took a chair next to the window. She was sure another would be stationed just outside the door. Lord Bard turned back to her. “Eat and get some rest. I want a beautiful bride for my wedding day.”
With that, he was gone. He left the door open and for a wild second, Charlotte thought she could escape. But before she could even take a step, a line of servants come in bearing trays of food. Part of her wanted to refuse the marquess’ hospitality, but she would need her strength. She ate until she was full.
When she was done, the soldier stepped out, and servants changed her into new night clothes. Apparently she had been dressed for Lord Bard’s brief visit. She lay down in the giant bed and fell fast asleep.
STEALING A LADY’S HEART
CHAPTER SIX
Graham, however, did not sleep at all. As the men disappeared from view, he raced back through the woods toward his family. There was no use chasing men on horseback. Besides, he knew where they were taking her. He cleared the woods and picked up speed as he neared his brothers. They ran towards him. “Ready the wagon. Swords, bows, muskets, rope, hooks, any other weapons you can find.” Graham shouted as he slowed momentarily.
“Nick, get any northern nautical maps you have. I’m sailing for Oronsa Island.” Then Graham took the stairs two at a time and sprinted down the hall to his room where he threw open the chest at the end of his bed.
A master blacksmith had helped him forge a sword using metal that had been a gift from his instructor. He had never used it before because he had never owned a possession like this in his life. It was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen until he met Charlotte, but he would trade this sword for her safety in a heartbeat. It didn’t matter that she could never be his. It only mattered that she
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