Telepathy of Hearts by Eve Irving Read Free Book Online Page A

only bit you Matheus. She has struck you who are six foot four and a tower of muscle. Priest ’s bones, for this is hilarious. ”
    Matheus sighed. “Not that it is your business, Sline. I upended her of course and laid her across my knee. I told her I would not be struck. Preparing her for some well- needed discipline I lifted her skirts and …well … Nothing prepared me for what I saw. ”
    Richard grinned in response. His lips lingered upon his words. “As Eve in Eden naked under her skirts and smock? ” He ventured, lick ing his lips in anticipation of the descri p tion.
    â€œNo need to excite yourself. What I saw was a disgrace. For some evil bastard had whipped her nates as if she was a beast. ”
    Richard was as shocked as Matheus . H is jaw dropped and his eyes narrowed. His face twisted as if pained. Matheus knew that reaction. It was from a man in love with a woman he had no right to.
    It was part of feudal life for a woman to be chastised and viewed so. In fact, a woman may think her husband weak if he did not chastise her for her misdemeanours. Wi l liam the Conquero r himself had set the example, s triking the butt of his troublesome fianc é and smacking Matilda ’s bare behind in front of his soldiers.
    The marriage had been arranged between William and Matilda ’s father. Like Eleanor , she initially refused, knowing him to be a bastard at birth and below her noble standing. He humiliated her until she agreed to their marriage. It was said the strength of his arm persuaded her that he would be a fine husband.
    So it was not that Eleanor had been given the birch —that was commonplace to encourage a maid to submit —i t was the extent of the damage . It was troublesome to Matheus that Eleanor had endured such a savage beating purely to force her agreement to marry him.
    He had always been a knight. Honour and chivalry were to his soul as his flesh and blood were to his bone — part of him.
    She may not have remembered him. But he remembered her. Wooden apprentice ’s sword in hand as a boy knight, he had defended her against Gelert, the King ’s wolfhound.
    Once seen, her eyes were never forgotten. They had been wide but remained tearless as she had stood upon the throne that day eight years ago.
    She ’d sat at her uncle, the King ’s knee but a day before. He knew her instantly. Those eyes glittered green and amber. Wide and frightened, they had looked across the room to him. He had walked from the throne room as a prisoner, E l eanor already his gaoler.
    There was a magic about Eleanor. Matheus knew it. I am drawn to her as if she enchants my very soul. Richard Sline felt it too. Perhaps every man who ever looks upon her is bewitched.
    Whatever sorcery that stirred in her was more compe l ling than the physical strength of mere man. He was feeling the powerful alchemy of jealousy, passion, and possessiv e ness hot in his veins. His body quickened just at the thought of her.
    Priest ’s bones, I am a fool for my heart aches for her something wicked.
    Long gone was the b oy with his sword of wood. H e was a man now; his scabbard sheathed a sharper blade. It was fashioned from steel and wielded by a more skilled hand that had yet found its match . If he knew the person who had marked h er so, he would itch to use it.
    With the flush of temper cooling he turned to Richard. Patting him on the back he said, laughing, “To further shame me, as if biting my lip and slapping my face was not enough, the bloody miss told me that as I covered her, I would never claim her a s her soul belonged to her drowned beloved. ”
    Richard Sline sprayed his ale, the jettison of fluid lea v ing his laughing mouth and dampening Matheus ’s gilet. “Oh my sweet Lord , did I hear you right? ” Richard grinn ed wic k edly . “My dear friend Matheus , who beds women for sport , is being put truly in his place by, of all things, a virgin