The Devil Rogue by Lori Villarreal Read Free Book Online Page B

“Are you sure you’re as innocent as you claim ? ”
    “I assure you, my lord, I am as virginal as a nun . ”
    He laughed softly at this prickly little sprite . “You may be a virgin, princess, but you are certainly not convent material . I will find out the truth soon enough, and as my mistress, you will learn what pleases me.” And he would discover what pleases her .
    The reality of her situation hit Angela like a bag of bricks . S oon, she would be laying naked with this man, doing unspeakable things, nameless things, things that were completely unknown to her . Her mind drew a blank as she tried to conjure the mental picture of what he alluded to . Ignorance was bliss, she supposed, for if she knew what was in store for her, she may be inclined to run screaming from the house.
    She drew herself up with false confidence . “I am prepared to fulfill my end of the bargain, my lord.”
    “And I look forward to the consummation of our bargain, as well, princess,” he drawled . “However, d ue to your condition , as it were, I will give you time to recover from your injuries . You have a few days reprieve, a week at the most, and then I expect you to perform your services as agreed.”
    “You seem to be under the impression that I will back out, my lord, considering the number of times you feel the need to repeat the terms of our agreement . Rest assured, I am a woman of my word, and would not conceive of reneging.”
    “Point taken, princess . Now, I believe you have some chores to finish?”
    “Yes, my lord . May I ask you a question?”
    “You may.”
    “Y-you won’t punish the other servants ? I-I mean, as I told you, it was really my fault they ’ve behaved as they have .”
    “I think you are lying, princess . I know my own servants, and I’m in no way fooled by your attempt to cover for them.”
    Angela began to twist her hands together, unable to help herself . Fear and panic wedged its way into her heart. “Please,” she implored , not caring how pathetic she must appear . She could not allow others to suffer because of her.
    “You don’t wish them punished?”
    “Of course not ! As I said earlier, if you would punish someone, punish me.” Angela had to suppress a shiver of dread, wondering what kind of punishment he would deign to administer . Would he beat her ? Would he lock her away without food and water ?
    “Are you going to cry ? ”
    Angela thought she might have detected a flash of concern in his voice.
    “No.”
    “All right , then. I’ll punish you . Tell me, princess , what would you consi der an appropriate punishment?”
    “ I-I don’t understand.”
    “ You heard me. ”
    “Y-you . . . you . . . you’re not going to — ” S he couldn’t bear to speak the words . He wasn’t going to beat her?
    “I’m not going to what ? ”
    “Nothing . ”
    “No ideas , then ?”
    “No, my lord.” Angela’s knees were quaking . Her father had never hesitated in delivering her punishment . This was much worse – the suspense of waiting for him to make his decision.
    “ Well, since you can’t come up with anything, this is what you’ll do. You will bathe me every evening like a slave, let us say, for a week, during your recovery period. ”
    “What?”
    “Every evening you will bathe me . . . wash my body.”
    Angela was so relieved that he didn’t intend to beat her , she quickly agreed . “ Yes, my lord . Thank you .”
    He seemed rather s tartled by her response . Clearing his throat, he asked, “Is there anything else you require, princess?”
    “There is one other thing,” Angela asked tentatively . “My clothes . . . I have nothing else to wear while I’m here – Rosemary as well . I’d like to send for our things, if you would permit it.”
    “Your personal belongings and your maid’s will be arriv ing shortly . I took the liberty to send for them myse lf. ”
    “Oh, thank you!”
    “You may be excused from your duties in order to unpack . I expect to