Unleashed by Abby Gordon Read Free Book Online Page B

join me?” he asked politely.
    With a soft smile, she nodded. “I will.”
    “Good. If you’ll tell Mrs. Anders, then?” he asked, adroitly putting her into the role of mistress of the house. “If you need anything, she can get it for you.”
    “I’ll tell her,” Amanda replied as he rose. “Milord, you won’t be outside long, will you? The storm could start anew.”
    He smiled down at her, bent slightly, and took her hand. Bringing it to his lips, he kissed the knuckles.
    “I’ll be warm in my cloak and, if the storm returns, I’ll return to my accounts.”
    A smile lit up her face.
    “I see now,” she said with a teasing look. “You want to avoid dry papers and numbers.”
    “Indeed,” he drawled, enjoying this new side of her.
    He kissed her knuckles again and left the room. With a contented sigh, Amanda picked up her teacup and curled up on the couch. Several moments later, Mrs. Anders found her staring into the fire.
    “All finished then, miss?”
    “Yes. It was wonderful. Oh, his lordship said he’d like to dine earlier this evening as it will be just the two of us.”
    “Of course, miss. Anything in particular you’d like?”
    Following her master’s lead, Mrs. Anders guided Amanda into the duties of running the household. She took her to the kitchen, where the young woman delighted the normally crotchety chef with expressions of how wonderful the food had been. When Amanda asked what the chef considered his best dishes, she saw how the kitchen staff stared in awe as the man brightened and his haughty manner changed completely. He guided her to a stool near the fire, drew up two for himself and Mrs. Anders, and they began discussing meals.
    ****
    Donning his cloak and gloves, the lord of the manor smiled, wondering if he had need of them. The softness of her hands, her gentle teasing, and her warm smile had put a heat in his blood.
    Why didn’t you probe her mind? It was the perfect opportunity. She would have offered no resistance.
    He strode outside, determined to cool the fire and regain control of the beast that thrashed about in his mind. He sensed the pack nearby and smiled.
    Bane.
    His pack of wolves appeared as he walked through the garden. He wanted to inspect the storm damage to the cottages that sat half a mile beyond the manor walls just before the woods began. Going through the gate, he could see the activity around the twenty small buildings. Every able-bodied man was working, including many of the boys. Mothers kept a close eye on their youngsters as they swept at the drifts. The children tossed snowballs at each other, ran about in the snow, and fell in tumbling, laughing heaps.
    Seeing their lord out with his beasts, the women paused, calling to their children. Not wanting to frighten them further, Wulfgar ordered the pack to stay back as he moved toward the cluster of cottages. With a disgruntled bark, the leader sat down, followed by the other six.
    Wulfgar spoke with the men, making sure they had all the supplies they needed for the repairs. When one man mentioned needing more nails and shingles, Wulfgar sent two older youths to the manor for the supplies. Wulfgar turned to the nearest woman, asking her if they had sufficient foodstuffs for when the storm resumed.
    With a smile, she nodded, scooping up the toddler that started toward the nobleman. Wulfgar eyed the child in his mother’s arms. Clapping his snow covered mittens together, the boy turned to look at him. Wulfgar caught his breath. The boy had one light blue eye and one the color of topaz. His eyes. Amanda’s eyes. In one child. The mother misinterpreted the lord’s look and clutched her son to her breast. She stepped back.
    “He’s not cursed, my lord,” she insisted, looking at him with light blue eyes. “He’s a good boy. Bright and cheerful.”
    “I’m sure he is,” rumbled the deep voice. “Who is his father?”
    “I am,” the man stepped forward, putting a protective arm around his wife.
    He