Here is chapter two...Hooked yet? Don't let your mind think you know what is about to happen...This is not your typical story!
Chapter 2
The birds seemed to be chirping more loudly this morning to
Aspen. She rolled over in her bed and the crunch of gravel beneath
her hands woke her immediately. She sat up and rubbed the sleep
from her eyes and stared in shock that she, Kendric and Monica were
still outside. It was daylight and they had slept in the dirt like animals
all night! She nudged her brother and sister awake just as her father
strode outside. He was foul and she hated him more than anything,
with all of her soul. She would make sure he would pay.
“Kendric, I need yer help in the barn this mornin’, boy. And
Aspen, get yerself dressed and ready for the day. Monica, see what
yer mama needs help with.”
The three rose and Aspen stumbled, her muscles horribly sore
from her one-sided battle the day before. Kendric reached out to
steady her.
“Now, boy!”
“Be ready to go tonight, Aspen. We need to go this night,” he
whispered.
Aspen nodded her agreement and limped into the house to get
dressed. Kendric disappeared into the barn and Monica assisted
Lyndsay with the morning meal. Aspen glanced at her mother and
saw the circles under her eyes and the splotches of red on her face.
Her hair was a tangled mess of blonde and she wore her best dress.
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She could tell she had been crying…probably all night. Why
wouldn’t she leave? Aspen wanted to beg her and shake some sense
into her, but knew it would do no good. She removed her nightdress
and began to don her dress from the day before. It was laid out on her
trunk, dry and clean. She heard a gasp from behind her and turned to
see her mother white in the face staring at her, seeing the evidence of
the abuse left behind on Aspen’s small body. Aspen said not a word
and continued dressing.
She was pulling a brush through her hair when she heard a cart
and horse pull up to the house. She stepped curiously to the window
to see who it was. A carriage sat out in the front of her house, a large
black beast of a vehicle with a red crest emblazoned next to the
window, the black as sin horses stamping their hooves in the dust
chomping at their bit in protest of their halt.
Aspen jumped as her mother came up behind her and touched her
shoulder. Snapping her head back to stare directly into the saddest
sapphire eyes she had ever seen and anger boiled inside. Her mother
took the brush from her hand and beckoned to her to sit at the
table…which she did reluctantly.
“Ya know, Aspen, when I saw ya yesterday shaking with the cold,
ye reminded me of the morning ya were born. All purple and
shivering, quakin’ like an aspen tree’s leaves in the wind. Ye were
Aspen to me ever since. I love ye girl, never forget that.”
Aspen rounded on her, the brush only half through her hair. “Why
don’t you leave him and save us all, Mama?” she asked.
“”Cause if’n I did, he’d find us and kill us all,” she whispered. “I
canna have that.”
“So, you’d rather he beat me and hurt you every day? You know
what I think? I think I would rather have one day to feel free of him
than live my life afraid to sneeze! Why does he hate me so? I don’t
understand, Mama.”
Lyndsay sighed heavily, and went on. “When I was first married
to your da, he was not like this at all. The earl was not always our earl,
but his da was. But, he came out to visit and offer his congrats and yer
da was in the fields. As Wilford was taking his leave, he took my hand
and kissed the back of it, just bein’ kind. Yer da came in for the midday
and saw him. He was angry and I was already pregnant with ya so he
accused me of bein’ unfaithful ta him. He was not even here when
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26
you was born. I birthed ya meself.” Her voice shook at the memory
and she fought to keep the tears at bay.
Aspen’s eyes were moist at the shock of the revelation. Her mother
took her face in her hands and the tears welled in her eyes and
ultimately won their battle to trace a course down her weathered face
that at one time was so fetching. Her mother bent and kissed her lips.
Aspen could bear no more and rose from her seat to wrap her arms
around this woman she never really knew.
They hugged for some time and Aspen whispered in her mother’s
ear, “Let us all leave tonight. The earl can offer us asylum and he
would never know. If the earl cared for you once, he will again.
Please…”
“’Tis not going to be possible,” she choked out.
Aspen pulled back and studied her mother for answers, but found
none. “Why?”
Vatric burst in to interrupt any further explanation. “Ye look
presentable enough,” he muttered and opened the door wider. A
figure filled the doorway, but Aspen could not place him. He had
black hair that fell to his shoulders, straight as straw, eyes that were
nearly as dark. His skin was tanned and his lips were full. He wore
black leather breeches and vest, a full sleeved tunic of red silk
beneath. His boots were black as well and fit his legs to his knees, and
a cloak of heavy black velvet lined with red satin draped his wide
shoulders and hung to the ground, a shining black cane in one gloved
hand. Aspen stared wide-eyed at the stranger who looked to be the
devil himself and then her gaze darted questioningly to her father,
who stood with an evil smirk on his face. The stranger stepped fully
into the shack and walked to stand in front of Aspen, surveying her
from head to toe. Aspen noticed a limp as he came to her and
wondered why such a strong man would hobble so. The man turned
to Vatric, a smile playing upon his mouth. His voice was soft and
smooth as a sword’s blade.
“She shall do. I see much potential in her,” he remarked to her
father as if she was an unwanted cow he was willing to take off of his
hands. She had no idea what he was talking about.
Vatric stared at Aspen, a savage hate burned in his steel eyes. “Tis
past time we kick ye from the nest, girl. I guess we’ll see if ye fall…or
fly. Won’t we?”
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Aspen’s lungs clamped shut and she couldn’t breathe. Her heart
slammed against her ribs in disbelief. He couldn’t be serious. She had
no dowry, no worldly possessions, and this man looked to be noble.
What did he want with her?
As if reading her mind, he took a pouch from his belt, shook it
enough to jingle the coin inside and tossed it to her father. Vatric
beamed when the pouch landed in his hand. Aspen’s face drained of
all color and understanding dawned within.
“Ye want to act the harlot, I’ll sell ye like one. Ye be nice to the man
and he shall make sure yer family is cared for. I got nothin’ more to
say to ya,” he announced and stormed from the house, the gold
tinkling on his belt.
Aspen spun to her mother who was still streaming silent tears of
anguish. She hugged her daughter once again and whispered into her
ear, “This is yer chance. Make something of yerself and come and get
us,” she pleaded.
Despair washed over her and things began to grow dark. Sensing
her swoon, the man pulled a chair to her and sat her down. She had
been betrayed so many times by her da, and this was the ultimate of
all treachery. He was selling her to this man! Was she to be a maid?
Perhaps to his wife or the cook? There were so many questions, but
she could not find her words. Her tongue seemed as heavy as stone in
her mouth which had suddenly gone dry with dread. Kendric!
Monica! What would they do without her? She raised her gaze to her
mother.
“I want to say goodbye to my brother and sister,” she said cold as
a glacier.
Her mother’s hands worked her skirts, rolling and unrolling the
fabric between her fingers. She drew a deep breath. “Yer da saw to it
that they made a delivery to the village. They’ll not be back until
sunset, child. He thought it would be best.”
Anger grew and boiled hotter and hotter until it leaked forth like
steam in a covered pot. “Best?” she screamed. “How can he know
what it best for anyone when he cares naught for anything but
himself! My brother and sister are all I have in the world! And you,”
she stood and started toward her mother with nothing but loathing in
her heart. “You let him do this to us! I hate you for staying when you
knew he— he does this to me!” She drew her dress off of her shoulder
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28
to expose a lump of purple, pinks and black on her arm. Her mother
flinched. “I suppose you thought it would always heal, right? Well, it
may to those who have to look upon me, but in here,” she clutched at
her bodice to cover her heart, “In here, it will always be like an open
wound that will never heal. I will have to live with this pain and this
hurt forever, and all because of you!”
Her mother turned from her and sobbed, sinking to her bed on the
floor. Aspen’s heart twisted inside of her at what she had done, but
turned around to face the man in her house. Her chin rose a notch and
her stare was icy and unkind.
“Spirited wench, aren’t you?” he smiled. “Yes, you will suit me
fine.” He nearly chuckled at her, which stoked the fire burning in her
belly. “Let’s go, girl,” he ordered.
“My things, sir.”
He did laugh out loud. “What ’things’ can a girl like you possess?”
“I may be poor, but I have things that are special to me. I am asking
to bring them. Please.”
The man thought a moment and nodded his head. “Be quick about
it then. I shall await you in my carriage. But if you decide to run, it will
go much worse for you. My dungeon is not the place for a young
lady,” he warned.
Aspen nodded and knelt at her chest that contained what little
evidence she had of her life. She rummaged through and retrieved
two gold coins she had earned some time ago. She was saving to take
them away, but in thinking of their conversation the night before, she
slipped the coins into her brother’s chest. She closed her own and
hefted it to her waist and made her way to the door. She glanced back
at her mother who was still shedding her grief.
“You may as well have sold your soul to the devil, Mother. He may
even have been more kind,” she called over her shoulder. Then she
opened the door and slipped out into the mist.
The carriage driver jumped to the ground and grabbed the trunk
from her and secured it to the back. He opened the door and helped
her up into her seat.
She managed a small smile. “Thank you,” she said.
Her eyes found the man seated across from her. He tapped his
cane on the roof and the carriage lurched forward. Aspen was still in
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such shock at how her life was so simple and uneventful until
yesterday. She could feel onyx eyes searing through her to her soul so
she stiffened her back and tipped her chin until she could not see him
focusing on a crest on the inside wall. It consisted of a black dragon
spitting flames of red and orange, a crescent moon in one corner, a
blazing sun in the other. Two swords meet point to point at the
bottom, the hilt of one was intricately designed and the other was
plain red. Aspen wondered about its meaning for she knew crests
told some story of the family history or an important event that made
the family what it was. She thought of her own and how it would be
constructed her own. How do you picture treachery and hate? How
can you show bitterness and betrayal? She pictured a cold steel that
matched her father’s eyes and the strength of his blows, but she could
think of nothing more than a dagger piercing his heart. One day he
would regret what he did.
“Come now, lass. We are to be together for quite some time. You
may decide you want to be nice to me. Especially if you want your
family to thrive.”
She looked down upon him. “Sir, if you want me to be nice to you,
never speak of my mother or father again.”
He contemplated her words and fingered the dragon on the top of
his cane. “I should slap you for speaking so rudely to me. I am not a
sir, I am a lord. You will address me as such, Aspen.” He sneered at
her name as if it made him sick to say it. Aspen had always loved her
given name until it tumbled forth from this man’s tongue.
“My lord,” she sneered back, “despite what you might think, I am
a lady and you can address me as such,” she retorted.
He laughed long and loud, wiping his eyes before he could go on.
“You, my little mouse, are nothing like a lady and you are in no
position to make any demands of me. You are to be the focus of my
pleasures and nothing more. Be wise to remember that.”
Aspen fought the urge to throw up in his fine carriage. Her hands
shook and sweat beaded on her brow. Instinctively she clasped her
hands together in her lap
“Even though you are to be my mistress, you will have full roam of
my castle and the grounds. I will clothe you perfectly and feed you
well. I have no need for a bastard running around, so watch yourself,
because I will stop at nothing to keep that from happening. I will
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never marry you, so I hope you never expect that from me,” he
explained.
“What of your wife and family?”
He snorted in bitter annoyance. “I have no wife, no children and I
do not want that in my life.”
“You must be lonely.”
“Would you rather live as you were, being beaten and cursed
every day, or would you rather live for you and be independent?”
Aspen cocked her head to one side. “The only things I will miss are
my siblings. They have been left behind with no one to protect them.
My fa— I know he will hurt them.” She was embarrassed by her show
of emotion and quickly replaced her guard. The fire blazed once
again in the emeralds of her eyes.
Thorne saw that and knew he could lose himself in their depths.
She was not a common girl, but had the strength and the will of a
noble lady. She could be very, very useful to him and he would enjoy
shaping her to his hand. Her anger would supply some fuel for his
crusade.
“Tell me of your life, Aspen. I want to know everything about
you.” He grinned. His body responded to her roughened beauty. He
longed to sink his fingers into her tangled hair. Most of all, he wanted
to pretend he had no conscience and that she stirred nothing in him
but lust.
“My Lord, there is nothing to tell. My life was what you saw at my
home.”
“I think there is much to tell. You are educated. You speak
intelligently and proper. You walk with elegance and pride. I want to
know why.”
“Earl St. Michael wanted all children educated in our village. He
saw us as his future tenants and wanted smart ones and not stupid,
angry farmers.”
Thorne stroked his chin thoughtfully. “How interesting. I had
never heard of such a concept. Mayhap I will appoint you my village
teacher.”
“My Lord, I am an unfit teacher of children. How can I demand
respect when I am their Lord’s mistress?” she hissed.
“About that, you will be introduced to my public as my betrothed.
No one can say a thing if they think you are to be wed to me.”
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“I do not wish to be a teacher, My Lord.”
“You may not wish some things, My Lady, but there are things you
will do. If I say it, you will do it. Are we clear?”
“Yes, My Lord.”
“What else of your life? It sounds like you had so much to do. What
of the dress the earl gave to you yesterday?” he prodded.
Aspen moved her gaze to the countryside beyond her window.
“The dress was nothing. I ruined my rag of a gown on my way to a
performance, a musical performance, for the earl and his family. Her
Ladyship saw me and offered to find a gown of her daughter’s. I
thought it was but a loan on my own carelessness, but after I played
my harp it was given as a token of appreciation.”
Thorne’s brows rose in surprise. “The harp you say? You are fast
becoming more interesting than I had bargained for. What else do
you play? Men, for instance. How well can you play with me?” he
growled.
Aspen’s head snapped around to pierce him with the most
loathsome of looks, invisible daggers driving into his body. “I am
proficient in the mandolin and the flute as well, My Lord. As far as
you are concerned, you will never have me willingly. I am quite
ignorant on that subject anyway.”
“So you claim to be pure?” he asked, almost shocked.
“I do not know what you were told of me, My lord, but I am a
virgin. I have never even been kissed,” she proclaimed coldly.
“We shall see, my lady.”
Impatience spilled forth and claimed her tongue. “Why do you call
me that? You just said you would never call me that,” she spat.
“I do not recall those exact words, dearest. I said you were not a
lady and you could not demand anything from me. I suppose I call
you that to thwart your pride. It worked, did it not?”
She snorted back at him and crossed her arms in front of her
stubbornly. Despite her anger, she felt alive and invigorated. She felt
she could take her aggressions out on this nameless man. There was
nothing he could do make her any more miserable than she was at her
home. She no longer felt fear, only a growing strength in her that
would drive her on until she won the sick game her father began.
Thorne studied her silently, marveling at her will to win the verbal
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32
battles between them. She amused him, but he knew she could push
him too far. He needed the upper hand and not she.
“What is your name?” she broke the silence, still not looking at
him.
“I am Thorne. Thorne Darktower. I am the Earl of Cliffehaven.”
“You?” she clarified in disbelief. A laugh escaped her. “So, that is
where I will be your slave?”
“Does the lifestyle sound that way?” He feigned a pain in his heart.
“I will cater to your every need. You will be at my service. I will
worship you.”
“I would be a fool to believe that.”
She met his black eyes unflinchingly. He itched to reach out and
strike her down, but he took control and smiled when he thought of
the fun he would have with her.
“We are almost there,” he stated between his teeth.
Victory soared through her. She had bested him that time. She
knew he was angry, but she did not care. What she had said was the
honest truth. He was probably upset because of the truth that was
evident in her words.
She slid over in her seat to take in her new surroundings. It was
cloudy and the heavens threatened rain, the sweet smell of the moist
earth mixed with the brine of the ocean invaded her senses. She could
see homes in the distance that seemed to be in worse shape than her
own. Many appeared to be little more than tents. A magnificent castle
appeared on the horizon, its many turrets and battlements reaching
into the sky. An eerie mist shrouded its pointed tops like the hands of
a spirit trying to lift it away. An evil feeling pricked at the back of her
neck and she shivered to shake it off. Suddenly, Thorne was next to
her.
“Welcome home, my lady,” he whispered in her ear.
Her breath caught in her throat and apprehension strangled her.
“Thank you, my lord,” she managed.
The carriage pulled into the courtyard and came to a halt in front
of the massive wooden doors to the keep. Thorne stepped down first,
carefully avoiding his right leg and held out his hand to help Aspen
down. The thought of touching him repulsed her, but she was too
nervous to make it to the ground safely. She was afraid her knees
would give out, but Thorne slipped his hand around her waist to
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steady her. Once her feet connected with the ground, she righted
herself and waved him away.
Lord! She was obstinate! Just a few hours ago, he never would
have guessed her to be so. Yet, here she was, acting as though she
were walking into the lion’s den. He admired her courage and
marveled at her gall. She was quick, he’d give her that too.
He grabbed her wrist and pulled her back to his side.
“My lady, the staff will wonder at my betrothed’s etiquette if you
do not accept my hand of assistance. Place your hand atop mine, like
this.” He loved the feel of her softness; though her skin was
roughened, Aspen felt glorious against him. He could barely wait to
explore the rest of her…but first to pamper her. This girl would need a
bit of wooing, he thought.
They made their way up the stone steps and a man, a very old man,
opened one of the mighty doors of oak wherein the same crest was
carved and shiny brass handles adorned the front of each. The old
man stood tall and puffed out his chest in an attempt to impress
Aspen. She smiled at him and he simply stared at her, the life gone
from his eyes, his face wrinkled and his head bald. He was tall, but
very thin and gaunt but was obviously stronger than he appeared.
Thorne paid him no attention and kept walking into his home.
A slim woman stood at the bottom of the grand stone staircase a
few paces away. She seemed to brighten as Aspen neared her.
“I take it all is in order, Mary,” Thorne demanded.
The woman bobbed a curtsy. “Yes, m’lord. Her quarters are ready
for her,” she replied.
Thorne nodded and turned to take her hands in his. “Aspen, this
is Mary. She is your personal maid. I am paying her well, so keep her
busy. I think you would like to relax in a warm bath. Mary will take
you to your room and help you ready yourself for the evening meal.
I am sure you are starved.”
A bath! She barely heard anything else. She had her own room and
her own bath! She nodded, not looking at him, and pulled her hands
from his. She flashed her maid a smile and started up the stairs. Mary
hurried past her, surprised at her kindness and led her down a
hallway and then another and finally stopped at a door.
“Yer room, m’lady.” She curtsied and opened the door.
Aspen felt a surge of power overwhelm her. She had respect and
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position here and felt that she could bear anything to go on feeling
this important. But, what if the staff was in on his scheme? What if
they were all mocking her when she wasn’t looking? She didn’t care.
She could play a noblewoman and she would fool everyone.
Aspen stepped into her room and stifled a gasp of pleasure at what
she saw. A fire blazed in the massive fireplace to her left, a large
wooden tub was placed before it filled with steaming water…the
smell of lilacs filled the room. Her four post bed was set upon a
pedestal and was draped in red velvet, large pillows were fluffed and
filled the head of the bed to nearly the middle. She could barely wait
to go to sleep! A table was set beside the bed with a chamberstick and
candle sitting atop a doily. There was a large window which was
shuttered against the weather with a ledge under it for sitting. She
noticed a doorway to her right and strode to inspect the other side.
A wardrobe stood along the far wall and a table and chair was
placed in front of her. She spied something shiny lying on the table
and picked it up…a pale face of a girl stared back at her and she nearly
dropped it before she realized it was a looking glass…something she
had only heard of, but had never seen. She quickly replaced it, for her
reflection was pitiful. She had no idea she looked so wretched.
Spinning back around, she appeared to be inspecting her room for
comfort.
“I suppose this will do nicely,” she announced.
Mary seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
“There will have to be some rules as my maid. The first one is that
you call me Aspen in private. When his lordship is around, proper
names are a must.”
She seemed to relax more and even offered up a small smile of
gratitude.
“Now, the rest will come later. I wish to take my bath.” She smiled
inwardly at herself…it was wonderful to be noble and order others
around for a change!
Mary moved behind her to undo her laces that kept her rag on her
body. She sucked in her breath at the sight of Aspen’s bruises.
“I was thrown from my horse yesterday. Such a shame, the day
before I arrive, but they will heal. The water will feel wonderful and
will cure my aches. I know the dress is hideous, but please have it
washed and returned to me.”
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“Yes, m’lady. . Aspen,” she stuttered.
Once freed of her dress, she climbed into the water and let a
contented sigh fill the air. She sat back and rested her head on the
edge of the tub and allowed her hair to get wet and soak in the sweet
fragrance of lilacs. This was the first time in her life of nearly
seventeen years that she had taken a warm bath all alone, and she
reveled in it. Mary rubbed the bar of soap through her tresses and
handed it to Aspen to wash herself. Aspen knew she desperately
needed this bath…washing away the dirt beneath her nails and in the
creases of her elbows, the sweat in her underarms and the dusty film
over her face. It was amazing, realizing how bad she had smelled
after knowing what it was to smell good. Mary helped her emerge
from her bath and covered her in a blanket that had been warming by
the fire…and one was wrapped around her head to pull the wetness
from her locks. Mary motioned to her to sit in the high-backed chair
before the fire where she removed the blanket from her head and
spread her hair over the back of the chair to dry. Over and over Mary
brushed until the heat finally dried her hair and she could twist the
masses into a chignon and pinned it into place. Mary told her to stay
where she was and left her to disappear into the dressing room and
then reappearing with a dress the color of moss. She bade Aspen to
stand and drop the blanket as she helped her into the gown of green
silk. It was such a soft color…and heavenly fabric against her skin.
Mary laced her laces along her backside and drew the black sash just
beneath her breasts that dared to peek a bit above the low neckline.
The gown brushed the floor and the sleeves were long and tight to her
wrists accentuating her slender wrists and long fingers. Aspen felt
like royalty and a foreign excitement began to build within her. This
is the life she could look forward to, to be pampered and clothed and
fed…and give very little in return; just the part of her that was not
real.
There was a knock at the door not long after and Mary opened it to
her master. He filled the doorway looking formidable, but clean and
well dressed once again. There was a bit of light within his obsidian
eyes that had not been there before and it unnerved Aspen and a chill
tore down her spine.
“Chilled?” Thorne asked.
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A small smile touched her lips faintly. “Nay, my lord. Must just be
your darkness that made me shiver.”
“At the risk of making you shake from your slippers, I have come
to escort you to the evening meal. You must be famished,” he
retorted, sensing her humor. She looked absolutely stunning to him.
Not many women could make his heart leap, but she did. What was
it about her that wove a spell over him and made him lose his
sensibility? If he was not careful, she could surely drive him
mad…with the tilt of her stubborn chin, the smirk that played across
her delicate lips, her feminine ears he could now see with her hair
pinned up, her slender neck just begging him to dot kisses
over…Damn! He had to stop thinking about her until he was ready to
want to think of her. He realized he was standing there doing nothing
and she was looking to Mary with questions in her eyes. Thorne
cleared his throat and held his hand to her which she took by placing
her palm against the back of his hand and walked beside him
listening to her dress rustle against her legs. They walked the
hallways and down the staircase in silence, Thorne opened the door
to the great hall which sat nearly empty but for a few of the soldiers
that were off their rotation. Thorne led her to his table that was
arranged upon a platform where she sat at his right and he sat at the
head overlooking the dozen or more tables that were usually
occupied by many more persons. Upon the table was a spread of food
unlike any Aspen had ever seen…fruits of the season, lamb and
potatoes, jellies and cheeses, breads of more varieties than Aspen
knew there were. She could feel her mouth salivating as she stared
and smelled the aromas.
“You are free to eat your fill, my dear,” Thorne said to break the
trance she had seemed to fall into. He knew that showing her these
comforts would make her transition easier to handle…once a person
experiences this kind of life, they won’t want to go back to life they
once led. It was a chance at bribery, he supposed, but if it worked…
Aspen helped herself to much of what was there, all of it tasting
quite the thing upon her tongue, but she found her eyes were more
hungry than her belly and had to stop before she became sick with it.
“Are your rooms to your liking?” Thorne asked her between bites
of lamb.
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“Yes, my lord, they are perfect,” she answered him not looking his
way.
“As they should be…far better than you have ever known, yes?”
he said, his eyes boring into her. “What whore can you think of that
lives this kind of life?”
Aspen’s face grew red and her breathing came quick. “I don’t
think I like your topic of conversation, my lord.”
“What? Why? I thought you would be used to being called a whore
by now. Did your father not call you thus?” he said, picking and
picking at her to see if he could break her.
Aspen could feel the tears of embarrassment and anguish pricking
at her eyelids and refused to show him her sadness. She swallowed
hard and stood. “I think you are a horrid man and you cannot cage
me. If you believed my da, you are foolish as well! I am no whore! Not
yours, not anyone’s! I care not how much you paid for me, you will
never have me!” she screamed loud enough for the entire room to
hear and then stormed from the table.
Thorne stood and just missed her as he reached out for her. “You
had better come back, you pertinent little wench! Come back here, I
said!” But even as he screamed after her, he just watched her go
defiantly and determined. “I want two of you down there to guard
her room and notify me if she tries to run!” he growled sinking
himself angrily into his chair.
Aspen broke into a run as she exited the hall wiping at her eyes
with her hands and feeling foolish for letting such a man provoke her
this way. She had to find a way to leave this place, go back to rescue
her siblings and find a place to hide. Perhaps she could gain amnesty
from the Earl of Rosehill, work there to have some coin and find a
small house to keep her brother and sister safe. She threw the door to
her room open and shut it hard…she knew Thorne could hear her
outburst as he sat in his seat completely unnerved over the whole
thing. To him she was nothing and he didn’t care what he did or said,
he had enough money to ruin anyone’s life he chose to…hers was no
exception. Quickly, Aspen went to her wardrobe in search of her ratty
old dress she had come in earlier that day and could not find it. She
swore under her breath and grabbed a blanket from the foot of her
bed and proceeded to empty her trunk onto the middle of the cloth.
Roughly, she tied it closed and stood, wiping her hands over her
DAISHA MARIE KORTH
38
thighs and heaving from the excitement. She picked up the parcel
with shaking hands and took it to her bedside when Mary came in to
turn down her bed. Aspen sucked in her breath and looked about
nervously. Mary stopped to eyeball the parcel and the guilty face of
her mistress and a panic overcame her.
“Ye are not doin’ what I think yer doin’…are ye?” Mary asked
quite sweetly but fear shone in her eyes. “Oh, my lady…please don’t
run off! I know he is rough, but he will always get what he wants in
the end; and he wants you. If ye go, he will hunt ye till he finds ye and
we will all pay fer it in yer stead! I beg of ye…don’t be goin’,” Mary
nearly cried.
“I refuse to stay and be treated worse than where I have come
from. He can take his money and choke on it for I have responsibilities
that I must tend to! He is a horrible, spoiled child of a man and I want
nothing more to do with him!” Aspen fumed.
Mary began to bustle about and stoked the fire to be a roaring blaze
and then she laid out a white nightdress across Aspen’s bed…she
tossed the many pillows to the floor beside the bed and turned the
coverlet and blanket down off the full straw mattress. As she was
about to leave, she turned to face Aspen.
“Think of others beside yerself, my lady. I will pretend I saw
nothing and I hope ye will reconsider what yer about to do.” And
then she slipped out through the door and quietly let it fall shut.
Aspen thought of what had been said for less than a moment and
dismissed it as it were not her problem. Her brother and sister needed
her more than these servants who chose to serve a tyrant. No, there
was no decision to make. She sat upon her bed wringing her hands for
some time, darkness had fallen and she hoped Thorne had retired for
the night making it possible for her to sneak out from under his nose.
She carried her bundle to the door and set it gingerly on the
ground as she tried the knob and opened the door a crack. She half
expected to see the master staring at her when she peeped out, but he
was not there. She let out a sigh of relief and opened the door, picking
up her bundle again. She stepped into the hallway and to her
surprise, there were two soldiers keeping watch…and they saw her!
Her heart skipped a beat and she darted back into her room panting
with fear. She took her bundle to the pile of pillows and hid it beneath
and then strode to her window, desperate for a way out and finding
NOBLE COURAGE
39
nothing but a straight drop to the ground below. Frustrated, she spun
around as the door opened again and the darkness of the lord of the
castle stood there formidable and ominous, a fire distinctly burning
in his eyes…his fingers tightly clenched around the head of his cane
as he started her way. He was already very angry, so why shouldn’t
she make a run for it? It was a funny thing, though, because she stood
in the grips of fear and intimidation and felt rooted and trapped as the
devil himself was advancing upon her.
“Get away from me!” she screamed as loud as she could muster
and hoped someone would come to her aid.
“How dare you! I bring you out of poverty and supply you with a
suitable home, a soft bed to lay in for the first time in your life, enough
food to fill your belly, fine clothing to hug your body…and I have
asked you for little more than your loyalty! But any trust I could ever
hold for you is destroyed! How could you betray my generosity and
try to slip away?” he roared at her all the while watching her shake in
his presence and that gave him a feeling of power over her.
“I cannot stand the very thought of being anywhere near you, my
lord. You make my skin crawl…” Aspen said, resisting the urge to
spit on his shiny boots.
Thorne tossed his cane aside, grabbed Aspen by the arms and
shook her like the dickens to force some sense into her stubborn head.
She screamed and tried to push against him with her hands, but he
had them held so tightly, she couldn’t reach him. Her head was
everywhere and she was getting dizzy, so she did the only thing she
could think of and that was when her knee solidly connected with the
vulnerable place between his legs. He fell against her briefly and she
pushed him off of her and on to the ground. The veins in his neck
were bulging and he appeared to be gasping for air…Aspen had
never had to use that tactic before and really did not know how it
could devastate a man, but immediately she felt a stab of guilt
although it didn’t last long enough to alter her plans. Aspen went
after her things and started for the door when Throne reached out
and grabbed her ankle.
“You will not get away so easily! I paid dearly for you, so you I will
keep!” he croaked out. A scream escaped her again as she tumbled to
the floor and felt him pulling her toward him. She clawed at the
ground knowing that if he had her close, he would surely kill her for
DAISHA MARIE KORTH
40
her assault on him. Panicked, she kicked out at his hand to make him
let go of her but he held fast and refused to give in.
“Let me go!” she screamed at him behind clenched teeth. “I do not
belong here!”
Finally, he had her where he wanted her…right beneath him. He
pinned her arms above her head with one hand and sat on her thighs
to limit her mobility. He did not think he could sustain another blow
to the groin. She continued to thrash around on the floor until she
tired and just laid there panting from her exertion.
He looked as though he would snarl at her, but his words came out
fairly calm. “You are mine, and you would do well to remember that.
You have no say in the matter and it would be wise of you to accept
your fate at what it is before real harm comes to you.”
“You are vile!” she said back to him and spat over his fine clothing.
Thorne could not believe what had just happened and he wanted
to strike her down, to make her realize who he was. But instead, he
swore loud and long and pulled her to her feet just to throw her across
her bed.
“You are mine!” he roared again. “You are confined here until you
come to your senses!”
Thorne bent and drew up his cane and limped to the door
bellowing for the guards to stand directly outside her door and make
for certain she did not pass for any reason.
Aspen picked up the candlestick that burned beside her bed and
threw it with all her might at Thorne’s back but hit the wall beside
him. He turned around just to see her get the blanket containing her
things and hurl it his way as well screaming at the top of her lungs
and saw it fall just short of his boots. He looked up at her standing
there with her hair askew and her jaw set in anger, arched his
eyebrow at her and left her there. Once outside her door, a smile
broke his mouth of the gloom it had known for many years past and
he forced himself to keep from laughing. He had met his match.
Some time later, perhaps hours, Mary peeked back in on her and
saw that she was sitting at her window staring into the blackness of
the night…she was still fully clothed and her nightdress was still
upon her bed.
“Let me ‘elp ye into bed, my lady,” Mary urged.
NOBLE COURAGE
41
Aspen sniffed and turned her head toward her maid and then back
to the nothingness that lay beyond her window. Mary rested a hand
upon Aspen’s shoulder.
“Come…crawl into bed and you’ll feel better in the morn. Then, ye
can apologize to his lordship and go on about yer business.”
Aspen looked incredulous. “I will not apologize to him.”
Mary hung her head and sighed deeply, but was able to get her
lady to stand and have her dress removed and replace it with her
nightdress of soft white lawn with lace at the high neck and sleeves to
her wrists, the length all the way to the floor. Mary placed a warmer
under the blankets on the bed and fluffed the pillows her lady would
sleep upon.
Aspen climbed into bed and Mary covered her up, taking the
warm metal tray with her…Aspen delighted in the feel of a soft
mattress beneath her and warm blankets above and let herself lay
back against her pillow after Mary removed her hair pins, freeing her
tresses.
“Good night, Mary,” Aspen said quietly.
“Good night, my lady.” Mary smiled at her in the firelight.
“Tomorrow is another day.”
Aspen sighed and inwardly wished that she would die in her
sleep, which might have been possible if she had been able to sleep at
all. Every noise of the fire made her jump and the unfamiliarity of the
place made her uneasy all the way up until the sun began to lighten
the sky and she finally began to relax when her door opened and a
bath was readied for her. She groaned in protest and rolled over in
her bed to bury her face in a pillow.
Thorne woke to a bath steaming in the chill of the morning and he
wasted no time in jumping from his bed to his bath. He watched as his
chamber maid, Lilly, made up his bed and his hands itched to run
over the softness of her body beneath the gray of her serving dress.
She turned to him, sensing his eyes on her backside and tossed him a
smile to brighten his day. She came to the tub’s edge and wet the
sandalwood soap in her hands and reveled in the feel of his skin as
she scrubbed his skin, font and back…every last inch of him and then
she kissed his mouth to see if she would get more out of the morning.
He did not reciprocate as usual so she pulled back and frowned at
him.
DAISHA MARIE KORTH
42
“What troubles you this morn, darling?” she asked, her brown
eyes studying him closely.
“I have a feeling that this girl that arrived here yesterday is
proving to be as much an inconvenience as I had thought she would.
She tires me,” he whined.
Lilly clucked her tongue against her teeth and placed her mouth at
his ear, her hands toying with the patch of hair that covered his chest
quite attractively. “If she proves to be that big a problem, there is
always the big, dark, tower. The very one that made your grandfather
infamous. Throw the little wench in there for a spell and see how she
does. But, she will never take my place in your heart, will she? She
could never love you as I do…”
Thorne’s eyes grew dark and the thought of Aspen clouded his
mind, her dress rumpled, her hair a disaster, her lovely chest heaving
with anger and a faint smile touched him again. “Nay. She will never
take your place,” he replied from somewhere far away.
Lilly pulled away and frowned deeper as she could recognize that
look in him as one that threatened her existence.
Thorne had dressed and started down the stairs bound for the
morning meal when he was delayed by the calling of a desperate
woman.
“My lord! Wait, please!”
Thorne turned around to see Mary skipping down the stairs
toward him.
“What is it, Mary?” he asked impatiently.
“’Tis her ladyship. My lord, she will offer ye the words ye require
from her, but she needs to know ye will be nice after,” she said out of
breath.
Thorne’s eyebrow went up. “Nice? Perhaps if she would act like a
lady, I would seem nice to her. Lord, help me, I have been nice to her!
You of all people would not understand, but I have been nice!” he
barked.
Mary shrunk back a bit. “My lord, I only meant that she needs a bit
o’ patience from ye. Tell her ye are sorry for the bad way of things last
eve and she will come around.”
“Mary, if I wanted your advice I would have asked you. Thank
you, but I have nothing more to say on the matter. She stays where she
is…no food, only water. She will come to her senses soon enough.”
NOBLE COURAGE
43
Mary hung her head and Thorne retreated to the hall for his
nourishment. He had to be strong or she would end up ruling him
although he felt the tiniest bit of regret over shaking her until she
kneed him quite admirably.
Aspen refused to emerge from her bed that morning despite the
work that had gone into warming her bath. She laid there and tried to
sleep the day away, but kept flopping around in her bed thinking of
Kendric and Monica and whether they were better off with her or
without her. Images of her mother’s tear streaked face haunted her
mind and thoughts of how cruel life could be flooded over her until
she felt she could bear no more. She sat up to see Thorne sitting in the
chair before the empty fireplace, his fingers steepled against his
mouth, his eyes watching her intently. Aspen let out a sound like a
wounded animal and fell back to her pillow once again.
“Just let me go, my lord,” she begged.
“Sorry, I can not do that. Despite what you must think, it pains me
to see you like this,” he said quietly.
Aspen snorted very unladylike. “You have no idea what pain is,
for you are the one who distributes it to all those below you…which
you think is everyone.”
How wrong she was…somewhere, deep within his chest, his
shriveled heart began to beat again. He began to come alive after all
this time.
Throne stood, still unable to reach her. He motioned for Mary in
the hallway.
“Have cook make her a sleeping draught and we shall see if that
helps her mood any on the morrow,” he said with a kindness evident
in his voice. Then he cleared his throat and bellowed out to her…“I
had hoped you could show some manners and be able to join me for
the midday meal, but alas, your mood has not improved…so stay
here in this room, as comfortable as it may be, it cannot compare to
cook’s delectable morsels.” He gave a great sigh masking his grin and
took his leave.
His words made her stomach rumble and she covered her head
with her blankets to make him disappear.
Mary returned with a warm drink that Aspen slurped at
greedily…it warmed her belly and tasted of fresh apples and mayhap
DAISHA MARIE KORTH
44
a bit of brandy and just moments later, she felt wonderfully heavy,
her eyes crossed and she was lost to the world in deep slumber.
Thorne took himself off to his table where his meal awaited him in
the great hall…people bustling about and the buzz of conversation
floated all around him. He ate his fruits and cheeses, washing them
down with a swig of wine. He had so much work to do, he needed to
get the girl off of his mind. As he finished, he rose from his place and
retreated to his study where he pulled his record books from their
shelves and attempted to reconcile his funds and payments. His
fingers stole to his temples, massaging them in circles…it was so odd
that he had done this everyday for the last many years, but today
nothing made any sense to him, the numbers and figures all jumbled
together with his lack of concentration. He got up and paced the rug
before the mammoth fireplace, all the while his mind returning to
thoughts of Aspen. He let out a defeated sigh and decided to check in
on her. It had been hours since he had left her to fall asleep and as the
evening meal approached, perhaps she would feel up to joining him.
He took the stairs two at a time and paused with his ear to the door
to see if he could tell if she was up and about, but he heard nothing.
He cracked the door and poked his head in quietly as not to disturb
her if she was still sleeping and looked about. There she was, curled
up in her bed sound asleep, her breathing even and her face at peace.
He chanced a few steps toward her as softly as he could and she
stirred in her sleep, her hand finally resting upon her cheek and her
hair spread over her pillow. A smile touched him as he came to the
realization that he would rather be here watching her sleep than to be
anywhere else and once that thought came to him, he sobered and left
to go for a ride in the setting sunshine. He needed to stay strong and
not fall weak to the girl…he needed to keep his distance so he did not
succumb to temptation.
The feel of the strong horse beneath him and the breeze against his
face helped him to feel much more himself as he rode over the
countryside allowing the sights and sounds occupy his mind instead
of the impossible girl who lay sleeping within his castle walls. He saw
some wildlife that made him confident of the food supply this winter,
the trees and wildflowers all coming into bloom in the early
summer…the smells tickling his senses and rejuvenating his body.
NOBLE COURAGE
45
He looped around the village and rode on through as he made his
way back to the castle as the sun was nearly gone from view, he
noticed that plows were still unused and fields were still empty even
though he had made it clear that it absolutely had to be done. Well, he
would make certain they get the point within the next few days time.
These people had been lazy quite long enough, he reflected as his jaw
clamped shut in anger and his breathing came fast trying to control
himself.
He stormed into the castle, the black cloud above his head once
more, after turning his horse over to his stable lad. Henry opened the
door for him, as always, and he bellowed his orders for a tray to be
brought to his study where he intended to make a list of men who
were not following his orders and they would be imprisoned for their
lack in their duty. Perhaps that will get through to them!
Lilly brought him his tray with a trencher of vegetable stew and
some cheese with a mug of ale. Thorne motioned for her to leave it on
a table next to the fire. She seemed to linger a bit longer and finally
turned to Thorne.
“Have you decided what to do with the wretch?” she asked boldly.
Thorne cursed her for bringing Aspen back to his attention.
“Lilly, I have tried so hard all day just to not have to think of her
and now you just destroyed my concentration! I do not know what to
do with her, now leave me be!” he shouted and Lilly scurried out.
Lilly stopped outside the door to recover from her shock. He never
yelled at her. She sensed a change happening in him, one she knew
would make her dissolve from his life if she wasn’t careful. She must
think of the things that he loved in her, needed from her and play
them before him to capture his interest once again.
Aspen knew not how long she had been asleep, but she felt
wonderfully vibrant and well rested when she woke to what looked
to be a gloomy day. Mary peeked in to see if she was awake and
brightened when she saw her mistress sitting up in her bed.
“’Ow do ye feel this morn, my lady?” she asked with a broad grin
on her face.
“Very well, thank you, Mary. But, I asked you to call me Aspen,”
she said stifling a yawn as she stretched. “How long did I sleep?”
“Ye slept all day and night, Aspen. I do hope ye feel better,” Mary
said slipping her a look beneath her eyelashes.
DAISHA MARIE KORTH
46
“I had no idea how tired I was, but I feel like a new person. What
was that drink you gave to me?”
Mary cleared her throat. “T’was Cook’s sleeping draught. His
lordship was worried about ye not getting no sleep so he asked that
I get ye something to make ye more comfortable. He checked in on ye
all day, my lady. He really only has yer best interest at
heart…Perhaps ye should give ’im another chance.”
Aspen didn’t know whether to feel gratitude toward the man or be
angry with him for putting her to sleep so he didn’t have to deal with
her. But, she didn’t want to spend the rest of her days sleeping so she
thought perhaps she would try to start anew with him without
having to apologize.
“Can I fix ye a bath today, my lady?”
“I think a bath would be lovely, thank you, Mary.”
“I’ll get the water started right now!” she exclaimed, so happy that
her lady had come around.
Mary took herself off to round up John and the tub…and let his
lordship know that things were good again. She found Thorne at his
table eating a mixture of potatoes, pork, and eggs with some bread
and fresh milk. He looked to be in a foul disposition, but she sucked
in a deep breath and approached him with her news.
“My lord?”
Thorne looked up at her, seeing the light in her eyes. “Yes, Mary?”
“I have news for ye…her ladyship has awoken and she is feelin’
very well…well enough to have her bath. Perhaps ye could pay her a
visit and let her come out a spell…have a bit to eat.”
Thorne snorted at her. “She owes me an apology. When she is
ready for that, I will got alk to her.”
“Beggin’ yer pardon, my lord, but mayhap you owe her an
apology as well. It is yer home, but she has lost hers…There is bound
at be some anger in her. Perhaps ye could start over with her and see
how that works…” Mary said hoping she would not be fired from her
post.
Thorne looked as though he were thinking about what she had just
said, he grunted between bites and waved her away.
Mary’s heart sank for the girl and she took her leave to ready the
bath.
So, the girl was hungry enough to talk, eh? He knew it would
NOBLE COURAGE
47
happen eventually, but he would not do it right away, he would make
her wonder a little…She would know who was the lord and master of
this home, and it was not she.
Aspen had her bath and dressed in a white gown with a red sash
just below her breasts and Mary plaited her hair down her back.
Thorne didn’t come and didn’t come for much of the day, leaving
Aspen to pace her floor. She asked Mary to sneak her a morsel, but
Mary refused with her position on the line for that infraction. Aspen
grew angry and grouchy from the cramping in her belly and figured
she would let him know her frustration when he finally came to her.
Thorne had just finished the midday meal early that afternoon and
expected the girl would be hungry enough to apologize to a fly to gain
her freedom. Hopefully, she learned her lesson and would be willing
to bend to him as she should.
He opened her door to find her seated in the window, a brush in
her hands running it through her lengths as she gazed outside.
Slowly, she turned her head toward him as he entered, taking him all
in from head to toe…measuring him up with newly awakened eyes.
He knew he would not his apology from her by the look on her face.
He looked grand in his black breeches and long white tunic that
laced at his neck and ruffled at his wrists, his shiny boots meeting his
knees, and his long hair loose and ruffling slightly as he walked her
way with his cane in hand. She offered him a small smile, though it
nearly killed her to do so. Her belly gave a great rumble in protest and
she crossed her arms over her middle to quiet the noise.
“Good day, my lord,” she greeted him.
He had heard her belly even though she had tried to conceal it. He
knew she was hungry. He stopped before her looking down his nose
at her. “Good day. I am Thorne Darktower, Earl of Cliffehaven. We
welcome you here,” he said hoping she would play along with him.
Aspen recognized his humor as a way to say he was sorry for
treating her thus and knowing she should do the same thing, she
answered, “And I am Aspen Tiller, maid of Rosehill. ‘Tis a pleasure,
my lord.” She set her brush down and offered her hand to him, which
he took and kissed the back of it tenderly all the while keeping eye
contact with her. An odd sensation coursed through her and he
seemed to hold her hand a slight bit too long before letting go.
“I have some work I must tend to today, but I was hoping you
DAISHA MARIE KORTH
48
would join me for the evening meal in the great hall later,” he said
softly.
The mere mention of food made Aspen’s belly rumble again and
this time she cleared her throat to cover it up. “I would be most
honored, my lord. Thank you.”
Thorne nodded at her and left the room, a smug smile upon his
face. Neither of them could say they were sorry right then, but they
both accomplished what they desired.
Mary, being present in Aspen’s dressing room choosing a gown
for just such an occasion, overhead the whole thing and her heart
sang for them. Here was this special lady able to surely transform a
heartless fool into a gentleman.
Another bath was readied for her late in the afternoon in order to
be presentable for the evening meal. Aspen loved her baths, the
warm water caressing her, the smell of florals floating in the water to
perfume her skin, the way they relaxed her and lulled her into sleep…
A loud crack sounded from the fireplace and Aspen’s heart
jumped from her chest. Only then did she realize she had fallen
asleep in the water. She was cold, gooseflesh covering her body. She
shook convulsively as she washed her hair with the hard bar soap
that had been left on the side. She glanced toward the fireplace for a
towel to dry with, but found none. Where was her maid? Should she
not have woken her before now? Uneasy feelings crept into the pit of
her stomach and she resigned herself to getting herself ready for the
meal. She stepped from the tub and its freezing waters and pattered
to her bed. She snatched up a blanket that lay at its foot and wrapped
herself in it.
“You have a glorious body, my lady,” a soft familiar voice cooed.
Caught off guard, she spun in the direction of her dressing room,
a scream stifled in her throat, to see Thorne standing in the shadows,
his dark demeanor accentuated by the dancing flames across the
room. He seemed distracted and somehow far away.
“My lord,” she breathed. “You startled me.”
“You are a survivor, my dear. I took your blanket to see what you
would do when you discovered it missing. A noble-born woman
would have been screaming for her maid, teary eyed and throwing a
tantrum. You, however, took me by surprise and found something
else to do the same job as this cloth I hold in my hands.” He started
NOBLE COURAGE
49
toward her with the towel, his gait imperfect, never removing his
glassy eyes from her. He was close enough to touch her when he bent
to her ear and whispered, “You are an angel while you sleep.”
Aspen stood quaking before him unsure of how to respond to his
odd behavior. She thought quickly and stepped aside. She cleared her
throat, worried that her voice would betray her calmness.
“How much longer before we eat, my lord?”
“Not long. Mayhap even less than an hour. I shall leave you to
dress, you shall find a few gowns in the wardrobe. On the morrow, I
shall have my seamstress visit with all her fashion knowledge. I have
brought her here from Glendella’s Glade and she should be arriving
this eve. Then, we can remedy your clothing dilemma. I will see to it
that Mary rejoins you to assist you in your primping.” He smiled in
the orange glow of the fire. Another log cracked and Aspen visibly
jumped. A small laugh sounded from him, low and deep.
Aspen sensed in him that he did not like to always be a tyrant, that
he possessed a soft, vulnerable side that she thought mayhap she
could learn to like…just a little bit. She returned his smile, shyly, but
it was progress.
He lingered just another moment before he shuffled to the door.
Mary must have been waiting in the corridor for she immediately
appeared to be of service.
“Yer freezin’ m’lady!” she exclaimed. “Let’s get ya to the fire to
warm and I’ll get yer gown.”
“Thank you, Mary.” Her teeth began to chatter again. She moved
to the warmth of the inferno and shoved her hands closer to the
flames to melt away not only the chill, but the trepidation she still felt
for Thorne.
Mary’s steps behind her brought her from her thoughts. She
offered a sweet smile and let the blanket drop from her to slip into her
gown. It was a simple red frock of muslin, the long sleeves were tight
and the neckline was low, almost to the point of being immodest. Two
black satin bows laid over her shoulders and a black satin ribbon tied
the empire waist of the dress just below her breasts. Her skirt fell to
the floor but was split up the middle and an underskirt of black
brocade peeked through when she moved her feet. It was a gloomy
gown, almost evil in color, but it was a rich cut and easy to wear. Mary
dropped the black leather slippers to the ground and Aspen daintily
DAISHA MARIE KORTH
50
stepped into them. Despite her distaste for the colors, she found that
she loved the fashion and decided to have more made in more
cheerful shades.
Mary pulled a chair to the fire and asked her to sit to dry her hair.
She let the maid pull the brush through her tresses and winced
occasionally when the brush found a tangle. Mary spent near the
entire hour drying her lengths of mahogany and finally tapped her
shoulder to have her sit up tall. She worked nimbly with her fingers
and had a plait fashioned long down her back. She then took it and
wrapped around her head and fastened it into place with an ornate
gold pin. A few tendrils fell loose and hung mysteriously about her
neck.
“Well, well, m’lady. Ye are a vision,” Mary sighed, clasping her
hands to her chest. Aspen shot her a smile and ran into the dressing
room to fetch the looking glass.
Upon seeing herself again, she hardly recognized the face that
appeared. She felt like the most beautiful of all women anywhere,
more glorious than she had ever felt before. She absently touched her
cheek to make sure it was really her reflection she was seeing and her
lips broke into a radiant smile exposing her white teeth. She was
lucky to have good teeth, for many in her village did not. She handed
Mary the mirror and started for the door.
“M’lady! I am to take ye to the hall,” she said laying the glass on the
bed and scurried after her.
Aspen threw her shoulders back outside the hall trying to appear
as regal as possible before entering. Drawing a deep breath, she
nodded to Mary who opened the door and Aspen floated in.
Thorne was growing impatient with the little tart for she was late.
Why did women take so blasted long to dress? He drummed his
fingers on the worn table top that was scarred from decades of use,
muttering curses under his breath. Occasionally his hand would rake
through his midnight head of hair. Every sound drew his eyes to the
door expecting to see her, but she did not appear. He nearly hopped
from his chair, toppling it in his efforts, to go fetch her himself. Just
then, the door opened and in glided an apparition he was sure. She
walked with a grace he had never known and the gentle sway of her
hips drew his gaze to her flat belly hidden beneath the voluminous
fabric of her gown. His pulse raced at the mere sight of her and
NOBLE COURAGE
51
quickened as his eyes rested briefly on her breasts to continue on to
her face. She was not the little mouse she was upon her arrival any
longer. Her lips were full and red, her nose was not perfect but was
close, her cheekbones high and defined, and her eyes…Lord, her eyes
captured him and swallowed him into their deepest emerald depths.
Her auburn hair shone like a crown on her head with the braid
wrapped into a coronet atop her head. The little wisps of curls teased
him and taunted his senses.
Aspen was feeling inadequate and dropped her eyes to the rushes
on the floor, her tiny pink tongue darted out to wet her ruby lips,
tormenting him further. He never would have guessed it was the
same girl standing before him needing his approval.
“My lady,” he bowed. “you are an amazing creature.” He
straightened to dive himself into her spell once again. He took her
hand and laid a kiss upon her bare knuckles. He felt her shudder,
their eyes caught for the moment in a piece of eternity. “ I have never
in all my life seen such a vision of perfection.”
“Thank you, my lord,” she half whispered as she dipped into a
curtsy.
Her flowering scent wafted to him clouding his judgment and
nearly took her scrumptious body on the table. He bent nearer to her
and inhaled deeply to partake of the heady lilacs perfuming her
creamy skin and radiant hair. He had to put space between them or it
would become too much for him to control. He led her by her slender
hand to her seat on his right at the dining table. He pulled the chair
back and she sank gracefully to her delectable bottom he couldn’t
wait to feel beneath his hands. He took his own seat and began to fill
his belly with the victuals that had been prepared for them.
Aspen had not seen food placed upon a saucer before. Leg of lamb
smothered in a red sauce, roasted potatoes and a rice pudding stared
her in the face. She spied an object near the plate and picked it up. She
turned it over in her fingers and glanced toward Thorne. He was
stabbing his food with it and shoveling it into his mouth. He felt her
gaze upon him and paused in his eating to meet her questioning face.
A smile tugged at his lips and he cleared his throat to keep from
embarrassing her with his laughter.
“This is a fork. It is used to get food to your mouth without making
such a mess with your hands. See?” he demonstrated.
DAISHA MARIE KORTH
This was the best of luxuries! She must be in heaven and did not
realize it. Aspen nervously held it in her hand and began to scoop her
food onto it. She lifted it to her lips and slid it inside. It worked
amazingly! She tried it again and this time she impaled a piece of
lamb and ate it. She grinned in satisfaction and pride exploded in her
eyes. It made Thorne’s spirit lift to see her so proud of herself. Slowly,
he felt as though he were sprouting wings and one day would fly free
with her by his side.
First Place Winner in historical fiction in the Purple Dragonfly Awards for excellence in children's literature, and named a U.P. Notable Classic.
Feel like you are in the moment nearly 100 years ago with a young girl, daughter of Finnish immigr
Autumn 1940. Germany invades Britain. Newport is blitzed. Danny O’Shea’s house is bombed, his wife is killed. While taking his young son Adam to neutral Ireland, they witness an attack on a German convoy. The result is brutal.
Ireland 1967. The Summer of love. Or was it?
A holiday weekend. Amazing weather. American student Dakota Lacey is hiking around Kerry.
But there’s a sinister, dark side to the atmosphere. Lone female hikers are being brutally attacked.
Chapter 2
