Free Lord of the Blade by Elizabeth Rose

Boltoff?" The baron had a faraway look
in his eyes, as he accepted the cup and took a small sip.
    "Your youngest brother," reminded Corbett,
realizing Kenric's memory was still severely affected from his long
illness.
    "Ah, yes, and I would have liked to have
seen him too." He smiled at Devon who took the cup from his
outstretched arm and replaced it upon the small table. Her back was
toward Corbett, another disrespectful action. He wanted to take her
and shake her. He wanted to kiss her till she surrendered, and gave
him everything he wanted. But he did nothing.
    "After the main meal, I plan to go on a hunt
to bring back some venison to help you regain your strength,"
continued Corbett.
    "Venison would be nice, as I now seem to
have regained my appetite."
    So had Corbett. He watched Devon's breasts
strain against the laces of her bodice as she bent over to help the
baron sit up in bed. The venison he wanted was right in front of
him. Damn. How was he ever going to concentrate on the hunt when
his thoughts lay below his belt?
    "Shall I rekindle the fire, Baron Kenric?"
interrupted Devon. "The room is damp and I wouldn't want you to
chill."
    "That would be splendid.
    As Devon stoked the embers and gently placed
kindling atop to create a small flame, the baron watched as if he
had never seen this done before.
    Clearing his throat to regain the attention
due to him, Corbett resumed his conversation with a commanding tone
to his voice.
    "Malcomn wishes to join in on the hunt this
morn. With your permission, of course."
    "Hmmm? Oh, yes. Malcomn." The man finally
snapped out of his trance. "That foolish boy will surely someday
get himself killed."
    "Is it by your will he stays behind and
joins my hunting party at a later date, my lord?" Corbett could
only hope the answer would be yes. The last thing he needed was
Malcomn along on a hunt. His pompous attitude was sure to spoil the
outing. Either that or his inability to keep up with the rest of
them or his clumsiness with weapons.
    "Nay." Kenric shook his head as if in deep
thought. "I am sure he will be safe, as long as you are at his
side."
    Damnation and hellfire, his day was going
from bad to worse. First the wench steals the baron's attention
from him and now he's saddled with a boy for the next day who can't
even call himself a man.
    "You know I'm a loner," explained Corbett
hoping the baron would change his mind. "I am used to doing
whatever I want, going wherever I please. I'm not sure Malcomn will
desire these actions."
    "Do not mind my son," reassured the baron. "He may
object, but you are still lord of my land. Do as you please, he
will not bother you."
    Defeat settled over Corbett. His attempt to
rid himself of the Malcomn backfired.
    "Yetta!" called the baron to Devon as she
stoked the raging fire. "Mayhap when you are finished, you can find
me a bite to eat."
    "Aye, my lord," she replied, not even
correcting him for calling her by the wrong name.
    "Yetta?" Corbett didn’t understand. "Her
name is Devon."
    "Oh, do you already know her?" asked the
ailing man.
    Corbett saw Devon watching over her
shoulder. She still hadn’t acknowledged him, and he thought it a
good lesson if he returned the favor.
    "Nay, my lord. I don’t believe I do."
    He saw her spine stiffen and noticed the way
she jabbed with fury at the embers. A tenseness settled over the
room. No one spoke a word and the silence was only shattered when
Gilda boisterously made her grand entrance when she barged through
the door.
    "Kenric!" she exclaimed, carrying a goblet
as she approached his bed. As her fur lined gown swept across the
floor, the bright blue velvet of her attire and her large obnoxious
headdress seemed to Corbett a bit too formal for so early in the
day. "You're sitting up," she gasped and her eyes widened.
    "Yes, Gilda," the baron said with a smile.
"I owe it to my new maidservant's wonderful care."
    "So, I see." The baroness glanced at Devon
who now busily occupied herself on the other side