Free Dragonblade Trilogy - 02 - Island of Glass by Kathryn Le Veque Page B

in
the back her mind that the man was growing increasingly handsome.  He had a
very square jaw and a rugged beauty, but somewhere in his face lay a gentleness
just below the surface. She had seen it before and was seeing it now. It was a
gentleness that could instantly become terrifyingly hard.
    “I was not aware that I was
behaving like a child,” she replied. “It is my opinion that you were being
unfair. Naturally, I reacted.”
    His arms tightened around her.
“Unfair? How?”
    “By forgetting our bargain. You
promised to take me to Glastonbury.”
    “Did I say when?”
    “Logically, I believed it would
be immediate. You know that I am anxious to go. Why in the world would I expect
any delay?”
    “You went on a weak assumption.
All you had to do is ask when we would make the trip, not force my hand by
appearing in the bailey and demanding that it be this day. You knew that we
have to bury the earl, yet you conveniently overlooked that in lieu of your own
wants. Polite requests are honored much more willingly than imperious commands,
my lady. Have you not heard the old saying that it is much easier to catch
flies with honey than with vinegar?”
    She understood his meaning, and
she further understood that he was completely correct. It was difficult to
swallow her pride, but something in his manner made it a far easier to let it
go.
    “I have.”
    “Then know that I will move
heaven and earth to fulfill your polite requests. A sweet word will bend me to
your will far more easily than an overbearing command. And I can promise you
that the same will be said for every man, woman and child at Kirk.” His blue eyes
glistened. “We all want to love and respect our new lady. Give us a reason to.”
    So much of what he said was
prudent and true.  Aubrielle couldn’t help it; she smiled at him, thinking
there was far more to this man than the hard façade and brute-force manner. 
Although she considered herself the more conventionally educated one, she knew
that she could learn much from him.
    “Well said, sir knight,” she
murmured. “I shall do my best to remember that.”
    “Good.” Even though their
conversation was coming to a close, he did not let her go. He liked the feel of
her upon his thighs. “The priests have announced funeral mass for the earl at
vespers. My day will be dedicated to the preparation of that. But when it is
complete, I will organize a party to escort you to Glastonbury that will leave
the following day. Will that be acceptable?”
    “Completely,” she said.
    His response was to smile
faintly, glad she was being agreeable, glad she was sitting on his lap, and
generally glad that they weren’t locking horns anymore. She could be quite
captivating when she wasn’t throwing temper tantrums. They continued gazing at
each other until Aubrielle’s cheeks began to turn a charming shade of pink and
she discreetly stood up. Kenneth stood as well, wishing he could spend more time
talking to her, but he had duties awaiting him.
    “Can you keep yourself occupied
today?” he asked her. “Most everyone will be busy with preparations for the
funeral and unable to attend you.”
    “Posh. I do not need to be
entertained. I have much preparation for our journey that will keep me busy.”
She cocked her head as a thought occurred to her. “Did anyone think to send
word to my mother about his passing? She is his sister, after all.”
    “I sent a messenger last night.”
    “But we will not wait for her to
attend?”
    “It is June, my lady. It is
imperative we lay your uncle to rest so that his body will not putrefy in this
moist air.”
    It was a blunt way of putting it,
but she nodded her agreement.  As they moved for the door, Kenneth bent down
and picked up the infamous poker. Aubrielle looked sheepish as he put it back
against the hearth.
    “You certainly have a liking for
fire pokers as your weapon of choice,” he commented. “But at least I did not
suffer Everett’s fate.”
    She