Free Becoming a Lady by Adaline Raine Page A

died in.  She was led into a smaller set of chambers.  She was not aware of the time but was thankful for the tray of food that had been set down.  She went to take a sip from the goblet and suddenly went pale.  “I am concerned.”


    Lord William took the goblet and sipped it.  “You need not be concerned.”


    “ I lay down in bed all night with a dead man.”  Anna took the goblet that was handed back to her.


    “ Lord Wendel has been dead for over ten years.”  He sat down in a chair across from her.

Anna raised her eyebrows.  “So then what is this?  Did you inherit me like an ugly fruit bowl?”


    He was suddenly standing by her and he was not smiling.  “Speaking freely does not include sauce, make no mistake about that.”


    Anna shrugged.  “I have had a long day.”  She shook her head suddenly as if she was reminded of her position.  “I do not intend to backtalk, My Lord, but I am a bit foggy on what has occurred.”

    “ As the highest ranking official in Lord Wendel’s village, I assumed all of his possessions, including you, when he passed on.  As you were not married to Lord Wendel, in order for you to actually be treated as a lady, you would need to become my wife.”  


    Anna blinked up at him.  “As my tongue displeases you, I fear that will never happen.”


    “ It is not your tongue that displeases me.  It is your lack of discipline in public.”  He crossed his arms.  “I did ask that you trust me, which you have.”


    “ I did not take my own life because I believed that you were more honorable than the men who had hurt me.”  Anna took a breath.  “I trusted you, even when I believed that you betrayed me.”


    “ I have proven to you that I did not break your trust.”  Lord William kept his eyes on her.  “I am asking you to accept the title of Lady and become my wife.”


    Anna put a hand to her face.  She could feel a heat there that was unusual.  She took a sip from the goblet and set it down again.  “Is that the purpose you were unable to tell me?”


    He straightened and walked back to the other side of the table.  “Every man who has hurt you, save the beast that created you, can never hurt you again.”


    Anna nodded thoughtfully.  “Is that why you did not allow that fox man to steal me?”


    “ We are talking about the here and now.  There is no need to go over past events.”  He took a piece of bread off the center tray and bit into it as he sat down once again.


    “ You cannot perceive what happened to me the moment that I saw Lord Wendel in the doorway.”  Anna took another small sip from the goblet.
    “ Freely does not include questioning my motives.  I will say once more that I can just as easily allow you to stay in your current position.”  He shrugged.


    “ Then so be it!”  Anna snapped and stood up.


    He stood yet again, and moved quickly across the room.  He reached out and grabbed her chin.  “You belong to me as a possession.”  Lord William shook his head.  “I do not wish that life for you.  I want you to accept my proposal.”


    Anna scoffed.  “For a life as a possession is simply wasted?  That is all I have ever been.  No one has ever looked upon me with love!”


    He stared at her unblinking.  “Where do you think my actions come from?”

    Anna bit her lip and looked down from the intense probing from his eyes.  “Am I to believe, My Lord, that you love me?”


    He let go and took a step back.  “I have put myself at a great deal of risk since traveling to your village.  If you become my wife I will tell you a great deal more.”


    Anna sank back down slowly.  She was in an odd spot in her thoughts.  “I thought that you had betrayed me, My Lord.  I trusted you even when faced with the thought of that vile creature touching me every night.”  Anna looked up into his eyes.  “I