Free Mysty McPartland by Black Warlock's Woman Page B

head and scowled. Damn, how late was it? He glanced around the darkened hall and noticed that it was completely empty. Where in blazes had everyone gone and how long had he been sitting immersed in self-pity? What in the hell was wrong with him? His mouth twisted up disgust. It was long past time to retire, he realized. Damn, he hoped his bath would be still hot; he did not want to go to bed with his wife, while he was stinking of horse and sweat.
    He rose to his feet and swayed, he grabbed the edge of the table to keep from falling. Blast it all, he needed to throw off this drink if he intended going upstairs to his bedchamber. With a great shake of his head and a few deep breathes, he staggered his way across the hall.
    W hen he came to the staircase, he grasped hold of the railing to help him up the steps. Step by slow step, he made his way up the stairs, until he was swaying unsteadily on the landing he had little choice, but to lean against the wall or fall over.
    Slowly, he made his way along the hallway, having the cold stones help him keep on his feet. At last he came to his door and grinned. Throwing it open, he stepped inside and with an out stretched hand swung it closed with a bang. He squinted, searching the chamber for his wife and frowned when he couldn’t find her. Damn woman! Where in the hell was she now? She should be here to help me with my bath.
    Staggering over to his empty bed , he cursed again as he sat down. He would go and find her in a moment, he thought, as soon as the blasted room stopped spinning. They were his last thoughts as he fell back across the covers and was asleep as soon as his body hit the mattress.
    ****
    Trista came awake early because of the light pouring in through the windows; she stretched and smiled as her gaze traveled around the room. It was such a beautiful chamber, but as she lay in bed she thought that it could do with a few touches to soften it up even more. She rolled over on to her side and stared out at the dawn sky.
    S he wondered at the Black Warlock’s lack in trying to find her last eve and came to realize that he held little regard for her. So, she should not have been surprised that he did not even try searching for her. When he found that she wasn’t there in his bedchamber waiting for him, he was probably relieved.
    Irritated and though she didn’t want to admit she was feeling disappointed: she forced herself from the bed, she quickly pulled her dress over her chemise and tugged on her slippers. Determined to put thoughts of her odious husband out of her mind she left the chamber.
    Excited , she was in a hurry to have her things moved into her new room and did not want to disturb anyone. She snuck down the stairs and along the hallway until she came to the closed door of Rieph’s bedchamber. As quietly as she could, she opened it and what she saw, she quickly put a hand over her mouth to stop herself from laughing.
    T here was the mighty Black Warlock sprawled across the bed fully dressed, his loud snores reverberated throughout the room. Even from this distance she could smell the fumes of alcohol and snorted in distain. She wondered what he would think if he knew that she witnessed him in such a weakened state. Well, the pig deserved it, she thought and ignoring him, with her shoulders set in determination, she entered the room and found her belongings.
    After gathering up an arm load, she took them up to her new chamber, repeatedly she returned to collect her possessions, until she retrieved all her things that she bought with her. The whole time her sotted husband hadn’t moved a muscle, he just lay there snoring loudly and she shook her head in disgust.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Eight
    Rieph groaned loudly and quickly placed a hand on his brow; he opened his eyes and quickly closed them again. His mouth felt fuzzy and filthy, damn why did he have to be such an idiot and let himself get drunk. He tried to sit up but fell back down and