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Chapter Ten - Humiliated
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The Conqueror's Royal Slave Chapter Eleven - Sorrowful
The lesson didn’t happen. It must have been the horrified look on her face. Who was this man, this usurper who had neglected to install himself in the former King’s chambers?Instead, he lifted her bodily and took her across to the bed.“You’re freezing, little one,” he said. “Let me warm you.” He began to rub her arms and shoulders briskly.“I forgot to look for the necklace,” she murmured. Only when she’d been gazing at the rough flagstones had she recalled its loss.“What is it with you women? Always hankering after a bauble.”“She gave it to me, Clara. Only yesterday. For my birthday. The first gift I’d received from her in years.”Eithne became aware he was shaking her, though not hard. “Is it true? The raid happened on your birthday?”“My eighteenth,” she whispered, sadly. “It should be a time of joy and celebration.”Xander rolled onto his back.“Go,” he said. “Get out, before I change my mind.”“Do you really mean that?”Eithne looked with longing at the supper tray. Was prese
The Conqueror's Royal Slave Chapter Twelve - Insulted
The solar was no different from when she’d seen it last. Her mother was seated at the harp while Edgar looked her up and down with a wolfish grin. The strings twanged discordantly. Clara’s face resembled someone who had been chewing on lemons. “I heard you last night, little slut, moaning and screaming. Disgusting!” Eithne frowned. Did she mean … ? “It’s a rare vixen that enjoys being ravaged,” the Queen Dowager’s lover said, passing his tongue over his thin lips. “I had hopes for you, my daughter. Now I fear you will be relegated to service the lesser warriors.” “Rest assured, while ever I live, that will not happen.” “Service you well, did she, m’lord?” The leer was hateful and made her feel shame for something she had not done. “For your information, the Princess spent last night in her own chamber. Alone.” “You discarded her. Before or after?” Clara asked, as if she were discussing the weather or the price of fish. “Before. And I don’t answer to you, remember that.” So h
The Conqueror's Royal Slave Chapter Thirteen - Ravished
The time she had been dreading had arrived. She was back in the guest suite with Xander, sharing the wooden tub with him. At least he had had the decency – if that was the right word – to wait until dusk. “Your shyness is enchanting, my sweet,” he told her, running the washcloth over her breasts. She shivered. “I have rarely met such an inexperienced female.” “It won’t stop you taking what you want from me, though, will it?” “Rather me than anyone else,” he said. “I only wish Ephron had told me you were so young.” “You probably wouldn’t have believed him. After all, Mama was very convincing about my so-called precocious exploits.” “I didn’t believe a word of it, Eithne.” “And if I said I was looking around earlier in the bathroom for a concealed mirror?” His eyes narrowed. “How did you know?” he asked. Her outraged gasp told him she hadn’t. “Some distinguished guests my father had. I thought they were interested in the books when all the time … ” “I didn’t sneak a peek as you
The Conqueror's Royal Slave Chapter Fourteen - Dancing
She woke to the clatter of maids and heard her mother’s strident voice raised in complaint. That was one sound she hadn’t missed. Someone squealed and she guessed Edgar had goosed one of the women. In her opinion the girl had gotten off lightly. Xander was not in the room. In some ways that was a relief, in others not. Eithne felt vulnerable, unprotected. Throwing back the coverlet she rose and went into the bathchamber. Everything was still and silent, except for the nearby chatter and the sound of weapons clashing in the training area. Had he gone to oversee that, perhaps to participate? She told herself she didn’t care. Using some more of the water he’d inexplicably fetched for her, she washed as thoroughly as it was possible to do without immersion. A knock at the door sent her into a panic, but she knew it couldn’t be him and an intruder wouldn’t have taken the trouble. Not wanting to use her voice in case it fetched her mother, she went cautiously to the door, clutching the r
The Conqueror's Royal Slave Chapter Fifteen - Saviour
Flavius did not linger anywhere until they had left the palace entirely. As they crossed the courtyard, he squeezed her hand.“There’s no need to fear me, little one,” he said.“I – I wish I could believe that, messire.”“Oh, I’m not worthy of that title. And the names we used in the place of shame are taken from tombstones, as like as not.”He was right, she reflected. Place of shame about summed up the whole palace at the moment. Or was he just referring to the one room?“What do they call you?” she asked.“Bastard, mostly.” He smiled without humour. “Iain. No surname. As I said, I’m as illegitimate as the next.”She sighed. “I wish this horrible nightmare were over. Since the conqueror arrived things have gone from bad to worse.”“Do you mean Xander?” Iain snorted. “He’s just a jumped up mercenary.”“I thought so.”What was that lump in her throat?“But the way he looks at you, Princess. I’ve never seen him like that.”“The hate, you mean. The … ” She couldn’t bring herself to say
The Conqueror's Royal Slave Chapter Sixteen - Re-training
Xander had already primed his band of mercenaries what to expect. He had not missed the tremor which shot through the Princess at his words. Leaving her to suspect the worst wasn’t his intention but it couldn’t be helped.Neither he nor Flavius could have predicted what was about to happen after the morning meal yet it had worked out fine and at least Eithne had some respite from the relentless cruelty he had played his part in inflicting. The problem was, she was just too lovely a creature for him not to take advantage of her ripening beauty.Quite why he had told the Princess she was a disappointment after deflowering her was something he was loath to examine. It had been a despicable thing to do and not his finest hour. He refused to put it down to guilt, yet what else could it be?Had he shouted it out solely to impress Clara? If so, he really needed his head examining.This further ‘training’ session was designed to keep her from being exploited by Clara. In reality, though she w
The Conqueror's Royal Slave Chapter Seventeen - Danger
Eithne didn’t know what to think any more. Xander was confusing. The hate she had felt was buried in a dark chamber of her heart while she assessed the few positives she knew about. The mercy killing had been a necessary evil and he didn’t have to honour them with his cloak in lieu of a shroud. He’d defended her to Clara and even permitted her to spend the night alone in her chamber when she knew his preference would have been to use her as his plaything.This latest charade of training under the guise of keeping her safe from whatever else her mother might have planned was close to unbelievable. And yet, she could just about find it credible. He’d even hired a lady of the night, presumably to throw Clara off the scent. Fortunately, she hadn’t had to witness her pleasuring the men or hear her wanton cries.None of this mattered now when their very lives hung in the balance.“If we get separated in the confusion, find Flavius. He’ll protect you. If all else fails, go to Jocasta. She wi
The Conqueror's Royal Slave Chapter Eighteen - Reflection
Though it was a wrench to leave the area, Eithne knew it was for the best. Seated on the donkey, it was easy to pretend she had been born to poverty. Flavius had taken his leave of them some leagues back and the two women made their way to a distant village largely in quiet companionship.Jocasta often whispered to her own beast of burden but she had no inclination to do the same.“I hate him,” she said, on one occasion as they stopped to top up their water flasks.“Who? Your brother?”“Xander,” she replied, not meeting the older woman’s eyes.“Did he beat you, pass you to other men? Was he a vicious and brutal lover?”“I – ” She could not frame the words now, knowing she had probably gotten off lightly, though not by the standards of royalty.King Stephen had talked often of a code which meant that invaders with breeding would afford their peers respect. As a princess she had not expected to be treated like a common slave. Well, now she knew how the other half lived. Maybe she could
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