Page 22 of Saxon Blade Norman Blood
“I told you I wasn’t.”
Her eyes narrowed dangerously. “Who is she then? You are clearly aroused. You must be thinking of someone you will see later, if this is not for my benefit. So, who is she?”
William tensed up. This was the opportunity to put an end to his ill-advised affair with Cwenhild once and for all.
“No one that should be of interest to you,” he answered calmly. “But since you force me to talk about her, I am informing you that I will not come to your bed anymore.”
As expected, this announcement did not go well. Cwenhild started to wail and hit at his chest, heedless of who might hear her.
“I’m warning you, William. I will kill you for this humiliation!”
He only smiled.
Oh no. The privilege of killing me belongs to someone else.
8
Rowena was met with hostility everywhere she went. The people employed at the castle seemed to agree their master was demeaning himself by taking a Saxon girl to his bed. The women’s disapproval was tinged with jealousy, the men’s with lust. She almost wished they knew the truth about the reason for her presence by William’s side. At least they might stay clear of her if they believed her to be dangerous.
To make matters worse, they did not seem to credit her with any intelligence whatsoever. Though they had seen her converse with William often over the last couple of days, they spoke to her as if she barely understood what they said and stared at her in astonishment when she answered back in their language.
In her frustration, she rebelled and went on with the pretense she could not understand their instructions when it suited her. She peppered her speech with Saxon words, something she never did with William.
On the morning of the third day, two maids planted themselves in front of her when she crossed the courtyard and blocked her way. The tallest one spoke first.
“We are going to change the sheets in the master’s bedchamber. I bet you have not slept in such finery before,” she said, smoothing her hand over the soft wool she was holding. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you slept with the pigs at home.”
“Leave it, she doesn’t know what you’re saying, and she’s not in the master’s bed tosleepanyway,” her friend said brusquely. “Though I’ll be damned if I understand what he seesin her. There is no accounting for tastes, I suppose, but my brother told me he would not take a Saxon if he was stranded with one on a boat in the middle of the sea, and he’s had more than his share of women.”
They managed to sound offensive, condescending, and crude at the same time. Rowena’s temper flared.
“Just make sure the sheets are properly cleaned this time. The linen I found when I arrived would not be deemed fit to wipe our bottoms with,” she answered in her best Saxon accent. “And I’m sure your master would not be pleased to know you spend your days talking about what happens in his bed rather than attend to your duties. As for your brother, I’m sure he’s lying to you. No woman of sense would let him anywhere near with that foul breath.”
The maids inhaled in shock and disappeared without a word.
“What was that?”
Rowena gave a start.Damnation. If she had known William was watching she would not have let herself be riled so. “I-I had to say something. Everyone here behaves so rudely toward me. The maids told me… I cannot tell you what they told me.”
“No need, I heard them.”
There was a hint of ice in his voice, and she could tell he disapproved. He would address the maids about their behavior later, she was sure of it. It gave her the courage to carry on.
“Your people seem to consider it below their dignity to address me, yet take a perverse pleasure in doing so. They seem to think I am no more intelligent than an animal. I would hate to disappoint them.”
“Ah. Hence the outlandish accent and unintelligible Saxon mutterings.” He sounded no longer perplexed but rather amused. “I was wondering.”
“I am glad you find it diverting.”
“Can you tell me how the people here are supposed to think you educated and refined when you talk like that in their presence? I daresay they have never heard anyone talk about wiping their bottoms before.” His lips stretched into a smile.
“What they think of my intelligence is the least of my problems. I am more concerned about what they think of my morals.” She was stung, and did not try to hide it. “You heard how they spoke to me, but that was nothing. I have heard much worse.”
“I can imagine.” The ice was back. “But then again, they think you are my mistress. Of course they would assume we do more in bed than sleep. They probably imagine us locked in all sorts of erotic games where I submit you in a perverse display of power, just to show you who is master.”
In anyone else’s mouth the words would have been unbearably crude. Spoken in his silky voice, they created a ripple of longing inside her. She forced herself to ignore it.
“If you do not approve of how your servants speak to me, why did you not intervene?” She would have enjoyed seeing the two women upbraided by the man they considered like a god.
