Page 24 of Saxon Blade Norman Blood
“How very flattering.” She made a grimace.
“Isn’t it? Though of course that is Leowald’s point of view. I did not say I shared it.”
“Does it mean you believe me capable of more than dumbly translating words from one language to another?”
“Oh, much more. You have already shown that you can think on your feet,” he purred. “Or on your back as the case may be.”
The allusion to the way she had enticed him into bed, then followed his wicked instructions caused the girl to gasp out loud.
“How dare you speak to me thus?” She bunched her fists.
“You are taking exception to the way Ispeakto you?” William barked a laugh. “I would have thought you weren’t in a position to do anything else than to beg for my clemency. I could have you arrested, or worse, for trying to kill me.” He shook his head to indicate he did not intend to do so. Nevertheless, she needed to understand he was being exceptionally lenient—and she, utterly unreasonable. “A Saxon girl attempting to kill a Norman lord… You wouldn’t stand a chance.”
She would be killed. The Norman barons were ruthless in their bid to ascertain their domination over her country. If he brought the girl to his peers explaining what she had done, they would not hesitate in showing her who was master now.
He could not allow this. Being punished was one thing, being humiliated quite another. Besides, she hadn’t actually done anything to him yet. He had not even seen her with the dagger in hand.
“Hand me over then.” Though she was at his mercy, she seemed determined not to beg.
Good. He liked people with backbones.
“Not yet. I told you I had plans for you. Leowald will be here in a few days. You are safe until then.”
*
The mirror of polished silver was truly a marvelous object. Rowena walked to the corner of the room where the light was brightest before looking at herself. She had never seen her face so clearly before, there was no comparison betweenthe image staring at her now and the blurry reflection she had glimpsed in rippling pools and puddles.
Fascinated, she contemplated the oval of her face, in which her blue eyes seemed to take half the space. Her nose was bigger than she would have liked but at least it was straight. Her mouth surprised her for she had never imagined it would look so full and inviting. Her lips had the same plumpness she had admired on many women before and their rosy color was most becoming.
With some surprise Rowena realized she was staring at a beautiful young woman.
Still looking in the mirror, she lifted her chin and turned her head every which way, trying to capture the image from all angles and imprint it in her memory. Now she would know what people saw when they looked at her. It was both intriguing and unnerving. She tried to smile and found she could not.
“Do you like what you see?” A deep, masculine voice cut through the contemplation.
Feeling caught out, she replaced the mirror on the table. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.”
William made one of his elegant waves of the hand, indicating she had done nothing wrong. “It’s no issue.”
“Only… I have never seen my face like this before,” she explained, heat creeping up her neck.
“Then you don’t know what you were missing. What do you think?”
The question took her aback, but less so than the comment. Had he just said he thought her beautiful? Yes, he had. “I suppose it’s h-harmonious,” she stammered.
“Harmonious,” he repeated, sounding suspiciously like he was mocking her choice of word. “I think it’s much better than harmonious.” He walked over to her and traced a pathfrom her temple to the point of her chin with a light finger. “It’s beautiful.”
Rowena was rooted to the spot by his caress and the fire dancing in his eyes. Then he allowed his thumb pad to rest on her bottom lip, and his eyes widened.
Hers must have popped out of her head at the sensation this simple gesture provoked in her. Something loosened in the pit of her stomach. She took a step back and gave a little cough. The sensual smile he threw her in response had a devastating effect on her. She felt short of breath and hot all at once. Shockingly, she understood that if he decided to tumble her into his bed right now, she wouldn’t push him away. The notion made her shiver in self-loathing. Her attraction for this man was infuriating and degrading, but she simply could not help it.
Even more surprising was the appeal she exerted over him.
For a reason that passed her understanding, William seemed quite taken with her. There was a glint of desire in his eyes when he looked at her that could not easily be explained. As it served her purpose, she had not stopped to wonder what it was about her that could appeal to a refined nobleman like him, but he did seem drawn to her.
And he had just called her beautiful.
“Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror?” she asked, hoping to gloss over her embarrassment.
