In His Cold Embrace

Chapter 4

MIXED P.OV.

I was busy in the parlor, cleaning the hearth when I heard females talking loudly come in.

"Well, I just cannot believe that  you will be the new lady of Domayria, Cecile," a high voice gushed. I stiffened immmediately and came out from beneath the fireplace. I turned around, my presence oblivious to three females. One was a curvaceous redhead wearing a peach chiffon gown. A tiny brunette wearing a pale yellow dress stood beside another woman dressed in a peach coloured dress. All seemed to be rather pretty. I turned back to my work  but a cold voice stopped me.

"Are you eavesdropping in my converstaion, slave ?" 

I spun around it was the redhead." Hardly," I muttered and turned away.

"You forgot my title," she said and her friends giggled. 

Cecile.

" I must leave the room, so will you please excuse me, Lady Cecile."

She narrowed her eyes at me."You're new here, slave.Your name?"

I gritted my teeth."Rosemarie Simmons."

"Don't you know that claiming to be apart of a royal family is a serious penalty."

" I am Lady Rosemarie," I snapped."I've never heard of you, could it be that you're just some common wh-"

A heavy slap stung my left cheek. I gasped in shock, hardly feeling the pain anymore.

"Do not forget your place, bitch. I will be the new lady of Domayria and once I am, you shall be no more."

I stared after her as she left with her snickering friends. I could only feel angry at Ryder. Damn him for putting me in such a predicament of being a commonslave ! The nerve of him, I huffed. Just then the door opened, I turned quickly thinking it was him. It was the same slave girl i'd met before. "Did ye just upset Lady Cecile?" she asked, suspiciously. I scowled at her and was about to reply, but she beat me to it.

"You're a stupid bitch, ye knows that ? Lord Ryder ought to give ye a sound punishment, such as a night in the dungeon. Or perhaps just drink ye blood."

My heart sank to the floorboards. He had a dungeon ? And he would drink my blood ? I felt faint, but was it really fear I felt at the thought of having his lips on my skin. I blushed and the girl shook her head, " I was sent here to tell thee, that milord will see ye in thy bedchamber after ye has prepared a bath for him."

She was gone before I could reply. I had no idea how to prepare a bath, as my maids had always done that for me! I scurried up to his bedchamber immediately, feeling like a trapped bird.

I knocked timidly, but there was no answering response. I took a deep breath and entered, thinking the less I saw of Ryder the better. I quickly drew the bath filled with warm water straight from the kettle and sprinkled ivory bath salts. I was on my knees running my hands in the water wishing for a bath as good as this, when a voice made me jump in surprise.

"Why didn't you call me, Rosemarie?" 

I wouldn't admit to him, but I liked the way he said my name. As if it were a caress. I looked up at him shyly, the darkness of his expression apparent. I looked down and curtseyed as my manners came back to me. Why in the devil did this man have to be so charmingly handsome ?

I heard the shifting of clothes and looked up again. I gasped, he was removing his caravat and his jacket slowly, which must have meant I was to leave. I was about to walk past him when a hand got ahold of my elbow.

"Where do you think you are going,wench?" he whispered in my ear and a shiver went down my spine.

" I-my lord, I must be on my way to report to Carol that your bath has been drawn," my voice sounded weak. I hated how my body reacted to his closeness. He pulled me even closer and began to nibble in my ear. I tried to free myself in vain. I did not want to feel the sensations he would always create. I did not want to be left in a mess of need when he would push me away.