Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 102573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
“You have been warned to stay away from the hounds, Uta,” Bhric said firmly. “They are not playthings.”
Uta’s slim bottom lip began to quiver. “Bones looked lonely.”
“Uta! How many times have I told you not to go near Bones?” the large man scolded as he stopped next to the hound.
“He’s lonely,” the little lass insisted.
“You need to teach her to stay away from the hounds, Harald, before there is a serious mishap,” Bhric ordered and noticed how the hound kept focused on Tavia.
“He’s grumpy because he’s lonely,” Uta said, keeping herself buried tight in the folds of Tavia’s cloak.
“Bones does look lonely,” Tavia said and went to step toward the hound.
Bhric went to grab his wife to yank her back and Harald went to hurry around her. They both were too late.
Tavia’s hand had reached the hound’s mouth and he sniffed at it. “Are you lonely, Bones?’ she asked softly and with a gentle hand rubbed his neck. The hound leaned into her touch, wanting more and she drew closer to give him a proper rub. “Come, Uta, rub him so he knows you are no threat to him and he will not chase you again.”
The little lass did not hesitate. She scurried around Tavia.
“This is Uta, Bones, and she wishes to be friends with you,” Tavia said and Uta’s hand rushed out to touch the hound. “Gently,” Tavia cautioned and Uta’s small hand disappeared into the hound’s fur to rub lightly. “
“Can I hug him?” Uta asked and before either man could object, Tavia said, “It is best you start with a gentle rub until he comes to know you better and trusts you.”
“I love you, Bones, I love you,” Uta said in a singsong voice as she rubbed him, and the large hound leaned against her. She gave a glance at her father. “See, Bones was lonely. Now he will play with me.”
Bhric turned a scowl on Harald. “The war hounds aren’t meant for play.”
“Aye, my lord,” Harald said. “Come, Uta, Bones must return to his pen.”
“After we play, Faðir,” Uta said and turned to speak in her singsong voice to the hound. “Come on, Bones, we’ll play together.” She skipped off and Bones followed alongside her.
“That hound was one of our best. He is no good to us anymore if he goes off so easily with a bairn,” Bhric said.
Harald shrugged. “I do not know what happened. Could be that your wife has a gentling touch.”
That she does. This morning her hand had drifted close to his manhood, soft and gentle, and the unexpected results had been the reason he had vacated the bed so fast, and the thought annoyed him.
“See that the hounds are kept hounds and not playthings for your daughter,” Bhric ordered harshly. “Especially Fen. He has been nasty, snapping and growling at anyone who goes near him since he last saw battle with my father.”
“Aye, my lord. Fen stays much to himself these days, the other hounds not going near him,” Harald said, then hurried off after his daughter.
“You, wife,” Bhric said, turning to her.
Tavia waited for the reprimand that was sure to come.
“Will not do something so foolish ever again.”
And there it was. “Aye, my lord,” she said and went to leave, disappointed that in three days’ time, he had barely spoken to her and when he did it was usually telling her what she should not do, what she had to do, what he expected her to do.
Bhric grabbed her arm, stopping her. “You smile often at Hume.”
“He gives me reason to smile,” she said, without thinking since conversations were always interesting with the young man.
Bhric leaned his face down close to hers. “And why would that be?”
A puzzled expression crossed her face. “He has a bright mind and is witty.”
“So, you think highly of him?”
“Aye, I do just as I think highly of the woman he loves… Hertha,” Tavia said.
“Are they wed?” Bhric asked.
“Aye, they were wed the same day Flora and Lord Torin were wed.”
“Something else you failed to tell me?” he accused.
She tilted her head slightly and a small crease appeared between her eyes. “I did not think it would be of interest to you, my lord.”
Truthfulness. That was what he saw in her eyes. It was difficult to miss, it sparked so bright, and that annoyed him even more. Had it been there before and had he failed to see it?
Tavia looked around for Hume, fearful for him though there was no reason she should be. It was the look in her husband’s eyes that worried her but why talk of Hume should anger him puzzled her.
“Anything that concerns my wife concerns me.” He saw that people were watching and with a firm grip on her arm he hurried her toward the side of a cottage.
Tavia felt the pull to her leg as soon as he yanked her, and she stumbled from the quick jab of pain.