Page 84 of The Beast Of Gloomenthrall

“You can’t be here.” Perri all but hissed.

“I can as long as no one sees me coming or going.” Swiftly closing the door behind him.

Perri backed up until her legs were resting against Alia’s bed. Do not think about the bed. Heavens, and certainly don’t think about how the two of them were alone. Nor how good Brandth looked.

It was difficult for Perri to shift mental gears, but the sight of him standing there ignited a spark of heat deep within her. Honey brown eyes sparkling with humour, a half smile clinging to his lips, his gold satin coat fitted expertly to his frame highlighting his lean muscular build. “Where are your crutches?”

“The steel boot is enough on its own now. You look like you had productive day.” His gaze skimming over the strewn parcels.

“This is only the extraneous, our costumes and masks won’t be ready until later tomorrow. I don’t know why they had to send us all into a frenzy announcing a last minute masked ball.”

“I would lay money on the Queen. Royal functions rarely go off as planned, she likes to test the candidates and their ability to cope with the unexpected. Now, how did today go… with Levi?”

The bark of laughter that escaped Perri was unplanned. “Equal parts torturous and heavenly.”

“Does he know who you are?”

“No. He didn’t appear to recognise my name. Perhaps he’s never enquired about his mother before, or more likely Regal has withheld the information. At least I got to spend the day with him. I don’t think he gets enough to eat. And his clothes and the state of his hair are horrendous. The very least I could do was feed him. But I dare not offer him a new wardrobe or anything of real value. Either Regal or his servants might notice.”

“You did manage one small change though.”

Perri smothered a gasp… how? Heavens, she was forgetting Lord De’Luca was one of the King’s master spies. Seeing all. Knowing all. “I acted the entitled snooty lady when I was introduced to a shoemaker. Luckily he was in on the deception when I demanded proof of his skills. All he did was add new soles to Levi’s decrepit shoes, along with several uppers in one of them, to even out his gait. It won’t cure his shortened leg, but it should lessen his pain and keep his hips and spine from contorting as he grows taller.”

“And Regal won’t notice?”

“He might. But I blithely suggested Levi inform anyone who makes mention of it that he hint that he is healing.”

“You sound frustrated.”

“It’s only a stop gap. He’s about to enter a critical growth period. It’s essential that he have proper footwear to even his legs, or his limp will only worsen later in life, along with the potential for him to develop a myriad of other problems.”

“He doesn’t know how lucky he is, to have such a fierce protective angel watching over him.”

Brandth almost sounded… jealous. No, she must just be overtired. It had been a very long day. “Oh, how did Alia do at the talent exhibition?”

“I was not foolish enough to attend, but I heard she displayed admirable knife throwing skills. No blood spilled.”

“That’s a relief. Following the archery competition, I believe the rest of today was deemed free time, no doubt she’s at the stable seeing to Domino. Well, thank you for… dropping by, Lord De’Luca.” Perri gestured to the door.

“Lord De’Luca? It appears I’m falling ever lower in your estimation.”

Untrue. But it was a good reminder that his standing as future Baron De’Luca was so very far above her own station. Perri could claim the title of lady. But that didn’t make her one. She was a healer. A soon-to-be widow. A mother. Perri’s thoughts so distracting she wasn’t aware Brandth had reached for her until his strong warm hand encased hers.

“My aim in visiting you was two-fold. To check on you. And to ensure that you’re still contemplating my invitation.”

Gulp. That wasn’t a dream? Or some silly tease on his part? That little spark of heat low in Perri’s body doubled in size. “Invitation?”

“For the two of us to come together.” Brandth drifted closer, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. “For a sinful… fun… dalliance.” He was so close now, Perri could feel his heated breath against her ear.

Darnation. Her knees were weak once more. Her body clamouring, far too happy at the idea of giving in to temptation and indulging in some illicit mayhem. Great-Aunt Mary would thoroughly approve of the idea no doubt.

Thankfully, the idea of baring all was like a bucket of cold water, waking up her common sense. Take off her veil? Allow Brandth to see her scars? Watch the sight of them douse the flame of attraction in his eyes? Replacing it with horror?

“I don’t require an answer right at this moment.” Brandth turned his head slightly, planting the softest of kisses just beneath her ear, at the very edge of the scarf. Oh my. Perri’s spine all but turned to liquid in sympathy with her knees. “Just remember, sweet harridan, that all cats look black in the darkness.”

Then he was gone. Leaving Perri once more free to collapse down upon the edge of the bed. All the while Brandth’s whispered last words whirling in a frenzy around in her head. His argument had just gotten an awful lot stronger… and oh so tempting, she ached.

Could she? Dare she?

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