His Lady Bride (Brothers in Arms) Read Online Free PDF Page A

as well I am returning to Penhurst. Uncle Bardrick is not likely to kill me himself.”
    “Are you certain?” He whirled, his face now without expression. “Dagbert seemed certain last eve your uncle would indeed end your life.”
    Gwenyth bit the inside of her lip. Aric spoke true. Would her own uncle put an end to her? For what purpose?
    Nay, ’twas all foolishness. Dagbert had never liked her. She, the daughter of a dead baron, would always be a dunderhead in the kitchens and a burden to the current baron. Dagbert had reminded her of that irritating truth often indeed. So had her uncle. Even so, would he truly see her dead?
    “Uncle Bardrick will see reason. He cannot turn family away thus.” She brushed Aric’s words aside with a flip of her hand.
    His skeptical expression bespoke much. “If Dagbert followed Lord Capshaw’s orders, why did the baron send you to wed me? Why not one of his own daughters, if he feared the drought so?”
    Gwenyth knew why. Uncle Bardrick had never wanted her there. He found her presence too distracting from his own two daughters, around whom the sun revolved, should one ask him. He would never offer up one of his precious girls to a man of dark powers.
    The dead baron’s daughter, who had been little better than a servant for some years, however, was of no import. She was a fitting sacrifice—young, untouched, and unnecessary. And Gwenyth would gladly choke on her pride before she would make the husband she wanted not aware of her sorrow and shame.
    “He lies about my uncle. Dagbert is naught more than a droning hedge pig filled with hot air,” she said, ruffled. “What does he, a mere foot soldier, know of a baron’s mind?”
    Aric’s thoughtful gray gaze touched Gwenyth and lingered. Bristling braies, why did the man always make her shiver?
    “He did not seem confused about your uncle’s orders,” Aric pointed out. “What shall you do if Dagbert spoke true?”
    Gwenyth, refusing to consider that, waved his words away. “My uncle would not dare harm me! No uncle would.”
    Her host’s lean face tensed until it appeared carved from granite. Pain, sadness eve, clouded his eyes before he turned away. “Anything is possible.”
    She glared at his broad back as he rested his large fists on his narrow hips. She would not believe his doomsday view. Aye, Uncle Bardrick had never thought much of her, but he had never wanted to see her blood spilled, either.
    “Such is possible only in your lunatic mind. Is that not grounds for annulment, your madness?”
    Aric turned to face her, crossing his thick arms over his chest. His face had hardened with vexation. “You cannot prove I am mad, Lady Gwenyth.”
    “But you do not deny it.”
    He released a long-suffering sigh. “I will deny that foolery until my last breath. You shall have to think of some other way to rid yourself of me.”
    “I shall cry male impotency, then. That will relieve me of you.”
    Aric cocked his head to one side, his arms crossed over a chest that should have been a warrior’s. A more potent-looking man she had ne’er seen.
    Gwenyth swallowed hard as he dropped his arms to his side and made his way toward her slowly. His massive, muscled frame blotted out the light and the view of her surroundings as he came closer. Gwenyth bit her lip as she glimpsed the hot challenge in his stare.
    “I shall be happy to prove you wrong.” His whisper sounded low and not well pleased.
    Gwenyth resisted the urge to back away. Had she pushed him too far? After all, he was her husband—for now—and well within his rights to demand she share his bed. She had no doubt he could fill every inch of that duty.
    “Nay.” She curled her shaking fingers into fists. “I shall have to be a maiden still for this marriage to end.”
    “True. But should you stay long as my wife, dragon-tongued or nay, do not expect you will remain untouched.”
    “You would have me unwillingly?” she challenged him.
    “I would