Honor Reclaimed (All About Honor) Read Online Free PDF

only two people on the
floor at this time.   “Eirian, come
here immediately!”   She had never
heard John speak in this angry tone before and it frightened her.
    “Yes, John.   I am here.”
    “Did you order your things brought
in to my chambers Madame?   I do not
appreciate you taking so much authority unto yourself.   You would do well to remember that this
is my home, not yours.   You have no
right to order the servants and rearrange my sleeping quarters,” he appeared to
be furious with her, and while she was a little frightened she stood her
ground.  
    “John, I did not order my thing
moved to your chambers, in fact, I had assumed that you had seen to the
proprieties.   It would seem the
servants were wiser then we.   We
are a married couple now and as such we should behave that way, at least as far
as the public is concerned.   I
would remind you that this is now my home, and as your wife I am the mistress
of your home.   I not only have the
right, but the responsibility to order the servants.   Just because we share our chambers, does not mean that
anything you are not ready for has to happen.   We can take our time and it will happen when you are
ready.   I am content to wait.”
    “Madame, I fear you have a long wait
ahead of you.   I may have been weak
once while in a drunken stupor but it was not you I made love to, not in my
heart; I just mistook you for my wife.   I am willing to pay penance for that indiscretion, but I will always
remain true to her memory.   You
will just have to reconcile yourself to that.   I have nothing more to give.   You can remain in here if it makes you feel better, it will
be no hardship to me.”   He
staggered across to the washbasin and poured some water out.   After splashing cold water in his face
he walked over to the bed, and while sitting on the edge, crossing one leg
across his lap in order to try to remove his boot.   He pulled clumsily at it but was unsuccessful at getting it
to budge.   Eirian crossed the room
and pushing his hands aside as she worked to pull the boot off his foot.   She then bent to remove the other
boot.   Despite him self, John could
not help but notice the comely shape of her rounded bottom as she presented it
to his view while she was removing the boot.   He lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling trying to
wish away the tightness he felt in his groin.
    The next coherent thought he had was
when he awakened in the morning alone in bed with a major hang over.   If Eirian had slept with him last night
he had no memory of it.   He was
fairly certain that they had not consummated their vows, as he remained
completely dressed other than his collar had been removed and his shirt laces
were loosened.  
    A noise in the dressing room drew
his attention.   He eased out of bed
and slipped over to the door, which stood slightly ajar.   The site that welcomed him brought back
a flood of memories.   There Eirian knelt with her head over the basin, retching
piteously.   He knew immediately the
cause and his heart sank.   Well,
that was just his luck!   How could
he explain a second baby born within nine months of the first, with his wife barely
cold in her grave?   He would be a
laughing-stock, and Eirian would be branded little more than a whore in the
minds of their friends and neighbors.   He was ashamed of himself and embarrassed for both his wife’s memory and
the reputation of her sister.   He
was having trouble remembering that the sister was now his wife as well.  
    He did remember the joy with which
each of his children had been welcomed and tried to feel ashamed of himself for
feeling nothing but regret over this one.  
    Compassion finally overcame
inertia.   He crossed the room and
bent to hold her hair back.   He
took the cloth from her hand and dipped it into the pitcher.   Squeezing the excess water from it, he
wiped it across her forehead and then placed it on the back of her neck.   A minute or