Lilly Blossoms (Lessons in Submission Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

After tucking the stem into the vase, she reached for the tube and the white square of cloth. What were they doing there?
    Carefully opening the tube, she brought it up to her nose and inhaled. The skin on the bridge of her nose crinkled at the medicinal scent, recognizing that it was some sort of ointment. When she picked up the handkerchief, another note fluttered to the ground. Picking it up, she read:
    Wash your arm. Dry. Put on several three times a day. Try to keep clean .
    Well, he was certainly a bossy man, wasn't he? Did he think she was too stupid to know her arm needed tending—and how dare he imply she was dirty! Crumpling the note into a ball, she raised her arm to toss it aside when she saw the scratch. It was not only aching, it was filthy, with dried blood and dirt from both her climbing the tree and wiggling through the hedge.
    "Fine, are you happy?" she muttered as she poured some water into a small bowl and, using his handkerchief as it was already at hand and a sliver of soap, she washed the long scratch. Her teeth worried her lower lip as the scrubbing caused a bit of blood to seep. She continued washing and then dabbed at the spots until the bleeding stopped. She shimmied out of her dress and, standing in nothing but her shift and a pair of drawers far less pristine than Rachel's, she gave herself a quick bath. By the time she was done dragging a brush through her tangled curls, looking at the black strands and thinking her hair was the same color as the man's, her arm was fully dry. Her soft cry went unheard as she smeared the salve along the red line, her lips pursing as she blew along the scratch, attempting to cool slight burn.
    After eating a dinner of half a small loaf of bread, she followed the slightly bitter radish she'd eaten with an apple, using her knife to cut away the parts that were too bruised to salvage. She cut the last piece of smoked bacon and set it on the floor next to a saucer of water. "Your dinner, sir," she said, reaching out a hand to the scrawny orange cat who crept out from beneath the table. When he backed up, she pulled her hand back.
    "Not ready to be friends?" she asked. "That's all right. I understand." Turning away, she looked towards a small stack of books and then at the window. No, if she started reading, she'd only be able to get through a chapter before she lost what little light was left. Her second favorite activity would have to wait until tomorrow. Remembering the notes, she gave a soft laugh. From the lack of difficult words and his striking through the longest, she realized he must be uncertain at her ability not only to stay clean, but also to read. Before she could get too upset, she did remember she'd asked what tangible meant. He couldn't possibly know her past, or the fact that she had read and reread the few books she owned.
    She slipped onto the pallet that took up one side of her small room. She was tired and expected to fall instantly into sleep. Instead, the moment she closed her eyes, a man's face filled her vision. Though she'd often seen the color of the sky in a person's eyes, she'd never seen eyes that deep a blue, or ones that seemed to contain flecks of silver as well. He was easily one of the largest men she'd ever seen and certainly the largest she'd ever touched. She remembered the feel of his back against her chest as she wrapped her legs around his waist. Though he'd been hard as a rock, his hands when they'd taken hers to guide them around his neck, had been gentle.
    Yes, he'd frightened her and threatened to spank her and yet… yet, he'd told her a silly story to calm her fears. He hadn't attempted to chase her when she fled after the woman from the house had called out his name. She couldn't help a small smile as she remembered the woman's words. "Lord Carrington". His notes and the salve proved that he hadn't simply put her aside once she'd disappeared without even thanking him for the rescue. He certainly had lived up to the 'Care'