The Bear's Surrogate: A Paranormal Pregnancy Romance Read Online Free PDF Page A

with hollandaise sauce and a side of steamed lamb’s quarters.  He poured a clear liquid in a small glass that was next to Rachel’s plate.  She picked it up, gave it a sniff and felt her nose hairs curling.  “What is this?” she asked.
    “Oh, it’s Aquavit.  Our national drink.  You don’t have to drink it if you don’t want to.  It’s just customary.”  He smiled as he raised his glass to his lips. 
    “Thanks, but you can have mine.  I never was much of a drinker.” 
    Valemon laughed a deep, rich laugh.  “Anyway, after a few dozen years of being relentlessly pirated, the Norwegian crown proposed a truce.  They would allow us to become privateers, if we would just leave them alone, and give them a quarter of each ship we pilfered.  We readily agreed.  During that time, the looting of the Americas was well underway. We prowled the North Sea and downed English and Dutch ships loaded with cargo from Africa and the New World.  Made a pretty penny.”  He paused to take a bite of food, watching Rachel as she ate.  “After a while, it dried up, but not until we were beyond wealthy.  My grandfather decided to liquidate some of the gold into fiat currency and move it to Switzerland during World War Two, in case the Nazis found our home and sacked it.” 
    Rachel listened intently to Valemon’s story.  All the rich history of his family fascinated her to no end.  She ate her salmon in silence as he talked about his family history to the virtual stranger.  It was important that she understood how vital it was for her to produce an heir for him.   She didn’t want all this history to be lost due to a chance accident.
    “So, since the war, my family has been living comfortably off the interest my grandfather’s investments have brought in, and have no need to touch any of the principal investment.”
    Rachel nodded as she chewed on a mouthful of lamb’s quarters.  She noted a hint of lemon, which accented the already peppery flavor of the greens and they were quite delicious.   She swallowed and took a sip of water from the glass the butler had discreetly filled while Valemon was talking.  “Not many people still have...”
    “They’re employees, not servants.  They get paid the same as anyone else in Norway, and they get the same holidays and vacations as anyone in this country.” Valemon interrupted her gruffly.  He knew where the conversation was going.
    “Anyway, their families have served mine for generations and see no reason to change the status quo; they get paid handsomely and are treated fairly, that is better than what they would get doing the same jobs elsewhere.”
    Rachel looked abashed as Valemon pre-emptively corrected her assumption.  She picked up the red linen napkin and wiped her mouth as she finished her dinner.  She stood up and grabbed her crutches.  “I’m a bit tired, where’s my room?”
    Valemon stood up and summoned his butler with a button hidden under the table.  The whip-thin man quietly entered the room.  “Hans, please take Ms. Jenner to her room, she is tired from her day and wishes to retire early.”
    “Yes, sir,” Hans replied.  “This way, miss.  I had your belongings brought up to your room while you were dining.” 
    Rachel hobbled behind the butler as he led the way to where she would be staying for the duration of her time at the manor.  She hopped up the spiraling stairs to the balcony.  She couldn’t wait for the boot to come off so she could walk properly again.   Being limited in any way really irritated her to no end; luckily, she only had to put up with it for another three weeks.    She reached the top of the stair case and followed the butler around the corner to the east wing of the ancient house. 
    Hans paused at a large wooden door.  “Here you go, miss, your chambers,” he stated as he opened the door with a flourish.  He was taking perverse enjoyment at the poor woman’s awe and confusion, and wanted