CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“I can’t marry him, I can’t! Please Mother, don’t make me do this,” Runa wailed. Adele felt her stomach knot up and forced herself to gain control and face Karl.

“Karl, I must think about this seriously. Renaud needs a wife of noble blood or high social position. She has neither. I do not think that this match is satisfactory for such a high ranking member of our clan.”

“Such modesty!” Karl chuckled as he stepped over to the young woman and ran a caressing hand up her arm, feeling the smoothness of the supple, smooth skin underneath the rough cloth of her dress. For a moment his hand trailed perilously close to the trembling right breast of the young woman and Richelleen felt Adele go rigid. Would he dare fondle the child right in front of them? If he does that, I will kill him here and now, Richelleen vowed to herself.

But her uncle contented himself with kneading and prodding the muscles of Runa’s arm and shoulder. “Small, but there is good strength here, he remarked. Seeing the outrage in their eyes, he added, “There is no need to be troubled or angry. I have no intention of hurting this child. My intentions are true, to make a good match for all concerned.”

Renaud walked to Runa and grasped her chin, forcibly turning her face to his, examining her as if she were a horse to add to his stock. “You know nothing of what excites a man,” he whispered, enjoying her discomfort. “But do not worry, innocence excites me and there is great beauty in you. When you are my wife your beauty will blossom, like a flower after the spring rain.”

His false endearments and talk of love made the young woman long to scream with fury. Her mind whirled with images of plunging her darning needle into his black heart.

When his fingers touched her cheek, Runa could not repress her shudder of disgust. “See, Karl, she trembles for me already,” Renaud said, then he seized her in a violent embrace and pressed his bearded face into her neck making the girl gasp in pain.

“Enough Renaud!” Karl ordered and the captain released her. Raising her hand, Runa touched her throat, now red and angry from his embrace. “I know you are hot to make her your own but the wedding will not take place until after our coup d'état. The taste of conquest will add extra delight on your wedding night.”

The captain was breathing hard as he eyes ran over Runa’s body and his voice, when he spoke was thick with lust. “Very well, Karl. But she is young and sweet and tempts me greatly.” He addressed the weeping girl. “Do not concern yourself with your fitness to be my wife, 'Little Flower'. You will learn to want and service me and Karl assures me that you are intelligent, even for a female.”

Richelleen wanted to fly at him for his words, but she held herself in check. She must be clever, use all of her wits to change Runa’s fate. Allowing her Uncle to see her enraged would only make him watch her more closely.

Perhaps she could convince her uncle to postpone the marriage by reminding him that Runa was not prepared for marriage and that Renaud was leading his men in a dangerous mission and he might be killed in it. The thought of the captain’s death made her cheeks flush with warmth.

So, giving Adele a reassuring pat on the shoulder, Richelleen forced herself to say. “At the moment, school still occupies Runa’s time. Perhaps with she finishes this year, she will find more time to prepare herself for marriage.”

Karl frowned and addressed Adele. “She will not need further schooling now that I have done your family the honor of making this match. You will now turn your attention to teaching her the demands of running a household.”

“Karl is right,” Renaud said. I have a large wagon and summer home in the south but it has suffered from the lack of a woman’s touch. Running a home and pleasing her husband is where her education now lies.”

“Yes, in addition to the home, Renaud said, his gaze roving over Runa’s body yet again, “do not forget that she must learn the virtues of motherhood.” With a toothsome grin, he slapped her on the rump and left the room.

to be continued....

© 2005 Rose Carr

Contact the author:  Rosematuse@aol.com

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