The stern man looked worse than stern. His pose was stiff as rosewood. What more could he give, did he have to slaughter his kin with his own hands to keep her? He saw himself a man of repute, he didn't renege promises. He didn't revoke vows. He had sworn to protect the girl till she was no more or perhaps him no more. One and nine decades after his wife's departure, he still felt bond to that deathbed vow. He still saw the child as alive and that made him responsible.

"Do you rethink this? " the Governess asked with a frown

'Far from it. I only think how well you are manipulative" he spat disrespectfully

"I see" she replied with a smile. One that held promise and the stern man was familiar with.

"All you need is to offer him this one advice, which if you do quite well will be the last. Then I'll leave her to you. I keep to my words" Tue princess said

"What if they fail and are all 

There was a woodpecker next to her. That was Selene's first thought as she woke. The steady drumming of beak against wood assaulted her waking ears. What was a bird doing in her room? She thought carelessly.

With a meow, Selene turned to seek comfort on... Was her bed so hard or was she quite asleep? The warm watery movement on her lids made her jump. Had the candle wax melted on her eyes? Was she blind? And why did the bed tangle her so?

Selene opened her eyes to see the Lord's face, his left arm slung heavily over her arms, his legs tugged her inbetween his thighs, his body in the hard wooden chair and engulfing her, tucked between his frame. His lips were parted slightly as he breathed.

"My Lord...my Lord " Selene called

Her bare legs could feel the cold morning air and the warm body through the breeches the Lord wore.

"Lord" she called more loudly

"Go back to sleep" he murmured

Selene jolted awake, her eyes quickly searching the slightly dark corners of her chamber. What had woken her, she thought, totally troubled. Was it Mia, had her fever returned? Did she get harmed by a walker? Or maybe she just needed a walk in the garden. Selene took another deep breathe, trying to be positive.

The tap on the door came again and Selene heaved a sigh. It was Nina, no doubt trying to fix her bath and whatever she needed that morning. She slipped out of bed and went to the bedside table where a heavy silver key tied to a blue ribbon laid singly. She turned the door knob after the click of the key could be heard and pulled open the heavy door.

There stood the Lord, his eyes so openly raking over her frame till it landed in her bossom which was barely covered by the see through v-neck night dress. Selene rushed to the bed in a less subtle manner and pulled on her robe.

"Wh

The stern man looked worse than stern. His pose was stiff as rosewood. What more could he give, did he have to slaughter his kin with his own hands to keep her? He saw himself a man of repute, he didn't renege promises. He didn't revoke vows. He had sworn to protect the girl till she was no more or perhaps him no more. One and nine decades after his wife's departure, he still felt bond to that deathbed vow. He still saw the child as alive and that made him responsible.

"Do you rethink this? " the Governess asked with a frown

'Far from it. I only think how well you are manipulative" he spat disrespectfully

"I see" she replied with a smile. One that held promise and the stern man was familiar with.

"All you need is to offer him this one advice, which if you do quite well will be the last. Then I'll leave her to you. I keep to my words" Tue princess said

"What if they fail and are all slain? " he asked

"Oh they won't. Do not underestimate your enemy" The governess said with a smirk


CHAPTER SIXTEEN