Becoming a Lady Read Free Page A

room.  No one would catch her eye, as they were too busy setting up for the day.  Not one person glanced her way.  Anna was fuming inside.  How dare they pay her no mind!  She grew more desperate with each step towards the door .

Evrain opened the main door, and gestured for Anna to walk through.  

Anna paused a moment before following his command.  She felt his arm wrap around her waist, and she gagged again. 
    “ Your touch disgusts me.”


    “ Your thighs have no tongue.  Perhaps I will wrap my cloak around your mouth to keep it that way.”


    Anna swayed and was pinched hard on the arm.  “I will find a way to get away from you.”


    “ You and I have business Sir, and now it is not to your liking.”   The tall man was standing in front of them.

Anna blinked but kept her mouth shut. 
    Evrain sneered, “Why is this woman so important to you, Sir?”


    “ That is of no concern of yours.  Let her go or we will quarrel.”   The man was staring above Anna’s head.


    Evrain moved the dagger from the small of Anna’s back to point it at the man.  “Your death will be on her.”


    The man pulled his sword and twisted his wrist so smoothly that Evrain actually seemed to admire it; instantly he was stretched out on the ground, felled by a single blow from the sword’s pommel.   He had knocked Evrain roughly on his head, and though it was not deadly, it would teach the man a lesson.


    “ I have never seen a man quarrel without killing his opponent.”   Anna was in awe as he reached for her arm.


    “ Do not mistake ‘did not’ for ‘could not.’”   The man led her around the inn.


    “ He said dirty, nasty things to me.”   Anna bit her lower lip as she walked unsteadily towards the horse. 
    The man picked her up and placed her on the saddle before mounting.  “Did you enjoy those things?”


    A nna spit on the ground.  “No!”


    “ Then do not think of them again.”   The man sounded tired.


    Anna huffed, “He touched me.”


    “ If you do not enjoy anyone touching you then perhaps it is something within you.”   His arms shifted, and Anna found his left hand close to her body.  He was not touching her, but she could feel the heat.  Anna reached over hesitantly and ran her hand over the top of his.  His hands were so large that she wondered if he could hold both of hers in one.


    “ You have no knowledge of the things that I have seen in my life, Sir.”   She moved her hand back.


    “ You are but a child.”   He shifted and moved his hand back to the reigns.


    Anna craned her neck to look up at him and was deeply surprised to see his dark stormy eyes looking down at hers intently. 
    “Perhaps you would ask what I have seen, Sir.”


    “ What things then, Little One?”


    Anna looked back at the trail. She felt a small flush run over her body at his choice of words.  They almost sounded like affection. “It is a rather long story, Sir, and I doubt that I can tell it with nothing to warm me.”  
    “ Will you share your story with me tonight?”   He straightened then, and she was very aware of how close their bodies were.


    “ If you will tell me what your purpose is.”   Anna stiffened, though she could not deny that his body pressed up behind her was less than exciting.
    “ I cannot share that information with you.  I do hope that you see I have not harmed you, and have kept you sheltered and fed.”   He drew up on the reigns and his arm passed by hers.


    Anna turned her head.  “That answer does not satisfy me.”   Surely this man could not be any more irritating?   He did not respond, which only further fueled her ire.  Anna narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips.  “Then what use of me, Sir?”   Her voice dripped with sarcasm over his title.  It was so hard to be respectful when she could not tell his