Dark Enchantment Read Free Page B

there are limits to every man’s honour.
    For far too long he held his action, while Surya clung to the fading sunlight glow in her breast, willing it not to die. Then she heard him step forwards. He took her wrist. He pulled her upright and she sat, head swimming, trying to focus, feeling the burning in her rent sex.
    ‘Get dressed,’ he told her.
    As she obeyed ineffectually, tugging her skirt down and fumbling the torn edges of her robe across her breasts, he followed his own command and donned his armour and cloak. He didn’t look at her. Automatically, she smoothed her hair.
    ‘What … ?’ she whispered.
    He put his finger over his lips, casting her a sharp impersonal glance. Then he went to the door. As he opened it his body blocked the gap, and she was not in the line of sight of anyone in the corridor.
    ‘Captain Felic,’ he said, the hoarseness of his voice more marked than ever, ‘I want you to see to the body.’ He ushered another man into the room, then shut the door behind him. Surya saw a soldier whose long hair was greying and she shrank a little into her seat, conscious of her torn clothes. He looked her in the face and raised his brows.
    ‘Sir?’
    Mershen put his hand on the captain’s shoulder and spoke to him in a voice so low that Surya could make out none of the words. The instructions took some time. Felic chewed the inside of his cheek and blinked hard, but showed no other sign of emotion. Then Mershen turned to look at her one last time. ‘Wait till nightfall,’ he said thoughtfully.
    ‘Sir.’
    The Glorious General left without another word to her, without a smile, without explanation. The soldiers’ boots drummed on the corridor boards, and when they were gone Felic went and sat himself in a chair, stretching his legs out. His expression was mostly one of resignation.
    ‘What was his command?’ Surya asked.
    ‘We wait. Until nightfall.’
    My name is Raihn and I am third concubine to Lord Mershen. I was born Surya, daughter of General Imerho, may his star look down upon us, and when I was eighteen I was slain and reborn. I was brought secretly to Lord Mershen’s private house on his ancestral estate, where I now live. It was four months until I saw him again. He is risking everything by keeping me alive and we have to be careful.
    I live with Mershen’s other concubines. There are only three of us. They’ve treated me kindly, to my surprise; they know nothing of my true history and nothing he or I do must arouse suspicion. He does his best to keep up with us all. It’s a good thing he has a most spacious bed.
    I am happy, though I miss using my bow. It is a noble-woman’s hobby not normal among other classes.
    I tell you all this now, my child, while you are still within me. It must never be spoken aloud. Mershen says that when you are born he will adopt you. But the Radiant Emperor must never know that the bloodline of Imerho lives on.

Pique Dame
    AT LAST MY governess and the other girls go. Pauline lingers for a while, anxiously, but I don’t encourage her. It’s a relief to be on my own
.
    My words are sweetly plaintive, falling like raindrops through the air
.
    I remove my house gown, preparing for bed. I’ve told the maid to leave the French windows open, because the night is fresh now that the rainstorm has passed. I light my candle, turn back my sheet and brush my hair out. But I’m restless. I climb upon the bed then spring off again. My agitation grows. I should be looking forward to my marriage to Prince Yeletsky, but I cannot. Ever since that chance meeting in the Summer Gardens, my heart has been thrown into turmoil. That lowly soldier who looked at me with such burning eyes – what spell has he cast on me? Why am I trembling at the mere thought of him? Why can’t I think about anyone else – even my betrothed? There is a flush on my girlish cheeks now that has never been there before; it’s like fire has taken the place of blood in my veins; it’s like