Betrothed Read Online Free Page B

woman.”
    Seri jerked away from him and stepped to the side, averting her gaze as she waited. She prayed that Lady Mila would remember her and was not simply teasing her with promises she had no intention of keeping.
    “So is it true that Vidari don’t kneel to anyone? Because if you’re going to be in the castle, little deer, you’ll have to kneel to the prince.” The guard’s eyes were hot on her. “The Athonites insist that you kneel to your betters to show them respect. In fact, I could have you kneel right now, couldn’t I?”
    Oh gods, please leave me alone. She remained silent, trying to ignore him.
    “Look at me,” the guard said, grasping her arm. “Why don’t you kneel for me right now?”
    “Vidari only kneel to the gods themselves,” she said, her voice stiff as she jerked her arm from his. “Not to men.”
    “Ah yes, your crazy little pagan beliefs,” he said with a laugh. “Dozens of gods looking out for your poor, downtrodden little people.”
    Her face burned under her tan, but she didn’t look at him, even when he stepped in front of her. She could argue that they only worshiped four gods—one for each of the seasons—but to the Athonites, that was three too many.
    “I’ve heard,” the guard said, leaning in, his fetid breath hot against her neck, “that you Vidari girls like to be taken roughly… and you fight the whole time. I think I’d like that—”
    “Faren,” the second guard spoke up, returning. “Lady Mila is here.”
    The guard straightened and turned away from Seri, his hand moving to the respectful gesture of touching his forehead at the sight of a lady. “Lady de Vray,” he said, stepping away. “We did not think that she was telling the truth. That you would—”
    “What you think is not my concern.” Lady Mila de Vray stood at the gates, a welcome figure despite the proud look on her face. She was dressed in an impractical white dress of flowing silk, three women lingering behind her, fussing over her hem, and ensuring that it never touched the dirt at her feet. She was cold, beautiful, and foreign.
    Seri had never been so glad to see an Athonite in her life. Furthermore, she was pleased to see that the lady’s scathing looks were not saved for Vidari alone.
    Lady Mila eyed the crude soldier and then dismissed him with a flick of her eyes. Her gaze rested on Seri, but only for a heartbeat longer. “My newest handmaiden is here, I see.” She looked over at the simpering soldiers. “I should like for her to be cleaned and then escorted to my apartments. See to it.”
    A grin broke across the soldier’s face, just as panic set into Seri’s heart. “Yes, lady,” he announced, terrible pleasure in his voice.
    “Not you, fool,” Lady Mila snapped. “My handmaid Winna will see to the girl. You will ascertain that neither Winna nor the new girl are accosted by any other savages in their duties. I do not trust these wild lands.” With a haughty sniff, Lady Mila disappeared back into the palace gates, trailed by her retinue. A young woman remained behind, her black hair pulled up severely on her head and the same austere, arrogant look on her face that Lady Mila wore.
    “Well?” Winna spoke in a thin, nasal voice, regarding Seri as she might a dog. “Filth does not clean itself. The sooner we get started, the sooner we can dress you in something appropriate and less vulgar.”
    The handmaid’s dress, Seri noted, was long and swept the ground, revealing not even her shoes. The collar of it was high and tight, the sleeves long. Her skin was hidden from the chin down, and tiny beads of sweat glimmered on her brow, thanks to the heat of the Vidara lands.
    Her hopes fell at the sight of the severe, overdressed woman. Is that what she had to look forward to for the next few days?
    Three dru , she reminded herself. Rilen’s information.
    She pasted a fake smile on her face and touched her forehead in the same gesture of respect that the men used. “I’m