Once Upon a Kiss Read Online Free Page A

the ill-begotten smirk from
his face—straight from his eyes!
    “For the sake of peace, I presume?”
    He didn’t bother even to glance back at her to
acknowledge her response, nor even to be certain she followed—curse his
hide! “Aye!” she snapped. “Why else, my lord?”
    “Perhaps,” he countered, still without turning to
acknowledge her, “that is something about which you might care to enlighten us,
demoiselle?”
    “You do not trust us!”
    He halted before the stone steps that led into the
great hall, and Dominique nearly collided with his mail-clad chest as he turned
to face her. Stifling a gasp, she peered up at him, unnerved by his remarkable
height. God, but she was tall for a woman, taller than some men even, but her
head scarcely reached his shoulders.
    “Let us simply say I am not convinced so easily as
my brother,” he said. ‘So tell me, Lady Dominique...”
    A quiver sped through her at the way he spoke her
name, deeply, sensuously, intimately, as though it were something to be savored
and ravished at the same time.
    “What prompted you to come so long before the
ceremony,” he demanded. His voice lowered with enmity. “When even the banns
have yet to be cried.”
    Dominique’s blush deepened, for it was the one
question she’d asked of herself along the journey to Drakewich. The only
explanation she could surmise was that her brother wished not to allow Graeham
the opportunity to repudiate her before the ceremony. She knew how desperately
he craved this union. “‘Tis plain you cannot begin to comprehend,” she said,
“but my brother is eager for peace!” She lifted her chin, gaining confidence
with her conviction. “Not everyone relishes bloodshed as you seem to, my lord!”
    “Nay?” Once again his devil brow arched, and then
his face twisted and some sound escaped him, something akin to a snarl.
Dominique shrank from him—so much for her show of mettle, she berated
herself. And without another word, he spun about and stalked away, this time
without prompting her to follow.
    “Nay!” she exclaimed, and hastened after him. If
he thought he could cast aspersions upon her and her brother without hearing
her speak her mind, he should think again. “My lord, with every dispute, Amdel
loses men-at-arms,” she yielded angrily. “The butchery must cease! Can you not
see that?”
    “Indeed?” He halted once more and swerved abruptly
to face her.
    This time Dominique did collide with him, so
agitated was she with his treatment. With a startled gasp, she drew away, as
though scalded by the unexpected contact. She took a defensive step backward,
straightening her gown with quaking hands. “God’s love! H-Have you no courtesy
at all?” she asked. Her knees felt suddenly too weak to stand, but she refused
to cower before him.
    Ignoring her angry objection, he said, “As I see
it, demoiselle, were Amdel in such dire straits, ‘tis doubtful you’d reveal
such news to me. Nevertheless, you have the right of it, the butchery must cease,
and to that end I am willing to accept you and your brother in good faith.”
    He was willing to accept them in good faith?
    God’s truth, but the man was despotic! Her eyes
narrowed. “How obliging of you, my lord.”
    He took a wrathful step toward her, closing the distance
between them in a single stride, and it was all Dominique could do not to
shriek in terror and flee. Bending till he nearly brushed her brow with his
lips, he snarled at her. “Be that as it may, demoiselle, know this; I shall be
watching both of you because nay, indeed, I do not trust you!”
    A quiver sped down the length of her spine.
    “Are we understood?”
    The look upon his face left no doubt as to the
veracity of his words. God’s breath, Dominique sensed he would slay even a
woman to protect his accursed brother.
    Peace , she reminded herself. She was here for the cause of peace.
And if she told this brute exactly what she thought of him, she would risk