Chapter twenty one

"What household owned you before this, Avery?" Victoria asked.

Avery paused in her brushing of Victoria's long blonde hair. Victoria was a late riser and Mrs. Lanning had sent her to Victoria's room with a breakfast tray after the others had finished eating. Victoria had demanded she wait in her room while she ate breakfast, and Vivian and Sophia had shown up just as she was finishing.

Vivian poured herself a cup of tea and the women chatted familiarly. Avery made Victoria's bed and folded her clothes from the night before, while Sophia followed her around the room and chattered happily to her. She was about to leave when Victoria handed her the brush.

Sighing inwardly, Avery had begun to brush the woman's soft, blonde hair as Sophia watched. Now, she glanced at Victoria in the mirror and gave her a small smile. "I was in a slave house, m'lady. Lord Tristan purchased me and my sister on his way home from the city."

"And before that?" Victoria prompted.

Vivian, drinking a cup of tea in a chair by the window, said, "They were owned by a family in the city who had to sell them when they ran out of money."

Avery glanced at Vivian who returned her gaze steadily.

"I'll have it braided." Victoria slapped Avery's hand. Avery gritted her teeth and started to braid Victoria's hair.

"You know," Victoria stared at her thoughtfully in the mirror, "you're not as ugly as I first thought. I mean, the red hair obviously is awful, and your skin is so pale you look like a leech, but I can see why my brother fancies you."

Avery bit her tongue and continued to braid as Victoria looked at Vivian. "I would never have thought I would have a Red in my household, but this one seems pleasant enough. I could see me keeping her on here as my personal slave. She couldn't go near the children of course. I shudder to think what ideas she's put in Sophia's head already."

Vivian frowned. "Avery is actually very good with Sophia."

Victoria shrugged. "I will talk with Tristan about it. And I will work on convincing him to cut off her dreadful hair."

Wrapping a piece of leather around the end of Victoria's braid, Avery said, "Actually Tristan has arranged to sell

She cried out when Victoria whirled around and struck her viciously across the face, knocking her to the ground. She was wearing a large ring on her hand and it cut Avery's cheek open. The blood flowed freely as Vivian gasped and Sophia ran to Avery.

"Avery," she cried. "You're bleeding!"

"It's all right, my love. I'm fine." Avery reassured her as Victoria rose to her feet and stood over her.

"You are a slave and you will refer to Tristan as lord Tristan or my lord. Do you understand me, slave?" She snapped.

Avery stood and stared at the floor, trying to tamp down the anger in her voice. "Forgive me, my lady. It will not happen again."

"See that it does not." Victoria turned to Vivian. "Gods be damned, Vivian. Does Tristan have any control over his slaves at all?"

When Vivian didn't reply, she turned back to Avery. "Leave, girl. I am tired of your ugly face."

"Avery?" Sophia whispered.

"Sophia, go to your grandmother," Victoria demanded.

Sophia hesitated and Avery pushed her gently toward Vivian. "Go, my love. I will see you later."

She left the room as Sophia fled to her grandmother.

"Avery! What happened to your cheek?" Maya laid Nicholas in his crib and rushed to her. "Victoria slapped me," Avery said.

"What? Why would she do that?"

"Because she's a bitch." Avery grimaced as she touched her cheek.

"Here, give me your hand." Maya reached for her.

The door opened and Tristan stuck his head into the room. "Maya, have you seen Sophia? I want to take her riding this morning."

He stared Avery, cursing loudly before entering the room and striding toward her, He took her chin in his hand. "What happened to your cheek?"

"I tripped," she said.

He frowned. "Tripped on what?"

"My own feet." She smiled at him, but he didn't return her smile.

She pulled her chin free of his grip and he gave Maya a hard look. "Why are you not helping

her heal?"

"She was just about to, my lord," Avery said.

He grunted in reply and then suddenly picked her up and carried her to the overstuffed chair

near Sophia's bed. He sat down and settled her on his lap, wrapping his arms around her and pushing her head down on his chest.

"My lord, this is not necessary. Maya will help me." She tried to sit up and he tightened his arms around her.

"Quiet, girl."

She gave up struggling and relaxed against him. He slipped his hand under her hair and cupped the back of her neck, kneading the muscles lightly. She watched as Maya lifted Nicholas from the crib and carried him to the window on the far side of the room. She stared out the window, swaying back and forth and singing to Nicholas.

"How is your morning?" Tristan asked suddenly.

"Fine, my lord. And yours?"

"Good."

"You're taking Sophia riding?" she asked.

"Aye," he paused. "She asked me last night if I would take her to a party."

"Really?" Avery rested her hand on his chest, resisting the urge to slip her hand between the

buttons of his shirt and rest her palm against his warm skin.

"Aye. She remembers the other girl, Renee maybe, talking about dancing and parties that day

in the wagon. She's had it in her head ever since."

"Are you going to take her to one?"

"No. But I thought maybe I would throw her one here. What do you think?"

She sat up and smiled down at him. "I think that's a wonderful idea."

He grinned. "Good. Then I'll do it."

Behind them, Nicholas let out a short wail and they could hear Maya soothing him. "Maya loves to dance. She'll be very excited," Avery said.

"And you? Do you love to dance?" He asked.

"Aye, I suppose I do."

He cocked his head and studied her. "What is it?"

"It's hard to find many who are willing to dance with a Red." She wiggled her eyebrows at

him, and he tightened his hand around her neck.

"I'll dance with you," he said.

Her breath caught in her throat as his eyes darkened and dropped to her mouth. She could

feel him growing hard underneath her and it took all of her willpower not to rub her ass against him. "Tristan, my cheek is healed."

She didn't want to leave his lap. She wanted to sit with him forever and pretend that he loved her the way she loved him. Suddenly feeling depressed and angry for torturing herself, she tried to struggle from his lap.

He refused to let her go. "Let me see."

She turned her face obediently so he could examine her cheek. He wiped the smears of drying blood away, a satisfied look crossing his face when it revealed her smooth cheek with no trace of the cut that had marred it.

"It's almost healed," he said before staring at her mouth again. "One kiss should do it." "Tristan..."

"Just one small kiss, my love, and I'll let you go," he whispered.

Still holding her neck, he tugged her face down toward his and she gave up protesting and

pressed her lips against his. He kissed her softly, his mouth warm against hers, and she sighed with pleasure. After a moment he pushed his tongue against her lips, and she pulled back a little.

"Tristan, this is not a good idea."

"Please," he whispered against her mouth. She kissed him again, powerless to resist his plea.

He sighed into her mouth as she parted her lips and he pushed his tongue eagerly into her mouth. She cupped his face, stroking his cheekbone with her thumb as he rubbed her back with his warm hand.

The door to the nursery opened and Victoria entered. She studied Maya at the window. "You there, have you seen Tristan?"

Avery had slipped off of Tristan's lap the moment the door opened. She stood a few feet from the chair, staring at the floor with flushed cheeks as Tristan cleared his throat.

"Tristan." Victoria smiled sweetly and crossed the room as Vivian and Sophia entered the nursery. She sat down on his lap before he could stand and put her arms around his shoulders. "Good morning."

"Good morning, Victoria."

He glanced at Avery and Victoria followed his gaze. She scowled. "Leave us, slave." Avery started towards Maya. Sophia met her in the middle of the room and gave her a unhappy look. "Are you still hurt, Avery?"

Avery bent and picked her up, rubbing the girl's small back. "Hello, my love. Come, we'll

stand with Maya and your grandmamma."

She joined Maya and Vivian at the window. Vivian had taken Nicholas from Maya and was

kissing his warm, round head. She gave Avery a troubled look as Maya took a cloth and wiped the blood from Avery's cheek.

"Is your cheek okay, Avery?" Sophia whispered. She nodded. "Aye, Sophia. It is perfectly fine." "Shall I kiss it better for you?"

"There is no need, my love," she said to the girl. "Maya kissed it better for me. Look." She showed the girl her smooth cheek and Sophia's face relaxed. Vivian frowned and took Avery's chin in her hand. She examined Avery's cheek closely. "How is this possible?"

Avery tugged free of her gentle grip. "It was not nearly as bad as it seemed, m'lady."

"I saw the blood," Vivian said sharply.

When Avery didn't respond, she said, "I will speak with my son about this."

"No, do not," Avery said in a low, urgent tone. She glanced at Sophia and lowered her voice

even further. "He believes I tripped. Do not tell him otherwise."

"How did you sleep, Victoria?" Tristan asked.

She smiled. "Very well, Tristan. Although it was cold in my bed."

"I'll have more blankets brought to your room tonight." He shifted uncomfortably under her.

He was still hard from kissing Avery, and he was frustrated with Victoria for interrupting them. "That's very kind of you but perhaps we can think of another way to warm my bed. I have

many ideas for -"

She paused as she registered the hardness under her lap.

"Lord Tristan," she purred, "it would seem you have ideas of how to warm my bed as well." He stood up abruptly, catching her arm when she nearly fell and gave her a look of apology.

"Forgive me, but I have promised Sophia I would take her riding this morning."

She smiled at him and linked her arm around his as he started towards Sophia and the others.

"I would very much like to join you. May I?"

"Of course." He allowed no trace of the dismay he was feeling to show on his face. His

mother believed that Sophia needed a Lycan mother and since the moment Victoria had arrived, he had been torn between his feelings for Avery and his desire to do the right thing for Sophia.

They joined the others at the window and Sophia reached for him from Avery's arms. He took her, his hand brushing against Avery's breast.

"Sorry," he muttered as he settled Sophia in the crook of his arm. "Are you ready to go riding, my love?" He smiled, feeling a wave of love for the little girl, as she stroked his long ponytail.

"Aye." She gave him an I-want-something grin. "Can Avery come with us, Papa? Please?" "I'm going to be joining you, sweet girl." Victoria patted her leg. "Won't that be fun?"

"I want Avery," Sophia muttered and buried her face in her father's neck.

Avery squeezed her thin shoulder. "I cannot, my love. I have work to do. You will have fun

with your father and Lady Victoria."

Maya held out her hand to Avery. "Walk with me to the common room, Avery. Marshall is

waiting for me." She looked to Vivian. "Shall I take Nicholas, my lady?" Vivian shook her head. "No. I will keep him with me a while longer."