“She says that you must have great courage of your own to suffer the bruises to your face.”
“It is no more than the lot of the servant to be at the whim of her mistress,” Bree said with a resignation that Dawn and all peasants understood.
Dawn learned much about the young lass as they talked and while Thomas enjoyed the attention of all three. And she came to like the young lass, realizing that Bree was trying to survive a difficult situation. What troubled Dawn was that Bree seemed to have no way out. She belonged to a mean-spirited mistress and it would be her lot until she dismissed her or she died.
The door swung open with force and Bree jumped out of her chair when she saw that Lucerne stood in the doorway.
“You will return to the keep with me now,” Lucerne ordered.
“Cree has rescinded my punishment?” Bree asked.
Lucerne stepped further into the cottage. “You dare to question me. I’ll have your tongue for that.”
That and a whimper from Thomas, who no doubt grew upset from Lucerne’s angry voice was all Dawn needed to hear to have her react. She walked over to Lucerne, her gesture clear. She stretched her arm out, her finger pointing to the door.
“How dare you command me to leave, you dumb harlot,” Lucerne screeched.
Bree moved as if prepared to do as Lucerne demanded, thereby settling the matter, but Dawn blocked her path with her arm and shook her head.
“Who do you—” Lucerne never got to finish, Dawn advanced on her so fast that Lucerne stumbled backwards right out the door and into Cree.
Chapter Eleven
Lucerne turned with a fury as if ready to berate the person who dared get in her way but when she saw who it was, she collapsed against Cree, though his arm did not go around her.
“This peasant dared to threaten me,” she cried, “punish her for her insolence.”
“What are you doing here,” Cree demanded of Lucerne.
She backed away from him, her hand flying to her chest. “What does that matter? This woman,” —she pointed to Dawn— “threatened your intended. She must be punished.”
Cree took a step toward her and looked ever so intimidating dressed all in black, his black fur-lined cloak making his already broad shoulder appear broader. “Answer me.”
Lucerne stiffened and crossed her arms protectively over her chest. “I came to collect my servant.”
“Did I not make it perfectly clear to you that your servant was being punished and that you were not to interfere with her punishment or you would suffer the consequences?”
“It is barbaric to force me to do without my servant. And her punishment should be left to me not you. I can promise you that she will never disobey you again.” Lucerne turned. “Bree come here at once.”
Bree hurried to the door, not bothering to fetch her cloak.
“Stay where you are, lass,” Cree ordered and Bree stopped abruptly.
Lucerne turned to him. “Bree is my servant. Until we are wed you cannot dictate to her. Besides this land does not officially belong to you until you wed me, so it is I who rule here not you.”
Cree’s scowl turned so menacing that Lucerne stepped away from him and Bree hurried over by Old Mary. Dawn was the only one not affected by his ominous expression and remained as she was.
“Let’s see whose land this is and who rules here,” Cree said calmly and with a simple raise of his hand Sloan seemed to appear out of nowhere. “Sloan escort Lucerne to the keep and to her bedchamber. Post a guard at her door with instructions that she is not permitted to leave her chambers.”
“You can’t be serious?” Lucerne said paling.
“I warned you there would be consequences if you disobeyed me, the fault is yours.”
Lucerne sent Cree a murderous look. “You will regret this.”
“I already do.”
Lucerne stepped back as if she had been slapped. “I should have known, once a peasant always a peasant.”
Cree waved his hand and Sloan stepped forward and took Lucerne’s arm.
Lucerne yanked it out of his grasp. “My father will hear about this and he will not be pleased.” With that she turned and with her chin held high she walked off with Sloan close on her heels.
Cree stepped up to the open door just as Thomas let out a wail. Dawn turned and hurried to take him from Old Mary and the babe stopped crying instantly. He had to be hungry since Dawn had not expected to have been gone this long.
As Dawn finished wrapping Thomas for the cold, Old Mary called out, “Don’t forget your fur-lined cloak. You’ll need it soon.”
Bree hurried to snatch it off the peg but it was Cree who stepped in the cottage and took it from her to place over the cloak Dawn already had on. He then turned to Bree. “I will see about finding you a cottage and chores that will suit you. You are no longer Lucerne’s servant. You are part of my clan now.”