Audra made it her mission to force the king to see reason and release Owena. Audra did not let up. She offered up verbal and written statements. Compelled castle residents to inform the king about what they’d seen regarding Huw’s odd behavior. Maxen also made statements about his concern regarding Huw from the very start. Audra dragged Carlton down into the dungeon again to listen to Owena.
Late at night, several days after Owena’s arrest, Audra and Carlton sat in his solar.
“You’ve proven your point,” said Carlton, seated at his writing desk. “Owena’s story has not wavered, not even once. I don’t believe she knew about this.”
Audra sat up straight. “Then you’ll release her?”
“Yes, but she’ll be confined to her quarters until you arrange for …show more content…
“Well, I will if you say I must,” muttered Vaughan, and the women all laughed.
Once they made it to Owena’s corridor, when in front of her room, Audra tied a pink ribbon around the puppy’s neck. The women all hid around the corner, stifling their giggles. Vaughan placed the puppy down onto the ground carefully, knocked on the door, and ran. Moments later, Owena answered. With wide brown eyes, the puppy peered up at her and bayed.
Covering her mouth with surprise, Owena took a knee. Never had Audra seen the woman look so genuinely happy. Owena collected the fluffy, tiny animal into her arms and kissed its nose. The puppy wagged her tail and peed again, right on Owena’s dress, but she did not seem to care. Maybe, like everyone else, Owena just wanted to be loved and accepted.
Audra, her ladies, mother, and Vaughan revealed themselves.
“Is this mine to care for until I leave?” asked Owena.
“No,” Audra told her.
Owena’s face fell and she frowned. “Oh. Well, a visit from such a sweet little thing has lifted my spirits.
“I don’t think you understand.” Audra moved forward. “The pup’s yours. To take with you to France.”
The puppy brayed again and shook with delight as Owena clutched the …show more content…
“And I feel like I haven’t had you in so long.”
It had been a few weeks since they had touched on another, but she and Maxen were about to rectify that. It was the day before the Summer Swim, a party that occurred a fortnight after Calan Mai. Minus the knights left behind in the castle and village for security, everyone flocked to the beach for a dip in the water. Though still brutally cold, a splash in the sea was thought to bring about the warmth of summer and faster and make it last longer. Every able-bodied person participated, even babies.
“It has been a long time,” replied Audra, scrambling up the rope ladder after Maxen.
She had never gotten used to the ascent, and it always left her stomach in knots. Maxen knew right away to allow Audra to sit and gather herself. He handed over his wineskin, and Audra took a small sip of the watered wine.
“Better?” He kissed the top of her head and rubbed her shoulders from behind.
“Much. Thank you.” She pulled him around the chair and stood. “Let me sit in your lap. It’s more pleasant than the
Late at night, several days after Owena’s arrest, Audra and Carlton sat in his solar.
“You’ve proven your point,” said Carlton, seated at his writing desk. “Owena’s story has not wavered, not even once. I don’t believe she knew about this.”
Audra sat up straight. “Then you’ll release her?”
“Yes, but she’ll be confined to her quarters until you arrange for …show more content…
“Well, I will if you say I must,” muttered Vaughan, and the women all laughed.
Once they made it to Owena’s corridor, when in front of her room, Audra tied a pink ribbon around the puppy’s neck. The women all hid around the corner, stifling their giggles. Vaughan placed the puppy down onto the ground carefully, knocked on the door, and ran. Moments later, Owena answered. With wide brown eyes, the puppy peered up at her and bayed.
Covering her mouth with surprise, Owena took a knee. Never had Audra seen the woman look so genuinely happy. Owena collected the fluffy, tiny animal into her arms and kissed its nose. The puppy wagged her tail and peed again, right on Owena’s dress, but she did not seem to care. Maybe, like everyone else, Owena just wanted to be loved and accepted.
Audra, her ladies, mother, and Vaughan revealed themselves.
“Is this mine to care for until I leave?” asked Owena.
“No,” Audra told her.
Owena’s face fell and she frowned. “Oh. Well, a visit from such a sweet little thing has lifted my spirits.
“I don’t think you understand.” Audra moved forward. “The pup’s yours. To take with you to France.”
The puppy brayed again and shook with delight as Owena clutched the …show more content…
“And I feel like I haven’t had you in so long.”
It had been a few weeks since they had touched on another, but she and Maxen were about to rectify that. It was the day before the Summer Swim, a party that occurred a fortnight after Calan Mai. Minus the knights left behind in the castle and village for security, everyone flocked to the beach for a dip in the water. Though still brutally cold, a splash in the sea was thought to bring about the warmth of summer and faster and make it last longer. Every able-bodied person participated, even babies.
“It has been a long time,” replied Audra, scrambling up the rope ladder after Maxen.
She had never gotten used to the ascent, and it always left her stomach in knots. Maxen knew right away to allow Audra to sit and gather herself. He handed over his wineskin, and Audra took a small sip of the watered wine.
“Better?” He kissed the top of her head and rubbed her shoulders from behind.
“Much. Thank you.” She pulled him around the chair and stood. “Let me sit in your lap. It’s more pleasant than the