“But M’Lord,” she panted. “I am your nephew’s wife.”
“Dead nephew’s wife,” I hissed in her ear. “And as I recall, you would have borne a bastard and illegitimate heir had I not forced you two to marry.”
“B, but my dowry…”
“What dowry?” I laughed. “Your father was in debt! He was about to give you away to anyone who wanted you before you uncrossed your legs for my nephew.”
“He, he wouldn’t,” Catherine sobbed. “He loves me! My father would do no such thing!”
“Really? He was prepared to whore you out!” I said coldly. “Do you know how much fresh noblewomen go for?”
“N, no…”
“Twenty axes,” I hissed. “The soldier’s whores earn fifteen. And after one night, you wouldn’t be pure and fresh would you?”
“Noooo,” Catherine cried. “It can’t be. He wouldn’t have made me a whore. He wouldn’t.”
“But you are. How else do you thing you’ll pay me back?”
“I, I gave him one hundred crowns. That, that’s one hundred thousand axes! How many men would you make me fornicate with?”
“If you were a soldier’s whore, six thousand six hundred sixty-seven soldiers, but you won’t be servicing soldiers, now will you? That would not look good indeed. Nor shall you enjoy any man’s company but mine and I would not pay fifteen axes for a night with you.”
“My, my god. What would you have me do?”
“You’re going to be a good little whore, Catherine. Every night shall be spent in my bed, whether I’m alone or not. And for every week, you shall earn back ten axes.”
“That’s ten thousand weeks…”
“And roughly one hundred ninety two years,” I cackled. “But once everyone has forgotten who you are and your body has shriveled up, you can repay me from the street corners and the barracks.”
“Won’t you be dead by then?”
“No,” I laughed. “By then I will have become your son, the Lord of our blessed realm, Master of House Peregrine to whom you owe your debt.”
Catherine’s legs buckled beneath her and she fell to the floor.
I picked up her and tossed her onto the bed, draping her legs over the side and spreading them. As I lined up my manhood with her austere maidenhood, I said, “Tonight is the first night of the rest of your life!” |