Coins and Daggers (24 page)

Chuckling, she patted him on the shoulder
and retrieved the carefully wrapped boon, eager to see what was
inside. “This one is from Edwin.”

“Marvelous,” he responded dryly. “I shall
tell him tomorrow of how he’s ruined my night.”

“Did you see Jocelyn’s face, Bryce,” she
giggled, ignoring his comment and tearing at the secured parchment.
“She looked so happy.”

“She is happy for you. You two are best
friends, are you not?”

She stopped to look at him and smiled.
“Thank you. For everything.”

Returning the beam, Ulric sat up and pulled
her closer. “I love you. Your happiness is my happiness.” He then
pressed his lips against hers and reached for the gift in her
hands. “Now, let’s see what Edwin has gotten you.”

Finally managing to remove the wrapping,
Ulric ripped another thin layer of paper and frowned down at the
object now in his hands.

“What is it?” Audelia grabbed it, her gaze
scrutinizing. “It looks like...a coin.” In her hand was a large
round wooden token almost bigger than the size of her fist,
resembling a gold coin and with her full name engraved one both
sides.

“Let me see.” Ulric narrowed his eyes,
skimming over the tiny inscription beneath her name. Then he
chuckled. “The bastard.”

“
What does it say?” she asked but when her
dear
husband
only threw back his head and laughed
like a blasted drunkard, she huffed and grabbed it. “
‘
May this token keep you
safe. It is known you had been quite an avid collector of
coins
’.” Eyes narrowing to
slits, Audelia smacked Ulric on the arm. “This is not funny at all,
Bryce.”

Ulric
grinned, ducking off the bed to avoid his wife’s flying hand. “Come
on. Admit it. It is a
little
amusing.”

“
No, it is not!” She threw a pillow at his head. “It is
not
kind
to jest at a person’s
past...circumstances.”

Ulric held his hands up and forced himself
to keep a straight face. Over the last couple weeks of officially
wooing Audelia into marrying him, he had learned quite a lot about
her temperament and in his opinion, about women in general. It was
always best to agree with whatever they said and apologize
quickly.

“Okay. I’m sorry,” he uttered, bending to
retrieve the pillow. “You’re right. It’s not funny. I should not
have laughed. And I will speak with Edwin about it.”

Still scowling, she glancing down the token
and back at her husband. “It does look...finely carved. I wonder
where he got it made.”

“I’ll ask him that too,” Ulric readily
offered. “Right in the morning. Don’t you--” Pausing, he raised a
skeptical brow, observing his wife. Was she...laughing? “What is
it?”

She shook her head and fell back onto the
remaining pillows, kicking up her feet. A giggle spurted from her
and then she was shaking with bloody laughter. “I suppose I may
have overreacted a bit I...” She gasped to take in a breath. “I am
yet to get used to Edwin’s very active sense of humor, aren’t
I?”

Ulric took a tentative step forward. “Uh,
yes. I suppose so. You’re no longer...upset then?”

Audelia sighed, smiling. “I guess not. Come
here, husband. Give me a kiss.”

Eagerly obliging, Ulric swept in and slid
his body over her slender soft curves. His wife was a damn
temptress whether she failed to realize it or not. Her fingers slid
through his hair, pulling him in for a passionate kiss. They shared
a lot of those in the past weeks. The type of kisses that left them
both trembling with need and gulping for air.

When they finally broke from the kiss, Ulric
smiled and pecked her on the cheek. “I...happen to have a gift for
you as well.”

Audelia beamed. “You already gave me
Olearia. And jewelry. Sending for Jocelyn early so she could be
here with me through the wedding preparations... Bryce, I’m beyond
grateful.”

Ulric snorted. “You’re my wife. I’m entitled
to spoil you. Besides, Olearia has been yours from the very first
day you rode her,” he said, reaching inside a drawer of the small
desk near the head of their bed. “Now just be a darling and close
your eyes.”

Shaking her head, Audelia giggled and
covered her eyes with her hands. “No more coins.”

“No more coins.” Ulric retrieved the narrow
wooden box and brought it to his wife’s lap. “You can open them
now.”

Audelia
dropped her hands and looked down to see a black box. “Okay. Let’s
see what
else
my generous husband has gotten me.”
She slid the tiny latch on the tiny chest and lifted the lid, her
eyes widening as she glanced inside. “Oh
Bryce
...”

“Do you like it?” Ulric watched her as she
brought the gift closer to her face.

“
Like
it? I love
it.” Audelia spun the glistening new dagger in her hand, admiring
the shiny steel blade and expertly carved handle. The
initials,
A.R.SR, (Audelia
Rolfen St. Rosso)
was
engraved on the thicker end of the blade closer to the handle. It
was a beauty, really and she looked at her husband, tears clouding
her eyes. “It’s...beautiful.”

Ulric smiled,
relieved that she liked it. He’d had it specially built for her. A
token of their trust. His
trust
. But perhaps,
he’d delay his
other
gift at least until the next
morning. That one was sure to send her into a state of gleeful
shock.“I’m glad you like it.”

Audelia slid the dagger back inside the box
and flung herself into her husband’s arms. “I love you, Bryce. For
all that you are.”

Ulric’s heart
warmed as he held her close, inhaling her sweet feminine scents.
“As I love
you
, Lady
Chastelle.”

Giggling, Audelia drew back and pressed her
lips to Ulric’s, her heart swelling with happiness and love. “Thank
you.”

“
You’re beyond welcome.” He then nipped her on the neck and
groaned. “
Now
may I make love to you?”

Audelia
giggled and pulled him down atop her. “
Yes
. Yes, you
may.”

About the Author

Patrice Hannah is an island girl, born and
residing in the beautiful sunshine of Jamaica. At heart, she is an
introvert--well, only when she’s working on her next story--and
loves calm silent days and cool rainy nights.

Though she’s only twenty years old, she
likes to think that she’s much more mature than her age and finds
herself passing many nights watching and re-watching, or reading
the works of anything historical and romantic.

While she loves to laugh, she’s not very
good at jokes and tend to outdo herself in that arena.

She is currently pursuing a tertiary
education while daydreaming hours and hours away, thinking up her
next story.

Hannah-Lee loves to chat, and welcomes all
suggestions and comments. You can reach her at:

Email: [email protected]

Facebook
Page:
www.f
acebook.com/HannahLeesRomanceReads