Kiss of the Dragon (12 page)

“I’m…scared.” Theron’s fearful voice sounded from above,
only slightly muffled this time. It was strong, despite the note of
apprehension that colored it.

“Do not worry, Theron. You shall be down and safe very soon.”

A pitiable whimper was her only answer.

Ducking down, so that she could view the kitchen, Bianca
ordered a stool, which was quickly furnished along with the pig lard she had
requested.

“I have lard, Theron. I’m going to grease you up like a
little pig and then you shall slide right out. Understand?”

There was no answer for chatting so she went right to work
on getting him loose. Standing on the stool with thick globs of the
rancid-smelling lard in her hand, she stretched up on her tiptoes to reach the
child. Carefully she smeared the lard on every part of his body that she could
reach, scraping her hands and arms on the rough, blackened stones of the
chimney.

“There, that should be enough.” She reached up and touched
his ankles and raised her voice so that he could hear her. “Theron?”

“Yea?”

“I am now going to try and pull you down. Ready, now?
One…two…three.” Bianca grasped his thin ankles and gave a gentle tug. Nothing
happened so she moved her hands to get a better hold. She yanked on his legs
and ankles, but she only managed to free him of one shoe. The boy was good and
truly stuck. It was in that moment that Bianca felt real fear. She began to
pray for the strength to keep her fear to herself. If she was unable to free
him with the slippery lard, she had no notion of what else to try.

Blinking back tears of frustration that threatened to spill,
Bianca stood in the dark fireplace and strove to stay calm for Theron’s sake.
This was not the time to become hysterical.

“Theron, sweetheart, I have to leave you for a moment to get
something else. I will be back shortly.” At the cry of despair above her,
Bianca nearly broke down. “Please do not cry, baby. I promise I shall return. I
promise.” This time she did not wait to listen to his pitiful moans.

Crawling from the chimney covered in soot and smelling like
the foul lard, Bianca stopped short at the sight of Lord Draco, who had just
entered the kitchen. Never in her life had she been so relieved to see anybody.

“My Lord Draco, thank God you came. I need your help!” Her
voice held a note of panic and it brought him to her side in three long
strides. He knelt to help her from the blackness of the cold hearth, steadying
her as she stumbled slightly.

“It is the chimney sweep’s lad. He is stuck in the kitchen
flue, my lord. I have tried greasing him with pig’s fat, but I could not get
him loose. I cannot think of anything else to do. I fear the poor child might
perish if he is not freed soon. He is so small and frightened up there.”

It took her a moment to realize that while she ranted on
about the problem at hand, she was drawn into the strong, comforting embrace of
the great Black Dragon. His large hand moved over her back in a soothing motion
as he pulled her close.

When Bianca noticed the intimacy of their position in such a
public place, even the soot that covered her face could not hide the deep blush
that crept up her neck and across her cheeks. Truth be known, Bianca found
herself right where she wanted to be. She looked down at her hands as they
rested on his shoulders and noticed for the first time that she was covered in
filth. She nearly groaned with her embarrassment that the man she wooed for her
future husband should see her at her worst. What must he think of her?

“I think that you are very brave, Bianca,” Draco whispered
against her ear before setting her away from him. “Do not fret, my lady. I
shall have a look to determine what must be done.” He gave her a wink and then
ducked into the hearth where all but his legs disappeared up into the bowels of
chimney.

“Are you awake, boy?” Draco called calmly as he reached up
and tweaked the sole of the lad’s foot a mere hairsbreadth above his head.

“Yea, sir.” The boy’s reply came back, muffled but strong.

“Do you want to tell me why you are stuck in the chimney?”
The silence that met his question was very telling. To everyone else it had
appeared that the lad was well and truly stuck, but to Draco, who had the
experience of dealing with his younger brother over the last few years, he knew
better. It would have been impossible for a child of his size to become stuck
in a chimney large enough to allow a grown man room to maneuver his broad
shoulders without difficulty.

“I just cannot come down, is all, sir.”

“Yea, I see. And why is that do you think?”

“My master is most angry with me for going to the castle
healer yesterday. Galen told me not to work for a few days until my cuts and
burns were better. My master would not believe me, and he forced me to work
anyway. He promised that he would beat me after I finished cleaning this one
last chimney, so I kind of got stuck up here. I do not want to be beaten
again.” A sob followed the last piteous statement. It was clear that the boy
had reached the end of his endurance and was begging for help.

Draco clenched his fists in anger. He knew what kind of life
the boy had likely had. He had seen it many times, and except for the grace of
God, would have had to endure such a life himself. If his uncle had not taken
him in when he was a babe, this could have been where he ended up. But his
mother’s older brother had been supportive of his unwed sister who showed up on
his doorstep heavy with child and he had given her shelter and her son a chance
at a better life. The world in general was harsh on a bastard or an orphan. Both
were usually treated no better than a dog. And it was obvious that this child
had not been as fortunate.

“I have a question for you, boy.”

“What is that, sir?”

“I noticed you in the courtyard yesterday when I first
arrived. You seem to be a strong lad, a hard worker. Am I correct in my
assumptions?”

“Yea, sir. I work hard.”

Draco smiled archly to himself and was glad nobody could
hear this exchange.

“Good, then I will just ask you straight out. I am need of a
new page as I have been without one for some time, my last one too old to serve
in that capacity anymore. I wondered if you might like to fill the role. That
is, if you are up to the task?”

After a moment of silence, Draco asked, “Theron? Did you
hear me?”

“Yea, sir. But I do not think my master will allow me to
join your service.”

“Have no fear of him, Theron. He no longer has any say in
the matter. It is entirely up to you, my boy. What do you say?”

“Yea, sir.” With his simple answer, Theron easily shimmied
down from where he had been wedged to come face to face with the great Lord
Draco. A jaunty smile of white teeth showed brightly from his soot-blackened
face.

“Good boy, you will start tomorrow. But I warn you. It will
be a hard road ahead of you. But if you work hard, it is possible that innumerable
opportunities will open up for you in the future.”

“I won’t let you down, m’lord.”

With a nod, Draco ducked out of the chimney with Theron in
his arms.

“Oh, thank you, Lord Draco! Thank you!” Bianca cried as she
took Theron from his arms and gathered him against her bosom like a mother
would a child.

A bit astonished by the attention he received, Theron acted
like any small love-starved child would and greedily clutched the lady to him;
tears filled his eyes and trickled down his cheeks as he accepted her tender
ministrations. Giving the boy a knowing wink, Draco sat down at the kitchen
table.

“What on earth are you about, Bianca?”

Turning her head to see who dared to speak so to her with
such familiarity, Bianca found Duke Rodolfo standing in the kitchen doorway
elaborately dressed in satin and lace looking at her with a horrified
expression on his face. His eyes narrowed at the cozy little scene he had come
upon, his nose wrinkled with disdain and his lip curled with cruelty. He was
the picture of an outraged nobleman who suddenly found himself in the company
of soiled commoners. He was the very epitome outraged aristocracy.

“Unhand that filthy urchin immediately, Bianca. The wretched
little bastard should not even be allowed in the same room with a great lady
such as yourself much less touching you with his filth.”

Anger flared in Bianca’s heart as she rose to her full
height, pushing Theron protectively behind her back, squeezing him between Lord
Draco and her.

“How dare you speak that way about this child? You know
nothing about him. If anyone here is a wretch, it is you, Your Grace. I would
be pleased if you would take yourself and your entourage and leave Castle Neige
immediately.”

“But my dear lady, I cannot do that. I have come to claim
you as my betrothed. I will be announcing our betrothal as soon as your father
gives his permission.” But even as he said the words, he took in her appearance
and for a moment he looked very pained. As he gazed upon his future bride who
stood defiantly before him, soot covering her clothes and skin, he looked a bit
sick. “Go now and wash the cinders from yourself, dear Bianca. We have much to
discuss about our marriage.”

“I think the Lady de Neige gave you her opinion on the
matter. It is her wish that you leave forthwith, Duke.” The large nobleman
behind Bianca de Neige spoke low but his words held a definite threat.

Having not noticed Draco who had been sitting at the table
behind Bianca, the Spaniard was somewhat disconcerted to have the huge warlord
assert himself. The Baron d’Ensoleille stood slowly to his full towering height
and took a menacing step forward, shielding both the Lady Bianca and the filthy
child with his broad body.

Bianca watched the exchange, holding back a smile as the
Spanish duke cringed, lowering his gaze in self-defense. It seemed he had
enough intelligence to know when to pick his battles and now was not the time
to push his suit. He gave a stiff bow in her direction before storming out of
the kitchen, his small entourage close at his heels.

Bianca flushed in embarrassment, hoping that it was only her
ears that caught the Spaniard’s mutterings pertaining to her and Lord Draco
having to deal with what the outraged noble referred to as “the cinder-covered
bitch”. She glanced surreptitiously at him, hoping he had not heard.

She gave a sigh of relief after the offensive Spaniard
departed, and turned and faced Lord Draco to thank him for his support. He
shrugged his shoulders to her unspoken question.

“Now you see what kind of protection I need.”

“Yes, I do understand what you meant about unwanted
suitors.” He flashed her a crooked smile as his gaze swept over her small
person.

“You might want to clean up a bit, my lady. You are covered
in almost as much soot as young Theron.” Her gasp of outrage died on her lips
when she glanced down at herself and realized that he only told her the truth.
Black soot had diminished the color of her lovely gown turning it to gray with
large spots of black soot. The gown was ruined.

“Oh, dear! I will have to avoid my stepmother until I have a
chance to change. If she catches me in such a state, she will think of some way
to punish me.” She glanced at the soot-covered floor and fireplace. “She will
probably demand that I clean the chimney.” The last comment was murmured so
quietly, she doubted that anyone heard it.

“Perhaps you should retire immediately to your chambers to
clean up. I will take care of this scamp. Come, Theron. I think a goodly amount
of soap and water is just what we need as well.”

At the mention of soap, the small boy edged his way nimbly
around the large man and had nearly made it to the door before a large hand
clamped down on his shoulder stopping him in his tracks.

“I think it would go better for you if you just come along
with me.” At the whimper of dismay, Draco controlled the smile that threatened
to split his face. “It would seem that you are unused to bathing, boy. Now that
you are in my service, it will become a common occurrence. My squire will see
to it. For now, I think a quick dip in the river to wash off the worst of it
will suffice. Tomorrow will be soon enough for you to start your duties as my
new page. Of course, there will be no heavy labor until you are completely
healed. Is that understood?”

Theron nodded enthusiastically. The joy that glowed in his
eyes was heartwarming. Hope was a beautiful thing to see and Bianca was pleased
that she had the opportunity to witness it. Perhaps this was a good omen for
her future. If she had any doubts at all about her choice for a husband, this
matter would have easily calmed her mind. If a man could find it in him to be
kind and generous, as well as strong and fiercely protective, then he was the
man with whom she wanted to spend the rest of her life.

As Draco ushered his new page past her, Bianca spoke softly.
“Thank you, Draco.” It was enough to stop him in his tracks. He turned his head
and smiled down at her. The scar on his cheek made his smile appear slightly
lopsided, but she found it endearing.

“I think that you need looking after, Bianca.”

“Perhaps you are correct. But I shall look to your
protection and guidance in the matter of picking a likely candidate for my
future husband. I have complete trust in you, Draco.”

“It will be a pleasure to be of service, Bianca. But you
must continue to use my given name, especially now that we shall be spending a
great deal of time together.”

Bianca could not stop the blush that colored her cheeks at
his words. Without realizing it, she had been addressing him by his given name.
It would be hard to return to the previous formality after what had transpired
between them. As she made her way up to her chambers, she determined that the
relationship between her and Draco proceeded to her satisfaction. That was a
very good sign indeed.