The Conquered Brides

The blizzard came out of nowhere. It had been cloudy, yes, but she hadn’t felt this storm coming. She needed to get back to the castle immediately or she could be lost out in the woods. This was the kind of storm where men became disoriented, freezing to death only to be discovered a mere twenty yards from a building. 

She grasped the four white rabbits she’d trapped and ran through the snow, the cold air burning her lungs and making her chest ache. The path would be lost soon, but she wasn’t far. She had only walked a half mile or so, if she remembered correctly. She picked up her speed even more, the toes of her boots sliding out behind her with each step. Almost there, almost there. 

Thank God—she thought she saw the castle up ahead. Which meant she must be out of the woods. The snow blew too hard to even see the trees. She’d come out to trap, with the idea of sewing rabbit fur into the collar of Sir Barrett and Penrod’s cloaks. She made a poor wife in terms of weaving, but the fur would set them apart, give them something special. 

Why hadn’t she told anyone where she was going? If she got lost out here, no one would even know where to look. Not that she would want them to risk their lives over her stupidity. She tripped and fell into the snow, the icy flakes searing her face. Cursing, she struggled to her feet and ran on. Yes, that must be the castle up ahead. 

She reached the gates just as a rider tore out of them at a breakneck speed. He must have seen her because he turned the stallion sharply in her direction, causing him to rear and whinny. 

Barrett.

He had come for her. Relief, gratitude, and fear poured from her in equal measures. His destrier galloped toward her, not slowing in the least. Was it him? As he passed her, he bent down and caught her about the waist, wrenching a choked scream from her throat. She clung to the rabbits and he set her on one knee, guiding his horse in a circle and back through the gates. 

He didn’t say a word. 

She had no breath to speak, but if she did, she would not have known what to say to him. She teetered precariously on his knee, supported only by the strength of his arm. She did not dare steal a glance at his face, but she could feel anger pouring off him in waves. He rode the horse straight up to the castle doors and dropped her to her feet. 

“Wait for me in our chamber,” he said tersely. 

She rushed forward, not looking back, her heart thundering in her chest. She thought to give the rabbits to Penrod to take to the kitchen, but she did not think she could manage a conversation. Instead, she removed her wet cloak and boots and carried everything up the stairs with her. She did not have to wait long. 

Barrett burst in the room, his dark eyes flashing. He looked every part his namesake: a great, growling bear—vicious and terrifying in his huge stature. She stepped quickly back, but he closed the distance between them and swept her off her feet, carrying her to the edge of the bed, where he sat and plopped her over his lap. 

He began to spank her immediately, one hand tugging up her skirts, while the other already lit into her. 

She tried to lie still, not wanting to further anger him, but her body had a mind of its own, jerking and wriggling under the punishing blows. By the time he had bared her bottom, the cold numbness in her buttocks had worn off, replaced by terrible, hot pins and needles.

“Ahh… ah,” she grunted. “Oh.”

“What were you thinking?” he demanded, speaking at last, but not pausing in his spanking, even for an instant. 

“I didn’t know it would storm,” she protested, squeezing her eyes shut. The pins and needles were easing and now her entire bottom blazed. 

“Did you ask my permission to leave the castle?” 

“No, sir,” she said. Tears choked her throat, threatening to spill. 

“Why not?” he demanded. 

Though he’d surely seen the rabbits, she still did not want to spoil the surprise. She did not answer. 

He spanked even harder, his huge hand like a wooden paddle, punishing her poor bottom with each heavy blow. “I asked, why not?” When she still did not answer, he picked her up from his lap and set her on her feet, giving her a shove toward the wall. “Stand in the corner,” he barked. 

She tripped, scurrying away from him. She’d never been made to stand in a corner before, and she didn’t think it would be worse than the spanking she had just received, but it was. 

“Keep your skirts lifted to show me your naughty bottom. I am not nearly through with you,” he growled. 

She picked up her skirts and bowed her head, unable to stop the tears that had been threatening. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Barrett bury his head in his hands, looking defeated. She felt even worse. She sniffed and his head jerked up, as if in surprise. 

“Daisy,” he said, his voice much softer. “Come here, love.” 

Fresh tears streaked her face at the endearment. He couldn’t be so angry anymore, if 

he called her ‘love.’ She walked to stand before him, still holding her skirts up, as he’d ordered. 

“Forgive me for my temper,” he said heavily. “I was afraid for you, that’s all.” He reached out and grasped her hips, pulling her closer. “Come here. I’m sorry I scared you.” 

“You didn’t scare me,” she lied. 

A flick of his eyebrows showed he knew the truth. “Well, you scared me. I forbid you to leave the castle walls without permission. Ever. Do you understand me?” 

She nodded, swallowing back a fresh wave of tears. “I’m sorry, my lord.” 

“I’m going to give you the worst strapping of your life.” 

“Yes, sir,” she murmured. She hardly cared about the punishment, although she knew it would be awful. Her only concern was to make things right between them again. What could she offer him, except four dead rabbits?