The Reluctant Lord (Dragon Lords) Page 18

  “My apologies, I did not mean to frighten you,” he said. “You must be Clara’s mother, Lady Redding.”

  “Lady Jaene, the Great Lady of the Redding,” Jaene corrected tersely. He recognized that tone. It was the exact same tone Clara had used at their wedding ceremony to correct him.

  “Lady Jaene,” Vlad acknowledged. He found himself standing taller in response to their rigid positioning. He glanced questioningly at his wife, expecting a smile from her. Her eyes met his very briefly before she turned them forward and stared ahead.

  “I am Lady Clara’s father, the Great Lord of the Redding,” a man said. Vlad had not seen him standing in the corner when he entered. He turned and bowed his head politely. For some reason, he felt like a scolded child when the man looked at him. “You may address me as Great Lord. My wife is Great Lady.”

  “Great Lord.” Vlad bowed his head again, feeling somewhat compelled to formality. “I am Lord Vladan, Ealdorman Honorary of the Draig, High Mining Official.”

  “So my daughter informed me,” the great lord said. He looked down his nose at Vlad, studying him. “She did not, however,” he gave Clara a dispassionate glance, “inform me you were a shifter.”

  “I am sure she was respecting our planet’s custom of not sharing the fact with off-worlders that we are dragon shifters.” Vlad reached his feelings out and tried to silently get a sense of his wife’s emotions, but he detected nothing. She blocked herself from him. He didn’t like this.

  The man nodded, accepting this answer. “This will certainly bring new blood to our line.” He looked at his wife. “We will have to reconsider our position.” Jaene nodded once in agreement. “Clara, you will be required to have more than the child you now carry.”

  “Pregnant?” Vlad grinned. He suddenly didn’t care about his parent-by-marriage’s stuffy customs. He went to his wife and kneeled at her feet. “Is it true? A baby?”

  Clara tried not to look at him. He saw her bottom lip tremble. A thin bead of moisture gathered along her bottom lashes but did not spill over. After several deep breaths, she said, “My father has agreed to speak to the Tyoe ambassador. They will not bother your people again, my lord husband. If they do, my father has pledged his Redde army to come and defeat them with their very presence. The Tyoe will not risk angering him.”

  “Clara?” he whispered. Why wouldn’t she look at him? What was wrong with her?

  “Do get off the floor,” the great lord demanded.

  Vlad didn’t readily obey. However, when it became apparent Clara was not going to look at him, he slowly rose to his feet. What was he not understanding? What had they done to his wife?

  “It is as my daughter says,” the great lord continued only when Vlad was standing fixedly before him. “We sent her here to marry. Duty dictates we honor your connection to our family and provide aid should your planet need it. Clara has called upon us to honor that duty. The Tyoe are easy-enough foes. They will bend to my will, as most foes do.”

  “Then on behalf of my people, I thank you for your interference. We will fight, but avoiding war and the loss of life is always preferable. I knew there was reason the gods blessed me with such a fine wife.” Vlad tried very hard to hide his irritation. Oh, but he was irritated. This man was insufferable and arrogant and…what in the known universes had they done to his wife? He should be swinging her in circles, screaming to the heavens his good fortune over the new baby. Instead, he felt like the character in some strange play, acting as someone other than himself. “The gods sent Lady Clara to me to—”

  “I sent Lady Clara to marry a nobleman,” the great lord corrected.

  “It is their culture, Great Lord,” Clara said softly. “Here the gods are everywhere.”

  The great lord nodded in understanding but did not apologize.

  “My daughter has requested a moment with you before we are to leave,” the great lord said.

  “You are not staying?” Even as he offered, Vlad was somewhat relieved. The fact they were Clara’s parents made him feel guilty about it. “I can have the servants prepare a wing for you. It is decorated for a High Duke.”

  “No,” was all the great lord said. He reached his arm to his wife, hooking it to help her to her feet. The heavy weight of her gown swung around her before settling. She nodded at him and followed her husband from the room.

  Clara held her arm like her mother had. Vlad hooked it and helped her up. He smiled now they were alone. “Is it true, sweet wife? A baby?” He moved as if to grab her face to kiss her.

  She shook her head and pulled back. Clara put distance between them. “When my father said we were leaving, he meant we. I’m going with them.”

  Vlad furrowed his brow and balled his fists. “They’re not taking you away. You’re my wife, Clara. You love me. I don’t know what kind of drug they put in that war paint of yours, but you do love me. If I have to scrub you down myself I will, but you love me.”

  Clara inhaled a shaky breath. “Vlad, please, don’t.” Her will slipped and he felt inside her. She did love him and her heart was breaking. He tried to touch her and she again stepped away from him, this time putting furniture between them.

  “Clara, you can’t go,” he pleaded.

  * * *

  “Don’t make this harder.”

  Clara wanted nothing more than to throw her arms around round Vlad and hold him forever. When she’d agreed to go with her parents to please them in exchange for their help with the Tyoe, she’d known it would be hard, but she never thought it would be this difficult. Inside, she felt her heart thundering in her chest. Outside, she had to project calm. If she looked at him for too long all would be lost. Her father would be angered by her display.

  “I don’t understand.” His face tightened.

  “My father agreed to…” She sniffed, trying very hard not to cry.

  “He thinks we’re beneath him,” Vlad concluded. “He sent you here to marry a nobleman so he could have his grandchildren and, now that you’re pregnant, has come to gather you to the family fold. Does he really think I’m just going to stand by and let this happen? Does he think I’m going to let him take my wife and my son?”

  “It is not that simple,” she protested.

  “It is that simple, Clara. You belong with me.” Vlad made a move to come for her. She ventured around the chair, keeping it between them.

  “It is the only way. You saw what happened when there was only one Tyoe worker. What do you think will happen with their soldiers come? They already kidnapped the High Duke without detection. They have invaded your mines. One nearly killed you.” The tear fell and she tried to dab it back so it wouldn’t ruin her face and upset her parents. “This is why your gods called me here. You said it yourself. Our marriage has made an alliance possible. The Redding army can easily defeat the Tyoe. They do not even need to march. They just have to exist. If I stay I will risk watching you die, watching everyone I have come to care about die—Ari and Tomos and Sven and Matus and Nolan, Aeron and Bron, Alek and Kendall, Riona and—”

  “I wasn’t lying when I told your father we would fight the Tyoe if we had to,” Vlad said. “We are not cowards.”

  “I know. You are all so strong and brave, but you also said this was the best way—to end a war before its starts without loss of life.”

  “Then I will go with you,” Vlad said.

  Clara gasped. “You would leave everything for…?” She couldn’t ask him to do that, but knowing he loved her that much caused her to shake. “No, I—”

  “Lady Clara.”

  Clara blinked, seeing her mother. She sniffed. “The great lord told me I’d have more time than this. Please—”

  “Monitor yourself,” her mother warned. Clara nodded, dabbing at her eyes.

  Vlad took the opportunity to hop over the chair to stand next to Clara. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her next to him. “I’m coming with you.”

  Jaene’s brows furrowed ever so slightly and Cl
ara knew her mother would be horrified by the idea of a barbarian in her home.

  “I have spoken to your father.” Jaene glanced down the hall before stepping inside the room. Clara assumed her father waited in the hall out of sight to listen. Had they been eavesdropping on her talk with her husband? “It is apparent this planet needs more assistance than just a Redding army. There will be no reason to save it if it is not worth saving.”

  Vlad started to move forward in offense. Clara hooked his elbow and squeezed her arm tightly against his to stop him.

  Jaene focused her attention on her son-by-marriage. “Do you think our titles are merely shells? A key to position and power so that we may frolic at will? I can tell by looking at you that you were not born to nobility. No true nobleman would act as you do. However, it is of no consequence how you came to the title, it is yours. I will explain to you as I did to my sons when they were children and I had to separate them from playing with the lower class servants. You are a lord, Vladan. The men who serve you do not need a friend. They need a leader. That is your burden and your duty. Do not be reluctant. Do not hesitate. Take your place, Lord Vladan, Ealdorman Honorary of the Draig, High Mining Official. Yes, we as nobles have privileges, but we also have responsibilities. We make sacrifices. It is your duty to behave accordingly.”

  Vlad didn’t answer. Clara stepped toward her mother. “Wise words, Great Lady.”

  “Remember then to tell your son of his expected duties when he is born,” she directed.

  “Will you not be there to tell him?” Clara asked, trying to keep the hope from her voice.

  “You always did have overly expressive eyes,” her mother lectured. “Your father wishes that you should stay here and instruct these barbarians. He sees the wisdom in it. If we are to connect our name to this planet, at least one true Redding should be here to oversee our interest.” She gave a pointed look to Vlad. “Besides, as your family, we will gratefully receive your gifts of ore.”

  And there it was. What her father thought more valuable than bringing a daughter home. Ore to fuel his ships.

  “Our pleasure,” Vlad said, easily accepting the terms of her proposed bribe.

  Clara knew that this change was her mother’s doing. The great lady would have mentioned the wisdom to her father who’d then taken the idea as his own.

  Clara nodded. She tried to fight her emotions but it was hard. “Thank you, Mother,” she whispered.

  “It is as your father wishes,” the great lady said. She lifted her hand toward her daughter.

  Clara couldn’t resist. She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around her mother, letting her feel all the love and gratitude inside her. Their wigs bumped. Jaene stiffened and didn’t move. Their heavy dresses pressed tightly together, catching a little when Clara pulled away.

  Her mother opened her mouth and then closed it several times. Her words were low, as she said, “Never do that again.”

  “As my mother wishes,” Clara said.

  Jaene shook her head once. “You always did have expressive eyes. Fear not the Tyoe. Your father goes to the ship now to hail their ambassador.”

  “Thank you, Great Lady,” Clara said, lifting her wrist. This gesture was much more familiar to the woman and her mother lifted her wrist as well, not touching.

  When she left, Clara turned to her husband, grinning. “Apparently you are so in need of my help that I am being forced to stay here.”

  “If you think I’m wearing a powdered wig you are…well, I will if it makes you happy.” He took a step toward her. “Do you need to tell them goodbye?”

  “It was implied.”

  “So much for you to teach me about being noble.” Vlad’s impish grin said he had no intention of trying to be a Redding gentleman. She very, very much agreed with him on that point. Clara wanted her dragon just the way he was.

  “You heard my mother. Though we are noble, that does not mean we must live horrible lives.” She moved a little toward him, carefully balancing in her stiff boots. “I do fear you will need much training.”

  He arched a brow. Her gown kept her from getting too close to him. He leaned forward so their lips could meet to softly brush.

  “You showed me how to laugh. Let me show you how to be my nobleman,” she whispered before drawing back slightly. “But first maybe help me out of this hair? I feel like I’m going to tip over.”

  “As my wife wishes,” he murmured. He held his arm out for her to hook hers through and began to escort her back to their room. Then, grinning, he added, “If we hurry, maybe I can get you pregnant with twins.”

  Clara chuckled. “Ah, husband, I don’t think that is how these things work.”

  “Still, I would definitely like to try.”

  Epilogue

  “Husband.” Clara ran her hand over her rounded belly as her husband massaged her feet.

  “Wife?”

  “You were saying something to me on our wedding night in that dragon tongue of yours. What was it?” She wiggled her toes when his hands paused.

  “I said many things to you that night.” He lifted her bare foot to place kisses on it. “And I wanted to do much more to you, beautiful temptress.”

  Clara pulled her foot from him and leaned over on their couch so she could press her face into his neck. She knew he liked it when she kissed him there. “It was something you said your father used to say to your mother, but you never told me what it meant.”

  Vlad tossed back his head and began to laugh.

  “What?” She withdrew.

  “Hope I’m not interrupting.” Alek strode in as the door slid open. He had his hands over his eyes.

  “You are, go away,” Vlad demanded playfully with a growl.

  “I have to speak to…” Alek pulled his hand down to peek. Seeing them on the couch fully clothed, he hurried to Clara. “I know what they were trying to tell you. I was thinking of the images, and it’s the solarflowers. They—”

  “No,” Clara moaned. “Not the solarflowers again. Come back tomorrow. I have no wish to talk to ceffyls today.”

  “No, the lost babies. They’re trying to tell us the solarflowers help the pregnancy. I put three expectant mares who were close to their times on a solarflower diet. They were happy, they were active and they all just had healthy babies. We’ll have to wean them off it, but it worked. Solarflowers.” Alek gave a little dance of excitement. “I’ve ordered seeds harvested at once. We’ll begin planting a crop in a few months. But do you know what this means? No more fifty-percent chance of a live birth.”

  Clara gave him a serious look. “Have you told your wife this news?”

  Alek looked shocked for a moment. “No, I haven’t.”

  “I’m sure she’d love to hear all about it,” Clara stated. “You should go find her at once.”

  “You’re right!” Alek hurried from the room.

  “Kendall might not appreciate that,” Vlad teased.

  Clara leaned for him. “Now, husband, don’t think I forgot. What did you say to me on our wedding night?”

  Vlad held his lips near hers. For moment, she thought he might try to get out of answering. Then, a second before their mouth touched, he admitted, “It translates to my solarflower.”

  The End

  The series continues with Dragon Lords: The Impatient Lord.

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  Michelle M. Pillow, Author of All Things Romance™, is a multi-published, award winning author writing in many romance fiction genres including futuristic, paranormal, historical, contemporary, fantasy and
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