“But that would have made Lord Jeffrey angry, though, to be promised an inheritance and then not to receive it,” said Lady Elinor.
“Exactly. Lord Jeffrey then tried to arrange a marriage with several landed ladies, but of course, their fathers did not agree. Finally, he learned of this valley here and Lord Rhys’s demesne, and we know what happened thereafter.”
“That’s a very interesting story and explains Lord Jeffrey’s previous behavior, but it’s of no help to us as to why he’s attacking hamlets and suchlike,” said Rhys.
“I believe what the peasants are saying on that issue. Lord Jeffrey did not prepare for winter. His soldiers are unskilled at proper storage of grain and fruits and proper preservation of meats, so when Lord Jeffrey finally realized he was in dire need of food, he decided to steal it from those who had it. And the most defenseless are the easiest targets. We have protected our people, so he has none left to attack but his own or those of other nobles in the valley,” said Devon.
“And the other nobles will protect their people as we have protected ours, leaving him only his own poor peasants to attack,” sighed Lady Elinor.
“Father Augustus, have you more news?” asked Rhys.
“Something we wondered about, yes. Lord Coll’s father gambled his inheritance away at Court. Only the land was left to Coll, no property to go with it. Everything of value was sold by his father to pay his gambling debts. It is whispered his father may have committed suicide after he lost everything. It’s also whispered Lord Coll may have hastened his own father’s departure. But whatever happened, that’s why he wanted Lady Rhyannon’s jewels. He has nothing.”
“Well, why wasn’t he on his property, supervising the harvest, ensuring he would have an income for the next year? Why was he at my father’s house?” asked Rhyannon.
“Possibly to steal your silver, your plate, and your jewels,” said Devon crossly.
“Yes, I expect they’re all long gone,” sighed Lady Elinor.
“Is he gone, too? Has he left the valley?” asked Rhyannon.
“No one knows. He’s not been seen lately, but then neither has Lord Jeffrey. Now that the snow has begun to fall, if he hasn’t already left, he’ll be here all winter.”
“We must hope and pray that he’s returned to his home and will take charge there. After all, he was to be married. That should have happened by now.”
* * * *
“Does it help, sweet, to know more about your cousin,” asked Alistair.
“That he may have murdered his own father? I’d believe it. He got very angry, didn’t he? But then, the church doesn’t approve of suicide either, so I think it’s best if we all pretend my uncle died of old age.”
Devon snorted. “Whatever you say, dear one. I have heard it’s possible for two men to put their cocks inside the same woman at the same time. I like the idea of being inside you and feeling Alistair’s dick grinding against mine. It’s good when there is just that thin wall between us when I fuck your ass while Alistair swives your cunt, but I’d like to try both of us in your cunt together, if you’d agree.”
“Of course I agree. I’d like to try it, too. I’d also like to know which soldier you’ve been talking to. He evidently has some amazing ideas. You must talk to him again.”
Devon laughed, and he and Alistair arranged themselves to join together in her cunt. It took them many tries to sort their bodies out. Raising Rhyannon’s legs into the air over her own shoulders solved one problem, but they still both had to get between her legs and her hips didn’t part wide enough for two such broad-shouldered men.
Finally, their dicks were snug together in her cunt. The angle Devon was on meant he couldn’t move in and out very much, but Alistair more than made up for him, and being stretched so wide, feeling both cocks filling her, was an aphrodisiac in itself.
Having the men’s bodies covering hers, pressed into hers, filling and surrounding her, made Rhyannon’s cunt cream with joy. When Alistair grabbed a breast and pinched her nipple and Devon kissed her mouth, she exploded in pleasure.
The men weren’t ready to release their seed yet and continued holding her tightly between them, pumping in and out. Rhyannon wasn’t surprised as she felt pleasure building inside her again. So often, they gave her joy more than once a night, and it looked like tonight would be another such occasion. Devon and Alistair were holding each other’s shoulders now, moving together, dragging their cocks in and out in harmony with each other.
Rhyannon felt a burst of seed in her cunt, and her bones melted in pleasure. A second blast of heat simply made her belly shake with excitement even more. The men were in unusual positions, and it took them all a while to untangle their bodies and sort out their limbs.
“Thank you. That was wonderful,” she said, kissing first Devon, then Alistair on the lips.
“You are wonderful. I can’t imagine life without you. I love you so much,” said Alistair.
“And I, too,” added Devon, leaning over to brush his lips across her forehead.
Rhyannon cherished their words and their nights together. During the day, they were all very busy around the castle and the lands. But the nights were theirs to be alone, just the three of them, together.
* * * *
In the early pre-dawn light, Alistair climbed the battlements for his duty. In the distance, he saw a small group of peasants walking toward the stronghold. They had no bundles, no animals, and were walking very slowly and unsteadily.
“Alert Lord Rhys. They may have an illness. Don’t let them in,” ordered Albin.
Hammond, Lord Rhys, Lord Devon, Wade, and most of the guards were on the battlements when the peasants finally arrived at the gate. They’d been walking very slowly indeed. An ordinary man could have come that far in less than half the time.
When they arrived, one man stood in front of the group, while most of the rest sank to the ground. Alistair wondered if they were ill, as Albin had warned. None of them was coughing, and none had a red face, but with many diseases, it was hard to tell who had it, until they died, unless their body was covered with spots or sores.
The leader drew himself up straight and tall, then called, “Lord Rhys, we are starving. Two little children are already dead, and the others will surely die unless we have real food soon. We wish to work for you in exchange for food. Every man here is prepared to become your slave if you promise to feed our families adequately this winter.”
Alistair gasped. Few men would consider selling themselves into slavery. He knew of families who sold one son perhaps, to save the rest of the family, but not of all the men in a hamlet taking such an action. They must be truly desperate. Had Lord Jeffrey attacked their hamlet?
“Why don’t you have food? Where is your land, your crops? The grain grew well this summer just past,” asked Lord Rhys.
Alistair wondered why he was taunting them. Did he not believe them?
The man seemed to wobble on his feet then drew himself upright and straight again. “Yes, lord, it was a good year for grain and also for lambs. Unfortunately, Lord Jeffrey took everything. He burned our houses, took our grain and lambs, and everything we had saved, even the cooking pots and the seed grain for next year. But when Lord Coll and some of the soldiers started to drag our wives and daughters over to the horses to take them, too, we fought him and ran and hid in the forest. Because we have disobeyed our lord, the land will be taken from us in retribution, and now we have nothing.”
“We have our honor,” called a female voice from the little group.
Yes they did. They had their honor, and the courage to become a slave so that their families might live.
“You may camp against the rear wall of the stronghold in the field before the river. My men will bring you some timber to build shelters, and some food. As for the rest, we will meet formally at midday two days hence and discuss it properly,” said Lord Rhys.
“Thank you, lord,” said the man.
What is your name?”
More hungry mouths to feed, but more workers, too, if they lived. And they had shown courage and honor. If what they said was all true, they would be a welcome addition to the stronghold. But who would Lord Jeffrey attack next? Would it be them? And what about the vengeful Lord Coll?
THE END
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Berengaria is a multi-published author of erotic romance: contemporary, paranormal (ghosts, vampires, fairies, and werewolves), and Regency-set historical. She loves to read all different kinds of romance, so that is what she writes: one man/one woman; two women; two men; two men/one woman; three men; two women/one man…Whatever the characters need for their very hot happily ever after, Berengaria makes sure they get it.
Also by Berengaria Brown
Ménage Amour: Elinor’s Stronghold 1: Pillaging Elinor’s Castle
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Siren Publishing, Inc.
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Defending Rhyannon's Inheritance [Elinor's Stronghold 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 7