by Marie Hall
She needed to encourage him or he'd hold back. "Xavier, please," she begged. "Please make me…" She flexed her fingers scratching the taut skin over his thickly muscled thighs. "Xavier, please I need…" She used her body to clutch at him and he moaned loudly.
Twice more she lifted and fell. His body went stiff, thrust deep inside her, he spilled his release. The additional heat sent Io into bliss. She cried out, her head back and her body arched as far as it could be she felt a second wave roll over her.
She cried out a second time and shuddered. She brought her hands around to rest on his chest and then worked to bring her breathing under control. Xavier's eyes were squeezed shut and his grip on her waist was almost painful. Io felt another shudder pass through him. It was a whole other kind of bliss to know she could do this to him. She marveled at this power and control. She marveled more at the idea he was never stated. He engaged in this activity tonight as enthusiastically as the last three nights. And she knew he planned to do this when they took their leave of this place in two days.
How she looked forward to that. Something happened since they made the plan to run away, as Sarah laughingly put it. Io didn't know what exactly. Although the three ladies still plagued her every day and her mother in law especially took pains to diminish Io's accomplishments, Io could count on Xavier's quick response to the nay-saying. He sought out her company for more than a scolding. He sat with her the day before she recited, to prove she mastered the lessons she took, while she practiced. And she found him in the hall when she stepped out with the letter stating she indeed mastered reading, drawing and using maps. They celebrated with a private meal in their chambers and they didn't eat at the table or off the platters.
On the morrow, she'd go out to the mines and make the decision whether to shut them down or to continue to allow the repairs. After she'd pack a few things, Xavier and she would make good their escape.
"Ummm." She felt his chest rumble with the sound. "I do enjoy that look."
Io tossed her hair over her shoulder and gave him a saucy smile. "I do enjoy being made to have this look."
He laughed and pulled her down, rolling them so he was on top. Io snuggled in. He shifted to the side reaching back to pull the covers over them before he settled next to her. "I enjoy making you have that look." He nuzzled her neck and held her tighter.
"You do?" She teased, seeking reassurance a small boost to her confidence.
"You know I do, I cannot enjoy anything like I enjoy you." He placed a little kiss on her chin.
"Not even strawberries and cream?" she said with a laugh.
"Oh well those are very close, Io, but I would rather have your kiss and never eat another berry again." He chuckled.
"Then I will deny you neither you may have as much of both as you wish." She turned her face and joined their lips. It was a soft kiss, long and slow and Io thought she could feel the assurance of forever in it.
"I think," Xavier whispered, "I might be able to find a substitute for strawberries, Io." He gave her a second quick kiss. "But nothing will ever replace your kisses so please do not deny me. I hunger for them always."
"Ah, well I should not wish hunger on you as I know what it is to starve."
"Not anymore, Io, never again," he almost growled.
"So you say." She knew he spoke of how she was denied food before she came into his care. Even if she missed meals to avoid certain people, she missed very few and she was always able to find food to eat when she tried. He'd speak up if he thought she was missing too many if he felt her health or wellbeing at risk. He'd not only speak up; he'd lay his hand down in a most unpleased fashion.
"So I say," Xavier said bringing Io back to the moment at hand.
"Then perhaps we might do something to help increase your appetite." Her hand slid down his body to where his shaft now lay limp.
He took hold of her wrist and pulled it away. "While I wish it was so, Io, I am no longer a youth of fifteen, I think twice in the same night to be my limit." He rolled to his back and pulled her partly on top of him. "I would have your pardon, my lady, to be rested that I could attend other duties, which are far less pleasant, but need to be done."
"Ah," Io soothed. "Are you old?"
"Not too old to take you over my knee," he laughed.
"Oh that should not be pleasant. Perhaps you should rest." Io curled against him.
"Yes, I am not kind when I am tired," he said with a yawn.
Aware of this, Io was quiet for a time but before he was asleep she gave in and asked. "Xavier, how many times could you do this each night when you were fifteen?"
"Go to sleep, Io, and…" He used his warning tone, "Do not think to ask some youth such a thing."
Io smothered a giggle. "Very well, my lord."
Chapter Twelve
Io took one more step, retreating as the rocks began to shower down. Before she retreated completely, a huge section of the wall to the left toppled to the ground. Io stepped from the mine, blinking at the intensity of the sunlight after the darkness of the tunnel. She welcomed the warmth of that sun too. The mine was cold and damp.
"Io?" Gunther took her arm and pulled her further from the crumbling opening.
"I am well." She smiled at the man. This man was always part of the riding party, as she called her guards, all the others rotated so they could attend other duties or training.
"That hole is a death trap," Gunther said when more of the entry crumbled.
"I agree," she said turning to the small crowd which was made up mostly of those who worked in the mine. She spotted Squire Waverly, the man in charge of the silver mine, as he stepped from the crowd.
"Might we now resume our work?" the man said in a tight voice. It was his responsibility to pull the rich ore from the ground for Xavier. It was, too, his responsibility to ensure the mine was a safe place.
"Would you tell me how much silver ore you pulled from this mine in the last month?" Io asked. Really it didn't matter. No amount was worth the lives of the people who worked it. That included the children, although they weren't supposed to be working inside, Io knew they did.
"Well, I could not say." The man puffed up his chest but as squat and round as he was it didn't intimidate anyone.
"Sir Roth." Io held out her hand and another of the knights in her riding party stepped up placing a ledger in her hand. "Here." Io handed it over to the squire. "Now tell me how much ore you pulled from this mine in the last month."
"Mistress," the man started in a gruff manner which he amended as soon and Gunther stepped towards him. "My lady, it is not unusual to have a…" He seemed to seek the word. "A time with little useable ore. Another vein should be available deeper in. A month is not so long to work with few results."
"So a month is not very long?" She saw the man smile and nod. He probably thought her stupid. But Io did learn about mining before she took on this responsibility. She took back the ledger and flipped through several pages, stopping on the one she needed. She handed the open pages back to the squire. "Would you not agree, though, nineteen months is a very long time?"
"Lady Io, I am sure in a few weeks we will find a worthy source of silver ore."
"Squire Waverly, in a few weeks this mine will no longer be at the rate it is collapsing. There is no amount of silver in that hellish pit to justify sending anyone inside no matter what might be found. I want this mine closed. No one is to enter again." Io took the ledger from his slack hands handing it back to the man with her. "Have this mine sealed before the end of the week."
"And what are we to do to earn for our families?" A man called out from the crowd. The grumbling started and rose in volume.
"I will," Io started then had to start again in a louder voice. "I will arrange for you to work at other things so you can support your families."
"Perhaps we should take this to Lord Brice," the squire said, causing even more grumbling from the crowd. "You cannot want that we sit for months not able to earn and then see o
ur homes taken and our families starved."
"My want, Squire, is all of you live to take care of your families." She gestured towards the mine shaft. "You will not in there."
"Take this to Lord Brice," someone in the crowd shouted.
"I do believe I have cause, I will," the squire said, again puffing out his chest.
"You take it to Lord Bryce." Gunther stepped forward. "You bring this to his attention. For it would do him well to see what a state you have allowed his land, this mine, to fall into. Perhaps, unlike Lady Io, he will question you on where the monies have gone he allowed you over the course for repairs. Perhaps too, Squire Waverly, he will have you work inside your own mine with these men."
Io watched the man blanch, his eyes going back and forth between Io and Gunther. He looked uncertain and Io stamped down the bit of fear. So far the people hadn't challenged her, but she never made such a huge decision. She wasn't sure Xavier would agree even though anyone could see the mine wasn't safe.
"Yea, indeed take it to his lordship," Gunther went on. "And in the month or three it will take him to find the time to see about this matter, you will not work the mine as Lady Io said, you will work nowhere. As she will have no valid cause to set you working when you think to wait to work here."
Io took a moment to look at the ground and school her expression. She wouldn't make the miners go months without working to earn for their families. She cared about their safety even if they cared nothing about it. She wanted them alive to take care of their families. Her eyes went to the several children in the crowd. She wanted them to grow and have families.
"There are many projects at hand that would be well served to have more able bodied men," Io stated. "I can have all of you back to working and earning in short order. I too, will speak with my lord about deferring your rents so in the event you do not find ready work to your liking or ability you are not held responsible for the losses."
"Well if you can convince his lordship…" the squire acquiesced.
"I do not need a woman's charity to meet my responsibilities," someone in the crowd yelled. But he had few mumbled agreements.
"Then do not take charity, take different work," Gunther countered. "Regardless, this mine will be closed until either the matter is resolved by our lord or a miracle happens to stabilize it."
"You cannot have the authority to make such a choice," another man, Io knew him to be the husband of one of the guild women who did weaving, called out.
"I do," Io calmly told him. "The running of these lands have been placed in my hands, it is why I am here. That his estates are maintained while he does as he needs to serve his king."
"The matter is done, seal this mine and do it now." Gunther abruptly ended the debate. Taking Io by the arm he headed her back to the horses. "They will have you stand there all the day listening to them tell you why you have made a poor decision. You need to state how it will be and walk away." He sat her up on her horse and handed her the reins. "You need not give them any reasons. You need not try to appease them. They will see that as weakness, Io, and they will be slow to obey."
"I do not wish to be unreasonable," Io muttered as she waited for everyone to mount.
"Io, you are not. That mine is a death sentence. The decision was sound, do not doubt yourself." He turned his horse the same direction as Io's and readied to get to the next stop Io had to make today.
"Thank you," Io said, he winked at her and took the lead.
The day went much smoother after that. Most matters Io saw to were small. Disputes over a neighbor's goats eating from another's garden, misuse of the shire ovens. Not until Io made her last stop at the house of Beth, the wife of the miner not pleased with Io's announcement, did things again become complicated.
She knocked softly on the cottage door and expecting Beth to answer, was taken back when her husband jerked open the door. He was clearly drunk, and in a temper.
"What do you want? Come to take the last of our means at making a living?" His snarl, slurred by whatever was in his bottle was frightening. But Io knew enough of drunk men to know how to handle them.
"You would do well to find a chair, or better a bed," Io said as she pulled her shoulders back and lifted her chin. "Step aside. I would speak to Mistress Beth."
"This is my home, woman. You cannot order me about," the man bellowed.
"A home you have by my lord's hand. Given for the purpose your wife might apply her skills in a craft desired by him," Io said as she pushed through the door.
What the man might have said was stopped when Beth stood up from her loom. "Mathis, do not be disrespectful."
"Mistress Beth, greetings. Good health here?" Io crossed the room to the woman she had come to see.
"Yes, Mistress, and for you?"
Io rolled her eyes. She wouldn't complain about her troubles at the house to these people. She gave the woman a weak smile. "Well enough." The woman nodded she could understand the troubles of running a house with a difficult man in residence. "Have you finished the cloth?" Io asked wanting to get on with business and be gone seeing as Mathis had sat at the table and began drinking again.
"Oh yes, I think you will like it." Beth went to a large trunk and opened it. Over her shoulder she said, "I was told you closed the mine." Her voice was casual. She didn't seem to care if she'd upset her husband.
"Yes I did," Io said as if she didn't question herself or her authority to do so.
"Well good, that place will sure be the death of someone and with both my husband and sons there…" She sent a nasty look towards the man at the table. He'd shame enough to turn his face. She handed Io the cloth she woven just for her.
"I will be sure to get everyone back to work as soon as it is possible." Io ran her hand over the fine and richly embellished fabric. "Beth, this is beautiful," she breathed.
Beth smiled and moved to a small basket with scraps of colored linen. She took out a piece and brought it over. "I think you will like this as a dye?" She set the deep rust colored material on top. "Blues and greens are so common, I think this will be quite lovely with your coloring and no other should have it."
"I will love it Beth, thank you ever so much for your thoughtfulness." She took out her small purse.
She'd buy this with her own monies. The first time she could do such a thing. And it was her monies. She earned them. When she started lessons and written to tell Garret, his response was to send her a little gold coin. She sent it right back and he sent it back again saying she earned the coin and was to spend it on something she wanted. She pulled two of those coins out of the little bag and when Beth returned she held them out.
"That is too much Mistress," Beth gasped. The words made her husband turn and stare.
"No, it is not. It is a fair price for the work you did and the thought you gave me. And I may have to take from you some ribbon when I come for the cloth and maybe some thread as I do not think the house has anything to match the color."
"I think it still too much," Beth whispered as she closed her fingers over the coins.
"We do not need your charity," Mathis said as he stumbled to his feet and slammed the bottle on the table hard enough Io wondered that it did not break.
"Husband," Beth admonished. "Io is paying for her goods and she will get the full worth for what she has given." She turned and smiled weakly at Io.
A brisk knock and the door opened abruptly. "My lady, is all well in here?" Sir Roth stepped in hand resting on his sword. He must have heard the slam of the bottle and the raised voices.
"All is well, sir. I was leaving." She turned and smiled at Beth but what she said was for Mathis's benefit. "You will be paid for services and goods."
"Of course, we never thought otherwise. I should have your cloth ready by the end of the month if that will be soon enough?" Beth said going with Io to the door.
Io stepped out of the house again breathing in the warm air. "I will return then in a month. Stay well you and yours, Mistress Beth," Io
said, then let Roth set her in the saddle.
"And you, Io," Beth said, waved, and then shut the door. Before Roth got on his own horse Beth could be heard giving her husband the sharp side of her tongue.
Io chuckled when Gunther raised his brow at her. "She is a braver woman than I." Implying she wouldn't speak to Xavier like that knowing how it would end for her.
"It is not for lack of bravery you hold your tongue and well we all know it," Gunther said seriously. "Only lack of good cause."
Io thought on those words as they rode back to the house. Was it only because she'd no cause to be sharp with Xavier she softened her tongue over the last year? She could be very vocal if she needed as long as she didn't curse him. If the need was strong enough or the cause so important, she'd speak up. She wished she'd spoken more firmly so not to miss the festival. She hadn't, that was her mistake. But he was going to make up to her in fine fashion in another day.
Io smiled as she rode through the gates and even being told Xavier was called away didn't worry her. He left word promising to return in time to keep with the escape plan.
"And what has you smiling this day?" Lady Sabrina asked as Io was helped down from her horse. She couldn't tell if Sabrina made conversation or not. Of the three women she spoke the least. She complained the least and sometimes would say a word that might be taken as support of Io.
"No reason," Io said easily and shrugged. "I am enjoying this weather. It was very cold here not so long past. The sun feels good and I will enjoy it much the next few days."
"Oh? Have you plans to be out of doors then? No studies, no duties?" Sabrina asked taking a moment to stroke her hand down Wednesday's muzzle. The normally calm and polite horse shielded left, bumping into Io and sending her to the ground.
"My lady." Gunther came around to help her.
"Well, that was rude, you silly beast," Io softly scolded. Wednesday shook her head then forced her nose into Io's open palm. "Yes I know you did not mean it. Here go with Alan he will give you a good brushing. I have other things to be about." Io handed over the reins and watched as the mare was led away.