Snow hurried away from Tarass, her hand rushing to push at his naked chest, but as she did, he moved and her hand fell low on his stomach. She realized then that he was completely naked and she hurried her hand off him, yanking the blanket up around her as she scrambled to move away.

He grabbed her before she fell off the side, and she stiffened. “Any further and you’ll fall out of bed.”

He let her go, not expecting a response, not wanting one. What he wanted and needed was for Nettle to keep what she saw here a secret and that might be impossible for her to do.

Tarass left the bed, not caring about his nakedness. He walked to the door and shut it and saw Nettle pale.

“I’m going to warn you again, Nettle. You are to say nothing about what you saw here, since nothing happened between Snow and me. If you allow your tongue to wag, I will be forced to wed Snow, and you will lose your tongue. Do you understand, Nettle?”

“Aye, my lord. I will say nothing,” Nettle said a quiver in her voice.

“I’ll have your word on that.”

“You have my word, my lord,” she rushed to say.

“Make sure you keep it or you’ll have no tongue to wag,” he threatened again and walked out of the room without saying another word.

Snow hurried to speak when she heard the door close with force. “I had a nightmare and Thaw went and got Tarass. He comforted me and we must have fallen asleep. Nothing happened between us. He doesn’t wish to wed me and I don’t wish to wed him.”

“I don’t want to lose my tongue and I don’t want you forced into marriage. I saw nothing, so there is nothing for me to say.”

“Thank you, Nettle. I owe you much,” Snow said with relief and a touch of sorrow, wondering how one moment Tarass could be so kind to her and the next so cruel.

“It is I who owe you. It has been such a pleasure serving you and I will miss you when you go. You spoke up for me when no one else did, and this morning, on my way here, two women who never said a word to me, approached and talked with me. Of course, the talk was about you and the snowball fight you engaged in yesterday and how much the young lads enjoyed it, but at least they talked with me and actually seemed to enjoy it. It felt so good to be included in chatter with others.”

“How nice for you, Nettle, and I will miss you as well,” Snow said and eased herself out of bed, hoping today she would be able to go home. “It isn’t snowing again, is it?”