Chapter 17

She is one of my favourite historical writers on here and one of the most successful historical/romance and humour authors on wattpad. She read my story, is a doctor (really cool) and I just wanted to thank her for all her support with this story and my others :)

The king was right. He had been an idiot. He had let her run away for goodness sake! But Dominic would not admit that.

The elegant imported wine from Spanish lands glistened and Francis inhaled its scent, it calmed him, it was warm and sweet and right now like a child it was the only reason why he hadn't beaten up Dominic, black and blue. "She could have become a prostitute, I have done much to stop it and it's idiots like you that make my schemes fail,”

Dominic kept quiet; he looked desperately at the older man for some sort of forgiveness in his eyes, there was none. His finely pressed white tunic clung tightly to his body, his firm arms flexed and reddening as he held the cup in his arms tighter.

"You've been abused yourself!" Francis roared the contents of his glass cup slightly spilled onto the carpeted floor. Both men looked at it sink into the rug before Dominic replied.

"I know but I didn't abuse her!" Dominic breathed deeply before taking a bite in the bread of the table.

"And you hurt your servant too! Tell me you didn't hurt him. The boy was good I saw his loyalty and you even hurt him,”

"You can't just accuse me,” Dominic said softly, he touched his cheek his fingers nudging for something to do.

Francis did not comment, from childhood Dominic had been a terrible liar, his blue eyes would dart around nervously and on the border of his light blond hair sweat beads would start to form. Moments like  now.

"Dominic display such ignorance and stupidity again and I will not be responsible for my actions" Francis said heartlessly.

"Yes, your majesty," He responded.

"You may leave I do not wish to speak to your wife today I'm in no mood I would unleash your stupidity on her"

"I wasn't stupid she deser-"

Francis turned around slowly, his eyes narrowing. "She deserved to be beaten. By her protector of all people," He paused, "A husband is a protector and a master you do not beat your wife for no reason,”

Dominic resigned and nodded in defeat. "Yes, your majesty"

"De Fleur I thought I raised you better than an abuser but apparently I haven't taught you well enough I saw the mark on her face." He seethed.

"You hit her you bastard." Francis cursed. "You didn't even look for her when she went missing. Her brother did instead."

Dominic's face flushed red; he was being given no chance to explain himself. He about to open his mouth closed it quickly when Francis glared at him.

Dominic stayed quiet fiddling with his fingers staring at them. "Dominic, look at me when I'm talking to you."

His eyes slowly travelled to Francis face. His hand covering his eyes hiding his disgust till he moved it and Dominic saw the disappointment in his face and looked away.

The wind flickered in the room. Francis’ study was always warm because it was lit by the fire. Windows never open in the winter but he had opened them especially for Dominic and now. Now! From informants he had found out Dominic had hit his wife for no reason. And moreover, he had threatened William.

"You hit her." He stated coldly, when she had entered the fear in her eyes the hate she had for Dominic. "You didn't look for her, they could of fucked her till the sun went down and up again and it would of been your fault."

Francis spoke calmly. "You will of course apologise to her."

Dominic stayed quiet, but silently he knew he would never do that.

"DOMINIC!"

"Your maje-" Dominic knew that look. That was the look Francis had of pure and utter distaste. His strong features in a frown, his jaw clenched however. Dominic quickly looked down.

"You will of course apologise for hitting your wife, as well as the matter of her kidnapping."

"Sire you can't mean that I would be a la-"

"Laughing stock?" Dominic nodded. "Yes I suppose so, but frankly it won't keep me up at night you will apologise to your wife for hitting her without cause," He looked at the sliver ring that flashed. "If it wasn't for William’s oath of not revealing their identity I would make sure they were severely punished."

Dominic face turned into anger, he was about to retaliate when Francis continued.

"And since you have such passion in acting like an animal, you may stay with them and clean my stables, not manage, clean,”

"Bu-"

"Is that clear Dominic?" Francis spoke calmly again, his tone threatening and masterful Dominic knew he wouldn't, couldn't and shouldn't even attempt to win. The dark hair pulled back into a ponytail was flicked and Francis's judging blue eyes, twinkled.

Dominic admitted defeat. "Yes, my lord,"

"Perfect, the stable boys will have a day off and you'll get some tips don't you think from your kind."

"I'm not an animal,"

"Well then don't act like one." Dominic simply nodded, Francis was angry and he wasn't going to stop him.

"Good. Come to court Dominic I've missed you," Francis looked down at Dominic.

"Bu-" Dominic pinched his palm "Yes sire as you wish"

"You sound hesitant to obey your master Dominic" Francis said deliberately, he knew himself Dominic had authority problem and he needed correction.

"No, no sir"

"Good," Francis poured the contents of his cup into the roaring fire. "That's what I expect,"

"My lord, I meant no harm." Dominic said childishly.

"No harm Dominic, you threatened her, hit her and threatened her brother. You need to be corrected and I don't know what to do with you,"

"I'm not a child" Dominic said icily. "I have a home, a wife, a title, you don't need to correct me. I'm a man"

"You are a man?" Francis laughed, "Stand up,"

Dominic got off the chair, touching his sword in case Francis wanted a fight. "Get out,” He knew Dominic like the back of his hand.

Francis looked at him in disgust, this was not a battlefield. "Oh and Dominic," He turned around slowly, maybe he had forgiven him.

"Yes, my lord," He bowed slightly.

"Touch her in such a manner again and I will not be held responsible for my actions on you,”

"Y-Yes of course," He breathed out scared of the threat his king had never punished him.

Walking out quickly he shoved William out the way as the priest entered the king's parlour.

+++++

Dominic sat silently on the chair in the library, his eyes darted to her. He needed to apologise. Francis had requested it. Demanded it.....

But even so he couldn't bring himself to do it. She was reading her head bent down, dark tresses framing her face. "What are you reading?"

She looked up, and shut the book. "A book, my lord,”

He muttered, of course he knew that but she was testing him, to see if he would punish her again and instead of commenting huffed and looked at the floor. "It is my lord’s wishes I apologise to you"

He began his speech and Jacqueline simply nodded, he could do what he wished he didn't need to apologise if he didn't want to. And she wouldn't force him. "You do not need to you are my husband do as you wish,”

"I should have protected you." He continued ignoring her previous statement. "They could of taken your innocence and I should of been your saviour not your brother."

Those words should of comforted her, but the icy tone in which he spoke meant that he just had to. She closed her eyes, the look of lust the man had, the reluctant returning to William all returned to her and she faltered and touched the cover of her book.

She swallowed and ignored him; he wanted to have her... She could feel the heat off his body. "I suggest my lord if you are looking for a bed to warm as an apology it will not work." She paused. "I do not understand how this is an apology, you can enjoy me if you wish. But you won't have me."

"Such a bold mouth for a woman, haven't you heard seen but not heard" He stated angrily, her eyes flicked on his strong lean features and she shrugged, he had hurt her already. She was used to it.

"You may take me but you won't have me," She retorted nastily, the glint in his eyes showed want. Need. Desire and she wondered if the toll of not having a woman in his bed and his wife being reluctant got to him.

"I already own you I'm your husband,"

"You take my virginity. You own my body but until you have my love that's all you will own. You cannot own love,"