Yes, Jareth First Lord has been out for quite a while, but it’s still one of my favorite stories. So I thought I’d share one of my favorite scenes with you.
For a little background, Jareth is the First Lord, or ruler, of Clan Brannach. His wife died in childbirth about three years before this story began. After meeting Viviane during negotiations with her father, First Lord of Clan Belfort, he includes her in the Choosing, taking her back to his clan hoping to win her heart. He hadn’t known she was a member of the ruling family.
She is a beautiful woman, with black hair and dazzling blue eyes. But temper? She was a feisty on. Oh yeah. She had temper to spare. But Jareth thought he had a chance at taming this wildcat named Viviane.
Viviane is the youngest daughter of the ruling house of Belfort. Her husband died about six months before this story begins. Though she would rather do nearly anything else, she may be forced to move back to her father’s house unless she can find someone to buy the shop and cottage she’d shared with her husband. But when Jareth chose her as part of the spoils, another option was thrust upon her.
She wasn’t ready for a relationship, though she was growing fond of Jareth. But he could get on her nerves when he pulled his high and mighty act. First Lords. Always thought they knew what was best for everyone.
Yeah, she’d see about that. It was about time he met someone who would stand their ground and give him a piece of her mind.
Here’s the excerpt.
“Annie, I’m so tired I want to sleep forever, or for at least a week, and it’s only the second day of the Gather. Jareth wants me to come with him but I’m not sure I can keep up the pace,” Viviane admitted, so tired she was almost in tears.
“Now, now, milady! Let’s get you upstairs and into a hot bath to begin with. No, now don’t argue with old Annie. She knows what’s best.”
A few minutes after she’d slipped into her bath, Annie insisted on some calming herbal tea, just enough sweetening in it to bring out the flavor. Then, pulling a stool up to the end of the tub, she began to brush Viviane’s hair for her like her nanny had done when she was a little girl.
“Annie,” she protested, “you don’t need to do this. Really, I’ll be fine with a bath and good night’s sleep.”
“Now, Viviane, you relax and drink your tea. A little pampering never hurt anyone. What you need is a bit of family here, which you don’t have. So you’ll have to accept me as a substitute. See? You’re feeling better already.”
She was, too. Something about the warm tea, the bath, and the rhythmic brushing pulled the tension out of her body. Finishing her tea, she relaxed for a while, nearly dozing off.
“There now, I’ll bet you can sleep and feel just like new in the morning,” she heard Annie say, as if from a great distance.
“Thank you so much Annie,” she told her, pulling herself out of her reverie. “You are a gem and I’m so glad you’re here. If there’s anything I can do to repay your kindness, let me know.”
Annie said goodnight and saw her tucked in before she left and turned out the lights. Viviane hadn’t slept so well in years.
The next morning Jareth was up early. Viviane, though, had had enough. Deciding to stay in bed and rest, she was happily on her way back to sleep when someone knocked at the door.
“Viviane? It’s Annie. Lord Jareth wants to know when you’ll be ready to leave.”
“I’m not going, Annie. I simply can’t. Give my apologies to the First Lord.”
A few minutes later there was another, stronger knock at the door. “Viviane, come on. We’re going to be late!”
“No, Jareth, I’m not going to be late. I’m not going. Please extend my apologies to your guests.”
“This is not acceptable, Viviane. You knew the requirements beforehand. You will be up and ready in ten minutes.”
Now she was fully awake and mad. How dare he give her orders?
“I beg your pardon, Lord Jareth, but exactly who do you think you are? I did not come here to be ordered about like a servant. I told you I might not manage the entire week and I can’t. Go away!”
“You will be ready in ten minutes or you will go to the Gather just the way you are. A bargain was struck and you will be held to it. Now get ready!”
Fearing he might carry out his threat, Viviane snarled and stormed out of bed. She dressed to an accompaniment of slamming doors and drawers before attacking her hair with the brush.
Jareth was pacing the hallway when she opened her door. “It’s about damned time! There will be no more of this nonsense. You will accompany me at the Gather each day and at least appear like you’re with me willingly. Is that clear?”
“Do stop, Jareth. Nobody’s impressed.”
“I beg your pardon,” he said in a dangerous tone of voice.
“Yes, okay, fine. You’ve made your point, now shut up. We’re late. Remember?”
If anyone noticed a bit of frost in the air they said nothing, but there did seem to be more space around them than usual. It was nearly halfway through the day before Viviane began to calm down. How had she gotten herself into this mess?
Want the book? Jareth, First Lord–first book of the Esperance Series— is available at Amazon, Smashwords, or from Audible!
Get ready for your weekend with Jareth, First Lord!
