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My Fair Lady

Chapter 66

Eva Vandort knelt in the grass with a dagger at her throat, sneering through a bloody nose as hooded fox bandits unbuttoned her shirt and snickered darkly. One of her breasts was already bulging out, plump and brown and jutting with a small black nipple. She was a dark brown foxhound with fur a rich and lustrous chocolate, a tiny waist, and generous breasts that stood unapologetically high. Her dark curly mane tumbled in one eye as the fox holding the dagger to her throat reached around and gently squeezed her breast.

"Hmm," he murmured in her ear and hefted her soft breast experimentally. "Never had a pup, have ya, bitch? Nice, nice, tits. Can't wait to suck these." He squeezed hard, and when she gave a shrill cry, the foxes laughed.

Eva set her fangs. She'd never had a pup because she'd refused to marry. She'd refused to marry because she liked pussy. She wanted to scream. She hated feeling helpless. They'd bound her paws behind her back and her weapons were down in the grass: a bow and quiver her pa had given her when she was five. The foxes had stolen it right off the farm and she'd chased them down for it. So enraged was she, she'd come with nothing but a shotgun so old, it was nearly broken. One of the foxes has the shotgun and was examining it.

There were three foxes. Two males, one female. All of them had peculiar accents, and each time they spoke, Eva's ears pricked forward to listen. She was trying to figure out what lands they might have hailed from, but she knew it was impossible for her to tell. She'd never been out of Varimore a day in her life. In fact, she was only sixteen years old and had grown up in Howlester Duchy, hearing tales of fox incursions and the dogs who heroically defended the land against the invading savages. When the foxes stole her bow, she thought she'd be like the great dogs who'd guarded Howlester; she thought she'd ride out and retrieve it bravely and on her own, that there would be tales about her. She felt foolish now.

"Whadda ya think, Kisni?" said the fox holding the dagger to Eva's throat. He was a red male with a white face. Eva would never forget his face or how he smirked as he leapt out of hiding and punched her down. He was the biggest of the three and was very strong and lean, with paws that gripped her so tightly, they hurt. He gently pinched her nipple as he was speaking, and she wanted to squirm away, but the blade on her throat was razor sharp and jagged. She was afraid to move.

Kisni was examining Eva's bow and looked up. She was the only female in the group and had a white face almost identical to that of the brute holding Eva in place. Eva had to admit that Kisni was . . . gorgeous. She was very small and very slender and very short, almost the size of a child, with tiny perky breasts that poked through her jacket and a small backside that jutted out likewise under her puffy white tail. A gold ring was through her pink nostril, and a gold necklace lay around her red throat. She and the other foxes were dressed like dogs, wearing jackets and tight trousers, daggers and knives strapped all over. All of them had their hoods up, but Kisni's full mane of white hair peeked in wisps from her hood and slapped across her slanted gray eyes.

Kisni's mocking eyes lingered over Eva and traced up to the male fox holding her. "What do I think about what? Let her go, Sonsi."

The apparent Sonsi made a contemptuous noise and his paw tightened on Eva's breast. Eva stiffened in his grasp. The blade was pinching her throat harder.

"Why should we let her go?" demanded the third fox, who was very small and appeared to be very young. He was sitting in the grass, knees drawn up and spread, idly chewing a blade of grass as he examined Eva's shotgun. If Eva had to guess, he might have been fifteen years old. He was tall and skinny, all gangly legs and arms. Even his neck was long. He was a red fox with a white stripe across his eyes like a mask, and his red mane hung in braids from his hood. His eyes were small and greedy, and he kept staring at Eva with hunger. "I wanna see what's in a bitch's panties," he said, setting aside the shotgun and drawing near to Eva. But he stopped short and looked at Sonsi. "You promised, Son. You said I needed to become a male, a real male."

Kisni rolled her eyes. "By raping some random dog slut?"

"A bitch wouldn't count, only a vixen," agreed Sonsi. Eva heard the smile in his voice when he said, "Perhaps you should fuck my sister instead. Kisni, drop your panties and lift your tail."

Kisni made an angry noise, and Sonsi chuckled.

"Then Sodoe will fuck the bitch, no complaints?" Sonsi said lightly and waited for his sister's approval.

Kisni looked at Eva, and it was then that Eva realized Kisni was the leader of this little band. The other two foxes looked at her, and Eva could see the hope in Sodoe's face.

Kisni looked Eva in the eye and strutted up to her, breasts riding, hips and tail swaying in a way that made Sodoe go still. When she was standing over Eva, she stopped, looking down at the captive dog between the undersides of her sharp breasts. Her slender fingers touched Eva's mane. "What do you wish, little bitch? Shall I let Sodoe fuck you?"

Eva swallowed hard and glanced at Sodoe, who was glowering at her. She hadn't expected to be asked _her_opinion on the matter. Her lips parted, but her mouth suddenly went dry, and she didn't think she could speak. She whimpered when Sonsi ripped his fingers tight through her mane, forcing her head back against him.

"Answer," Sonsi hissed in Eva's ear. "My sister just _spoke_to you. Have you no sort of manners?"

Eva licked her lips. "I-I . . ."

Kisni laughed. "The poor girl is tongue-tied. Sonsi, let her go."

Sonsi made an incredulous noise, but Kisni repeated with lifted brows, "Let her go."

Grumbling under his breath, Sonsi eased off, sliding the dagger from Eva's throat and tucking it away. Eva could still feel him kneeling behind her but sagged in relief nonetheless to have the dagger gone. She looked up and could see Kisni was still waiting, smiling at her with a patient little smile. Eva took a breath, "I-I . . . I don't want Sodoe."

Sodoe made an angry noise, and Sonsi laughed heartily.

"Hardly surprising," Kisni said, putting her small paw on her hip. "Do you want me?"

Eva licked her lips again. "Y-Yes."

Eva felt her heart hammering when Kisni slowly unbuckled her own belt, letting her trousers sag open to reveal her pink pussy, nestled in the heat of her red fur. The scent of it hit Eva's face, and a shiver went down her spine. She immediately felt her clit starting to swell and throb, and the wetness of arousal slid down into her pants. She was trembling when Kisni pushed a gentle paw through her mane and told her to eat her pussy. Eva obeyed, burying her face in the sweet-smelling pussy lips that waited for her, so silky warm and wet. Her heavy dog tongue slapped and curled against Kisni's softness and heat, lapping it up, until the pretty fox was moaning and sighing.

"Oh . . . you are good at that," murmured Kisni. "I knew you would be."

"By the gods," Sodoe whispered breathlessly.

Eva trembled all over when she felt Sonsi's large paw slide down the front of her pants. His fingers curled inside her, and her pussy clenched on him as he dipped his fingers, letting them glide in her moisture. "Fuck, you're wet," he whispered in her ear. "So you're a muff diver, eh?" He continued to finger her, and his other paw massaged her exposed tit, until the nipple was rock hard and jutting in his fingers. She trembled when he buried a hard kiss in her neck.

"I-I'm going to c-come," panted Sodoe nearby. "By the gods . . . fucking hell . . ."

On her knees between the two foxes, breasts and backside jutting, Eva thought she was going to come herself. Sonsi's fingers felt so good, her pussy was trembling, and Kisni's scent and taste were sending her over the edge. She moaned as she ate Kisni out, and she loved the feel of Kisni's gentle fingers massaging their way through her hair. Eventually, Sonsi got down between Eva's knees and licked her pussy, even as she was eating out his sister. The three of them were moaning, licking, and slurping when Sonsi stopped it all by shouting, ". . . the fuck are you doing, Sodoe?!"

Sonsi pushed Eva off his face, and she fell over on her side as he struggled to sit up.

"Sonsi!" Kisni complained.

"What the fuck are you doing, boy!" Sonsi demanded.

Eva sat up on her elbow and blew her mane from her face in time to see Sonsi with his pants undone, his erection throbbing hard in the fist of skinny young Sodoe. Apparently, Sodoe had started going down on Sonsi as he was eating out Eva: the evidence of pre-cum was still on Sodoe's face. Sodoe licked the pre-cum off his chin, looking sheepish and ashamed when Sonsi lifted a paw to strike him.

"Sonsi, don't!" Kisni shouted, fumbling to fasten her belt, but Sonsi swung.

Sodoe whimpered from the blow and fell over. When he lifted his head again, Eva saw blood trailing down his lip. His face was baffled.

Enraged, Sonsi leapt to his feet and was going to kick the boy when Kisni grabbed his arm to stop him.

"He's just a child, for god's sake!" Kisni screamed.

Sonsi stood over Sodoe, who sat in the dirt with tears in his eyes. The boy's chest was heaving and he was touching his face, baffled and hurt that Sonsi had struck him.

"Why did you suck my dick?" Sonsi demanded angrily.

Sodoe dropped his eyes and whispered in shame, "Because I wanted to."

Eva watched Sodoe with sympathy.

"You little shit! You did not have my permission to do --!" began Sonsi angrily and started forward to hit Sodoe again, but Kisni grabbed his arm to stop him.

"You can not protect him forever!" Sonsi shouted. "We should have left the cock-hungry brat where we found him ten years ago!"

Sodoe dropped his eyes miserably.

"Shut up!" Kisni hissed impatiently. Her ears pricked forward and she listened. "Do you hear that?"

Eva went very still. Horses. Someone was coming! And yet, oddly enough, she couldn't decide if she was happy about that or not. She didn't want Kisni to leave her behind, but that seemed to be exactly what Kisni was doing as she scrambled to grab her things.

"Let's get out of here!" Sonsi hissed, hastily buttoning his pants. He snatched Eva's shotgun up from the grass and started off into the trees without looking back.

Kisni took up Eva's bow and paused to look at her. Her eyes were apologetic, and Eva was surprised when she leaned down and kissed her warm on the mouth. "Mmm," she said, pulling back and smiling, "you taste like my pussy."

Eva laughed. Her heart sank when she realized Kisni still had every intention of stealing her bow, but suddenly . . . she didn't care. She wanted Kisni to have something to remember her by.

"Kisni!" Sonsi called angrily. "Move your ass!"

Kisni moved past Eva. Eva watched as she tried to pull a despondent Sodoe to his feet, but the boy wouldn't move. She slapped his cheeks and shook him, but he only wobbled miserably in her grasp and eventually, his face contorted and he shoved her off. Kisni fell hard on her tail and looked at Sodoe in amazement. The sound of hooves was drawing ever nearer.

"Get up, foolish boy!" Kisni shouted at Sodoe. "The dogs are coming!"

"Like it matters," Sodoe said dully. "You and Sonsi don't want me."

Kisni's face twisted with anger and she opened her mouth to shout something at Sodoe, but just then, two horses thundered up through the trees. Her eyes widened, and falling into a panic, she scrambled up and ran.

"Kisni!" Sonsi shouted again.

Eva saw Kisni run to her brother. The brother and sister took paws and disappeared in the foliage with a flash of their identical white tails.

As the horses entered the clearing, the realization finally struck Sodoe that he was about to be captured by dogs. With tears streaming down his face, he snapped out of his reverie and scrambled to his feet. But it was too late. The dog on the faster horse lifted a rifle and fired. Sodoe screamed as a dart sank in his neck. His eyes rolled back in his head and he fell over. He didn't move.

"No!" Eva wailed. "Leave him alone!" She saw the dogs look at her in amazement, and she knew she sounded crazy for yelling in defense of her captors. She suddenly didn't care. She recognized the dog who had shot Sodoe. He was Jonathan Kingsley, one of the lords of Howlester Duchy. With fox bandits migrating to Crinnington, he'd sent out many dogs to patrol the area and had been patrolling everyday himself. Rumor had it he was only trying to escape his bickering family. No one in the duchy truly believed Jonathan cared about his subjects, especially given the often-mentioned fact that he abandoned Howlester when it was invaded by foxes twenty years before.

"Clearly, the girl is delirious," Jonathan said, slinging his rifle over on his back. "What did her captors do to her, I wonder?" His eyes traced over Eva's exposed breast and he shook his head darkly. "Not that I have to wonder. Ben --"

"Yes, milord!" said the golden dog on the second horse. He was dressed like a servant, was handsome and tall, and his narrow eyes were fixed on Eva's exposed breast and pussy. She wished she could cover up. She just knew Ben was hoping and praying that Jonathan would order him to care for her. She was hoping and praying he would not.

"See to the fox, will you?" Jonathan said, his head bobbing as his horse danced idly.

Ben's face sagged with disappointment and his ears went down. "Yes, milord."

Eva watched as the two dogs dismounted. Ben went to Sodoe and easily slung his unconscious body over his shoulder like a sack. He clapped his paw on Sodoe's backside, but his hungry eyes were fixed on Eva as he went to his saddle and slung Sodoe over it.

"Be on the lookout," Jonathan told Ben.

"Yes, milord," Ben answered and took up his own rifle.

Jonathan strolled toward Eva with the regal and nonchalant air of a prince, his sharp eyes glancing around the trees for signs of more foxes. But there were none.

Eva had seen Jonathan riding around Howlester before, always looking so imperial and commanding - stuck up, as she liked to call it -- always dressed so richly and finely, with rings winking on his fingers and a half-drunk glaze in his eyes. Today, he didn't look drunk at all, though he was dressed as richly as ever in tight tan breeches and a cropped riding coat. The coat was green and complimented his fiery eyes nicely. And for a male who was probably over forty - which seemed ancient to young Eva - he was very fit and athletic, lean and strong. Eva had the feeling it was something she should have appreciated in a male, but she often found herself not truly appreciative of male beauty in the least.

Jonathan squatted near Eva, and she could tell he was trying to remain indifferent, but her exposed tit and pussy were distracting. He pulled a knife from his boot, and with his rings winking in the sunlight, he reached behind her and cut her paws free.

Eva scrambled up at once and fumbled to button up her shirt. Jonathan offered to help her stand, but she ignored his offered paw and got quickly to her feet, blushing as she hurried to button up her pants. She couldn't stand their eyes on her. Jonathan at least had the decency to look away, but Ben just keep staring like a wolf.

"You know who I am, of course," Jonathan said, shaking out a kerchief and offering it to Eva without looking at her.

Eva almost snatched the kerchief with a trembling paw and dragged it across her bloody nose. "Aye. I knows you. You's Jonathan. The marquis." She lowered herself in a half-assed and sarcastic curtsy that made Jonathan laugh shortly. "Well met, milord."

"What are you doing out here in the forest alone, girl?" Jonathan said. "Don't you know the law?"

"Aye, I knows it well enough," Eva said at once and added sarcastically, "milord."

Jonathan didn't look at her, but his lips curled in a slight smile. "I realize it's no where near curfew, but no one's allowed in the forest regardless. Not until I've deemed it safe."

Eva's face contorted. "When has the forest ever been safe, milord? I come here tryin' to get back my bow. Them foxes stole it. My pa give it to me when I was a pup."

Jonathan snorted. "You're still a pup. Where is your pa?"

Eva dropped her eyes. "Dead two winters now, milord."

Jonathan lifted his brows in surprise, then he frowned, and Eva could tell he was concerned, even though he was trying not to show it. ". . . and your mother? Other family?" he asked carefully, almost as if testing her.

"Ma been dead since she dropped me," Eva said and shrugged. "No other family."

"No husband even?"

Eva smiled wryly. "No husband even, milord. Why? Is milord looking for a second wife?"

Jonathan snorted and went to his horse. "Hardly. I have a daughter your age, for god's sake. Ben is in the market, though. You interested?"

Ben had climbed up in his saddle, and when his name was mentioned, he grinned at Eva and wagged his golden brows. It was not uncommon for single males his age to marry teenage girls. Eva's father had tried to marry her off to a very old male before he died.

Eva turned her eyes away. It seemed as if someone had been trying to marry her since she'd started to bleed. "No, thank you kindly, milord. I only wish to make my way back home."

Ben dropped his eyes in disappointment.

"Suit yourself," Jonathan said with a shrug and swung himself up in his saddle. He took the reins. "I hear Ben licks pussy pretty well, though. And he's very well endowed."

Eva made a face, coming to the slow realization that Jonathan was teasing her. "I said no, thank you kindly, milord. I ain't for sale."

Jonathan smiled, suddenly looking very tired, and Eva regretted the hard edge that had been in her voice: he had only been joking. "Well," he said, looking off into the trees, "stay out of the forest in the future. You'll live longer."

Eva shook her head. "Or I'll live shorter. I got to come in the forest. Got no other way to eat. Can't afford to buy food at market. Now I got no bow, no gun, no way to hunt. Guess I'll be layin' traps next."

Jonathan stared at Eva thoughtfully, and his unflinching gaze made her nervous. She suddenly realized she still had his kerchief and didn't quite know what to do with it. It was all bloody now, but it still wasn't hers and she felt wrong about keeping it. His initials were stitched in the corner and everything. She walked up to his horse and offered the bloody kerchief to him. She knew she'd done something only a simple commoner would do when he laughed, like a father whose daughter had brought him a book upside-down.

"No," Jonathan said. "Keep the kerchief. It's yours now."

Eva looked at the kerchief uncertainly. Somehow, she wanted to protest. "What about the fox? He's mine now too." She looked at Jonathan defiantly.

Jonathan snorted. "Excuse me? It was my tranquilizer that took him down."

Eva scowled. "The Hunt's been outlawed, milord. It's against the crown to take a fox now."

"It's against the crown to skin a fox and senselessly take its life," Jonathan corrected. "I have done neither. I'm not taking this fox as my game. I'm taking him as my prisoner. Or are foxes above the law now?"

"Seems the king would have it that way," Eva pointed out, thinking bitterly of Sonsi groping her. Had she shot and killed Sonsi over in Thalsin, she might have been arrested.

Jonathan laughed and nodded in agreement. "That he would. But according to you, the fox is a thief. And by the looks of things upon my timely arrival, he's also a rapist --"

"No!" Eva said at once. "He's innocent! Let him go!"

Jonathan looked at Eva calmly, but she could see the bafflement in his eyes. He was clearly struggling with a decision, and then he looked away and said, "Alright. I won't execute the criminal. He'll work in my kitchen."

Eva bowed her head in relief. "Thank you, milord," she said sincerely and curtsied again. As she straightened up, she had to wonder what it was like to actually curtsy with a dress on. She'd never worn a dress a day in her life. Her mother had left behind several pretty ball gowns when she died, but she'd never dared to wear them. She would have to sell them now, if she wanted to eat.

"But only if you live in my home as well," Jonathan added and turned his calm eyes to Eva again.

Eva shook head at once. "M-Milord, I'd rather not scrub your floors, no thank you."

"You misunderstand me," Jonathan said. "I don't want you as a servant. I want you to simply live there. Wear beautiful gowns. Speak like you've ever opened a book. Learn to smile . . ." His eyes traveled to her mane. "Comb your hair."

Eva's breasts heaved angrily. "Be your mistress-whore? No!"

"No, not my mistress," Jonathan answered patiently.

Eva looked at him in amazement. What could he possibly want from her then? Was this some game? "The answer is still no!"

"Then the criminal will die," Jonathan said simply and started to turn his horse away.

Eva's fangs clicked. "Alright, fine!" she shouted and was annoyed when Jonathan laughed at her anger.

Jonathan patted the saddle behind him. "Hop on, Evelyn Vanessa Vandort."

Eva blinked in surprise: he knew her name! But she obeyed. With her heart thudding, she climbed up in the saddle behind Jonathan with a bounce of her dark mane, and after hesitating, she slipped her arms around him. She hated that he smelled so good.

Jonathan turned the horse around and took off at a slow trot. Ben followed.

They weren't so deep in the forest that it took them long to reach town. It was the middle of the day, and in the afternoon sunlight, dogs everywhere paused in their daily activities to curtsy and bow to their lord. Small children stopped to gawk at Jonathan, while shopkeepers paused in their sweeping to bend in respect. Big breasted females were certain to bow low as Jonathan passed, putting on a show for Ben, who stared openly at their cleavage. Eva found all of the groveling disgusting and was silently very grateful she was not of noble blood. She couldn't decide which was worse: receiving the groveling or having to give it. She was very shy.

"Aren't you going to ask how I know your name, Lady Vandort?" Jonathan said after a while.

Eva snorted. "I ain't no lady, milord."

"But your mother was," Jonathan said. "The lady Elisa Amelia Vandort. Lovely thing. Used to come to court when I was a boy. Tried all her life to have a daughter. A daughter was all she'd ever wanted."

Eva swallowed hard and hated herself that tears were filling her eyes. She'd never known her mother, obviously, but she'd heard stories from her father, stories of how badly her mother had wanted a daughter, even at the expense of her own health. Not wanting his wife to perish, Ainsley Vandort refused her wishes for years. Then one day, he could stand her unhappiness no longer. Ainsley gave Elisa a child. And she died shortly after.

"Pa would sit in the dark all the time," Eva said in a dead voice.

"When your mother died giving birth to you," said Jonathan quietly, "your father became so depressed that he let everything slip away from him: the estate, the servants, his lands. You're too young to remember what it was like, living in Whaglyn Manor. You probably only remember the little hovel you and your father were forced to move to."

"That hovel is my home," Eva said sharply, angrily.

"Not anymore," Jonathan said. As he spoke, Howlester Manor appeared on the hill, and Eva's mouth dropped open in surprise.

Eva had never seen Howlester Manor before except from a distance. Up close, it was magnificent, all towers, flowers, and puffing chimneys, rose-colored brick warm against the drowsy pink sky and trees twisting up to the heavens, ancient and strong. It would be time for supper soon, and already, Eva could smell meat roasting. Her stomach growled and Ben laughed softly. Behind him, Sodoe was stirring on his saddle.

Jonathan and Ben turned their horses up the twin rows of white trees that guarded the gravel drive, and Eva clung to Jonathan, her thick dark mane a mass around her ears that blew in time with the rustling trees. Eva noticed a carriage parked near the front doors, and Ben remarked that "Master Charlie" was home.

"Your mother, the Lady Elisa," said Jonathan softly, "loved my cousin a great deal and named you for her. My cousin was the Duchess Evelyn Lorraine Kingsley and the mother of our king. Don't bring her up unless you want Uncle Charlie to cry."

"My ma loved her?" Eva repeated curiously. "Like . . . loved her?"

Jonathan smiled sadly. "Yes. There's some dreary rumor that they were lovers, but not many would repeat it out of respect for your father."

Eva nodded. "So the ones who repeat it ain't my friends."

"You learn quickly," said Jonathan with approval. "Now learn not to say the word 'ain't.' Nothing grates on a noble's ears more."

Eva rolled her eyes.

"Your mother mourned for many years when Evelyn died, though," Jonathan said almost wistfully. "They say Evelyn was the love of her life."

Their horses came to a stop near the front doors, and a clutch of servant boys came from the stables. Eva was baffled when one offered to help her dismount. She ignored his offered paw and leapt down like a boy, to the horror of the female servants who appeared on the step.

"Who is this beastly girl, Master Jonathan?" laughed one of the maids, a middle-aged female with chocolate brown fur and a long dark mane pulled back in a braid.

Eva glowered at the chocolate maid as she adjusted her shirt and dusted off her pants.

"Careful now, Hadly," laughed Jonathan as he dismounted. "We're keeping this one. And she bites."

The apparent Hadly came forward, inspecting Eva with hard, unflinching eyes. Eva immediately understood that Hadly was in charge of the other servants, if not the manor and its masters. Behind Hadly stood other maids, one golden and completely baffled by Eva's presence. Yet another female was dressed -- curiously enough -- in a breastplate and pants rather than a maid's simple apron and dress. She was a black bitch with a dark mane pushed back in a tidy bun, and she had the hard, serious expression of a male. She was even wearing a sword on her hip! Eva had heard of the Kingsleys allowing females to serve in their guard, but she'd never believed it until now.

"I'll have her bite on soap if she tries anything with me!" Hadly said, still eying Eva critically. Eva was taken aback when Hadly pinched her cheek and stretched it to examine her teeth. "And she's filthy. I do believe you've brought me the biggest challenge of my life, my lord."

Eva snatched her face away, on the verge of striking Hadly. She immediately hated her, not just for calling her beastly but also for having the gall to possess the same precise, educated accent as a highborn lady when she was only a maid. "Leave off me, bitch!" she warned, rubbing her sore cheek. "Ain't no one cleanin' me! Understand!" She was satisfied when the little golden maid behind Hadly shrank with terror.

Hadly indignantly stuck her paws on her hips.

"Oh, but Hadly will clean you," Jonathan said sternly. "And you will behave. Or I'll send you back to that empty hovel you came from."

Eva scowled.

Hadly triumphantly lifted her chin. "I don't know what Master Jonathan told you, but I'm the master of Howlester, girl. You'll be answering to me from here on out."

Eva stared at Hadly sullenly. She suddenly wanted to be back in her hovel.

"Leave off the girl, Hadly," Jonathan said with a laugh as he went up the stairs. He carelessly tossed his riding coat at the little golden maid. "And stop shaking so, Brooke. The girl is harmless, I assure you. And I'm not done with her, so kindly take your leave until I've summoned you - what is it, Shackley? I just got back, for god's sake."

The black bitch with the sword had stepped forward, and Eva thought she looked a little impatient. "Your lady wife craves a word with you, my lord," she said in the even, precise voice of a dog who'd been educated.

Eva's ears flattened. It seemed everyone in Howlester Manor - even the servants - knew how to read and speak properly except her. And she was to live here like a lady?

Before Jonathan could answer, another female appeared in the front doors, also wearing a breastplate and sword. She was golden and short, with crooked teeth and a casual air. Her golden mane had been cropped like a boy around her ears, and one might have indeed thought her an adolescent boy if her face didn't make it immediately apparent that she was otherwise. She stepped out into the evening light, her paw on the sword at her hip, her eyes fixed on Jonathan.

"Evenin', Master Jonathan, and welcky home," blurted the golden dog with the sword. "Where the hell ya been, eh? We been sendin' runnin' boys out lookin' for ya all aftanoon --"

"Marvene," warned Shackley through her fangs and stiffly, reproachfully shook her head.

The apparent Marvene scowled and tossed an impatient paw at Jonathan. "It's the bleeding truth!"

Eva grinned: she _liked_Marvene.

Jonathan sighed tiredly and moved past Marvene into the manor. "I'll see _my lady wife_immediately," he said irritably. "Where is she?"

"Good, milord," answered Marvene. "She's in the downstairs libree. With ah guest."

Jonathan nodded and walked on. "Ben, see to the fox, will you? Put him in a cell until we can explain the situation to him."

"Yes, milord," said Ben and pulled the limp fox down from his saddle.

"Come, Evelyn!" Jonathan called without looking back.

Eva hated being beckoned like a pet, but she hurried to follow Jonathan inside. Anything to have Hadly and Brooke's scrutinizing eyes off her. But to her immense displeasure, Hadly followed them, looking like an angry hen.

"And what do you think you're doing with that fox?" Hadly demanded of Jonathan. "You know the law --"

"Yes, Hadly, I know the law," Jonathan said impatiently over her. "The fox is going to work in the kitchens under your beloved husband. You can thank Lady Vandort here for that."

Hadly blinked. "Lady Vandort?"

"Yes," said Jonathan. "Now run and fix a room for the lady. She'll be staying with us a long time."

"Y-Yes, my lord," Hadly said, still taken aback. Her eyes passed in amazement over Eva and she turned away to do as Jonathan had asked.

Jonathan made a turn at the end of the hall, and Eva jogged to keep up, glancing around at the manor's finery in open-mouthed amazement. She hated the portraits on the walls. They all seemed to stare at her.

"Now that we're alone and can breathe again," Jonathan said wearily, "I can finally tell you the reason why you will be living here with me and my family, Lady Vandort."

Eva lifted her brows in surprise. "I thought it cuz ya family knew my family and ya pitied me." She shook her head. "Guess I was giving ya too much credit, milord."

Jonathan laughed. "You were."

"So . . ." Eva swallowed unhappily. "Ya really did just want me for . . ."

"No," Jonathan said at once. "Bloody hell!" He halted and looked down at Eva. His eyes were fiery with such indignation, she felt guilty for having assumed he wanted to sleep with her.

"Then what?" Eva said in a small, sullen voice.

"I want you for my son," Jonathan said flatly.

Eva swallowed hard. She didn't know what to say and could only feel the anger welling up in her chest. His son. Of course he wanted her for that! She made a dramatic turn, but Jonathan grabbed her shoulders and swung her back around. She twisted against him and cursed. Her boot lashed out and caught his shin, but instead of letting go, he swore and slammed her against the wall. Her mane tumbled in her face and she fell still, glaring at him with heaving breasts.

"Now you listen to me, girl," Jonathan said through his fangs. "My family has always borne great love for your family. Uncle Charlie tried to help your father before his passing, but he was too proud and refused. He drank himself to death and left you here! Now his daughter lives like filth in the mud, so I extend to her the opportunity to live like the highborn lady she was meant to be --"

"By marryin' me off like ah milkcow!" Eva cried defiantly. "Well, I won't --!"

"You will!" Jonathan snapped over her, his voice a roar that made her fall still. He took a shuddering breath and said in a hiss of a voice, "Now I could let you go back to the mud and chances are you'd meet some bitch with a tight twat and shack up with her happily ever after," he said, startling Eva, "but you wouldn't be able to feed her _or_yourself. If you were smart, you'd shut your mouth, marry my son, and live a long and wealthy life carrying on with as many bitches as you damn-well pleased until my boy came of age."

Eva blinked. "C-Came of age?"

"Yes," Jonathan sighed. He released Eva's shoulders and smiled down at her sadly. "My son hasn't even been born."

Eva laughed before she could stop herself. She dropped her eyes. ". . . oh."

Jonathan miserably adjusted his cravat. Eva thought he looked very tired and drained. His red mane was mussed from their struggle, and without thinking, she reached up and smoothed it for him. She suddenly pitied him. He was handsome and wretched and seemed to be under an immense amount of strain. Then she remembered that he had a daughter, and she wondered if his daughter were as pretty as he. She suddenly felt very excited to meet her. Perhaps they could be lovers.

Jonathan adjusted his shirt and squared his shoulders. "Now, we're going into the library to see my pregnant wife, who is in a very precarious state. Rule number one: do not mention our daughter. Rule number two: do not speak unless spoken to. I will not have you upsetting her. Do we understand each other?"

Eva dropped her eyes. "Yes, milord."

"You will curtsy to her and treat her like your better," Jonathan said, turning down the hall again. "Because she is your better. She was once crown princess of the fucking kingdom, and before that, her family owned half of it. That is, before they lost it all due to the Carringtons' schemes. She comes from a very old family . . ."

Behind Jonathan, Eva rolled her eyes.

" . . . a family much older than yours," Jonathan went on, and as they approached the library doors, he started adjusting his clothing and smoothing his mane. "She is gentle and sensitive, and if you hurt her, I will toss you out of here so fast, your head will spin right off --"

"You love her ah lot, don't you, milord?" Eva said quietly.

Jonathan halted, his paws on the long golden door handles. "Yes," he said quietly and pushed the library doors open.

Jonathan's wife was as beautiful as Eva had supposed. She sat on a couch that faced another in the center of the room, draped in a beautiful lacey gown that was pale green and cascaded over her large, protruding belly like water. Jewels winked on her fingers, in her ears, and on the soft white mounds of the great breasts that rose from the deep neck of her gown. Her white mane was piled in a mess atop her head, and her eyes were running with black dripping eyeliner: she was crying. She dabbed a long, frilly white kerchief to her nose and looked up in relief when Jonathan swept in and kissed her head.

"Corene, darling," Jonathan said in concern. He pulled back to look at her and frowned. "What's the matter, love?"

"J-Jonathan," Corene managed and nodded at the couch opposite. "It's . . ."

Eva followed Corene's indicating nod and went still when she noticed the small, square-faced fox who sat on the couch opposite Corene. He was red and handsome in a serious way, with yellow feathers woven in his wild, unkempt mane and a quiver of yellow arrows on his back. Curiously enough, however, he had no bow. He was dressed like a "classical savage," what the dogs called foxes who still wore deerskin, as most foxes were now bandits who wore dog clothing. The fox on the couch, however, was dressed in a deerskin skirt and his chest was bare. He sat very calmly with his paws in his lap, and his expression was one of sorrow and sympathy. When his eye passed over Eva, she got the feeling he was very, very old.

"Bloody hell," Jonathan muttered and straightened up, his eyes on the strange fox. "Motsumi?"