Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 99593 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99593 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Esme’s legs turned weak, but she managed to remain standing until Torrance walked out the door with Brack, then she collapsed onto the bench. She rested her elbows on the table and dropped her face in her hands.
How would she ever survive night after night in her husband’s bed?
CHAPTER 4
Esme barely touched her food at supper, her thoughts on the night ahead. Would she fail again and suffer a tongue lashing or worse would he raise his hand to her? Her stomach roiled at the frightening possibilities.
“You don’t eat,” her husband said, though sounded more like he accused.
“I’m no longer hungry, my lord,” she said, hoping he wouldn’t insist. She couldn’t bear to put a morsel of food in her mouth for fear her stomach would rebel.
“Then go to my bedchamber. I will be there shortly,” he ordered and turned away from her.
She did as he said, her legs growing heavier with each step she took. The weight of what lay ahead of her was almost too much to bear and by the time she reached her husband’s bedchamber she feared she couldn’t take another step.
Memories, though more like nightmares, flooded her thoughts when she entered the room. Everything appeared overly large to her, the bed, the chests that sat against two walls, the single chair near the hearth, and… she shivered. The shackles in the basket by the bed that her husband constantly threatened to use on her but hadn’t so far. Would that change tonight?
Not if she did her best to please him.
She hurried to ready herself for him, donning her garments as fast as she could and slipping on her nightdress, Gwen had brought to the room and left on the bed. Then she used the footstool to climb into bed. It was too high off the floor for her to get in it any other way. She positioned herself in the center of the large bed, then pulled up her nightdress just below her hips and spread her legs. He would be expecting her to be like that, ready for him to have his way with her, and she prayed this time all would go well.
She tried to relax but her heart was beating so fast that she feared it trembled the bed and her body was so tense, she worried a bone would break when he touched her. She closed her eyes and ordered herself to calm down. Soon the warmth of the room and her worries took their toll and sleep fluttered her eyes.
She dozed in a light sleep until she heard her husband’s heavy footfalls on the stone stairs. Her eyes sprang wide open, and her heart pounded in her chest. Then the door opened, and he walked in.
He came to a stop at the bottom of the bed and stared at her.
Had she done something wrong? Was her nightdress not up far enough or up too far? Should she apologize but for what?
“Go to sleep,” he ordered curtly. “I have no desire for you tonight, though you will remain in my bed.”
Esme was stunned but not relieved. Remaining in his bed meant that he could desire her at any time. What if he woke her during the night or demanded she submit to him in the morning? The thought of not knowing when his desire would strike made her more anxious than ever.
She pushed her nightdress down and slipped beneath the wool blanket, moving herself close to the edge of the bed, hoping to keep her distance from him. She was about to turn away from him when she thought better of it. It would be wiser of her to keep an eye on him in case he changed his mind. She watched as he rid himself of his plaid, but left his shirt on, then he went to the hearth and stood in front of it, staring down at the flames. He had the finest features she had ever seen on a man and his body more toned with muscles than most other men. There was no denying why women found him desirable. But it was his cruel nature that made it impossible to care for him. She had tried, hoping her kindness would conquer his cruelty, but it seemed to feed it. He took great pleasure in treating her badly, an entertainment of sort to him, and she wondered what would happen once he grew bored with her. What then would be her fate?
A yawn escaped her, and she turned on her side away from him only too glad to let sleep claim her and be free of her worrisome thoughts for a while.
Torrance dropped in the chair in front of the fire, worn out from the day. It went easier than he expected, especially with the plan having been made in such haste. In time, he felt decisions would be easy to come by and once he found what he was looking for, the matter could be settled and hopefully benefit all.