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)
“That’s a bold accusation,” Torrance snapped sharply.
“Lady Esme is not happy here. She never has been,” Brack pressed. “She praises you out of duty but has no true words of kindness for you. She watches you like she waits for something to break. There is no warmth in her toward you, only cold civility.”
Torrance’s jaw tensed. “I am not interested in her trust, only her obedience.”
“And is she only interested in her freedom that a dead husband would bring her?”
“She knows better than to defy me, betray me,” Torrance admonished, or did she?
Brack scowled. “Or does she obey so she can dig and find your weakness and help your enemies.”
“She is far too fearful of me to do anything so foolish,” Torrance said, having seen such fear in her eyes. “I don’t believe she’s behind this. I’ve seen betrayal before, Brack. She doesn’t wear its face.”
Brack folded his arms across his chest. “So, you go chasing the whispers of an old woman who may not even exist and risk your life on the word of a wife who barely tolerates you?”
“I go,” Torrance said, “because something about this… reeks of truth. And I’ve experienced enough to know when a stench should not be ignored.”
Brack muttered under his breath, then looked him squarely in the eye. “Then I go with you.”
“Nay,” Torrance said. “You stay here and keep the clan safe. I will take Esme with me along with a contingent of men, since I am not foolish enough to travel without protection.”
“I am not comfortable with this,” Brack insisted.
“I must go. I need to know what this is before it grows teeth. I need to know what part Esme plays in it, if any.”
“And if it is a trap?”
“Then I will find out who it is that wants me dead.”
Brack held his gaze, reluctant but loyal to the last. “Then you will need men to travel ahead and to trail you to prevent any surprises.”
“No mercenaries. They can be bought too easily,” Torrance warned.
“Aye, my thinking as well. I will send trusted men along with you.”
“See it done,” Torrance commanded as he walked off.
Torrance sat back in the chair on the dais, his goblet barely touched, his gaze drifting toward Esme where she sat beside him, listening politely to the servant who asked if there was any more food or drink, she might want. His wife wore a pleasant smile throughout the exchange and all through breakfast. She had a pleasantness to her, a grace that could not be feigned.
Brack had warned him not to trust her. Had said she cared nothing for him, wanted only her freedom. But watching her now, her gentle nods, the way she set her tankard down so she could better listen to the servant made it difficult to believe Brack was right. Besides, the way she responded to his intimate touches told a completely different story.
Unless, how he felt for her, always felt for her, had blinded him.
He hadn’t realized how closely he’d been watching her until a strange stillness came over her. Her smile faded, her brow drew tight, and the color drained from her face so swiftly it jolted him upright.
He leaned forward, alarm rising. “Esme?”
She turned slightly toward him, lips parting, but no words came. Her eyes were wide, panicked, and then her body doubled over with a sharp shudder.
Torrance was on his feet in an instant.
He caught her around the waist, steadying her as she tried to rise. “Hold on,” he murmured urgently, guiding her off the dais. “Get Brenna!” he barked toward a servant as he lifted her into his arms and rushed her out of the hall.
He took the stairs to his chamber two at a time and once inside rushed her to the clean chamber pot. He dropped to his knees beside her, holding her hair back, his other hand braced on her trembling back as her body convulsed with each retch.
“Easy,” he whispered, feeling her discomfort and helpless to stop it.
She gasped in a shaky breath, the worst of it seeming to pass. Her face was clammy, her body slack against him.
“Torrance…” Her voice was barely there.
He cradled her closer. “I’ve got you.”
Her head rested on his chest, and her fingers curled weakly into his tunic. “I don’t understand. I felt fine and then—”
He stiffened.
A creeping thought slid through him like a blade drawn slowly. A sudden sickness and after breakfast.
He pulled back just enough to look at her, his mind racing. His voice turned hard. “Is there something you’ve not told me?”
She blinked in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“When I was away… did you lie with another man?”
“What?” she asked, thinking he couldn’t mean what she suspected he meant.
His voice turned harsh with the question he hadn’t meant to ask but couldn’t stop himself from voicing it. “Are you with child? Is that why you are eager to spread your legs for me?”