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)
Why at that moment it should upset her, leaving her feeling hopeless, she didn’t know. She silently chastised herself for dwelling on it and forced the upsetting thought from her mind as she hurried and turned intending to take a brisk walk through the village to clear her head and heart.
She would have collided with her husband if Torrance hadn’t grabbed her by the arms and prevented their collision.
“What’s wrong?” he demanded, seeing the upset in her eyes.
Caught off guard, she reverted to instinct. “Forgive me, my lord. I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
“That doesn’t answer my question, wife. You are upset.” His eyes settled firmly on hers. “Why?”
Again, he caught her off guard. Why would it matter to him? He never cared how she felt about anything. Why now? The fierce look in his eyes warned he would have an answer.
“Need I remind you that I am not a patient man?” he snapped.
She went with the safest response, casting a quick glance at the gray sky. “I worry how the weather will treat us on our journey.”
His eyes narrowed. “Do you take me for a fool, wife?”
“Never, my lord,” she said, realizing she had made a mistake and worried over the consequences.
Torrance lowered his face close to hers. “Then I will give you one more chance to tell me the truth.”
“Chains!” Una shouted. “I asked her if her chains, like mine, grow heavier by the day.”
“And what was her reply?” Torrance demanded.
“I didn’t wait for one,” Una scoffed. “I already knew the answer. You are lucky that Lady Esme has the strength and courage to bear the unimaginable weight of your shackles.”
Gasps were heard from the people who had gathered upon hearing the heated exchange.
Esme froze, knowing Torrance would not let her remark go unpunished.
“It’s the stocks until morning for you,” Torrance ordered with such coldness that it shivered Esme.
“Please, my lord,” Esme pleaded, aware that Una had spoken up out of concern for her. “The nights have been bitter. No one can survive such cold.”
“She should have thought of that before opening her mouth,” Torrance said and signaled one of his warriors with a snap of his hand. “Put her in the stocks and she’s not to be released until I say so.”
“Aye, my lord,” the young warrior said and went to Una, grabbing her by the arm to take her to the stocks.
“You save me, my lord,” Una called out with a laugh. “Freezing to death is a far better fate than becoming Hakon’s wife.”
Esme was the only one who could hear the firm yet quiet oaths that fell from her husband’s lips. Esme wanted to smile with admiration for Una. She had set Torrance up perfectly for that, unless he had no intention of giving Una to Hakon.
“Since you find that fate more distasteful, Una. I will gladly give one devil to another. You shall be given to Hakon on his return.”
Una laughed. “It takes a devil to know one, Lord Torrance.”
Gasps rang out once again.
“Two nights in the dungeon with no food may have you thinking differently. She can wait for Hakon there,” Torrance ordered and cast a wicked scowl on those gathered around them. “Get back to your chores. NOW!”
Esme was relieved. Those in the kitchen would not let Una go without food. They would sneak some to her. She watched everyone disperse and as soon as she was alone with her husband, she wasn’t surprised at what he asked.
“So, what would your response have been to Una, about chains?”
Esme was prepared. “I entered this marriage freely. I wear no chains.”
Torrance leaned his head down, pressing his cheek against hers as he whispered. “Ah, but you do, wife. You are chained to me forever.”
“My lord!” Brack called out.
Torrance stepped abruptly away from her. “Go into the keep and stay there.”
Esme turned and hurried toward the keep, casting a quick glance back to see him speaking with Brack, though turning as if he knew she looked his way, and he pointed to the keep as if reminding her to do as she was told.
His whispered words still rang in her ear.
You are chained to me forever.
He sounded so much like Torrance. Had he returned to her? She couldn’t help but pray that it was an act, though for what purpose she didn’t know. She only knew it was her only hope of being free.
Esme headed to the keep but his powerful, commanding words halted her.
“BRING HIM TO ME!”
Someone had been caught at something. Could it be the one who poisoned her? She turned and seeing her husband’s back to her, she hurried forward to hide on the side of a dwelling where she could watch without being seen… she hoped.
Her eyes rounded when she caught sight of a warrior, wearing the Clan MacLeish plaid being shoved toward Torrance. His bottom lip was split and bleeding, one eye swollen purple, and he cradled one arm in the other.