Page 22 of Highlander Lord Of Vengeance

“I asked a question,” he said, his voice low, dangerously controlled.

“I wanted to speak with them,” Esme replied, heart hammering.

“I forbade you to speak with them,” he snapped, stepping inside. “You defy me by coming here and speaking with them.”

“Forgive me, my lord,” she said with a tremble in her voice.

His jaw clenched. “What reason would you have for coming here?”

His question caught her off guard, though she should have been prepared for it. Her heart began to pound in her chest as she rushed to think of a reasonable excuse. It struck her then.

“This is better left in private, my lord,” she said, lowering her glance.

Annoyance sparked in his eyes. He stepped away from the door. “Outside. Now!”

As Esme stepped outside, she heard her husband issue orders to the women.

“If you discuss a word of what was said with my wife, I will see you suffer endlessly for it. Do you understand?”

Esme heard several strong ‘ayes,’ more than three.

“My solar,” he said and took hold of her arm.

She could not help but keep pace with him, he practically dragged her alongside him. The snow fell lightly over them as she thought of what she would say to him. She worried that her explanation might cause her more harm than good, but then it was how she would explain it to him that would matter.

They reached the keep in silence, the heavy door groaning as Torrance shoved it open. Snow dusted their cloaks, melting in cold rivulets as they stepped inside. Esme had barely crossed the threshold when Torrance hurried her through the keep past startled servants straight to his solar. He rushed her into the room, slamming the door behind them with a force that made her jump.

“What reason could there possibly be for you talking to those women?” he demanded.

She responded quickly. “It was what you said to me that made me seek out the women.”

“You blame your disobedience on me?” he snapped.

“Nay. Nay, my lord,” she apologized, quickly. “You pointed out that I don’t understand why I fail you, so how can I rectify my failings. The women are experienced. I assumed they could help me understand what I was doing wrong.”

His eyes heated with anger. “You spoke to them of intimate details?”

She shook her head rapidly. “Nay, my lord. I simply asked what I could do to please my husband as was my duty.”

“Accepting me between your legs is all you need to do,” he admonished.

“I have tried, my lord, but…” She lowered her head unable to look at him.

He snapped at her again. “But what?”

She raised her head and if it wasn’t for the spark of concern she saw in his eyes, she probably wouldn’t have had the courage to say, “You turned me away last night when finally…”

She couldn’t bring herself to say the rest, worried how he would react.

“Finally, what?” he demanded. “Tell me,” he ordered sharply when she failed to respond immediately.

She rushed the words out. “I felt your need against me, my lord.”

The thin lines in his brow deepened as he narrowed his eyes, then as if he understood, his eyes turned wide. Though he quickly narrowed them again.

Esme jumped when his fisted hand pounded the table so hard, she heard the wood crack.

“I will hear no more from you about it,’ he ordered, his voice edged with steel. “And you are never, ever to go and speak to those women again.”

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