Page 47 of Highlander Lord Of Vengeance

“So, for that she should be stuck in a heartless and brutal marriage?” Esme asked, softly.

“Do you empathize with her, wife?”

She almost bit her tongue for having spoken so foolishly and for finding herself growing more comfortable with her husband that she had voiced her opinion without thinking about it.

“Do you believe you are in a heartless and brutal marriage?” he asked.

Esme’s stomach churned anxiously, and she met his eyes, surprised not to see anger in them but more curiosity.

However, she decided not to take any chances. “Nay, my lord, I am grateful I have a good husband.”

“You do not think me heartless or brutal?”

“Any powerful, respected leader must have such traits to lead successfully, my lord.”

“You speak of a leader. I speak of a husband. Do you care for me, wife? Does your heart feel for me?”

“Does it matter?” she asked befuddled by his question.

Torrance had made it known from their first meeting that he expected her to do her duty as a wife. That he would tolerate nothing less. So, why ask her that?

He tossed the question back at her. “Does it matter to you?”

Did she dare voice her thought? Was he setting a trap for her? Waiting for her to say something foolish so he could berate her for it?

Her stomach continued to roil, and her heart beat a bit faster, thinking about what she should say, and she couldn’t hide her surprise when his hand reached out slowly and stroked her cheek.

“Am I such a heartless husband, wife, that you fear answering me?”

“Nay, husband, I cannot answer since I truly do not know you?”

A scowl crossed his face.

She hurried to explain. “Only now, since you returned home from battle, do I feel that I am getting to know you. Before that your words were few to me and we spent little time together.”

She didn’t think it was wise to remind him that his words had been mostly hurtful and demeaning from the start. But then maybe it wasn’t that he failed to realize that. Maybe he didn’t know because it wasn’t Torrance lying beside her in bed. Did she dare continue to think that?

He ran his finger faintly and slowly across her lips. “It is time we change that, wife.”

His hand fell away, replaced by his lips that brushed across hers as faintly as his touch.

His whisper, soft kiss sent a pleasant shiver through her. That her body responded so easily, instinctively both pleased and frightened her, for she still didn’t know if she could truly trust him.

He left her lips tingling as he rolled on his back. “Go to sleep, wife. You need rest. We leave in two days on our journey.”

Esme turned away from him not knowing what to make of him. At times, he was a far different man than the one who left her and at other times she could spy the ruthlessness in him.

Who was he? And what would she do if she discovered it was a stranger in her bed? She knew little of Ryland, had seen him a handful of times, had maybe two brief encounters with him. He seemed mannered and kind enough, but he was still a stranger to her and one who looked far too familiar to Torrance. But her greatest worry… what would her fate be at his hands.

CHAPTER 13

Patches of snow clung stubbornly to the ground, the last remnants of a light snowfall that had dusted the keep two nights ago. Esme drew her cloak tighter across her chest as she walked the narrow path near the animal pens. She was looking for Una and knew that this time of day she would be emptying the scrap bucket in the animal pens. The pungent odor stopped her from going any further as did Una’s bold voice.

“That’s all there is, fellows. We had a hungry lot yesterday.”

Una emerged from behind the last enclosure, the empty scrap bucket swinging from her hand. Her braid hung damp against her cloak, her cheeks flushed from the chill. She paused briefly when she saw Esme.

“Are you looking for me, my lady?”

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