Page 29 of The Forsaken
Kate and Hugh followed the innkeeper to the upper story and into the room. “’Tis the best room in the house, sir,” the innkeeper said proudly, pointing to the four-poster bed with an embroidered tester and a thick quilt. The mullioned window offered a view of the village green during the day, but at the moment, it was a black rectangle streaming with rainwater. Not a chink of light could be seen, with every house in the village tightly shuttered for the night. It was like gazing into an abyss—or perhaps the abyss was in Kate’s soul. She’d never felt as adrift as she did at that moment, not even when she’d been lost on the road to Belford. Then, she’d had a home to return to. Now, she didn’t belong to anyone.
“You and your lady will be comfortable here. Shall I have some hot water sent up?” the innkeeper asked. “Or some food?”
“There’s no need,” Hugh replied as he unbuckled his sword belt and threw his cloak over a chair. “Leave us.”
“Good night, sir. Madam.” The man bowed low and left them alone.
“Take the bed, Lady Catherine. I’ll bed down on the floor.”
“I’ll take the floor,” Kate said miserably. “I won’t be able to sleep anyway.”
“Of course you will. You need your rest. Now, come, let me help you with your cloak.” Hugh opened the clasp of Kate’s cloak and tossed the garment next to his own. He then bent down and removed her shoes and set them beside the bed. “Lay your head,” he said gently. “It will all come out all right in the end.”
Kate hadn’t meant to give in to her grief, but tears of hurt and anger slid down her cheeks. “He’ll never forgive me,” shecried, “especially not once he finds out that I shared a room with you tonight. I must go,” she exclaimed, but Hugh’s strong hands on her forearms stopped her.
“Catherine, darling, there’s nothing wrong with us sharing a room. ’Tis the only one left, and we are betrothed, you and I.”
“Are we?” Kate asked, staring at Hugh in confusion.
“Of course. Your father gave his consent, before he evicted me from the house,” Hugh added with a sad smile. “He won’t have you dishonored in the eyes of the world. He’d rather have you married to the likes of me.”
“I haven’t done anything to bring dishonor on my family,” Kate argued.
“Of course you haven’t. You’re beautiful, and pure, and kind,” Hugh said, brushing a stray curl out of her eyes. He leaned in and gave her a feather-light kiss on her lips. “You saved Guy’s life, and now you can save mine.”
Kate stared up at him, confused.
“Oh, Kate, I have been lonely for a long time. You brought something out in me, a depth of feeling I didn’t realize I was possessed of. I want to love and protect you. I want you to be mine,” he whispered as he pushed her back onto the counterpane.
“Hugh, no,” Kate protested, but Hugh covered her body with his own as his kisses grew more ardent.
“Kate, I love you,” he whispered, his eyes aglow with passion. “I’ll make you happy.”
“No, please,” she begged as she struggled against him, but it was too late. Hugh had pushed up her skirts and was already fumbling with the laces of his breeches.
Kate felt his hand between her legs as he attempted to guide himself inside her. She tried to squirm away, but he was too heavy, and there wasn’t anywhere to go. She cried out as he forcedhis shaft inside her, breaching her maidenhead and destroying any possible future she might have had in the Church or with any other man. Hugh began to move inside her, pushing deeper and deeper into her unwilling body. Honeyed words dripped from his lips as he made love to her, but Kate had to bite her lip to keep herself from howling in anguish. She didn’t want this; she hadn’t asked for this, and now there was no going back.
“Kate, try to relax. All I want is to make you happy. Please, darling, it’s all right.”
All the fight went out of her and Hugh thrust harder, making her cry out in pain, but he seemed to misinterpret her reaction as one of pleasure.
“That’s my girl,” he whispered. “I knew you liked me.”
Hugh eventually finished what he was doing and rolled off her. He cupped her cheek and looked into her eyes, as though seeking affirmation that all was well between them. “I’ll give you a good life. I promise,” he said. “You will never have cause to regret marrying me.”
Kate nodded mutely, too afraid to look at Hugh for fear that he’d see the panic and revulsion in her eyes. She didn’t wish to marry him, nor did she think he could make her happy, but what choice did she have? Her fate was sealed.
Hugh fell asleep, but Kate lay awake for hours, staring up at the tester. Had she still been at the priory, she would have prayed, but God seemed to have forsaken her this night, and she was on her own.
She must have eventually dozed off because when she opened her eyes, it was morning, and weak sunshine was streaming through the dingy window. Kate sat up and looked around in panic. Hugh was nowhere to be seen. His sword belt was gone, as was his cloak. She was alone.
EIGHTEEN
JULY 2014
Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Northumberland
Gabe brushed the dust off his jeans and reached for an old towel to clean his grimy hands. He’d turned his father’s study upside down but had found nothing pertaining to the plans of the house. He had found many other “interesting” tidbits, which had reaffirmed his belief that his parents’ finances were in dire straits and that the repairs his father had planned never took place. There were estimates from various contractors, unpaid bills for services rendered, and an extensive list—written in his father’s hand—detailing all the work that needed to get done to get the house up to scratch.
