Page 29 of A Husband for Esyllt
With obvious reluctance, her brother-in-law released her and took a step backward.
“Forgive me, Brother. But I don’t trust her.”
“I know you don’t.” The smile floating on Connor’s lips proved he had heard the same thing over and over again. “Butyou are not to manhandle her for all that. She is not only a woman but also my wife. Violence will not solve anything.”
Esyllt worked hard at hiding her surprise. He was taking her defense against a man he had grown up with, a man he loved and respected. That was unexpected. Something flashed in his eyes. She wondered if it was amusement.
“I’m glad to see that you do not believe in resorting to violence to tame your enemies,” she said when it became clear he was expecting an answer from her.
“I did not quite say that. But you are not my enemy.”
“Am I not?”
His lips quivered, and she realized that she had been right. Hewasamused. “Even if you were, you are a woman. That places you safely out of my reach. And you are my wife. Whatever our disagreements, I will not allow anyone to disrespect you, even my own brother.” His gaze flicked toward Matthew, who did not seem best pleased at this declaration.
She, however, appreciated it at full value.
“Thank you, my lord.”
Esyllt was more confused than ever. He had taken her defense against Gruffydd the day before, but that was understandable. He would have enjoyed using this opportunity to put a man he felt no love toward back in his place. But this intervention was less easily explained. Aside from his daughter, Matthew was the person Connor cared for most in this world. Why would he place her above him?
Matthew seemed to ask himself the same question. He appeared shocked, as if up until then Connor had never disagreed with him. This small victory over a man she disliked pleased her.
“You know,” he said, looking at her and Connor in quick succession. “You both have green eyes. You cannot see it ofcourse but I, who is looking at you at the same time, can see it all too well.”
“What are you blabbering on about?” Connor snapped, clearly as nonplussed as she was by the unexpected comment.
“Yours are clear, almost transparent, and Lady Sheridan’s are a deep emerald, but make no mistake, they are both green.”
With those enigmatic words, he left.
“Does he often say things like that?” Esyllt asked her husband. “He seemed to think there was a point to his declaration.”
“He certainly did, even if I can’t for the life of me see what it could be. And no, he is usually very pragmatic, not at all the type of man to start referring to a lady’s eyes as ‘deep emerald’.”
“Why did you take my defense against him?” she couldn’t help but ask when silence descended between them. “He didn’t seem to like it.”
Connor let out what sounded suspiciously like a chuckle, as if the notion pleased him. “He did not. But why would you complain that I did? I did not hear you complain when I defended you against Gruffydd yesterday.”
“I’m not complaining, and you know very well that was different. You don’t like Gruffydd.”
“Are you suggesting that you think I will fulfil my role as a husband only when it suits me, with people I don’t like?”
“No, and you know full well what I mean!” Esyllt shook her head in irritation. Would they ever be able to have a discussion without him trying to confuse her? “I get the impression that you wanted to help me less than you wanted to put him back in his place.”
“Perhaps I did, and can you blame me? The man is every inch the intractable Welshman I was told to expect, without any of the charm that could entail. I can respect a man wanting to protect his people, a man who values his freedom aboveeverything else, but that old goat cares less about his country than he does about his own privileges.”
His mouth twitched and Esyllt knew he had indeed enjoyed putting Gruffydd back in his place. And no, she could not blame him for it because she thought the same thing. Hadn’t she called Gruffydd an old goat in her mind many a time?
“Tell me. Is he telling the truth? Were you two really betrothed?” Connor asked, coming to stand right in front of her.
“No, not to my knowledge.” Esyllt had almost forgotten the outrageous claim. And she didn’t like being reminded of it.
“You sound mighty relieved, I must say.”
“That’s because I am.”
“So an Englishman, a stranger, is preferable to your old Welsh friend as a husband. Be sure that I appreciate the compliment at its full value.” Connor gave a little bow.
