Page 37 of The Saxon Lord's Unwanted Bride
She nodded. “They’re so deep, they must pain him still.”
“Aye,” Edwin sighed. “Some wounds never heal. Harald’s scars give him much pain.”
“And not all of it can be eased by a mere ointment.”
“You understand much, Lady Eloise—or may I be permitted to call you sister?”
“Aye, I do—brother,” she said, “and I wish to ease my husband’s pain where I can.”
“You understand pain yourself, don’t you?”
He touched her arm and she looked up into his brown eyes—keen, intelligent eyes with a searching expression.
“You understand much, sister,” he said. “I would hope you can call me friend.”
“It would be my pleasure.”
He drew her close.
“I could ease your pain. My brother needn’t know.”
She tried to pull away and groaned as he gripped her arm where it was deformed. Almost immediately, he recoiled at the feel of her misshapen limb. He grasped her hand and pulled the sleeve up.
“Your arm…”
“Aye,” she replied, hardening her voice. “I’m sure many women would be receptive to your methods of pain relief, but as you say, some wounds will never heal.”
“What happened to your arm?”
Fear rose in her throat as the man she’d believed she could trust, moved closer, dwarfing her slight frame. “An accident as a child,” she said. “Please—don’t touch me again. Would you dishonor your brother so?”
“Sister…”
“Let me go, sir,” she said, gritting her teeth, “I may appear weak and small, but I’ll fight you to my last breath if you don’t remove your hand.
He released her arm and backed away, raising his hands in a gesture of appeasement. “Forgive me, I meant no harm,” he said. “I was…we were merely trying to …”
Her stomach churned as it became clear what Edwin had been doing.
“You were trying to entrap me? To test my loyalty?”
The expression on his face was all the response she needed.
She met his gaze and set her mouth to a firm line. “Leave,” she said. “Now.”
Not waiting for a response, she turned her back and focused on the bowl of herbs, her arm shaking with the effort as she ground them into the ointment. Her husband—the man she thought to give her heart to—valued her so little, that he used his brother to entrap her into infidelity. Despite his acts of kindness he still thought the worst of her. She paused, her hand aching, barely noticing the hot, fat tears which splashed into the bowl.
Chapter 10
Harald rapped on the door to Marlin’s hut, his anger so great he cared little for the skin on his knuckles scraping against the rough wood. The door opened and her sleepy face became alert as she recognized him.
“Eager for your next lesson, my Lord? Did your wife send you?”
He pushed past her, forcing his way inside.
“Have a care!” she cried, “I might have company.”
“You’ve only just taken leave of my brother.”
