Page 46 of The Saxon Lord's Unwanted Bride
“Alas, we were never formally betrothed. I harbor no regrets now, but at the time I believed myself in love.”
“Why did you never seal the union?”
“I discovered she’d been betrothed before—many times—but each union was broken.”
“Why was that?” Harald asked.
“I cannot speculate,” came the reply, “but servants’ gossip reached my ears. Such tattle should be ignored, but I couldn’t help notice how peculiar her devotion was to Henri.”
“Her brother?”
“As I came to know her better, it seemed somewhat—unnatural—for a sister to spend so much time in her brother’s company—in his bedchamber.”
“Dear lord!” Harald cried. His throat constricted as a wave of nausea bubbled up from within.
Her own brother…
“Forgive me, my friend,” Ralph said placing a hand on Harald’s arm. “I didn’t mean to distress you.”
“You broke the union when you began to suspect?”
Ralph shook his head. “I’m ashamed to say I didn’t. She has the countenance of an angel—I refused to believe such beauty could harbor such evil. I thought her father’s eagerness to give her to me was due to his partiality toward me. It didn’t occur to me that a father might have other reasons for marrying his daughter in haste.”
Harald’s palms grew slick and he wiped them on his chausses.
Her brother—her own brother…
And her father had known! The whole family was corrupt. Did the king know?
“Did she break the union between you?” Harald asked.
Ralph nodded, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. Sweet heaven—how he must have loved her!
“She revealed her true nature the night before the betrothal ceremony,” Ralph said. “God help me, I wanted her, but I could never dishonor her—or myself—by taking her before we wed.”
Harald shook his head, “I don’t understand.”
“She entered my chamber and tried to seduce me.”
Harald swallowed the memory of the night he’d made love to Eloise properly—when she had cried his name in ecstasy. That night she’d said it was no sin to give pleasure, then she’d performed the services of a whore.
What a fool he’d been!
“Tell me all,” he said, a black ball of anger twisting in his gut.
“She didn’t take my rejection well.” Ralph sighed. “Despite it all I still care for her, even though her father turned me out that night. I lost my bride but what cut deepest was the loss of my dear friend Henri. I was never allowed to return to Morigeaux.”
“What happened?”
“I know not what lies she spun, but I was branded a molester of women. De Morigeaux lashed me, while she looked on, then sent me home in disgrace. He agreed not to tell my family of his accusations, though I believe his silence resulted from a desire to protectherreputation rather than mine.”
They reached the main doors and Harald grasped the handle, trying to stop his hands from shaking. The betrayal cut him deep, as did his self-loathing for having been foolish enough to fall, once more, for a pretty face and a willing female body. He leaned forward and pressed his head against the door, fighting the fury which threatened to consume him.
A hand squeezed his shoulder, accompanied by a soft, reassuring voice.
“Come, Harald, you must rally. Forgive me for telling you, but it’s better that you know.”
“Aye.” He clasped Ralph’s hand, drawing strength from his friend’s grip.
