Page 74 of The Saxon Lord's Unwanted Bride
“Is that true?” he asked.
Eloise nodded.
“Would you saddle me with another’s bastard when you have already borne a bastard as a result of your incestuous liaisons?”
Her throat constricted at his words. What evil did he think her capable of?
“I know it all,” he said, moving closer. “Did you think I’d never find out you’d been rutting your own brother? And to think, I was prepared to forgive!”
“Henri!” Harald’s words formed a pool of acid in the pit of her stomach. “How could you sully my beloved brother’s character?”
“You defend your brother but not yourself?”
“Why would I defend myself against you?” she cried, bitterly. “You condemned me from the moment we met. Nothing I say or do will change your opinion of me.”
He waved a dismissive hand at her.
“I no longer care what you say. Remain here until I decide what is to be done.”
“What will you do?” Fear for Violette almost paralyzed her as she remembered his promise. Would he kill her child?
“I’ll petition the King for an annulment. I no longer want you here.”
“Where shall I go?”
“I care not,” he said roughly. “But I have to get away from you. Beauvisage will rule in my absence.”
“No!” she cried. “Not him! He’s not your friend. He plots against you, I’m sure of it.”
“Donotpresume to give me instructions.” He strode out of the chamber and slammed the door behind him.
Silence fell, save for the rushing of her heartbeat in her ears. Her fears were realized. She could never have told Harald her secret. His experiences with women had destroyed his trust. To him, she was a weak woman—like Eve—doomed to temptation. Only Papa had loved her. And what of Henri? Struck down at Hastings, her dear brother could even not rest in peace after death. How could Harald even begin to believe he was capable of such evil, to lie with his own sister?
All paths led back to Beauvisage. What lies had he poisoned Harald’s mind with, whispering to him in his study while cementing their friendship? Why couldn’t Harald see what he was doing?
Ralph had always been persuasive. Handsome, charming, the toast of Normandy—and he had Harald in his power.
What might he do to her in Harald’s absence? And what would Harald do when he returned? She’d heard tales of how these Saxon barbarians treated unfaithful wives—tales used to frighten wayward children. Men would murder the babies as soon as they left the womb—some even sliced their wives open, to destroy both mother and child. In the kinder tales men permitted the children to live but banished them, and kept their wives chained in towers. If the child Eloise carried were a girl, he might send her to a convent. But a boy would be seen as a threat.
And Harald would want such a threat to be destroyed.
Cradling her softly rounded belly, she let the tears fall. Yet again she would fail to protect her child. Harald would never believe it was his. He would rather hazard the death of his own child, to ensure he rid himself of another’s.
Shortly after Harald left, Beauvisage issued orders that Eloise be confined to the building and not permitted outside. Collin conveyed the message, his face grim, eyes cast down, as if the words he spoke carried such a bitter taste he wanted to expel them as quickly as possible. Perhaps not everyone at Wildstorm had succumbed to Ralph’s charm.
Two days after Harald left, Eloise was returning to her chamber when she heard noises ahead—strained gasps, followed by hoarse, feral grunting as if two boars were fighting over a carcass. She rounded a corner and recoiled in horror.
Beauvisage, his back to her, hands splayed against the wall, breeches round his knees, thrust himself forward, grunting with exertion. Wrapped around his waist was a pair of legs, ankles locked together, fat, white thighs rippling with each movement.
The woman let out a cry, thick with lust before he snarled out his release and pushed her to the floor. The woman landed in a heap of sweaty flesh and gave that familiar laugh of triumph.
Roswyn.
Beauvisage pulled his breeches up, turned, and smiled at Eloise.
“Care to join us, my dear?”
She fled to her chamber, his laughter echoing in her ears.
