Page 36 of Her Dark Seduction
“But—”
“Be quiet, woman.”
“You have no right to address me so,” I said, the anger in my voice tainted by the undertone of panic.
Ignoring my words, he pulled me to my feet. Tightening his grip on my arm, he strode out of the chamber and I struggled to keep up without tripping.
“At least tell me where you’re taking me.”
“Lord Mortlock instructed me to tell you nothing.”
He took me to the courtyard. Had his hold on my arm not been so firm I would have collapsed with fear at the sight awaiting me. Two men-at-arms held a crying, whimpering figure, its shoulders hunched and head bent. Standing beside them my husband beckoned to me.
“Ah, here she comes. Wife, we have a traitress in our midst.”
The figure between the men groaned and lifted its head up. The face was bruised and battered, barely recognizable.
“Harwyn.”
My voice came out in an anguished whisper and my husband smiled.
“Aye, my dear. We caught her delivering a missive to your lover.”
“Forgive me!” Harwyn’s voice was thick with pain, and she cried out as one of the men delivered a kick to her side.
“No! Leave her alone!”
“Silence, wife, unless you want the same.”
“I don’t have a lover. Let her go,” I pleaded, but my husband shook his head.
“She has betrayed you, my dear.” He held up my letter to Tarvin, and Harwyn’s body shook with sobs.
“It took little persuasion for her to tell us of your plans to leave. She was gracious enough to show us where she had concealed your letter.”
He moved toward me until his face almost touched mine ,and he lifted his hand, running a finger along my lips.
“I am disappointed to find you as much of a whore as my other wives. But we can remedy that when you share their fate.”
“My lord,” a familiar quiet voice resonated behind me.
“Ah, Sawford. Just in time to administer justice upon two more traitors.”
“Two?”
“It seems the mare sought freedom. Here.” Mortlock handed the note to Sawford whose eyes narrowed as he read the words I had written.
“You know what to do, Sawford. I want them both executed immediately.”
Harwyn wailed piteously at Mortlock’s words and I struggled against Wyatt’s hold.
“Let her go, my lord,” I pleaded, “’twas not her doing.”
“Nay,” he said, “’tis time I found a new wife.”
Sawford folded the note, keeping his eyes on me. “My lord, put the servant to death if you will; but as to your wife, I would counsel you to wait at least until after the birth of your child.”
Wyatt increased the pressure on my arm. A slow smile crept across my husband’s face.
