Page 77 of Her Dark Seduction
I kept my expression neutral as he sat me on a chair at his right hand side. The cloak of dignity slipped on as easily as it had when his vile cousin had committed unspeakable acts at Mortlock. If de Tourrard wanted to break me he would be disappointed.
He poured two goblets of wine and handed one to me. To the casual observer we might have been a betrothed couple in love, not tormentor and prisoner. He asked me about the gown I had worn when I wed Mortlock, and I played along with the charade, describing it in detail. He spoke of our wedding and how much finer my gown would be the day I became Baroness de Tourrard. It was as if last night had never happened.
Finally he gave me a cruel smile.
“Of course, my dear, you will need to bathe before tonight.”
“Bathe?”
“Aye. I cannot be expected to bed you while you reek like a peasant’s whore.”
My hand shook as I lifted the goblet to my lips.
“Ah—not the stone-hearted bitch your outward appearance would suggest, but a warm-blooded whore,” he said. “After your flesh has been cleansed of his filth I shall show you what it is to have a real man between your legs.”
I swallowed the wine and set the goblet down.
“I hear my cousin served your lover’s head on a platter—Percy was it not? I hope soon to repeat the favor—Sawford’s heart would be a delicacy. I hear a heart can still beat several times after being removed from the body.”
I turned my head to see him smiling at me. He reached out in front of him to a plate of honeyed figs, which I’d not noticed before. Picking one up, he held it to my lips.
“I understand you have a particular fondness for these?”
I slapped his hand away, sending the fig flying. The next moment his fist met my jaw, and I fell to the floor, my head ringing. De Tourrard stood over me, his face dark with anger.
“Guy!” he roared.
“My lord?”
“Return this bitch to her chamber and lock her in. Stand by the door and do not move until we’re ready to leave.”
He grasped a handful of my hair and jerked my head up.
“You’ll learn to show proper respect or that brat of yours will pay the price.”
He crushed his mouth against mine, biting my lip savagely. But I refused to cry out. He broke the kiss and helped me up with an air of gallantry.
“My poor dear, you seem to have fallen. Come, Guy will escort you to your chamber. You need your rest for we ride at dawn.”
The man on de Tourrard’s left rose, a cruel smile on his face. De Tourrard handed me to him, and he took my upper arm, gripping it firmly as he led me back to the bedchamber. He pulled me close, lips parted, mouth hungry. I drew my free hand back before delivering a slap on his face.
“How dare you!” I cried.
Rubbing his cheek, he laughed. “You may think you’re too high and mighty for me now, whore, but when my master tires of you I will have you. We share similar tastes—in particular, I do relish a struggle.”
He pushed me into the chamber and blew me a kiss.
“Until later, whore.”
The door slammed behind him and the key turned in the lock once more.
****
Almost a sennight later we arrived on the outskirts of Balsdean village. De Tourrard had brought along twenty of his men. During the day, I rode beside him while Celia travelled in a cart behind us with Geoffrey and the wet-nurse. At night, after setting up camp, he made me lie beside him, my hands bound, breasts swollen and sore. My heart ached each time I heard Geoffrey crying, knowing I could not nurse him.
Though outwardly hostile toward me, Celia would squeeze my hand comfortingly when unnoticed. Before we set out on our journey to Balsdean she’d handed me my most treasured possessions—my last letter from Tarvin together with my response—the one he had never received. She had stolen them from me when I’d arrived at de Tourrard’s castle, originally intending to use them against me. They were the proof of adultery that could sentence me to death. But she had returned them to me; an act of kindness to seal our new friendship.
De Tourrard’s men struck camp in the woods outside the village. He believed my story that Sawford and I had stayed in the tavern. I hoped this would give Vane a chance to escape but de Tourrard placed men on the road at either end of the village, to watch the comings and goings.
