Page 23 of A Husband for Esyllt
And now he wanted that woman, Jane, by his side, here at Castell Esgyrn.
Did he really think she would accept that?
She came to stand in front of him, feeling ten feet tall because she had right on her side. “Husband,” she said as coldly as her boiling rage would allow.
“Wife,” he replied cautiously. Evidently, he had picked up on her mood. Not that it was difficult, she imagined, because she could feel herself trembling with indignation. Her face would most likely be a picture of ire. “How are you this?—”
“Your beloved Matthew is as we speak on his horse, riding back to Sheridan Manor, from what I understand. My, that was quick, considering he only arrived from England last night,” she spat, ignoring the question. “He left without even saying goodbye. I cannot say I will miss him, but I see why you would think that your wife should not be informed of the arrival of your whore in her castle!”
Connor ran a hand over his face. It was clear he had wished to avoid this conversation. Well, too bad, they were having it.
“You were there,” he said warily.
“Of course I was there. This is my home, why shouldn’t I be?” She straightened her spine, wishing she were even taller, more imposing, so she could look him squarely in the eye, as a man would, and intimidate him into contrition. “Who is this Jane? As if I need to ask.”
“Indeed, you do not. You need not concern yourself with her,” was his blunt answer.
Her husband was a daunting man when he chose to be and evidently he had decided that fixing her with his amazing eyes would be enough to deter further discussion on a subject he was loath to discuss. He thought that impressing his physical superiority upon her would quell any rebellion on her part.
It was not. By now she’d seen enough of him to guess he would never actually strike her. The only hurt he would cause would be with his words and deeds.
“Oh, but I do need to concern myself with her. Any woman my husband chooses to bring under my roof is my concern. If you cannot see that, then you really are?—”
“Enough!” He raised his hand. “I promise to introduce her to you in due time. I was going to wait but since you insist, it shall be as you wish. Matthew will be back with her before the end of the month, I expect, and then you two will meet.”
His impudence was not to be believed. That was all he had to say? That the two of them would meet in due time? What for? Surely he didn’t expect them to create a bond over gossip about Connor’s behavior in bed? Was he considering the three of them sharing a bed?
Esyllt gritted her teeth. If he didn’t see how insensitive he was being on his own, there was little chance she would manage to make him see how inappropriate his comments were. Better not to make a scene and leave with her dignity intact.
“Very well. I see that I have no choice over whom to welcome to my own castle. I hope you will at least let me choose whom to welcome into my bed,” she replied, taking a step back. If he forced her to share a bed with his mistress, make her watch them together, she would leave, and not worry about the consequences of her actions. “You will oblige me by staying in your own bedchamber tonight. If you do not, you will only have to watch me go to yours before you can tumble me into bed and use me to satisfy your perverse urges. Heed my words, what happened last night will never be allowed to happen again.”
Without waiting for an answer, Esyllt exited the room.
A fortnight later, as planned, Mathew was back with Jane. Connor welcomed them both in his solar, where he offered them a drink.
“How do you hope to keep her from your wife?” Matthew whispered, while Jane focused her attention on the litter of puppies tumbling about by the hearth.
“There is no need for me to do that,” Connor replied. “I fully intend to introduce the two of them today.”
The pursed lips made it clear his brother didn’t think it such a good idea. Nevertheless, he did not comment. “What is going on between you and your wife?” he asked instead. “I have seen the way you look at her, and how she looks at you at times. Yet... You are supposed to hate each other, are you not?”
“Not hate each other,” Connor corrected immediately. That had never been the intention, rather what he had feared might happen, given the fact that she was Welsh and he English. But they did not hate each other. For certain, there were misunderstandings and issues between them, they had not yet consummated their union and Esyllt had made some veiled threats about killing him, but fortunately, he could not say that they hated each other.
Small consolation, perhaps, but consolation nonetheless.
He slapped his brother on the shoulder. “Stay here a while, then join me with Jane in the great hall. I will go get Esyllt from the chapel.”
With one last nod in Matthew’s direction, Connor went down the spiral staircase. It was best to get this over with quickly. He and his wife had barely spoken in the past two weeks, and he had not slept in her bed at night. The people at Esgyrn Castle might not have seen anything amiss, but he guessed that Esyllt would have thought of nothing else than the impending arrival of his “whore” during that time.
It was time to disabuse her. He might even enjoy seeing her squirm when she realized how wrong she’d been to assume the worst of him.
Luck was on his side. She was making her way out of the chapel when he spotted her. He would have hated to drag her away from the comfort she found in the sacred place. As she was already in the bailey, however, he had no qualms about coming to find her.
“A word with you, if you please.”
When she didn’t move, he took her by the arm and led her to the great hall, in preparation for the encounter.
“What is it, my lord?” Esyllt asked, her tone frosty.
