Page 18 of Kingdom of Chains

Blackmane gave him a casual salute before turning his attention back to Isabel. ‘I strongly suggest you go back inside.’

‘People have been strongly suggesting that for the past five years. What makes you think I will start listening now?’

They watched each other for the longest time.

‘Stay off the embrasures,’ he said before turning away.

She watched him until he disappeared into the turret, then turned her attention to the sky.

‘I really do not feel like socialising, Mother. Can you not tell His Lordship that I am unwell?’ The thought of sitting at Hodge’s side for the evening had her imagining all kinds of symptoms.

Gwenore held up a pastel blue dress with drop sleeves, studying it like one did a painting before laying it on the bed. ‘His Lordship is leaving tomorrow. He will want to spend as much time with you as possible before he departs. Is it too much to ask that you eat dinner with the man so he can remember your lovely face while he is away?’

Isabel rolled her eyes.

‘I saw that.’ Her mother stepped up to unbutton her dress, then tugged it down to Isabel’s waist. Gwenore stilled when she saw the bruises enclosing her daughter’s wrists.

Isabel’s first instinct was to move her hands behind her back, but a part of her wanted her mother to see the marks, to askher about them. At the very least acknowledge them. Instead, Gwenore averted her eyes and went to fetch the gown from the bed.

Isabel’s chest pinched.

What else had she expected? Questions would lead to answers, and answers would force her mother to admit that Hodge was not the man everyone needed him to be. On went the dress, buttoned to the neck. Her lips were painted, hair pinned back, and jewellery selected according to Lord Hodge’s tastes.

‘His Lordship always compliments you when you wear the sapphire earrings,’ Gwenore said, stepping back to admire her work.

‘Because they were a gift from him.’ He complimented her so she was forced to express her gratitude over and over again. She glanced at the window to gauge the time. ‘Where is Everard?’

‘Likely with His Lordship.’

She resented how much time they spent together. Every ride, every sparring match, every game of chess, every conversation they shared while shooting at the butts felt like another claw in her.

‘Shall we?’ Gwenore asked, heading for the door.

Isabel had no choice but to follow her.

It was a far more social affair than the evening prior. Many noble families used Hampstead Keep as a safe stopover when travelling through the region. Isabel’s gaze swept over the rows of people seated at the long tables, searching.

But searching for whom?

Her eyes paused on Blackmane, who was standing at the back of the room talking to Hadewaye. His muscled arms were crossed, his stance wide. Inky hair fell forwards in a tousled mess. His dark eyes and black leather uniform only added to his lethal appeal—if there was such a thing.

‘Are we entering, or are we simply going to stand at the door all night?’ Gwenore asked.

Isabel’s cheeks flushed. She had forgotten her mother was beside her, and she knew how ridiculous she must have looked standing there gaping at the defenders. Notallthe defenders, however.

Stepping into the room, she snuck another glance at Blackmane, who appeared oblivious to her presence. Probably a good thing. It was better to focus on the man she would soon marry. He was definitely looking at her, eyes raking her up and down—making her want to turn around and leave.

She kept her focus on him from that point. The last thing she needed was him catching her looking at another man. Lord Hodge settled for nothing less than her undivided attention. He needed a lot of it, all the time, and for whatever reason, he had chosen her for the role. So she would either need to find it within her or fake it convincingly for the rest of her life. The problem was, the more he demanded, the further out of reach it felt.

Hodge rose from his seat when she approached, and she made an effort to smile. He waited for the women to take their seats—so chivalric—then dragged his chair closer to Isabel’s so he could hold her hand.

‘Those earrings look absolutely beautiful on you.’

He was so predictable.

‘You have exquisite taste, my lord.’ She gave her mother a look, but she pretended not to see it.

The room grew louder as the evening progressed. And when the music began, it got louder still.

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