She was not worthy of Brodick’s defense. It was a solid truth that she was doing something harmful to him. Stealing the dowry that he had invested so much effort into securing with her father. Two years of work that she would not bring him the reward of. She was convinced that God was working through the staff to force her to confess.
Her stomach heaved, the guilt making her sick. Anne ran from the eating area before she lost everything in her belly.
“The mistress has been very kind to me.”
Brodick turned to stare at the single voice raised in praise of his wife. Coming through the doorway, young Enys used her hands to feel her way.
“Why do ye say that?”
Enys tilted her head towards him, lowering her head as if she could see him looking at her.
“The mistress has spent many days helping me spin. She does the things I don’t have the sight for and she’s a good carder. One who doesn’t quit when the hours grow long.”
He was suddenly tired, more fatigued than he could ever recall being. The wall of hatred between Scotland and England looked near impossible to scale. His wife had been sitting in the spinning room instead of taking control of Sterling. Yet she had not been lazy. He didn’t know what to make of it.
He might be lord of the castle and of the land but it didn’t seem to lend him any weight in this battle. That angered him. But it was not the sort of emotion that had sent him into the kitchen, ready to thrash a few maids.
It was a deep rage against injustice toward his wife. He wanted to spare her the ill will between their countries. The hope to unite that had seen him negotiating with her father was struggling to survive amidst the animosity. The woman he’d looked forward to returning home to was worth more than quick judgment.
“No one of us chooses our parents. I’m disappointed in the lot of ye. Sterling has nae ever been such an unjust place as I find it today.”
He left. Druce followed him, the other man looking as confused as he felt.
“What man ever understood the way a woman thinks?”
Brodick wasn’t able to shrug off the problem so simply. “Why would she sit in the spinning room instead of taking her place as mistress of Sterling?”
Druce frowned. “Are ye sure ye want to become suspicious of her again, Cousin? That didnae do so well for ye before.”
“It doesnae make sense.”
And even if Druce was right, there was no stopping the suspicions that clouded his thinking. Mary was hiding something. He was sure of it.
Chapter Ten
“The lord asks ye to come down to the inner yard to go riding with him.”
The maid lowered her head before quitting the room.
Anne sighed. Respect meant nothing when it was forced. She knew it so well that the sight of the maids scurrying to attend her made her ill. Tears stung her eyes because it was so distressing, but weeping would not help her.
Maybe confessing would…
She was tempted. But she was frightened, too. Brodick would put her from him. She knew it in her heart and it made her ache. He had the right. There was no doubt about it but she wanted to delay the moment when he’d stop looking at her so tenderly.
Stop touching her so intimately…
Anne had to blink rapidly to banish the tears before the two maids helping her dress noticed them. There wasn’t enough for them to do, but they picked at her hair and clothing, finding things to straighten. She didn’t have the heart to be ill tempered with them.
Even feeling her guilt so keenly, she could not stop herself from wanting to join Brodick. Her lust had truly destroyed her, exactly as the church preached. Having listened to the song of Satan, she was now a disciple unwilling to mend her ways.
One last time and then she would confess.
But she would lie with her lover a final time first.
A smile brightened her lips as she turned and hurried down to the courtyard. She was suddenly happy. Full of such bright joy that she felt as though she might burst with it.
The reason was simple. Brodick awaited her. The earl and master of Sterling had thought to send for her to ride with him. They would end up trysting and that made her move faster. Even if she had come to him by deception, he wanted her. He hadn’t plowed her and left her bed for that of a mistress. She would savor it. Soak it up while the spring sun warmed the earth.
It was the only thing she’d have once the bitter truth was known.
Brodick was a magnificent sight.
Strong and perfect.
Anne paused on the steps, smiling at the way he waited for her. He wasn’t in the saddle but stood waiting by the mare she’d ridden to Sterling extending a hand to her when she appeared, to help her into the saddle himself.
“I believe it’s time I showed you a bit o’ McJames lands.”