Hastily she opened the door, guided him inside, then hut it. When she turned toward him, Spencer used his body to push her back against the door. The basket of vegetables tumbled from her arm and spilled across the floor. She looked up at him with wide gray eyes as he braced his hands on either side of her and used all the menace his height allowed him.
“Mr. Thornton, what—”
“Be quiet, Lady Roselyn,” he said, his voice a soft, rumbling growl.
Terror widened her eyes, then she wiped all expression away.
“How did you know?” she asked in a cool voice.
Oh, she was good, he thought, leaning nearer. She shrank back against the door almost imperceptibly—but he saw.
“My bailiff gave you away, Lady Roselyn.”
She put her hands against his chest and pushed, but he didn’t move. “What do you mean,yourbailiff? And move away from me. Now!”
“All in good time, Lady Roselyn. Have you been sleeping in my manor home? Is this cottage just to make me feel sorry for you?”
“You mean my parents’ home. I live in this cottage. Surely you remember they wouldn’t want me at Wakesfield—or anywhere near them.”
“Are you so foolish that you did not read the contract that binds us together?” he demanded. When would she tremble and cry and beg for his understanding?
“I broke our betrothal; nothing binds us now.”
“You don’t sound certain, my lady—and with good reason. Everything here is mine, by your father’s own command.”
This time she didn’t try to hide the flash of horror that stole across her features. “You are lying. I did not marry you, so you are not entitled to a dowry.”
“Believe me, I am more and more thankful that you didn’t marry me. But our contract is binding. You have made sure I can never legally marry—but I am damn well entitled by law to the lands and monies promised me.”
She took in a harsh breath, and Spencer thought tears would be next. But she was so calm it was unnatural.
Roselyn vowed she would not scream; she would not give Spencer Thornton the satisfaction of knowing that once again he had hurt her. Her father would never give away her childhood home, her only sanctuary. His words could not be true.
But her parents hadn’t let her read the marriage contract.
With her back against the door, she stared up at Thornton. This was the man she remembered. He used his strength and size to intimidate her, just as long ago he’d driven her away with a casual, dismissive look. He was foreign, maybe even a Spanish spy. Would he try to hurt her now that he didn’t have to pretend anymore?
“Is that why you came to Wight?” she demanded, pushing again on his chest, feeling muscle as solid as any wall. “Do you want to disrupt my life with your lies just for revenge?”
“ ’Tis not a lie—this is my estate now.”
“You made it clear you didn’t want to marry me. I did both of us a favor by running away, so I owe you nothing, and certainly not my home.”
“A favor?” he said, giving a harsh laugh. “I knew my duty; I would have married you.”
“I didn’t want to be your duty! I knew nothing about you—I most certainly didn’t love you.”
“You are naive if you think love has anything to do with marriage. It was about our families taking what they could from each other, merging into a strength no one but the queen could touch. But your stupidity cost your father the dowry he’d promised for you. ’Tis mine now, and I’m here to take it. If you don’t believe me, go ask your father.”
“I don’t speak to my father after the way he treated me,” Roselyn answered, ducking beneath his arm to escape the prison he’d created for her.
“Don’t you have that in reverse?” Spencer said as he awkwardly turned around and rested his back against the door. He gave her a cold smile that made her want to shudder. “Hewon’t speak toyou.He disowned you, didn’t he?”
The pain she’d caused herself and her family was too private to show anyone, especially this man. She clenched her jaw and spoke through gritted teeth. “You obviously know this already. Does it make you feel like a man to taunt me with it?”
He took a deep breath and didn’t answer immediately. She saw that the strain of standing was beginning to affect him, but she’d rather let him fall than offer him help now.
“I am not taunting you,” he said stiffly. “I am only trying to make you understand that you are an intruder on my land.”
