Ignoring her disgust at standing so close, she focused a hard gaze on him.
“You are a greedy, immoral man. I know you too well, Guy, and you do indeed have a price. What is it so that we may be on with this? The longer I stand here, the more I hate you.”
He raised an eyebrow, and then a hand. Gaston lurched forward, but strong hands reached out to steady him when they realized Guy was running a gentle finger down Remington’s cheek. “How can you say that, darling, when we have a son together?”
“That is all we have together,” Remington hissed. “There is no affection, no respect; only fear and intimidation and pain. I have always hated you, since the day I met you. I will be free of you if I have to kill you myself!”
The hand that had so gently stroked her cheek came to rest on her arm, gripping it firmly. She felt the vise tightening and fought the urge to yank away; if she showed any sort of fear or pain, Gaston would rip Guy’s head from his shoulders.
“Do not say that, Remi. I want you to stay here, with me. I have always been fond of you.”
“You have always been fond of beating and humiliating me,” she said frankly, her emotions surging from fear one moment to confidence the next. “Let me go, Guy. I shall do anything you ask, if you will only agree to an annulment.”
He looked at her, his mind working madly. He could see how badly she wanted this, and he could see that the stakes in this game were even higher than he had originally thought. Being a wise man, he knew how to play what he was dealt.
“I want to speak with you alone, then,” he said quietly. “Tell your companions to leave us alone for one hour, and I shall sincerely consider your request. We have much to speak of in private, wife.”
“Like hell.” Gaston broke free of the hands restraining him, marching toward them with deadly strides when Remington suddenly held out her hand to stop him.
“It’s all right, Gaston,” she assured him quickly. “There is no harm in talking to him for an hour.”
Gaston did not stop and she moved quickly to intercept him. Grabbing hold of him with all her strength, she turned him around and pulled him with her until they were nearly to the door. Her soft, white hands wound themselves in his dark hair and pulled his head down to her level.
“Take the men and wait for me in the hall,” she whispered. “You may stand right by the door if you wish and listen to every word, but if there is the possibility that he is sincere, then we must do as he says. Please.”
“I shall not leave you alone with him,” Gaston growled.
“And you will not be. You will be right outside the door should I need you,” she hissed urgently. “Please, Gaston, just do as he asks. Please?”
He sighed heavily. “I do not like this, Remi.”
Her lips were against his ear and she kissed him tenderly. “Nor do I, my love, but I am willing to do as he asks. Please go along with me.”
He looked at her a moment before straightening and turning to the knights against the wall. He struggled to spit out the words. “We will wait in the hall for the lady,” he rumbled, turning with a deadly glare to Stoneley. “One hour. If you so much as spit in her direction, your death will not be painless.”
Guy did not say a word as Gaston and the other men filed out. When the door shut softly, his eyes fell on his wife.
“Thank God they are gone,” he said. “Now we may speak the truth. How is it that you have become Henry’s pawn, Remington?”
“I am not his pawn.” She was still on the other side of the room, a good distance away. “And I have been speaking the truth the entire time. I hate you and I want out of this marriage.”
His jaw ticked and she involuntarily flinched, waiting for the pain that was sure to follow. Surprisingly, he did not come toward her with murder on his mind. Instead, he turned toward the narrow window, feeling the heat wafting on the stale breeze.
“As you say, Remi,” he said lightly. “But I warn you, if you intend to go through with this, it will cost you. Dearly.”
“It can cost me nothing more than you have already taken,” she said flatly. “You have stripped me of everything in life, Guy. What more could you possibly want from me?”
He smiled humorlessly, still staring out the window. “Do you wish to know my terms?”
“I do.” She was shocked and wary that he did, indeed, have terms. He had insisted to Gaston that there were no terms to be met.
He looked at her, then. “Kiss me.”
She blanched. “What?”
“I said kiss me.”
She backed away, shaking her head but he held up a finger of warning. “Kiss me or there will be no more discussions.”
