No one there wished to think about any “just in cases.”
“Today is Monday. I’d like to travel on Friday.” Thor shifted his focus to Greer. They had set no days, but she liked the idea. It gave them three more full days with Blaine and Rose, but it satisfied her eagerness to reach home. She turned her attention to Rose, and she knew her friend fought back tears. She didn’t want to appear happy at Rose’s expense.
“I’ll send Drew and a few others out to scout Wednesday and Thursday, and he can set off an hour before everyone else,” Marcus offered.
“I appreciate that.” Thor stood and thrust out his arm to Marcus. The Keith’s second-in-command grasped Thor’s forearm. Thor squeezed mercilessly. “I ken all yer men will do their vera best to protect ma wife. It’s good to ken I dinna need to worry.”
Marcus fought not to squirm or flinch. He resented Thor more by the minute, but he understood the man’s position. He’d married only a fortnight ago, and he felt just as protective of his own bride. He wouldn’t volunteer himself for the mission because he didn’t wish to be away from his wife. At least Thor hadn’t chastised him in front of his men after that disastrous encounter in the lists. He’d been cordial to Marcus, but neither man trusted the other off a battlefield.
“I’ll help ye, Rose.” Greer would make the most of her last few days, and since she was certain Thor would do the same to spend time with his twin, Greer didn’t worry that they would be far apart.
“I’d like that. Thank ye.” The women left the solar, both thinking the men were right behind them. They turned when the door closed, but the men weren’t with them. They looked at each other, both knowing Thor must have far more to say to Marcus. Or the threat was worse than they’d told the women. Greer and Rose feared it might be both.
Once the women left the solar, Thor turned back to Marcus. “Ye are Blaine’s best friend, and I ken he’s a good judge of character. I willna hold a grudge, but I am wary. I ken ye’ve trained yer men well, but I need to be sure none of them will do aught to harm ma wife. Do they believe what yer father said?”
“Some do, aye. I’ve spoken to all of them, and they ken nae to speak of her the way Tim and Drew did. But people trusted and respected ma father. Blaine and I lost that faith in him, but others didna, even when they learned that he’d betrayed Blaine. They believed the things he would say, and they didna see aught wrong with him because he always said aught he did, he did for the clan. Some will go to their grave saying he didna really wrong anyone because he thought he was protecting our interests and strengthening us. I’m assigning men I ken dinna think like that. Ones who dinna believe the rumors aboot Lady Greer.”
“Do many other clan members still believe them?” Thor looked between Marcus and Blaine.
“Nae that I ken of,” Marcus replied. “It was odd to see ye go from being at each other’s throats to saying ye were married. But it hasnae been hard to see ye have vera deep feelings for one another. Love and hate are actually closer together than people think. Hate is often just wounded love. I think that was the case with ye and yer lady wife. It’s obvious she only has eyes for ye, and it’s genuine. She’s happier now, and we can tell it’s because ye’re married. So, nay, I dinna think most people would agree with any of the rumors ma father spread.”
Marcus looked at Blaine before taking a deep inhale and looking at Thor as he continued. “I ken what happened to Lady Greer. I found out just before ma father died. He admitted he kenned, and he’d been a part of it. I hoped to never have to tell either of ye that I kenned. It makes me far guiltier that I didna step in during that conversation and stop the men. But I feared making a fuss would only make their tongues wag more. I willna ask what yer wife has told ye because that isnae ma business, but from what ma father told me, I dinna ken a stronger person than Lady Greer.”
Thor stood stunned. His heart raced as Marcus spoke, and it didn’t slow despite the man’s compliment. He looked at Blaine and shot him such a menacing stare that Blaine almost took a step back. “If aught of this leaves this chamber, I will kill ye both. I dinna care if ye are ma sister’s husband. I will protect ma wife before aught else. What exactly did yer father tell ye?”
“Thor—”
“What the fuck did he tell ye?” Thor lunged forward, but he kept his hands to his side. It was enough to make Marcus put up his hands to defend himself.
“Thor, they’re all dead now. It will only hurt ye if ye dinna already ken this.”
“Tell me.”
Marcus scrubbed his hands over his face. “They would restrain her on the bed for days at a time. Edgar enjoyed lashing her before he…The other men watched each other sometimes, but mostly, they were alone with yer wife. They could stay as long as they wanted, so sometimes it was two and three days at a time before someone else… If she wouldnae cooperate, Edgar wouldnae allow her any food or drink. She—she—she tried to end her life several times. Despite how badly Edgar beat her or how he encouraged the men to be harsher with her, she still tried.”
Thor’s heart would surely beat out of his chest. Rage heated him so much that his ears felt aflame. He ripped open the solar door and sprinted toward the Great Hall. “Greer! …Greer!Where the bluidy hell is ma wife? …Greer!”
“Thormud, I’m right here.” Greer stepped out of the kitchen, shocked by the shade of fuchsia Thor’s face was. He was far gentler when he pulled her into his embrace than she expected. His kiss was the gentlest he’d ever offered her. He rested his forehead against hers.
“What happened after we left?” She ran her hand up and down his arm, hoping to comfort her clearly distraught husband. It alarmed her when he didn’t speak. She saw tears in his eyes, and he could only shake his head. She looked to her right and found Blaine and Marcus watching. She knew Rose now stood behind her, and other people stared. “What did ye say to him?”
Neither Blaine nor Marcus spoke. Thor pulled her back into his embrace, nearly smothering her. He whispered, “I need to be alone with ye.”
She nodded and took his hand, then led him toward the stairs. They didn’t speak until they entered their chamber. He once more clung to her, and all she could do was rub his back. “Thor?”
“Marcus’s father was one of them, wasna he?”
“Aye. Did he tell ye that?”
“He found out just before his father died. I suspect it was part of what made him so angry that he didna realize how hard he pulled to get his father off his mount.”
“What did he tell ye, Thor?”
“That ye were lashed. That ye were starved. That there were days at a time. Witnesses.”
“He had nay right to say any of that. He shouldnae have ever kenned.”
“But he did. Part of me is glad he told me because it’s been eating at me to nae ken. But I never wanted to ask ye. I need to ken something, though.”
