"No danger? What about the arrows that narrowly missed striking you?"
"I avoided them, did I not?"
"Your sass will not help you. 'Tis bad enough you disobey at every turn, but your behavior is unseemly."
"I defended my home and will do so again, if I must!"
"The baroness has escaped."
Gillian sucked in a deep breath. "Nay! How... I don't understand."
"Someone from inside must have helped her."
She gaped at him. Surely, he didn't think...
"'Twas not I, my lord. You are mad if you think I'd do anything to help that witch."
"Nay, but the attack was also curiously timed. 'Twould seem Lyndon may have a traitor in its midst."
Gillian straightened her spine. "And you think 'tis me."
"I don't know what to think. But I know one thing. You will not disobey me again."
He reached for her bow. Curiosity piqued, Gillian studied him warily.
"My lord, what are you doing?" She stepped close to him and grabbed for the weapon, but he held it out of her reach.
"What I should have done when I first learned you possessed it. You must now face the consequences of your foolishness."
He strode to the door and yanked it open, calling for Thomas. When the steward arrived, Royce held the bowout to him.
"Lock this away where she cannot get to it. I'll decide later if I will destroy it."
"Nay!"
Her scream echoed through the room. She ran to him, but he turned, blocking her attempts to grab the bow before he handed it to Thomas. The steward stepped back when she whirled, ready to lunge. Royce grasped her arm, halting her.
"Go! Now!" His order thundered over Gillian's protests.
The tall man hurried away. Gillian called for him to stop and tried to break free of her husband's grip, but he held her firmly while he shut the door and slid the bar into place. He finally faced her, his hand tightening on her arm.
"You will not place yourself in such danger again, do you understand?"
"How could you? That was made especially for me as a gift from my father!" She again tried to pull free, but he did not loosen his grip.
"It almost got you killed today. Perhaps now you will learn when I give an order, I expect it to be heeded."
"I didn't do anything other than what would be expected if I'd been born a son." Angry tears blurred her vision as she shouted at him.
"You were born a daughter and you are my wife. I won't allow you to endanger yourself or make me look like a fool."
His bellow made her wince. She jerked her arm free and ran across the room, the bed between them somehow a protective barrier.
"Better you had beaten me instead."
"Have no doubt, I will."
"You bastard!"
