“The man tried to attack Bronwyn,” Miles said.
Stephen glared at his wife, his eyes taking in the scraped place on her cheek, her torn gown. “I told you,” he said through clenched teeth. “You wouldn’t listen to me.”
“Stephen,” Gavin said, his hand on his brother’s arm. “Now’s not the time.”
“Not the time!” Stephen exploded at his wife. “Not an hour ago you listed all my faults. Did you find someone else with fewer faults? Did you encourage him on purpose?”
Before anyone else could speak, Stephen turned away and mounted his horse. Bronwyn, Miles, and Gavin watched helplessly.
“He should be whipped for that!” Miles sneered.
“Quiet!” Gavin commanded. He turned to Bronwyn. “He’s upset and confused. You have to forgive him.”
“He’s jealous!” Bronwyn whispered fiercely. “That empty jealousy of his changes him into a madman.” She felt weak and defeated. He cared nothing for her but only for his own jealousy.
Gavin put his arm around her protectively. “Come home and let Judith get you something to drink. She makes a delicious apple drink.”
Bronwyn nodded numbly and allowed herself to be put onto Miles’s horse.
Chapter Sixteen
THE DRINKJUDITH GAVEBRONWYN PUT HER TO SLEEPalmost instantly. She’d had too much in one day—the rescue of the child and the near rape. She dreamed of being lost and of searching for Stephen, but he wasn’t there.
She woke suddenly, her body coated in sweat, and reached for him. The bed was empty. She sat up and looked about the dimly lit room, searching for him.
She felt unbearably lonely. Why did she quarrel with Stephen all the time? When Miles had told her the Scots’ ways were different, she didn’t get angry. It was only when Stephen said the same thing that she flew into a rage.
She threw the covers back and grabbed a robe Judith had lent her. She must find Stephen and tell him that she’d been wrong. She must tell him about the child and ask that he forgive her for her foul mood.
Rab followed her as she went to a chest and withdrew her plaid. The dog was afraid to let her out of his sight.
She dressed quickly and left her room. The house was silent and dark as she made her way downstairs. A single fat candle shown from the half-open winter parlor door. The fire was nearly dead.
She pushed the door open as she heard a woman giggle. Bronwyn halted as she realized she’d probably interrupted Raine or Miles with one of the housemaids. She turned to go as the woman’s words stopped her.
“Oh, Stephen,” the woman giggled. “I’ve missed you so much. No man has hands like yours.”
Bronwyn heard the deep rumble of a familiar laugh.
She was not a timid woman to run crying from the room. She’d had one insult too many for the day. She pushed the heavy door open with a vicious shove and marched to the fireplace.
Stephen sat in a large chair, fully clothed, a plump young girl, bared from the waist up, sprawled across his lap. He disinterestedly had one hand on her breast; the other held a flagon of wine.
Rab bared his teeth at the girl, and she gave one look from Bronwyn to the dog, screamed, then fled the room.
Stephen only glanced at his wife. “Welcome,” he slurred and held up his cup to her.
Bronwyn felt her heart pounding. To see Stephen touching another woman! Her skin felt as if it were on fire and her head throbbed.
Stephen looked up at her. “How does it feel, my dear wife?” His eyes were red, his movements slow. He was obviously drunk. “I’ve had to stand aside and watch you play with man after man. Do you know how I felt when you let Hugh touch you?”
“You did this on purpose,” she whispered. “You did this to punish me.” She held her shoulders back. She wanted to hurt him, to make him ache as she did. “I was right when I told Sir Thomas Crichton I couldn’t marry you. You aren’t fit to be married to a Scotswoman. I’ve stood by for months and watched you ape our ways. And I’ve seen you fail at everything.”
In spite of his drunkenness he reacted swiftly. He threw his flagon to the floor, sprang to his feet, and grabbed her by the neckline of her dress. “And what have you given me?” he rasped. “I have made every effort to learn from you, but when have you listened to me? You’ve fought me at every moment. You’ve laughed at me before your men, even scorned my advice in front of my own brothers. Yet I’ve taken everything because I am fool enough to believe I loved you. How can anyone love someone as selfish as you? When are you going to grow up and stop hiding behind your clan? You aren’t concerned with your clan; your only concern is what you want and what you need.”
He pushed her away as if he were suddenly very tired of her. “I’m tired of trying to please some cold woman. I’m going to find one who can give me what I need.”
He turned away and drunkenly left the room.
