He smiled indulgently at her. “Yes, love?”
“I-I cannot lay with you.”
His brows drew together. “You can and you must, else the marriage will not be complete.”
Her mind searched about for something to say. “I mean, I cannot tonight,” she ad-libbed.
“Why not?”
“Uh, well, you see… I have my monthly courses. So you’ll have to wait.”
“I will punish you for that lie,” he said without any trace of anger. He stepped toward her. “I think you must want to be spanked again. Did you enjoy it, little one?”
Again the strange slithering sensation in her belly. She backed up until she hit the wall. “No! Of course I didn’t. Why do you think it’s a lie?” she asked, desperately continuing the pretense, though it would be easy enough for him to disprove.
“I have already had your bottom bare once today. Have you forgotten? I suppose I did not make enough of an impression.” He sauntered closer. “What is it, Daisy?” he asked, his voice gentle. “Are you afraid I’m too big? That I will hurt you?”
She seized on his suggested reason. “Yes, sir,” she said, nodding vigorously. “You are far too large.” She blushed furiously when she realized he may have meant his manhood, not his entire stature.
He smiled, reaching her and wrapping his warm palms around her waist. “I promise I will make it as pleasant as possible, my sweet wife. There may be a little pain, but only the first time. And I assure you it ends with a great deal of pleasure.”
She shook her head, blinking back tears. “Please… I don’t want to. Please don’t make me.”
He frowned, looking genuinely concerned. Cupping her chin, he lifted it. “You are truly terrified, aren’t you?”
The tears began to spill. She dropped her eyes and nodded.
“Of me or of the marriage act?”
“Not of you,” she said, her voice wavering.
“Look at me,” he murmured.
With great effort, she lifted her gaze.
“Did something happen to you to make you so afraid?”
She didn’t know how he had guessed such a thing. A sob choked her throat. “Please,” she begged, losing all semblance of control.
In a flash he scooped her up into his arms and carried her to a chair, where he sat with her cradled in his arms.
She didn’t even think to fight him—her body nested into his as if they were made to fit together. She tucked her face into his neck and wept in ugly, messy sobs. Just admitting her ruin brought back the terror of that day: watching her sisters raped and murdered, her own terrible violation, ended abruptly by another knight pulling him off her.That one’s too young, Wolfhart.
She’d taken her chance and run, escaping with an old serving woman to Hohenzollern.
“Were you raped, Daisy?” he asked quietly.
She swallowed and nodded into his neck.
“One time, or an ongoing abuse?”
She shuddered. She’d never considered it could’ve been even worse. “Just once. When I was still a girl.”
He rubbed her back and stroked her hair as she hiccupped, burrowing against his muscled chest. “I’m sorry,” he murmured. “Do you wish to tell me about it?”
She shook her head.
“Very well. When you’re ready to confide, I will be waiting. So is this what you were trying to tell me back at the Hohenzollern? That you could not marry?”
