He nodded. “Yes, my child. Our lord has decreed,thou shalt not kill,and yet you intend to take justice into your own hands. Do you not trust God will mete out the justice this man deserves? Or could you not bring your case to Prince Erik, or to your husband and ask for justice to be served here on Earth?”
“Why is their justice different than mine?”
The priest considered. “It would be fair and impartial.”
She shook her head. “I will not ask anyone else to kill for me. I would not wish their souls to be damned along with mine, which still would bear the stains of blood.”
The priest bowed his head. “I beg you to reconsider, child. Do not act in hatred or haste. Love thy enemy, find forgiveness, and pray to God for the justice that is richly deserved.”
She knew he was right, but her mind was made up. She stood up on wobbly legs and curtsied. “I thank you for your counsel, father,” she said, her chest as hard as stone. “But I must do this. Please pray for my soul.”
She returned to her chamber with a whetstone to sharpen the dagger.
* * *
Barrett walked back to the castle after checking on the rebuilding of the wall. Daisy had acted strange at the midday meal. Her eyes had been red, as if she’d been crying, but she denied it, redirecting the conversation every time he pressed her. He’d get to the bottom of it later. He didn’t intend to let her keep secrets from him, especially if something was bothering her.
As he entered the castle, he caught sight of his wife in the armory and he froze. Something immediately struck him as odd. She was speaking with Wolfhart, the mercenary knight who had shown up earlier that day, and her tone seemed secretive, almost… seductive.
“I might be able to sneak away after supper,” she said, her voice pitched low. “I will meet you here, if I can.”
Ice cold washed through him. His feet froze to their spot as he gaped in disbelief. Daisy, unfaithful? Impossible. She did not like men. Or sex. Nausea nearly made him retch. Mayhap she did, just not with him.
He turned, just as she looked over and caught his gaze. He closed his eyes to block her out, stumbling forward, finding his way up the steps to the solarium. The soft patter of her feet running behind him barely registered above the rushing sound in his ears.
He drew in deep breaths to calm himself. What a fool he had been. He thought she just needed taming. Here he had been forcing himself on a woman who found him repulsive. A damn fool.
“Barrett.” She caught his arm when he reached the door.
He pushed forward, resisting the urge to fling her off. He tried to shut the door in her face, but she flung herself forward. He closed his eyes and turned away.
“Barrett—”
“I don’t want to hear it,” he said dully, keeping his back to her. He picked up her harp and her few items of clothing and strode to the door, placingthem outside it. “I will not keep an unwilling woman. Our marriage is not consummated; you are free to go.”
“No,” she cried. “You’ve misunderstood. I am not unwilling.”
“I thought you did not like men. But now I see it is only me you do not care for.”
“That is not true!” Tears streamed down her lovely face. “I cannot explain now, but I hope that by tomorrow you will understand that I only ever cared for you.”
He looked away, disgusted. “Get out,” he said. “You are no wife of mine.”
Weeping, Daisy left the room, closing the door softly behind her.
He picked up the ewer and smashed it against the wall, shattering the crockery into dozens of pieces.
* * *
Daisy left her harp and things and ran down the steps, her vision blurred with tears. What had she done? If she lived past this night, her life would mean nothing. She had just ended her marriage, the only good thing that had happened in her life, in favor of revenge.
Would it be worth it? Would her sisters thank her for their justice?
She ran out of the castle and through the bailey, straight through the gates. She wore no cloak, and the wind whipped at her face with a satisfying bite. She ran into the forest, not stopping until her side contracted and she doubled over to catch her breath.
She should just keep walking. Walk until she froze to death. At least that way, she would die with a clean soul and spare Barrett the pain of ever seeing her again. But no, better to die avenging her sisters. Otherwise Barrett would never know why she’d betrayed him. The priest would tell him when it was all over.
She didn’t even dare think of the possibility of exacting revenge and living. How could she go on with a blackened soul? Nor did she dare think about what would become of her if Barrett never believed she loved him. She walked until her hands and feet were numb and her teeth chattered.
