“My parents were always determined that I should marry well. They set strict guidelines on who I could see, with a list of how potential suitors would benefit the Mountbatten name. Every man who sought a courtship had to go through my father.” She took a long breath and another sip of tea before continuing. “The first man to court me was Miles Stranham. In my naïveté, I thought he harbored tender feelings for me. It turned out he only wanted my money. My parents wanted the prestige that came with his family name. Miles used me as surely as my parents used him.”
Cody’s hands itched to take Ella’s again, but he sensed the timing wasn’t right. Her eyes looked glassy while her memories flowed.
“I refused several suitors after that, nursing a bruised heart. Howard was the first man to catch my interest again. We’d known each other for several years, both of our families coming from old money. He didn’t seem like the kind of man who needed my wealth. Howard said all the sweet things and took me on romantic dates. I was blinded by his charm. When he asked me to marry him a couple months into our courtship, I had no reservations.” A shuddering breath shook her. “After we got engaged, things changed. He wouldn’t commit to a wedding date, pushing it off time and again. Then he got annoyed at the smallest things. At first, I attributed it to him feeling pressure at taking over the Archambeau holdings from his father. Then he began to criticize everything I said or did. Nothing was ever good enough for him. And then…” She swallowed hard, looking down at the table.
Maybe now was the time. Cody reached out, laying his hand palm up on the table, giving Ella the choice whether to take it or not. She stared at his hand for a minute before slowly sliding her palm into his. Cody curled his fingers around hers. “Take your time, darlin’. There’s no rush.”
She gave him a grateful look. Two sips of tea later, she started again. “He became abusive. At first it was his words, but eventually, he hit me whenever I disagreed with him. That’s when I got frightened. I told my parents, but they dismissed my fears. They said I had a duty to the family, a duty to bring in more wealth and power. Howard had both. I showed them the bruises, thinking that might sway them.”
Anger swept through Cody. “It didn’t?”
“My mother told me I would marry Howard no matter what. My father said he’d add to the bruises if I broke the engagement as I said I would.”
Cody’s blood boiled. “He what?”
Ella sighed. Cody resisted the urge to saddle Preston, gallop into town, and show Mr. Mountbatten the kind of treatment a man who threatened his own daughter deserved.
“I suppose I’d always hoped that despite their cold demeanor, my parents loved me.” Ella laughed, the sound harsh. “Apparently, I was wrong. In the three years I was engaged to Howard, only Tori took my side as he became more and more abusive. Sometimes I had bruises that lasted for weeks.”
He had to restrain himself from reacting. Cody drew in a long breath through his nose. “Men like that should be locked up.”
Ella pursed her lips. “And that’s not the worst of it.”
Dread crept over him. “There’s more?”
Her fingers tightened around his. “For all his abuse, Howard never tried to…press for favors better left for marriage.” Her cheeks flushed a deep pink. “The extent of his physical affection—when things were good—was kissing my hand at the end of an evening. About a week before I left Boston, he tried to kiss my lips. I was shocked and turned away before he could. He got angry, calling me horrible names. He thought with the wedding only a month away, he was entitled to certain liberties. I disagreed.”
If he’d been angry before, it was nothing compared to what he felt now. Cody clenched his teeth. “Did he press you?”
“Not that night.” Ella closed her eyes. “But the night I ran away? Yes. He’d been drinking at a party we attended. I left early, thinking he’d stay and mingle with other members of society. Instead, he followed me home.” When she opened her eyes, her mind seemed far away. “He barged into my room. I got mad and insisted he leave. He laughed. Laughed!” Indignation flashed over her face. “As if my request was ludicrous. When I told him again to leave, he trapped me against the wall. I screamed, but no one came.”
Cold fear swept through Cody’s heart. “Did he…?” He couldn’t finish the question, but Ella shook her head.
“He tried, but no. There were a couple hat pins within reach. I managed to grab one and stabbed him with it.”
“That was brave.”
Ella sighed. “Or stupid. That’s when he gave me the worst beating yet. It’s why I had those bruises when I came to Harmony Springs. I’d never seen him so angry. Tori came home then and found us. She brought one of the footmen with her, a burly man who threw Howard out. When my parents got home, we told them what happened. Tori made a passionate case for why the engagement should be over. My mother and father didn’t let her finish. They repeated my duty was to the family and that I would marry Howard at the end of the month. That’s when I knew I had to leave.”
Silence filled the space between them. Cody ached for his wife. She’d known such sorrow and pain. He slipped an arm around her shoulder. “You did the right thing, Ella. It was the smart option.”
She looked at him with clear eyes. “I’m glad I came.”
Her words curled around him, layers of meaning unspoken. Cody’s heart hitched, then galloped. The trust shining in Ella’s eyes meant more to him than anything had in a long time. They sat quietly for a moment, hands linked as he processed what she’d told him. Something still didn’t make sense. “Why was your father so insistent on Howard in particular? Surely, there were other men who would have been suitable.”
Ella’s brow furrowed. “I’m not sure. He let me break up with Miles. My father is a stubborn man, so his demand that I marry Howard felt in line with his character. But now that you ask…” Her voice trailed off and her frown deepened. “That is odd.”
“Maybe the morning will bring something to light.” Cody stood, gathering the teacups. “It’s getting late. We should turn in. You’ve had a hard day.”
She chuckled, no humor in the sound. “It was going well enough untilheshowed up.” Ella wrapped her arms around herself. “Cody, what if he tries again? What if he shows up when you’re at work?”
Cody plunked the cups in the sink before turning to her. “Have you ever shot a gun?”
Her face blanched. “No.”
He reached out, cupping her arms gently. “I’m not suggesting you’ll have to use it. But if your father comes here and tries to make you leave, it would give you and the children a measure of defense.”
“Is that really necessary?”
