Numerous oil cups glowed with light, and a fire burned in the center of the room. Pallets lined the walls, and on one lay Cordella, an arm draped over her eyes, her fiery red hair spread out on the pillow beneath her head.
“Who is there?” Cordella asked in a bored voice. “Hugh?” She waited for an answer, but none came. “Linnet?”
“Nay, ’tis me, Della.”
Cordella sat up immediately, her face slowly losing all color. “Brenna—I—”
“You what?” Brenna demanded sharply as she came closer. “You are sorry? You meant to admit to your lies before I was humiliated because of them?” Brenna stood directly in front of Cordella, her hands planted on her hips, her eyes stormy with rage. “Why did you lie to me about what happens between a man and woman?”
Hot color returned to Cordella’s cheeks. “’Tis what you deserved!”
“Why? What have I ever done to you to make you so vengeful? I would know the answer, Della, before I take myownvengeance!”
Again Cordella blanched. Quickly she tried to justify herself. “Dunstan wanted you, but you were not even aware of it.”
“Dunstan?” Brenna’s brows narrowed. “That is absurd. He was your husband.”
“Yea, my husband!” Cordella shrieked bitterly. “But ’twasyouhe coveted. If you had known, you could have put an end to it. You were too wrapped up in trying to prove yourself worthy of your father’s pride. You were not aware of how others felt.”
“If what you say is true, why didyounot tell me? You know I wanted no man, least of all Dunstan.”
“I could not have admitted to you or anyone that I could not hold my husband’s love.”
“And for this you would make me anticipate a nightmare? You thought ’twould be with my new husband, but it being the enemy who first ravished me made it even worse. Not the experience, Della, but the fact that for the first time in my life my courage fled completely.”
“I am glad if you suffered even a little humiliation, for I suffered much because of you!”
Hot fury flashed in Brenna’s eyes and her hand struck out and slapped Cordella soundly across her face. Her other hand reached for her dagger.
“I am not to blame for your hurt pride, Della! If you had any sense, you would see that. Had I found you the night the Viking first took me, I would have killed you. ’Tis still a pleasant thought.”
Cordella stared in disbelief at the blade in Brenna’s hand. “You would harm a woman with child?”
Brenna was stunned, and she drew back. “Do you speak the truth, Della?”
“Linnet knows. Ask her if you doubt my word.”
Brenna had not counted on this. She would not have killed her, for she could be generous in her new-found love for Garrick. She had meant to scare her greatly, however. Now she could only make false threats.
“You have trifled overmuch with my life, Della. If you ever do so again, I will forget that I am Christian and drive this blade through your heart—child or no child!”
As Brenna sheathed the dagger, Cordella smirked with new courage. “You do not frighten me, Brenna Carmarham! Hugh will protect me. And you will pay dearly for what you did to me this day!”
“Is more revenge worth your life, sister?” Brenna countered in a menacing tone before she turned on her heel and stalked from the room.
Brenna was furious. The meeting had not gone at all as she had planned. She could not believe Cordella’s audacity. She would wash her hands of her stepsister, and never see the lying witch again. The one slap was hardly adequate retribution, but she would be satisfied with it.
The red mist had not stayed long to light the sky. It was dismally black again as Brenna hurried back to the hall. She now regretted the harsh attitude she had taken toward her aunt, and looked about the hall for her to make amends. Linnet was nowhere about, so she made her way to where Garrick sat.
As she sat down beside him, her self-consciousness returned twofold. Many eyes stared at her wonderingly, and Garrick’s were the most curious.
“You saw your sister?”
“Yea, I saw her.”
“She is well, I trust?”
“She is with child!” Brenna snapped irritably, then immediately regretted her harshness.
