Her answer caused Garrick to laugh softly. “Those were my wife’s sentiments exactly. She would never admit I owned her either.”
Erika was incredulous. Both motheranddaughter at one time enslaved by the men they had married? It was no wonder the idea had come to Selig so readily. He was merely following family tradition.
The thought was a chilling one, but at least she would not end up like his mother and sister, wed to her captor. There was as muchchance of that happening as there was of her gaining her freedom within the hour. None.
“But soon it was she who owned me, heart and soul.” Garrick was still reminiscing. “Do you know how it was done, wench?”
“I care not—”
“With an indomitable will and pride that would not bend. She was fire in a land of ice, with a warrior’s heart—and a warrior’s skill. She captured my admiration first, then my heart. Will your pride bend?”
She really wished he had kept his silence where she was concerned. “Nay,” she said stiffly. “But for myself, not to impress him.”
“Your anger is understandable.”
“Anger is but a small part of what I feel toward your son,” she informed him.
His gaze turned thoughtful. “’Tis regrettable, his treatment of you—and unusual.”
“You mean he does not enslave every woman who has him lashed?”
“Do not be flip with me, child,” he admonished gently. “What I meant was, he has never hurt a woman in his life. He adores them.”
“Except me.”
“Except you,” he agreed.
She thought the conversation had ended. The argument still raged behind her. But Garrick did not step away from her just yet.
After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, he remarked, “My daughter is quite fierce in her championing of your cause.”
Erika snorted at that. She couldn’t help it. “Your daughter would not lift a finger tohelp me. She merely detests the sight of these chains.”
“Do not be too sure of Kristen’s motives. Selig’s behavior has her baffled.”
“But not you?”
“Not completely.”
“You imply that men understand revenge much better than women? I doubt that.”
“So now you hunger for revenge as well?”
Erika was surprised, not at the question, but at her answer. “I have not once thought of revenge. Freedom is all I think of. But I suppose eventually I will also think of revenge.”
“Then let us hope you have your freedom before then,” he said.
More surprise, much stronger. “You do not condone what he does?”
“’Tis not in his nature to be cruel or abusive. This is what has his sister baffled. What I feel is that he will come to regret what he is doing.”
“You could insist he end it.”
He smiled at her, not unkindly. “If you have not noticed, Erika of Gronwood, my son is of an age where he no longer must heed his father. I can do no more than advise him.”
“Will you?”
“Not about you. My wife and I have decided not to interfere.”
