He just could not imagine what. Linnet had little patience for people she disliked. She would avoid Gloucester like the plague, unless… unless he had something she wanted.
Jamie rubbed his temples with one hand as he found himself walking down a long corridor beside Eleanor. The woman seethed with malice. Why was he letting her lead him to Gloucester’s rooms? It was wrong of him to doubt Linnet.
The question kept going through his mind: What could Gloucester give her?
Anything she wanted.
Jamie had a moment of panic as he followed Eleanor into an empty bedchamber. Had he completely misunderstood her? He tried to recall if his wine had tasted unusually sweet.
Eleanor, however, marched across the room without a backward glance. When she reached a door on the opposite side, she stopped and pressed her ear to it. Jamie’s heart beat faster as he realized the door must connect to Gloucester’s apartment. Eleanor waved impatiently for him to join her. When he did not, she lifted the latch, pushed the door with her fingertips, and stepped back.
Jamie watched in horror as the door slowly swung open to reveal the scene in the next room. Gloucester was half-dressed, his chest bare in the wide gap of his open robe.
And Linnet was on his lap. In his arms.
Time stopped as the sight before him stole his trust, killed his faith, and destroyed the future he had imagined. His heart froze and shattered into a hundred pieces at his feet.
Linnet looked up, startled, and pushed Gloucester away. But there was guilt in those pale-blue eyes.
“How could you, Linnet? How could you do this?”
He slammed the door and turned on Eleanor. Anger roiled in him, pounding through his veins and blurring his vision.
“You are an evil woman,” he said, stepping toward her. “One day God will punish you for it.”
“You should blame your lover, not me,” she said when he had her backed against the wall.
“I know you poisoned other women you found with Gloucester,” he said, wrapping his hand around her throat. “If I hear Linnet has had so much as a bad stomach after this, you shall regret it.”
“No one can prove I poisoned anyone.”
“Did I say I would attempt to prove it?” he said. “Do I seem the sort of man to waste my time in court?”
Eleanor’s eyes went wide as he brought his face down close to hers.
“Pray Linnet stays well,” he hissed through his teeth. “For if she falls ill, I will sneak into your bedchamber in the dark of night and slit your throat.”
With this last duty discharged, he turned and left.
As he marched down the corridor, Linnet caught up to him. He did not look at her.
“Jamie, that was not what it seemed. I—”
“I hope you got whatever it was you wanted, Linnet. I hope it was worth the price you paid.”
“I did not—”
“Another woman will value what I have to offer. She will not sacrifice my affections and sell her honor.”
“I did nothing wrong.”
Jamie came to an abrupt halt and turned to face her. “Nothing? Nothing!” he roared. He had to clench his hands to keep from grabbing her and shaking her. “I find you sitting on the lap of a half-naked man in his bedchamber, and you call thatnothing?”
“It was nothing, I promise. You are the only man I love. The only one I want.”
“And that is the worst part of it,” he said, shaking with emotion. “To get something you wanted, you would go into the arms of a man you detest. By God, you are a cold-hearted woman.”
“Jamie, I only meant to—”
