Chapter Eleven
Gunn felt likehe’d just been sucker punched. “Pardon?” he ground out.
Jocelyn brought her hands up to shield her face. “I’m pregnant. I’m sorry. I should have told you sooner. It’s why I finally ran.” She stood stiffly. “I will go.”
He reached out for her arm as she passed. “Jocelyn. Lass.” The look she gave him broke his heart. Clearly, she had been dealing with so much more than she’d let on. “Ye dinna have to go.”
Her eyes clashed with his, shiny with unshed tears. He didn’t think she should be alone. Her emotions were at a tipping point, and he thought she could use some encouragement, not a shunning.
Which he would never do in the first place.
Leading her over to the chairs by the fireplace, he urged her to sit. Then he went and grabbed some wine. Pouring her a glass, he handed it to her and took a seat across from her.
“Ye needna fear my reaction. I would be lying if I said I wasna taken aback. ’Twas just a shock, is all.”
She moved the glass around in circles, causing the liquid inside to create a slight vortex.
“Are you going to end my employment?” she asked quietly, not meeting his eyes.
“Of course no’,” he spat. “Though I believe we have stepped past that, but there are other priority items we must discuss.” If she hadn’t realized it before, he didn’t want her as an employee. Hell, he’d keep her in his bed every night for eternity and would love every minute of it. If she wanted to help him, then fine.
But as partners.
He pinched the bridge of his nose. Shite. This situation presented a myriad of problems.
“Tell me e’erything.”
Her head snapped up. “I have.”
“Nay. Your history. I want to ken it all. Parents. Husband.” He gestured to her still flat belly. “The bairn.”
Pressing her lips together, she folded her hands on her lap, before quickly unfolding them to wring them together. “How much time do you have?” she asked with a nervous laugh.
He kenned she was trying to lighten the mood, and realized he needed to school his face into a more neutral look. He wasn’t angry with her. But that louse that she was married to? Aye. He would be dealing with him.
“All the time ye need,” he said gently, offering what he hoped was an encouraging smile.
“When I was younger, and it was time to be introduced into society, I begrudged the whole thought of it. I didn’t want to spend my nights being looked over like a prized pony. Victor, my husband, appeared out of nowhere. He was handsome enough. But especially charming. He showed interest and I saw him as my salvation to save me from the prancing required in society. It was easier to court him from the beginning. He won over my parents, convincing them that we were the perfect match, and got their blessing quickly. The three of them came to an agreement and after that there was no way for me not to marry Victor.
“My friends were happy but jealous. Victor was the bachelor of the season.” She sighed, sad eyes meeting his. “But it was all a lie. He didn’t care for me, just my healthy dowry. He was cruel. Both in speech and in body. I could do naught right.”
Gunn’s fists clenched. He understood where this was going. And he didn’t like one bit of it. Men who beat their wives were the scourge of the earth. They didn’t deserve to be called men.
“Of course,” she continued. “He didn’t show any of those traits until after we married, and we returned from holiday. Quickly, he moved us away from my family and friends, to Rochester.”
He wanted to cut in so many times as she talked. Wanted to pull her into his arms and offer her comfort. Something her arsehole of a husband never did. He wanted to kiss away all her fears. Her worries.
Every inch of skin that was ever marred with a bruise.
“After we were in Rochester, I got to see the real Victor. The cruel man hiding behind a facade of a caring face. He disliked me keeping in contact with my friends, and soon I found it easier to let them go then withstand the beating I would get whenever I met up with them. My parents were next.” She let out a shuddering breath. “It had been quite some time since I’d spoken with them when I got word of their passing.” A tear slipped from her eye, trailing down her cheek and she swept at it. Offering her a handkerchief, she gave him a sad smile and dabbed at her eyes.
“I’m sorry, lass.” His parents had been gone for a long time. But he felt it was different for women. The bond they had with their mothers was special. For her husband to rip that support system away from her was cruel.
“Before I knew it, he’d sold their house and all their belongings.”
Gunn’s ire grew. The man was truly a piece of shite.
The fire crackled, a loud pop sending sparks through the air, causing Jocelyn to jump.
