Her laughter was beautiful filling the room. He was amused by her reaction. But wouldn’t be deterred. There was more she needed to know.
He cleared his throat. “As I said, she was concerned that you were ruined and no longer marriage material and kept on at your father, that men would reject you, your reputation in tatters and they argued.”
Eleanor huffed and shook her head. “I was never marriageable material. I don’t want to be chattel, a brood mare or have no freedom.” As she reached for her own drink, she could see he was shocked by her honest answer.
Good… She liked that…
“Your father said as much at the time. I wasn’t sure if I believed him.”
She sipped her drink again. “He always understood me better.”
“You have no wish for children?”
Eleanor swallowed and looked into her goblet. She did wish for children. He appeared to have been honest with her and she would be the same.
“I do.” She said quietly. “But the price would be high indeed.” She lifted her gaze to his. He was a magnificent specimen. Although intense rough and raw, his reputation as a warrior unsurpassed all others and feared in most of the country but she felt sure that he’d never been anything but gentle with her. Her heart pounded. She was sure any female would be honoured to wed him. Just not her.
“And not worth it,” she told him defiantly. “I can nurture plenty of children at the castle.”
“But they are not your own.” His voice was almost sad.
She gave him a brave smile she would not break. “It matters not. They need love none the less. Was… my mother really angry?”
It was an honourable statement. He nodded. “Very. She went on for a while until I stopped further argument.”
She looked at him in surprise. She knew her mother, once she had the bit between her teeth nothing would get her to let it go.
“And how pray you, did you do that?”
He stilled. “Your father had offered Olivia in contract bound to me as part of the alliance as you know.”
Eleanor nodded. He guessed she knew that, her father seemed to confide in this child. He swallowed the rest of his wine.
“With…. the distress of your mother so evident, the loud fuss she was making about reputations and such, coupled with my sense of responsibility as to your condition and the annoyance, I felt at your mothers lack of respect for you and what you’d been through, or the fact that you could have died and your parents were fighting over what seemed inconsequential in contrast….. I lost my patience.”
Eleanor’s eyes raised at him. None of that was inconsequential, all of it was important in their world. Such concerns could make or break a family and their ties.
“I err….” He went on. She waited. “Told them I’d take you in tribute instead.”
Thank God, it was out there at last….. Eldron sat back in his chair relieved.
Why was he worried about what she’d think?...
He was Lord here and yet he felt a huge relief, a weight off his shoulders having said it. He hadn’t realised just how much it had weighed on him until that moment.
Eleanor looked at him in stunned silence clasping the chair arm with her free hand.
He had not just said that…..
The luxury of the room now made sense to her. All the attention. Her sisters with her. She gripped the chair arm harder, the whites of her knuckles showing through her skin.
“I refuse,” she blurted angrily.
Who in God’s name does he think he is!.... He might have saved her life, but he did not own her….
It was not that he was unattractive. She would give him that. No, he had a magnetism she’d never encountered before. It was the possessive note in his voice that turned her stomach and put fear flying through her. She couldn’t get her head around it.
How had this happened?....
He turned towards her, his face equally angry and muscle rippled across his body.
His size didn’t faze her either. He was far more than the normal warrior, but he’d shown her kindness. She had no doubt he was battle hardened, strong and brave and she expected he took what he wanted. He’d already said as much. Her heart skipped a beat and she refocused. This moment was important. She knew it would be the alliance that had prompted him to make the offer. She wasn’t stupid and wouldn’t have it.
She’d seen the scars on his body but didn’t fear him and to her surprise realised that was true.
For all his bluster and presence, she didn’t feel that from him. She’s heard of his conquests, the battles he’d won. It was why her father wanted the alliance with him in the first place. He and his men didn’t know failure. His favour with the women was well known.
So why had he saddled himself with her in such a public way?
Was it to humiliate her and her father and mother? He would whore around and expect her to take him to bed on his return? She did not think so little of herself. No. She would not be that female.
But she couldn’t fail to see him as a man. His skin was darker than what she was used to. The long dark hair almost down to his waist was unusual but she liked it. A broad chest, high cheekbones and those eyes almost undid her.
Dear Lord, he could probably take any female of his choice, here and now on the damn floor! …
He was the picture of the Barbarian her father had talked of. But her choice was being forcibly taken from her, she did not wish to be married. She’d made that clear to her father and this man and he knew it and was dismissing what she wanted for what he did. That made her blood boil. This was exactly why she didn’t want a man.
His face hardened but she would not show fear.
“I haven’t offered You anything female.” He told her bluntly.
Confusion hit her. “I don’t understand. Do we have a contract or not?” she demanded. She needed to know where she stood before she made plans to escape this….
He stood quickly and paced. “That makes two of us!” he roared. Eleanor blinked watching him on her guard. Something was wrong here.
“I could have anyone,” he roared. Eleanor held in her flinch. “Your sister Olivia is prettier and obedient and does not hold my attention one bit. I will not be marrying her. But your father wants the alliance, I have somehow sullied you in saving you and I have no taste for Asa either.”
“Asa is a child.” She bit out.
He stopped and turned pulling her chair to face him, bracing his hands on the arms leaning down to her, his eyes boring into hers.
“She is not a child.” His control and dominance all on show, his breath touching her face, his hair brushing her thighs. It was thick and shiny, and she wanted to feel it badly. Eleanor’s heart pounded in her chest.
Her breathing a little laboured. Her stomach tingled.
“She should have been married three years ago easily and we both know it. She should have babies hanging from her hips, suckling from her breasts already. In offering to take you,” he looked at her head to her toe and back again. It was speculative, not kind or gentle at all. Eleanor felt sick.
“We both know I am upholding the alliance requirements and taking something he couldn’t give away. Your father gets his alliance and I get… you.” He sneered.
Eleanor pulled her face away from him. She wouldn’t allow him to see how hurtful his words were. She flinched hearing it unable to hold it back this time. He didn’t want her, and she should rejoice. She knew she was no prize but his tone, his words, she found them upsetting. Unkind. And understood that he’d meant to do that. Had meant to upset her. She stood pushing him back. He would not cower her. Eldron let go of the arms and allowed her to stand keeping her back to him. She was in doubt about that.
“Get out,” she whispered. Her pain too much to hold in.
Silence rained down around them. She couldn’t bare to look at him.
He was trying to break her as she knew a man would. Eleanor took several deep breaths gaining some control.
“Well then,” she told him coldly. “We are both in agreement. Neither one of us wants the other and it is easily solved. I will write to the Friar and inform him that I was unable to do my duty by you being cold and unfeeling and have been rejected and wish to return home with all haste.”
He had not meant to say that. He had not. It just came bubbling out at her rejection of him. He couldn’t stand it. Feared it and lashed out. Why he’d deliberately hurt her he did not know. It was a knife to his chest seeing her pain. He’d done this. Shaking his head, he told her; “No.”
She turned back to him. “Why not? It will save face for you.”
“And place the blame on you, I will not allow it.” He told her feeling shame for his actions.
She sneered back at him. “Not allow it? This is exactly why I do not wish to be married.” She gave in to her emotions her voice carrying more bite, almost shouting now. Her anger would not be held back.
“I refuse, do you hear me! You have made your point crystal clear. I’m not worthy of you and you have nothing that I want, nothing that I will take.” He looked shocked at her but covered it quickly. “I have given you a way out. Take it!”
He stared at her for the longest moment unable to speak. Suddenly she no longer looked like a child in need of his care. She looked like the woman she was. Fearful and broken by his words and actions.
Full breasted and delicate her breathing laboured in her anger. She was breath-taking and …. didn’t want him. Eldon cut off his emotions. They had no place here. No one refused him. He kept his anger from boiling over and took on the cold mantel he knew so well. This was business.
So be it….
“I will not be offering you marriage female if I can help it, you have no need to fear that. But make no mistake here, you have no voice in this matter. It is done. Contracts have been signed and I will have my alliance one way or another. Do you think I want to be tied, want to have to deal with this? Hell no. I will do my duty and no more! I invoke hostageship for the time being. You will be my Ward, or I might give you to one of my men. Nothing more.”
Eleanor took a step back, her worst fears coming true. He was a Barbarian. With that, he stalked from the room and slammed the door shut. Eleanor slumped back in her chair. Suddenly exhausted her determination rode her. She would not be marrying him that was good, she told herself. She would not be any mans plaything or whore.
So why did she feel rejected and tears threatened?....
He’d been cruel. And she’d got what she wanted.
He’d not marry her so why was she upset? Eleanor looked at the door. She needed to leave before it was too late.
She was tired that was all…..
He was the Barbarian they all talked about. His kindness had been a mask. Taking several deep breaths, she held back her tears and focused on what needed to be done.
Her father would never accept this if marriage is what he wanted, and her sisters needed to leave as soon as possible. Her shame would not be theirs. She would not subject them to this, have their reputations damaged as well or have them witness her misery.
She walked to the door opening it. Two guards stood on duty. “I need to see my sisters have someone call them to me.” She closed the door and paced.
They came running in a short while later in all excitement. “Close the door,” she told them. Their amusement gone Olivia closed the door. “We need to get out of here. How many men did we bring?”
They looked confused at her. “Focus and answer my question.”
“We came with 100 men,” Ava told her worried.
“How many men does Lord Eldron have here?”
“Three times that.” Olivia told her.
Elenor nodded. They would need to escape. “Arrange for us to go riding this very hour. Our men with us as many as seems fit. Tell no one else our plans. Pack what you can take in saddle bags, food if you can, only do not draw attention to it.”
Olivia came over. “What happened?”
Elenor shook her head. “It matters not. We need to leave. Quickly. I will meet you at the stables.”
She hugged them and they left. She looked around the room. There was nothing of hers that she wanted or needed. She did her toilette and placed her cloak around her shoulders, adding another layer of clothing to her body and put a smile on her face before opening the door and walking down the hallway to the staircase. Her sisters meeting her there.
She chatted falsely about everyday events, managing a laugh or two as they made their way to the stables allocated to them. She talked to some of her men asking after her health and asked if they would ride out with them. They nodded eagerly.
Their horses were saddled and made ready, and they were helped into their backs. Grasping the reins, she checked her sisters were well seated before riding out the stable and heading for the gate.
She felt clearer and calmer the nearer she got. It took moments before they were through, and she kicked her horse to a gallop. The others behind her doing the same. She belonged to no man.
~~~~
“Where is she?” he roared looking around the room.
The men looked at him stupefied. He would kill them all for their stupidity!
Galron and Makas came running in. “The sisters are gone too. Half their guard with them.”
Eldron picked up the chair and threw it at the wall, kicking the table with it. He’d scared her and she’d flown. He stormed out the room and down towards his own stables.
“Gather the elite. We go a hunting!”
~~~~
They couldn’t go directly and needed to keep to firmer ground. She turned further West keeping to the roads pushing the horses on. By end of day they camped in a wooded area with a clear view of the road below them. Her men took turns taking guard. They would turn North tomorrow.
~~~~
They were not on the road to her fathers. They would have passed them by now. His anger and frustration simmered. Turning back he split his men.
Where was she?
~~~~
She woke her sisters gently the next morning. She’d not slept well. The cold seemed to invade her body. They drank from the stream and freshened up before moving on. Taking the road once more they rode on to the next junction and took the turning North.
~~~~
They’d been searching for her for three days. The route made little sense other than to send them into a merry dance. He begun to hate himself for what he’d said to her. He’d been cruel and unkind. He worried for her health constantly. His nerves frayed. He should just let her go but couldn’t. It wasn’t just the alliance at risk. She was barely recovered and could relapse at any time.
They had to find them. He rode on.
~~~~
Why was she so cold?
She heard her sisters concerns for her health. Her men expressing it too. She understood their concern, but they couldn’t stop.
“No matter what,” she told Olivia and Ava. “You keep going until you are home. Do you understand.” They nodded. “Good, now strap me to the horse and get going.”
~~~~
They were more than halfway when he caught up with them. Their route becoming more predictable. One look at Elenore strapped to her horse told him why. She was unable to give them guidance, she was near unconscious. He raged at her sisters for their foolishness. Their troops ready to engage. He would take them all on as his worry turned to anger. Taking her from her horse, he had her wrapped in blankets and set her before him on his own.
“Back to the Keep and hurry.” You foolish woman, he berated her as he rode for home. “I would never hurt you don’t you know that?” But that was a lie. He already had.
~~~~
No…. She stirred. She could live her life or die. It made no difference. She blinked, her head hurting once more.
What was wrong with her now?
She felt the bed beneath her and sighed. She made it home. Peeling her eyes open she squinted at the
light streaming in and swallowed.
It was all a bit hazy.
“You’re not dead then.”
Eleanor stilled and looked towards the voice. She’d not made it home after all and turned her head away in disgust.
He lent over her and gripped her chin pulling it towards him. “Try that again wench and I will kill you myself.”
She pulled her chin from his touch. “Kill me now, I’d rather be dead.”
He stood and laughed at her. “O no pretty bird, this is your life and you will endure it like the rest of us.”
The door slammed as he left.
She would not cry.
She was tired and cold and would try again and in the meantime she could just as well live here as she did at home.
She would never take a man. She’d kill him first. But she would play the tempered maid and ask for her books, continue her studies and make time for the people while she bided her time.
Her life had been good, it would be here too until she was ready. The change of location made no difference to her, she could carry on as before. She didn’t need the male to make that happen. She could do it on her own.
The image of Eldron swam before her eyes, he’d been beyond angry with her. Her heart beat a little faster.
Annoyed she’d bested him? Most likely.
He affected her…. That was dangerous.
It made her wants things she shouldn’t. He was a temptation; one she couldn’t give in to. He didn’t want her she reminded herself and hardened her resolve.
The Barbarian Page 6
