Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 82982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
I would seek out Madeleine and escort her to lunch. Assure her I was not angry. Otherwise, she wouldn’t eat, and I wanted her to get healthy. I withheld a sigh. I wanted her to stop cowering in alarm as well, but I knew it would all take time.
I was sitting at the desk, reading some correspondence, when Madeleine entered the room again. She shut the door behind her and approached the desk. Confused, I watched as she placed a small bundle of reeds on my desk along with a rose. Her words send shards of ice down my spine.
“I am ready for my punishment, my lord.”
For a moment, I was numb with shock.
Punishment. She thought I meant to mete out punishment on her for the infraction of placing flowers in my study. For attempting to add a little color in a place she did not yet consider to be her home.
I had to shut my eyes and count to ten. I unfurled myself from the chair and rounded the desk.
She stood, her head bowed, hands clasped, as always, in tight fists. I noticed for the first time ever, her gloves were not voluntarily on her hands. Her shaking fingers were even more delicate than I recalled from the brief glimpse I’d had on the day of our wedding.
“And what, pray tell, is your punishment?” I asked mildly. “I confess, I have little experience with matters such as this.”
A long, furious shiver ran through her body. She held out her trembling bare hands, opened her fists, displaying them palm side up. Her eyes were downcast, but I knew if I saw them, they would be petrified yet resigned.
“To be taught a lesson, sir. Not to overstep my bounds.”
I caught one hand in mine, lifting it closer for inspection. Thin white scars, multitudes of them, showed on her skin. Small puncture marks dotted the thin flesh. All healed over, yet telling a story so ugly, it made my stomach roll. I stroked the palm, feeling the thickness of the scars she carried, wondering how much deeper the scars in her mind were.
“Your father beat you with reeds,” I stated, keeping the fury from my voice.
“Yes.”
“And the rose?”
“I held the stem in my other hand and presented it to him when he was done as a gift.”
“Your blood to soothe his anger?”
“Yes.”
I released her hand and picked up the other. It was similar, but it bore more scars. He had purposefully beaten her weaker side with additional strokes so as not to render her useless. She could still perform her chores.
I dropped her hand and picked up a reed, swishing it in the air. It made a low, hissing sound before hitting the wood. Madeleine flinched at the noise.
“Why have you brought me so many reeds?”
“So you could choose which one to use, as my father did. I followed my usual instructions, my lord. Have I displeased you again?”
I had to clear my throat before speaking. Rage coursed through my veins, but I did not wish to frighten her more. The fury was not directed at her, but I suddenly understood her fear more than I had before, and the reason for it sickened me. “Madeleine, look at me. Now.”
She lifted those glorious eyes, all that much brighter with the tears she was seeking to hide and the terror that lay within them. Her skin was whiter than snow.
“Pick up the reeds and the rose.”
Shaking, she did as I asked.
“Hand them to me.”
Her breathing was picking up, and I knew she was imagining the horror of the punishment that lay ahead.
“Watch me carefully.”
I strode to the fireplace, snapping the reeds in half and flinging them into the flames. I stripped away the thorns on the rose and added those to the rapidly burning strips of wood. I returned to her side, lifting her hand and placing the rose within her palm. I closed her tiny fingers around the stem.
“The only roses you shall ever hold from this day forward will cause you no pain. You will never again know the sting of a reed on your palm—or anywhere else.”
I stepped closer, cupping her face, meeting her bewildered and increasingly watery gaze.
“I promised you that you would never come to harm under my protection. Not from anyone, but especially from me.”
“But I—”
I interrupted her. “You did nothing wrong. Your act of kindness caught me off guard. The flowers are as lovely as you are. I thank you for the gesture.” I lifted her hand to my mouth and kissed the soft skin.
“Do not fear me, my wife. I swear to you, nothing shall hurt you under this roof. Ever. I will not allow it.”
An agonized sound escaped her mouth. Without a thought, I drew her close, encasing her in my embrace. “Show me your pain,” I urged her. “Allow me to comfort you.”