Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 102573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
“You may leave, Marta. Hertha returns to help me,” Tavia said, wanting the woman gone.
“It is my chore to help you not hers,” Marta argued. “I sent her away. I was tasked with a chore by Lord Bhric, and I will see my duty done.”
Tavia wanted to get to her feet, but she could not rush out of bed and if she went slow she feared it would show weakness. She sat up straight, lifted her chin, and pointed to the door. “Get out and send Hertha to me now!”
Marta looked ready to argue.
Tavia’s stomach twisted nervously, and her tongue surprised her when she issued sharp orders. “Not another word. Get out!”
The woman turned and fled the room.
Tavia eased her legs out of bed and stood slowly. Her leg felt better and would be much better tomorrow if she rested the remainder of the night, but with the celebration tonight that was impossible. She walked over to the hearth, glancing at the garments she was meant to wear as she did. They were well-made garments and looked to be of fine wool, but she worried if she dressed in the foreign garments, she would lose herself entirely.
The door flung open startling her. Her husband filled the doorway, and she took a step back. He appeared an angry Northman ready for attack dressed in leather and furs.
“I rule here in my home. The people obey me. Marta is to tend you. I will hear no more about it,” he commanded and turned to leave.
“NAY!”
Bhric turned around at her sharp retort. “That is not something you will ever say to me again.”
That seemed unlikely to Tavia, but what point was there in arguing with him? She did, however, need him to understand she was not comfortable with Marta.
“I find myself uneasy with Marta, I would prefer Hertha to tend me.”
“Hertha will help the healer. Marta will tend you and I will hear no more about it,” he said and turned to leave once again.
“Please,” she found herself saying and she was relieved that he turned around. “I need time to adjust to my new home, the people here, and to you. I ask that you at least allow Hertha to share my care with Marta so I may grow accustomed to her.” That he stood staring at her and not immediately denying her request gave her hope.
Bhric walked over to his wife. “This is your home now. These are your people, your family. And I am your husband whether you like it or not. If you were strong, you would accept your fate and do whatever was necessary to be a good wife. And you would have never kept your weakness from me let alone trap me once I told you I would not honor the agreement. Or fling yourself into the arms of another man making me trust you even less. So, I care not if you adjust, I only care that you obey.”
He turned away from her and Tavia was glad he did, for she trembled not from fright but from anger. She bit her tongue to keep hold of it, though what did it matter? He cared not about her, so why should she worry what she said to him?
She called out at him. “You know nothing about me.”
He spun around. “I know you are weak, you lie, and I cannot trust you.”
“And you are far from honorable when you decided to end the marriage arrangement not only agreed upon in good faith, but the documents signed. As for your strength… it is also your weakness, for you cannot see beyond it.”
“You spew nonsense with a sharp tongue that I will not tolerate just as I cannot tolerate your presence. Keep a silent tongue around me, suffer coupling with me and I with you until you are with child, then we will see little of each other. But we will not couple until after your monthly bleed. You made a point of leaving blood on the bedding. And after seeing how you were with the merchant, I know not if it was to make me think I took your virginity or if it was to hide the fact that you have been with another man and carry his bairn.” He nodded at the garments on the chair. “You will wear my peoples’ garments for the celebration. Unfortunately, they will not be worn with honor.”
Tavia rested a hand to her chest as her husband turned and left the room, then sank to the bench nearby. His words were like a knife to her heart. She never imagined him thinking that of her. How he must hate her. How did she share a life with a man who hated her? How did she couple with a man who hated her? How did she survive this marriage?