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Andfor a frozen, breathless instant, there was silence.Silence, asRikardgaped atLouisawith appalled alarm blaring in his eyes, and a knife-blade jammed against his neck.
Ashocked little mewl whimpered from his mouth, and then he releasedLouisa’sarm and stumbled backwards, nearly tripping on a rock behind him. “Whatin damnation, woman!” he shouted. “Whatthe hell is wrong with you?!Iwasn’t about to —Iwas only about to say —”
Louisastared at him, waiting, breathing hard, as something dark and reckless curdled in her belly.No.Yes.No.Sheshould know better, she shouldn’t let this odious weaselly wastrel get to her.She’descapedLordScall, she needed to forgetLordScall,LordScallwasdead…
“Iwas only about tokindlysay,”Rikardcontinued shrilly, as he staggered another step backwards, “that my previous generous offer still stands.Althoughperhaps” — he shot a dark look at the knife still inLouisa’shand — “Iought to rescind that offer, once and for all!”
Hisprevious offer.Louisamight have laughed, had that darkness not still been screaming, surging bitter memories behind her eyes.Memoriesfrom the day afterScall’sfuneral, when she’d finally had a blessed moment alone — untilRikardhad appeared in her sitting-room, and offered her a proposal ofmarriage.
Amarriage of convenience, he’d called it.Ameans of granting you security, now that you’re past your marrying prime.Away to keep my dear uncle’s lands undivided.Away to give you a child of your own to care for, perhaps.
Thatlast point had painfully pricked inLouisa’schest, because whileRikarddidn’t know it, she would never be able to bear children of her own — and even if she could, her sixteen years of marriage toLordScallhad long ago shown her his nephew’s true measure.Rikardhad wanted her lands, as unprofitable as they were.He’dalways been an avid sportsman, and he’d wanted the right to hunt in her forest unimpeded.And, of course, he’d also wanted the freedom to keep dallying with other women as he pleased, while gaining a convenient heir for his grand new fortune — without lifting a single finger to acquire a wife.Letalone needing to waste his time pretending to care for her, or her children.
Louisa’srefusal had been furious and absolute, and she’d perhaps shouted atRikardmore than she ought, and betrayed far too much of her own grief, her own pain.Shewould never again be coerced into a marriage.Shewould never again share a bed with a man she didn’t desire.Andshe would never, ever sell her freedom — herlife— for a man’s gain.Never.Shewas thirty-nine years old, and she was living out the rest of her days on her terms, on her own damned means.
“No,Rikard,” she gritted out. “No.Ihave no interest in remarrying.Ever.”
She’dkept her voice steady, her eyes desperately fixed on the twilight sky behindRikard’shead, but he lurched another step closer, blocking her view. “YouletLordKasparcourt you,” he snarled back. “Thatfop was dangling after you formonths!”
Louisagripped her knife-hilt even tighter, and again fought down the surging darkness, thick with pain and grief.Kasparhad been her first and only attempt at a relationship afterScall’sdeath, and he’d been a duke’s son, and a handsome, clever scholar, who’d courted her with patience, kindness, and respect.Sonaturally, onceLouisahad fallen head over arse for him, she’d been approached by one of his long-time mistresses — a sweet girl namedRosa— who not only had been sharingKaspar’sbed the entire time, but who also had been writing all his academic papers, while toiling for abysmal wages in his mouldering little library.AndthenRosahad run away toOrcMountain, andLouisahad even helped her, and met multiple orcs, and…
“No,”Louisamanaged again, though the word wavered this time. “Kasparwas an odious, deceitful cheat, who thoroughly misrepresented himself to me, and only wanted the grand inheritance he mistakenly assumedIhad!Notonly that, but he was taking advantage of his staff — and, he had fathered multiple children he refused to support!Hewas — a grave mistake.”
Butcurse her, why was she tellingRikardany of this, because it only gave him more information, more ammunition to hurl back against her.Andit had even sparked something in his beady little eyes, something bright and eager and sickening…
“Well, you can rest assured thatIpossess no illegitimate children,” he pointed out, as if this was some grand achievement on his part. “AndIpay my staff very fair wages, as well.Morethansomepeople in these parts,Imight add.”
Godscrush the smug little vermin, it was a jab atLouisaagain, even as he was offering her his hand inmarriage.Andthe strangled sound from her mouth could have been a laugh, though her eyes were damnably prickling, and tightness spasmed in her throat.Shewas trying.Shewas trying so damned hard.Andshe’d just wanted a damned walk, a few moments of peace under the sky, and this horrid man was ruining everything, everything —
“No,” she choked again, through her constricted throat. “No.Nowget off my fucking land, you loathsome little rat.Unlessyou want me to call my orcs to heel, and send them over totrampleyou!”
Hervoice rang through the cool air, echoing between them, flashing true fear acrossRikard’seyes — because damn it,Louisahad just threatened him.She’djust implied that she not only knew about the orcs, but endorsed them, or even commanded them.Andperhaps, perhaps evenwantedthem…
Theshock onRikard’sface clashed with fury, with a horrible rising awareness.Heknew.Heknew, andLouisashould say something, do something,LordScallwasdead—
Butshe was too slow, too late.AndalreadyLordRikardhad whirled around, and scuttled away into the darkness.
2
WhenLouisawalked up her lane toward the kitchen’s side door, her cheeks were dry, her back straight, her head high.Betrayingno sign whatsoever of the unfortunate incident withRikard.
Orso she thought.
“Lou-Lou!”Amecried out, rushing over to greetLouisawith a wide smile on her little gap-toothed mouth — but then her smile faded, her blue eyes sobering. “What’swrong?Yousad?”
Louisaswallowed and attempted a smile, rustling a hand againstAme’sgolden head. “Justa little overtired, sweetheart,” she said, as lightly as she could. “Speakingof which” — she raised her brows atAme— “isn’t it almost your bedtime?”
Thequestion had the desired effect, sendingAmesidling toward the door, while casting a wary look toward her motherElise.Whowas watching with distinct amusement from the kitchen counter, where she’d been kneading dough for the next day’s bread.
“Soon, love,”ElisetoldAme, with an affectionate smile. “YouandStefancan play untilI’vefinished this, all right?”
Amenodded and rushed out the door, whileElisedarted a too-knowing glance towardLouisa. “Sowhat’s wrong, then, ma’am?” she asked. “Somethinguntoward happen out there?Itold you, you oughtn’t to be out in the dark alone, most of all with those orcs lurking about!”
Hervoice was scolding, but her rounded pink face was as kind as always, the concern bright and genuine in her blue eyes.AndwhileLouisawanted to wave it away, she’d come to considerElisea true friend these past few years.Perhapsbecause she’d been a strong recommendation from an old friend namedJule, who’d no longer been able to keepEliseon staff, becauseJulehad run away to none other than…OrcMountain.
Truly, it was beginning to feel like a theme, or a curse, andLouisasighed, rubbed at her aching temples. “Ijust ran intoRikard,” she said heavily. “He’sfurious with me for allowing the orcs on the property.ToldmeI’llregret it, ifIdon’t get rid of them.”
Elise’smouth thinned, and she shook her head. “Thatscum,” she snapped. “He’sstill just vexed because you won’t marry him!Although” — she bit at her lip — “perhaps youcouldjust send the orcs away?Imean, it reallyisquite… dangerous, having them so close.Don’tyou think?”
