Mysty McPartland (13 page)

Before he could change his mind, he slipped o
ff the bed, gathered his clothing, dressed quickly and without anther word, left the chamber. Damn it, he was not going to cave in like some love sick dolt. His wife had to learn the way things were in the Highlands. And by God that’s what she would do.

He went down to the hall to join his men and brother, throughout the morning meal guilt twisted his gut. Though he shouldn’t feel the least bit remorseful about
the wounded look in his wife’s eyes, he did. He hadn’t wanted to hurt her and surely she understood that he had responsibilities and they couldn’t play together indefinitely.

A heavy sigh left him, he could only hope when he saw her later that she would be over her upset and wouldn’t be peeved with him. The corners of his mouth curved into a grimace
. Knowing his wife, she probably would be. After all she was highly strung and emotional wee baggage and being a Sassenach he shouldn’t expect anything else.

Aye she would probably be aggravated with him
. Hopefully though, once they were in bed he could seduce her into a better frame of mind. Just the thought of making love to her again stirred the lust inside him and swearing under his breath he rose to his feet and stalked out of the hall. What he needed was to take his mind off his wife and going hunting would do just that.

****

Hurt and confused over her husband’s behavior earlier that morning,
Trista avoided every one, she was to upset and muddled, she didn’t have any idea what he wanted from her now
.
His early explanation didn’t clarify anything other than doing their duties and what in the hell did he mean by that?  It was beyond her understanding.

H
e had been so tender and fun loving over the last few days and she knew that she was starting to fall in love with him. But today, he was back being hard and cynical just like before when they were first married. The odious Black Warlock. Confound the man.

Even though he did say things this morning
, she’d still been half asleep and none of what he said made a lick of sense to her. What did he mean that there would be no more playing together? That they both had duties and she was to ask his permission to do the slightest thing. Ha, if that was going to happen it was certainly not going to be in this life time.

She let out a heavy frustrated sigh. Who was the real man she wondered. Was he truly the Black Warlock feared by everyone and a grim, heartless man. Or was he the fun, tender, loving husband. Well, until she found out who he truly was she would guard her heart and keep her feelings hidden from Rieph. Hopefully, one day soon she would find out who he really was.

As she passed through
the village, she waved to everyone, but did not stop to chat. Thankfully, they left her to herself. When she reached the stream, she sat down on a rock, stared down at the rushing water and pondered this new situation regarding her husband and her marriage.

She blinked in surprise and
quickly she sat up, when she saw a frightened couple move from behind a grove of trees. She rose to her feet and smiled reassuringly at them, wondering who they were and what they wanted with her.

“
Lady Trista, we are sorry to disturb ye, but we beg a moment of ye time. I am David McDowell from the clan McDowell.” He stepped forward hoping that the lady would not cry out in alarm and give them away.

“
How do you know who I am? And please tell me why you need to see me.” She spoke softly and sincerely.

David took Elli’s hand and moved closer. “There are whispers about your kindness, my Lady. This is my wife Elli and we have come to you for help. We eloped and were married two days ago. Our families were against us being wed and now we have nowhere to go. We came to ye hoping that with ye generous heart ye could find us a place to stay.”

First feeling happy, but soon sadness for them, her heart went out to the frightened young pair. Though she was unaware that strangers were talking about her she dismissed it for the time being. Her main concern was for the young unhappy couple. “Of course I will help you. There is a vacant cottage not far from here that will be perfect for you to stay in. And no one will know you are there and you both can remain there as long as you like.”

“
Oh, my Lady, thank ye, thank ye.” Elli reached out and clasped her hand weeping softly.

“
Please there’s no need to thank me. Now come along and I will take you both to the cottage and afterwards I will fetch you the things you will need.”

Both David and Elli followed the lady Trista grateful that she would help them.

Once she saw the young couple to the cottage, she hurried home and sought out Mary knowing that she could trust her. She confided in the maid and both of them gathered the things that the newlyweds would need for their stay.

Thankfully, no one notice
d what they were up to and she returned home in time for supper. Lost in her own thoughts, sitting beside her husband at the table, she started eating. She only half listened to him talking with his brother and Gabe.

“
Did ye nay hear that young David McDowell is missing and so is the lass Elli Ferguson. ‘Tis feared that they have run of together and both clans are up in arms over it.” Payne told his brother.

Stunned and worried when she heard mention of the couple she’d just hidden, her fork froze half way to her mouth and her face paled, but Mary nudged her back to awareness.

Rieph noticed his wife's face lose color and frowned, wondering why Payne’s words would affect her. Surely, she would not have anything to do with the couple? As far as he knew she had never met any of the clans, but as he observed her, he became suspicious and was certain that she knew something. “’Tis a woeful thing when a man defies his family and clan for a woman. Do ye nay think so, Payne?”

At hearing her husband’s cold heartless words she stiffened, but still said nothing.

“
Aye ‘tis a shameful thing but, Rieph, the young Elli is a fair maiden.” Payne grinned at his brother.

He grunted. “Fair or nay, young David is a fool to run off with the lass and defy his father, the laird and his clan.”

N
o longer able to hold her tongue, she turned to her husband, and glared at him. “I say it is wrong for their families to keep them apart if they truly love each other.”

Curiously raising a blond brow, he stared hard at her and he could see the truth in her eyes. “Where are they, Trista?”

Her eyes growing wide in panic, she glanced down to avoid her husband’s knowing gaze. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Angered at her lie, reaching out, he grasped her chin and scowled darkly when she couldn’t hide her guilty expression. “I ken that ye have some idea where they are. I can see it in ye eyes, wife. Now I’ll ask ye once more, where are they?”

Defiantly yanking her chin out of his grasp, she jumped up and glared at him in defiance. “And I said, I do not know.”

“
As ye laird ye will tell me the truth, lass, and if ye dinnae I will have nay choice but to punish ye.” He hated to be so harsh however, if it was known that he aided the couple there could be a bloody feud.

A hush swiftly fell over the hall and every one held their breath praying that their lady would tell the laird the truth.

But she refused to be intimidated and stood rebelliously before him. “Punish me if you must, Sir, but I cannot tell you something that I do not know.”

Damn her blasted stubbornness he was hoping by the threat of retribution that she would tell him where the couple was, but now that she once more refused, he didn’t have any other option but to carry out his threat. “Go to ye room, Lady Trista. Tomorrow ye will receive ye reprimand for ye disobedience and for ye lies.”

Pale faced, she spun away from her husband and with her chin held high, left the hall. She raced to her chamber and started to pace the floor wondering what her chastisement would be. She shuddered thinking what he would do to her. Nevertheless, no matter what she might have to suffer, she would not give the young couple away.

Sick to his stomach at the very thought of punishing his wife,
he watched her dash away. Why did she have to be so infuriatingly stubborn? Grim mouthed he swung his gaze to his brother upon hearing the disbelief in his voice. 

“
Rieph are ye mad? Ye cannae mean to carry out the threat.” Payne stared horrified at his brother.

“
Aye I do. ‘Tis time my wife learnt that she must never defy me.” Without another word, he stood up and left the hall in angry strides. His own ire and disappointment were too much and he needed to be alone. An hour later, he thought about going to his old room to sleep, but decided against it.

H
is wife needed to learn the way things were here and he had been patient long enough. He swept into the chamber and found her seated in front of the fire, closing the door softly behind him, he moved into the room. “’Tis time for bed.”

Alert when hearing her husband come in, she warily rose to her feet and watched him warily. “You can’t mean to sleep here.”

Her words bought him to a sudden stop for a moment; he glared at her before he turned away and started removing his clothes. “Aye, I do, and I mean to do more than sleeping.” As he spoke, he continued to undressing.

Unable to believe that he still intended to make love to her, she lifted a hand to her throat and she gasped in horror and disbelief. “No I will not let you.”

Resolve glowing in his eyes, he stopped what he was doing and he scowled blackly at his wife angrily. “In this room I am nay just ye laird but ye husband as well. And ‘tis well past the time ye realized the fact. Now get yeself in the bed.”

Incapable of accept that even he could be so callous and cruel, her own anger rose up until every inch of her vibrated with it. She stood stiffly and boldly with her hands fisted at her sides. “You can go to hell, Black Warlock. I have no intentions of getting in that bed with you and there is no way I will let you paw me. You will have to force me.”

It was the final straw. He’d had enough of his wife’s insolence and with a roar, he moved swiftly over to her. Grasping her by the arms, he picked her up and carried her struggling body over to the bed where he carelessly tossed her down on the covers. “I will nay have to force ye, woman, because in the end ye will be begging me to take ye.”

Heartlessly
reaching down he ripped the nightgown off her. He removed the last of his clothing and fell on his wife before she could roll over to the far side of the bed. “Ye will yield to me in this and all things wife.”

“Don’t do this.
Please Rieph don’t do this.” Trista whispered softly, but saw by the furious blaze in his eyes knew that he wasn’t listening to her plea. The tears burned her eyes as his mouth came crashing down on hers.

Chapter Twelve

Rieph was relentless and far from tender, he blocked out his wife’s pleas and tears. He needed to prove his dominance over her, to show her that he was the one in charge. After kissing her savagely, his large hands roamed over her body as well as his mouth and lips. Bringing the passion to a wildness in his wife, but he wasn’t finished yet in proving himself as master.

H
e lowered his head between her thighs and with his mouth and tongue made love to her in a way he had never made love to a woman before. While he suckled and lathered her hard little bud, knew by her thrashing hips and soft whimpers that she was about to climax and so was he.

Swiftly l
ifting himself up and over her, his erection poised at her entry way gazed down into her face, he searched her passion-glazed eyes for any sign of her surrender. He clenched his jaw when the only thing he could see was open defiance. “Yield wife. Yield ye self to me.” He hissed harshly

Even though he proved that he could make her body want him, she would not give her heart or soul over to him. Nor would she ever submit to his will. She closed her pain-filled eyes and refused to give him what he wanted.

Angered at seeing the pain and the refusal to give him what he demanded, he cursed under his breath and determinedly he plunged into her. He thrust into her fast and hard bringing them both to a quick climax. Disgusted and dissatisfied, he rolled off her lay on his back with an arm thrown over his eyes.

A curse rolled of his tongue and dropping his arm reached for his wife and as he touched her, wasn’t surprised when she shrugged his hand away, rolled to the far side of the bed and hugged the edge of the mattress. So be it, he thought in furious rage.

His eyes glared hotly at the bare back of his wife. Noticing the slight shaking of her shoulders and knew that she must be crying. Cursing once more under his breath, he moved over and placed an arm around her waist. He ignored her recoiling from his touch.

“
Take your filthy hands of me. You’ve had what you wanted now leave me alone you despicable, unfeeling beast.” Trista’s body went stiff and her voice forged with steel. Rieph’s cold, callous, vile love making just destroyed whatever she started to feel for him.

At her cold, harsh words, he removed his arm from her and shifted away, deciding the best thing to do was leave her alone for a while. So getting up, he quickly dressed and left their room and as he did so started to feel guilty at how despicably he’d just treated his sweet innocent wife.

****

Rieph was not surprised when his wife did not come down for to break her fast and as he glanced over the hall, he saw that his clan sat subdued and looking wary. Sighing heavily, he still felt guilty over his callous treatment of her last eve, but he did not intend to back down on the punishment. “Mary, tell lady Trista that she is wanted and to meet me in the bailey.”

Ignoring the maid’s fearful pale face and his brother’s worried one, he stood up. “I want everyone in the bailey in the next few minutes. Ye will witness lady Trista’s punishment for defying me. And I want it to be a lesson to everyone that ye cannae defy ye laird.”

After his speech
, he left the hall and away from the horrified faces of his clan. He had no liking for what he was about to do, yet it wasn’t going to stop him. His wife’s continued disobedience and this latest insubordination was the last straw. 

Trista knew when she opened the door to Mary’s pale frightened face that it was time to suffer whatever punishment that the Black Warlock had decided on. It could not be any worse than what he did to her last night, she thought in misery. “Do not fret, Mary, I’m sure it will not be so bad.”

“
Oh, my Lady, would it nay be best to tell the laird where they are?”

“
No, Mary, it is more than just admitting that I helped them or where I have hidden them, I’m afraid.” She pattered the maid’s arm as they walked down the stairs and across the empty hall. She knew that the whole clan would witness her penance.

The
very thought of it made her stomach clench in trepidation. However, she would never let the Black Warlock or his people see how truly terrified she was. So lifting her chin and squaring her shoulders, she stepped out the big door.

Through narrowed eyes he watched his wife come outside looking proud and defiant. Why wouldn’t she just tell him what he wanted to know? He did not like what he would be forced to do. No, he did not like it at all and just thinking of causing her pain made him feel sick to his stomach.

H
e would give her one more opportunity to tell him, he decided and prayed that she would take it. When she came to stand in front of him staring up at him with determination and defiance, knew that she wouldn’t take the chance he would offer her. “I will ask ye one more time, Lady Trista, to tell me what I wish to ken. Tell me where they are, wife!”

Trista lifted her chin and glared back at the Black Warlock with insolence glittering in her eyes. “My answer is the same. I do not know anything.”

Given no other choice and clenching his fists at his side, he spun away from her. “Big John tie ye mistress to the post.” He strode away and went into the stables, shortly he returned with a small whip clenched tightly in his hand. With his wife now secured to the post, he ripped the back of her gown down to her waist.

Lowering his head
, he whispered in her ear. “I have nay liking for this, lass. Nay liking at all and I wish ye would stop this foolishness and just tell me what I want to ken.”

Frightened to death, but still rebellious, shifting her head to stare at him, she searched his face and saw that he meant what he said. Nevertheless, she would not give him what he wanted and even though it would hurt her.

S
he also knew that he would also suffer along with her, but no matter what pain she would have to endure, she wasn’t going to back down. “Just get on with it, Black Warlock. Do your bloody worst.” She hissed.

So be it, he thought and gritting his teeth, he moved away a few steps and drew in a deep, shuddering breath. He lifted his arm high and bought the whip down to slash across his wife's back, leaving a long red welt.

H
e was revolted and filled with bile, but repeated the action three more times and each stroke, he felt he was lashing at his own heart and soul. When she neither cried out, nor begged for him to stop, the horror of what he was doing to his sweet, kind wife ate away at him.

The horrendous fire burned her when the lash finally struck her flesh; Trista bit her lip to stop from screaming. No matter how much it hurt, she would not give him the satisfaction of hearing her cry out or beg. And when the last lash fell, her body sagged and she was fighting the blackness that threatened to engulf her.

Appalled and guilt ridden over what he’d done, tossing the whip on the ground, he rushed over to his wife an untied her hands. As gently as he could he swept her up in his arms and walking through the silent crowd caught the disgust and shame in his brother’s eyes. It filled with such unmitigated remorse, he hurried through the doors, knowing that for the rest of his life he would never forgive himself for what he had done this day.

Payne sadly shook his head as he watched his brother carry his wife inside. “’Tis a fool he is and he should rot in hell for what he has done this day. If he has nay broken the lass, he surely destroyed any happiness they could have had.” He spoke softly to Gabe before he walked away through the crowd of horrified faces of his clan. He noticed as he passed them that the women were quietly weeping and a quite a few of the men also looked as if there were tears in their eyes. Damn his brother was a fool.

The moment he reached the tower room he gently laid Trista on her stomach on the bed. He quickly wet a cloth and placed it on her back hoping to take the sting out of the welts. He pushed her hair from her face and took a step back when he saw the loathing in her gaze.

“
Leave me alone I cannot stand your filthy hands on me.” She hissed and felt some satisfaction when she noticed his ruddy complexion pale and saw the pain clouding his blue eyes.

The moment the first lash struck her, he knew that she would hate him for what he had done to her, but to see just how much, tore at his heart. And he knew that he just lost something very special. He knelt down by the side of the bed and touched her face. “Forgive me, sweet, I’ve been a fool. I shouldnae have done what I did.”