He kicked her again. Tears welled in her eyes from the exploding pain in her chest.
He grabbed her hair and pulled her head back, forcing her to look into his eyes. Into torrents of rage.
“I wanted that marriage. I wanted the platinum he offered for you and the alliance between our families. Our combined forces could have dominated the entire region.”
He released her with such force, her face smacked against the cold, hard floor. Pain lanced through her cheekbone, and she shuddered as she suppressed a sob.
“Now you’ve ruined it.” He strode away from her, then stood staring out the window, his hands clasped behind his back. “I’m told the man you were with was a Herrington. Is that also true, daughter?”
She pushed herself to her knees. “I’d never seen him before, but he protected me from some soldiers who came along.”
“Drakemont’s soldiers. Who I’m sure you had no reason to fear.”
So that’s how he knew. One of them must have recognized her.
“Was his name Herrington?” he demanded.
“I don’t know.”
“Don’t lie to me. Right now, your usefulness to me is close to nil since everyone believes you are soiled. If you lie to me about this, then I must believe you’re lying to me about being a virgin.”
His voice grew very quiet. “That means I have no choice but to follow through on my promise.”
He glanced toward Bahrd, who stood at the door, grinning at her. She trembled, remembering the young housekeeper. Remembering Bahrd violently thrusting into her. Remembering her father’s promise that she would suffer the same fate should she ever lose her virginity -- and her usefulness to him.
“You have one more chance to answer truthfully. Was his name Herrington?”
She hesitated, and he dragged her to her feet and propelled her toward the door and the sneering lout. Oh, God, no. The thought of those rough brutes and what they’d do to her ... She couldn’t ...
“Yes,” she cried, hating herself for her weakness. “His name was Herrington.”
He released her arm and she fell to the floor.
“Those dehn’rad Herringtons will pay dearly for this.”
She quivered at his words. Saying anything to try to help Keern would only make matters worse. If her father suspected she had feelings for the man, he would relish the revenge even more. She could only pray Keern would survive her father’s wrath.
He shoved her at Bahrd. “Keep an eye on her until I get back. I don’t want her talking to anyone.”
Bahrd wrenched her arm from her father’s grasp and dragged her through the door.
* * * * *
“For heaven’s sake, Keern. Go ride ahead. Your restlessness is unsettling the horses.”
Keern glanced at the carriage carrying the women, then back to Will riding horseback beside him. What if thieves attacked?
“But if there’s trouble --”
“There won’t be. Even if there were, we could handle it.”
Keern nodded to Will, thankful for his brother’s instincts. His brothers and cousin, the carriage driver, and the five soldiers accompanying them should be able to handle any danger that came their way.
Keeping pace with the carriage was a difficult task today. He wanted to feel speed, to allow the wind to sweep his brain clean of unwanted memories. If he’d been on Kulasta, the planet he’d called home for the past two years, he’d have climbed into his air car and sped up to two hundred kilometers per hour, letting the landscape fly past in a blur.
“I’ll ride as far as the hill, then wait for you.”
“Go.” Will waved him away. “As far as you need.”