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“Do you?” His murmur was low and deadly, and she hated that he used that tone with her. “What manner of excuse do you have to explain your behavior?”
“Surely you must see I had to do what—”
“You naive, reckless…” The words exploded from him, shocking her with their ferocity.
Oh God, he is furious.
Her heart started a slow thud.
“If he had overpowered you…you cannot imagine what he may have done to you, countess. Once again, you were reckless and acted without thought or logic o
ver your emotions. It would be an injustice if I do not tan your backside so that you will not be able to sit for days,” he snarled. “He would have brutally beaten and raped you. Was it so hard to inform me of what was happening? Did you believe I would not have defended your honor? Do you have such little faith in me, wife?”
Her eyes widened. She had never seen him so…so…intimidating. “If you had made it possible to confide in you, I would not have been placed in such an untenable situation.”
He jerked as if she had slapped him.
“I wanted to spare you from scandal…and in truth, I was not sure if you would give the matter any thought. I know how much you deplore emotional tantrums and tears, and I was afraid to tell my husband of my worries because I feared you would not approve of me!”
He stepped toward her, and Livvie turned and fled. She ran through the hallway, and out the door as if the devil were on her heels. She continued through the forecourt and on to the uneven country road until she slowed to a walk. She panted breathlessly, her throat tightening with tears. She knew what would happen now.
Scandal. Horrible scandal. The cook would tell her niece, who worked as an upstairs maid at another great house, and that niece will inform a cousin, and then it would spread to the drawing rooms and parlors of those most influential in the ton.
Her stomach cramped.
Worse, Tobias was indeed shocked at her behavior. A sob burst from her throat.
The pounding hooves of a horse sounded behind her. She stopped walking and waited for him to approach. He jumped off the horse before it fully halted, grabbed her around the waist, and seated her none too gentle in the saddle astride. He mounted behind her and urged the stallion into a powerful run.
They rode hard, and she felt every jolt on her backside. She would be sore later, but instead of protesting, she held on to the pommel, seething. They swept through the high walls leading to his lands, and he turned the horse toward a grotto, where he jerked to a halt. He pushed from the horse and handed her the reins.
She stared down at him dazedly and was shocked at the depth of rage and contempt she spied in his eyes. Pain tore through her heart. His knuckles were bruised and bloody. She ran a finger softly over the cuts. “Please, Tobias, we must discuss this.”
“Return to the main house,” he said with chilling calm. “I want you out of my sight.”
She flinched. Then she scrambled from the horse, almost falling to the ground in her haste. She slapped the rump of the horse, and he cantered away before slowing to a walk.
“Why would you say this to me? How have I caused such an offense you would wish me from your very sight?”
“If you had been honest instead of manipulative, I would not have almost killed a man.” He gazed at his hands in a daze, on the blood on his knuckles. “I gave you every opportunity to confide in me and instead you once again acted with reckless disregard for anyone but yourself.”
“How dare you, Tobias. You did nothing to make me believe I could trust you with my emotions. I had to act for myself, as I did not believe my own husband would protect me at the cost of appearing emotional.” Her voice shook. “Do you think I am not aware of the manner of man I have had the misfortune to fall in love with?”
His lips curved in a sneer, and her anger flared even hotter.
“Yes, Tobias, love! The emotion you seem to despise in equal measure along with anger and damnable tears. I am a woman! I am human, I cannot remain unfeeling and repress all the emotions I have because you have demanded it to be so. You are an arrogant and unfeeling lout!”
“This is what you think of me?”
“Can there be any other thought to be had?” she asked hoarsely. “From the moment we became intimate you’ve informed me I am not to cry, not to be angry, and heaven forbid I actually swoon. You want me to be cold and unfeeling. Do you deny it?”
He made no answer.
“Do you love me?”
His face shuttered. “You know my thoughts on the matter.”
“Do I?”
