A prickle of warning went through her. "What are you doing?"
"I've waited too long to consummate this marriage."
Revulsion shook her. "Nay! I am not your wife."
He smirked. "I have a certificate that says otherwise. It contains your signature."
"A forced marriage is not a legal one," she declared.
"'Tis also signed by a priest." He raised his brows smugly.
"A corrupt one you paid a great deal of money."
"Do you think that matters? In the eyes of the law and the church, 'tis legal."
Anna had to focus on what mattered, the whole reason she'd been forced to sign the damnable document. "Where is my sister?"
"Would you cease about her for a quarter hour?" Blackburn said through clenched teeth.
"Nay, I will not! Did you hurt her?"
"Not yet. But I will if you don't hold your tongue and submit to me." He leaned toward her. "I'd much rather have your tongue twined around mine."
She grimaced, not caring if he saw. "Keep your hands off me!"
"As your husband, I have every right to put my hands on you anywhere, anyway and anytime I wish."
Bastard. She had to think of something fast to prevent him from carrying through with his plans. She forced herself to speak in a docile tone. "At least untie me… so I can enjoy myself."
His eyes widened, then searched her face. "Ha. If only I believed you. I ken you will fight me."
She dropped still, pretending to be submissive. "I won't fight you. If you promise not to harm my sister, I'll do my wifely duty."
He cut the rope from her ankles. "Have you lain with that Neacal bastard?"
"Nay. How many more times will you ask me this?" She had no choice but to lie if she wished to live. Now, she only need convince him to cut the rope from her hands and she could grab the knife on her ankle, hopefully before he saw it. The building was dark and that would work in her favor.
"I didn't think so… once I saw his face while you two were on the ramparts. He's scarred so hideously, I'm certain no woman will go near him. Unless he forced you." His eyes narrowed. "Did he?"
"Nay, of course not!"
Blackburn nodded. "If you birth a bairn which is not mine, I'll know it."
She frowned, wondering if he was insane and arrogant enough to think he would know such a thing.
"I won't harm your sister, if you cooperate with me. We both ken you're no virgin, so there is no need for me to be gentle, aye?" He laughed.
Nausea consumed her. "On second thought, I prefer to wait until we have a bed to officially consummate our marriage. 'Twould only be fitting for a chief and his wife. We are not peasants. 'Twould be beneath us for our first time to be in a byre like animals."
"You're right, but I suddenly feel animal-like." He gave a nasty grin. "You've stirred my lusts to boiling. And I find I'm an impatient man. I've waited long enough for you. I can wait no longer."
Anna ground her teeth. "Then surely you will untie my hands, aye?" she asked in what she hoped was a reasonable tone. "'Tis uncomfortable with them behind my back."
He observed her for a long moment. "I'm thinking you could be a good wife. You're far calmer than you used to be. Mayhap our marriage could work."
Saints. The man had a grand imagination if he thought she would willingly accept him as a husband after all the horrid things he had done to her and her family. All she had to do was pretend amiability for a few more minutes, until he untied her hands. If she didn't succeed in her plan, then so be it. She would rather die than submit to him and his lusts.
She forced her lips to curve upward the slightest bit, watching him with what she hoped was a friendly expression.
"If you'll behave yourself, m'lady, I'll cut the ropes off your hands. Do you promise?"
"Aye, of course." She knew exactly how tobehavetoward him. Much in the same way he'd always treated her. With ruthless calculation. She had to, if she ever wanted to see Neacal again.
