Plead Forgiveness: Betrayed Twice (Loyalty Series) Read Online Free Page B

an hour ago
remains untouched. She just stares out the window, silent as the dead.”
    Father Logan asked
Lady Esme, “When will Laird Gavin return?”
    “A fortnight,
mayhap less. I pray Lady Eleanor and Sir James are with him.”
    “We will all pray
for Ella and her family,” Father Logan said as he covered Lady Esme’s hand.
     
    While the Macleods
continued in the hall, Ella sat in her chamber, feeling violated and disgraced.
Her thoughts turned from the horrible ordeal she had suffered with the midwife,
to her husband, the man who caused her torment.
    I will never
forgive him, never trust him again.
    Hours later, she
crawled into bed beside Arth, who already dozed. She listened to the rain
outside her window and later the rumbling of thunder. Unfortunately, sleep
eluded her. Feeling drained and lifeless, she opened her eyes the next morning
and saw early daylight spill through the window. She hastened through her
ablutions, dressed, and then left the chamber.
    Paen and Leif
greeted Ella when she arrived at the stables.
    “Thought ye get
started without us, did ye?” Paen teased as he came to her side.
    “Here, we brought
ye an apple,” Leif said as he handed her the fruit.
    Ella gave them
both a shy smile in gratitude.
    *
     
    Over the next few
days Ella, Paen, and Leif worked with Righ in the mornings, took long rides
throughout the countryside in the afternoons, and in the evenings shared a meal
with Colban and his family. Although Ella’s anguish persisted during these days
and her contagious smile all but disappeared, Paen noticed a few glimpses of
the once happy, carefree young woman. Cole and Obe, Iain and Helena’s two young
sons, brought life back into her eyes.
    At four summers,
Cole, adored Ella’s playful nature, while his younger brother by two years
loved the way she tickled him.  The boys especially loved when she acted
out stories of dragons, using their parents or Paen as characters. Much to the
amusement of Colban’s family, she always had Paen play the evil dragon, and
after a few nights in this role, the hardened warrior soon became an animated
character. Paen often shook his head at her remarkable ability to enchant those
around her. He still could not believe that Ella, a mere slip of a girl, goaded
him into playing a fiery dragon to entertain two small lads and their family.
     
    After everyone
retired, Tavish and Paen remained in the great hall, discussing the day ahead.
    “Tavish, starting
tomorrow ye will take Lady Ella to the village and introduce her to the
families.”
    “I would be happy
to, but did ye forget about Alice?”
    Paen took a seat
next to his brother at the hearth and said, “Och, I thought she departed with
her brother.”
    “Nae, she told
Maeve that Lyall will send for her when he joins another clan.”
    Running his hand
through his hair, Paen asked, “Did Gavin have enough sense to tell Alice that
she is nae longer needed in the castle?”
    Tavish took a swig
of ale before answering. “He told Alice she can work in the castle as a maid,
but will nae be needed in his bed.”
    “I haven’t seen
her in the castle since we left in search of Gabriel,” Paen admitted.
    “Gavin confined
her to the village until she is ready to work.”
    “While she
occupied our brother’s bed, I ne’er once saw her lift a finger to help mother
or the other women in the castle. Do ye really think she will come?”
    “Aye, she told
Maeve that Gavin will always have need of her skills. I fear she dinna plan to
relinquish her claim on our brother easily.”
    Paen finished his
ale and spat, “She is a manipulative bitch, whose only skills are on her back
and using people to obtain what she wants. Let us hope ye and Ella dinna cross
paths with her.”
    “Aye, I plan to
avoid her like the plague.”
    “Good. I will be
with Ella in the morning and ye can take her around the village in the
afternoon. If ye have need of me, although I pray ye won’t, I’ll be training
the men in