He wasn’t sure how much time had passed when he jerked awake to the sound of footsteps. He didn’t remember dozing off, but Lord only knew what hour of the night it might be.
Torchlight flickered, casting ominous shadows, as Lord James opened the door, and the priest walked in behind him, followed by Isabella.
His heart leapt at the sight of her but then quailed at the look in her eyes—cold, resolute. No, the earl couldn’t have convinced her. It wasn’t possible.
“Go ahead. Say what you have to say, my lady,” Lord James prompted, his voice oozing with triumph.
Squaring her shoulders, Isabella turned her impassive gaze on Martin. “I don’t care for you. I’ve never cared for you. I do not wish to remain married to you. Please agree to an annulment so that I can marry Lord James. Our arrangement is finished.”
Each word pierced his heart like a dirk, and he could hardly breathe by the time she was finished. This couldn’t be. Lord James must have done or said something terrible to convince her. The Isabella whom he’d held in his arms this very afternoon would never allow this man to win.
“What have you said to her to make her agree?” Martin’s voice was still rough and ragged from being strangled, but he did his best to infuse every word with ice.
“Not a thing,” said Lord James with a smug smile. “I have neither threatened her nor have I threatened you to get her to agree. Have I, my dear?” he said, turning to her, pinning her with a steely gaze.
Isabella gave the earl a resigned look then turned back to Martin, her gaze cold and distant. “He has not threatened you or me.” For a moment, her expression shifted, as if there was something specific she wanted him to know. But what?
“I merely wish to be free of you,” she continued in a chilly monotone. “All this time I’ve been toying with you to goad LordJames into making a better offer. There is nothing between us and there never was. I was always meant to be an earl’s wife, and now I shall be.”
Martin stared at his bride in horrified silence. He could read no lie in her eyes, no secret message that this was all a ruse. Still…he couldn’t believe her words. There had to be more to this.
“Whatever he’s done to you, I swear I’ll make him pay.” As soon as he was able, he would tear the earl limb from limb.
“He’s done nothing to me. This ismychoice. I wish to marry him, and you promised you would release me if I asked. So, I am asking. Will you release me, or are you going back on your promise?”
For a moment, a spark of fire glimmered in her eye, and then it was gone, masked behind layers and layers of cold will.
Oh, Isabella, what did he say to you?
But she did not relent as she stood there in stony silence, staring him down. Whatever Lord James had done, it was bad enough that she needed him to at least appear to give in. “I am a man of my word, my lady. If you wish to be free of me, I won’t stand in the way,” he said at last, each word leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.
Lord James grinned and clapped. “Now, was that so hard? Father Michael, you heard the man. Are you satisfied now?”
The priest nodded slowly. “Yes, I believe that gives us enough to work with, as long as he doesn’t change his mind before the tribunal.”
“The only reason I would change my mind is if Isabella changes hers,” Martin said. Whatever game was afoot here, Isabella needed him to make this look convincing. “Since she wishes to be rid of me, I will do as she asks.”
Lord James nodded and turned to the door. “Eadric, take Lord Martin to the room we’ve prepared for him, and have thehealer tend to his wounds. We need him well enough to stand before the tribunal.”
Martin narrowed his eyes. “Why bother healing me and going through with the annulment? You could just kill me.”
“Isabella has convinced me that it would be unwise to anger Lady Eleanor by killing an ally when I’m trying to ingratiate myself to her husband.”
Selfish bastard. At least it meant Martin would live to see another day, and as long as he drew breath, he could fight this. Isabella would never wed Lord James. Martin would see to that.
Lord James turned to go, taking Isabella and the priest with him.
“Yes, my lord.”
Two guards entered and pulled him up, none too gently. He put an arm over each of their shoulders and did his best to hop along as they manhandled him out of the dungeon.
This was not the end, Martin swore to himself as he winced and grunted. He would save Isabella from that beast, whatever it took.
Chapter Twenty-Six
As soon asthe door shut behind her, Isabella ran to her sister’s side and sobbed.
“What is it?” Adelaide said weakly, her voice little more than a croak.
