Captive Hearts by Teresa J Reasor

cautious platitudes Edward had been offering her for months. She turned to face Lord Willingham, as her rage thrust through her control and overrode her sense of propriety. “I wonder how differently you would feel if it had been your wife or daughter, who had been left lying in the street, beaten and bloody, her dignity torn from her, and her neck, bruised and raw, from a noose twisted until the life was strangled from her. I wonder how patiently you would wait, if every person you loved were suddenly ripped away from you, as my family has been from me.”
    She had been alone for months, but an overwhelming sense of abandonment swept over her. She turned away from them, her composure deserting her. With a twist of the knob, she opened the French doors and fled the room.
    Driven from his seat, Matthew strode forward to follow her. Edward grasped his arm as he passed, his grip surprisingly strong. “We must speak about what can be done to protect my niece, Captain Hamilton. In the state she is in, she may well attempt something foolish.” If she were tempted to do something foolish, it would be because she had received little or no support from her
    only living relative. “You forced her to marry me to get her out of the country.”
    “I did not force her. She agreed to the marriage once she met with you. It was the only thing I could think to do under the circumstances. I am sure you have noticed how headstrong Katherine can be. Frankly, I found it exhausting trying to reason with her about the situation.
    She is too driven by her need for justice to listen to anything.”
    He could understand that. Had it been his own family he would have spent every waking moment personally hunting down the men responsible. He wondered why, with all the resources available to him, Edward Leighton wasn’t doing that. He studied the man more closely. “Just what is being done to see these men are caught?”
    “The local magistrate has hired some men to look for them, as have I. There has yet to be any news from them.
    It seems the brigands have grown more cautious since the attack upon my brother and his family.” His gaze shifted to Talbot. His uncle’s frowning visage met his in silent communication.
    “Of course she has been tormented by dreams of the man who attacked her.” Edward’s expression grew mournful. “It wasn’t enough that she was nearly strangled to death, but for them to abuse her as they did her dear mother.” He shook his head.
    A dropping sensation struck Matthew’s stomach.
    With the force of a blow, the reason behind her behavior of the night before and the purpose of the dark droplets on the sheet became clear. The adage that a horrible injury is numbed by the sheer magnitude of the trauma was true. When the numbness wore off, he would know how to feel. His face felt wooden as he turned his attention to Edward. “You must be mistaken.” The man started and looked up at him. “What do you mean?”
    “It must be clear. Last night was our wedding night.” Edward’s brow creased and he narrowed his gaze.
    “It’s understandable, Captain Hamilton, that you wish to protect Katherine’s reputation.” Was that not what her uncle should want as well?
    The numbness began to recede as anger rushed in to replace it. He controlled the impulse to jerk the man out of the chair and shake him like the sniveling rat he was.
    Aware of Clarisse and Talbot’s presence, he glanced briefly at his aunt. “Forgive me for speaking so bluntly in your presence, Clarisse.” Focusing on Edward, he took a measured step toward the man. “Do you think me such a fool I wouldn’t know the difference between bedding a virgin and a woman who is not?” Edward’s mouth opened and closed as he sought an answer.
    “Shall I have the proof dragged from our marriage bed for your perusal? Should I call my valet down to testify to the blood upon the sheets?” Edward shook his head. “I meant no insult.”
    “Yes, you did.” He