Too Far to Whisper by Arianna Eastland Page B

a…savage?”
    She nodded.
    “But why have you never spoken of this before? For what purpose have you kept it a secret?”
    Rosalind’s large blue eyes brimmed with fresh tears, and her bottom lip began to quiver. “When I awoke, I was naked,” she said softly. She looked down at her hands. They seemed so pale and small against her brother’s. “I was not certain then what had occurred, but in my nightmares since that night I have seen him, covered in bearskin and leaning over me, his hands upon my bare flesh. Perhaps he felt he deserved a reward for saving my life, which was why he…” She lowered her head, unable to say any more.
    Ben tore his hands from hers and reached to grasp her shoulders. “Please, sister…tell me what the savage did.”
    Rosalind slowly lifted her head. In her eyes, Ben plainly read what she was unable to put into words.
    “Dear Lord!” He pulled Rosalind’s trembling body into his arms. She clung to him and wept.
    “How have you managed to keep silent about this for all of these years?” Ben asked. He noticed that his hand was shaking as he reached up to stroke her hair.
    “I-I was too ashamed to speak of it,” she choked, her words muffled against his shirt. She moved to look up imploringly at him. “Please, Ben, I beseech you, promise me you will breathe not a word of this to anyone!”
    He pulled her back against him. “You have my word.” She felt his muscles tense. “But the Lord as my witness, Rosalind, if it takes me the rest of my life, I shall track down the savage and make him pay for what he did to you.”
    Rosalind broke away from the comfort of Ben’s arms and wiped her eyes on the sleeve of her dress. “’Twould be a futile quest,” she said, “for too many years have passed.” She sighed. “It matters not anyway. What is done is done, and there is naught you, I, nor anyone else can do to change what occurred…although Lord knows, it would be worth any sacrifice if I could change it.”
    A look of confusion settled on Ben’s face. “Forgive me, Rosalind, but I do not understand why it was so urgent for you to discuss this matter with me this evening or why you were so distressed at supper.”
    “Do you not understand, Ben? Everyone, most especially Nathaniel, believes me to be pure! If I go through with this marriage, he will learn the truth on our wedding night and cast me aside. The scandal would bring shame upon our entire family. And what do you suppose our sisters’ chances of ever wedding a decent man would be after that?”
    Ben’s jaw muscles flexed as he considered her words. “I believe I now understand why you have been so opposed to marriage all these years. But have you considered confessing the truth to Nathaniel? Surely he could not fault you for a tragedy that occurred when you were so young…and helpless. The savage’s actions were beyond your control. In your heart and mind you are still pure.”
    Rosalind laughed bitterly. “My heart and mind matter not to him! Nathaniel has informed me it is imperative his bride be chaste, and that he be the first – and the last – man to touch her. His ego never would allow him to accept a woman who has lain with another man…especially a savage.”
    Ben frowned at her. “Then why, dear sister, did you agree to marry the man?”
    Rosalind hesitated, unable to meet her brother’s penetrating gaze. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. There was no easy way to tell Ben about their father’s secret gambling habit.
    “Please, Rosalind,” he gently urged, “you know you can confess anything to me.”
    “According to Nathaniel,” she finally began with marked difficulty, “our father died owing Elias Corwin a large sum of money he had borrowed from him to cover his gambling debts. Father spoke not a word of it to anyone, not even to Mother. If I choose not to wed Nathaniel, he has threatened to demand that his father call the debt…by laying claim to all of the Chandler