Free The Bride and the Brute by Jack Page A

my husband,” she answered. He began to shake his head, but she continued undaunted. “It was my duty to stand by you.”
    Reese’s gaze was drawn by her parted lips. Any words she was about to say died as his gaze devoured her mouth as thoroughly as if he were kissing her. He turned away quickly and found his stare occupied by the ledgers of his farms.
    “Perhaps you can use the alewives for the time being,” Jayce suggested.
    “What?” Reese asked.
    Jayce pointed to the ledgers. “The alewives. Take some of them to work in the fields until the men are well. They won’t be as skilled as the field workers, but they’ll do for the time being.”
    “Women?” Reese asked dubiously.
    “Their backs and arms might be sore because they’re unused to the work, but give them a day of rest, and they won’t protest as much.”
    “A day of rest?” Reese echoed with distaste. “Women are not made to do the job of men,”
    he added imperiously.
    Jayce shrugged and turned to move out the door, calling over her shoulder, “It will solve your problem.”
    Reese watched her go, staring at the empty doorway for a moment, then turned back to study his ledgers. “Alewives,” he muttered incredulously under his breath.

    *****
Early the next morning, Jayce leaned over the gate to Satan’s pen, waving a carrot at the proud stallion that haughtily eyed the offered food. She dropped her arm in disappointment and lifted her eyes. Beyond the pen, out in the fields, Jayce noticed six alewives working alongside the men. She smiled in amazement.
    She turned back to Satan, again offering him the carrot. The horse snorted, refusing the food. Finally, frustrated by the horse’s disregard for her gift, Jayce straightened.
    “He’s not as easily fooled by your pretense at innocence.”
    Jayce whirled to find Morse approaching from a nearby barn. She clutched her hands before her, trying to still the unease that raced through her body.
    Morse eyed the horse, then the gate. “How fitting to find you at the gate to hell.”
    Jayce scowled. “What do you want?”
    Morse took a step toward her. “I should ask you that question.”
    Jayce tilted her head slightly in confusion. “I don’t know what you mean.”

    “Tell me why you’ve come to Castle Harrington,” Morse demanded. “Are you here to destroy my family?”
    “Destroy...? No!” Jayce answered emphatically. “I came to wed Reese.”
    “By kidnapping Nicole?” Morse demanded.
    “Do you think I would have come if I had known what my father had done? How do you think this makes me look? Do you think I wanted to live like this? A husband who wants nothing to do with me. No chance for a loving family, no chance for children.” She looked away from him, blinking back the tears of shame that suddenly rose before her eyes.
    “Such a touching act,” he cooed richly. “I could almost believe you. Tell me, how long have you practiced that speech?”
    Jayce straightened her back, her eyes narrowing. “I don’t want your sympathy. What’s done is done. And I, for one, intend to make the best of it.”
    “Make the best of what?” Morse asked. “By Reese’s own words you are nothing more than a guest here at Castle Harrington.”
    “I am Reese’s wife in the eyes of God.”
    Morse laughed sharply, his snicker spitting out from his mouth like a snake’s venom.
    “Nowadays that doesn’t count for much. Not with an annulment so easily paid for. And that is one thing we do not lack—coin, as you well know.” He turned his back on her, his ugly chortle of contempt lingering in the air as he walked away.
    Annulment. The word sent shivers down Jayce’s spine. What would she do if Reese decided to annul their marriage? Where would she go?
    She felt a warm wetness brush her hand, then she heard a crunch. She looked down to see she still held the carrot tightly in her fist but a large bite had been taken from the end of it. Jayce raised her eyes to see the black warhorse