Free The Letter by Sandra Owens

in mine, and allow yourself to give me a little of your trust.” He smiled. “At least enough to put your buttons in my hands so you don’t have to sleep in your gown.”
    He waited. Slowly, so excruciating slowly, she reached for him. Another small step, yet it seemed like a grand victory. In silence he led her to the door of her room. As they walked, he marveled at the feel of her soft, slender hand. Such a small, delicate hand she had, making his feel big and strong.
    When they reached her chamber, he opened her door. “Turn around.”
    She obediently turned and he unbuttoned her gown doing his best not to touch her skin. He wanted her to know she could trust him to keep his word. At the sixth button down, just above her chemise, the burn on her skin was revealed. Were there other scars on her body that testified to Leo’s cruelty? He took a deep calming breath.
    “There, all done.” He put his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him. She was rigid under his palms, her eyes fixed on his cravat. “Sleep well,” he said and kissed her forehead.
    He went to his room, changed into riding breeches and boots, then headed for the stables. Leo had tortured her. If he stayed in his chamber he might start destroying things. He saddled one of his hunters and rode the poor beast to near exhaustion before he felt like he had outrun his fury.
    ****
    From the window seat in her chamber, Diana watched Michael gallop down the lane, disappearing into the dark. Where was he going at this time? Leo had kept a mistress in a nearby cottage at Brant Manor, often visiting her late at night. So grateful he had someone else to fulfill his needs, she had occasionally, and very secretively, left gift baskets of food on the woman’s steps when Leo was not in residence. Was Michael going to see his mistress? Her disappointment surprised her.
    She brushed her fingers over her skin where he had kissed her. She had expected to be repulsed, but his kiss had been sweet. She pulled up her knees and wrapped her arms around them. He said she could trust him, and she wanted to. But she no longer had faith in her judgment, so how was she to know if she could believe him?
    Still sitting in the window seat two hours later, she watched Michael return. Where had he gone? She hadn’t lit any candles and was able to clearly see him walking the horse down the lane, talking to his mount and patting the animal’s neck.
    She closed her eyes and recalled the deep rumble of his voice, a voice that was the same and yet different from the Michael she had once known. Long buried memories of words spoken with love and passion assailed her senses. She had believed every single one, but his promise of forever had been a lie.
    Resentment and hurt, feelings she had long thought dealt with, hit her with the force of a fierce storm whose screaming winds toppled hundred-year-old trees. She hugged her knees, pressed her face against them and helplessly sobbed for the first time in years. And as she wept, she let the pain of Michael’s betrayal and Leo’s brutalities consume her. She cried until she had no tears left and when she was done, the heaviness in her heart eased a bit.
    A while later, she heard Michael moving about in his chamber. She held still until the light shining through the bottom of their connecting door went out. She slipped quietly into bed and slept soundly.
    ****
    Michael leaned in and inhaled, wanting to know what scent Diana wore today. The second day he had expected the rose fragrance again, but she surprised him with a lemon scent, reminding him of sunshine and summer days. Yesterday had been lavender and, he sniffed, today was vanilla. His mouth watered, and he had the urge to lick her. These unwarranted urges needed to stop.
    “Why are you sniffing me?” She took a step away from him.
    “My pardon, but I couldn’t resist. You smell like a pie, which happens to be one of my favorite things.”
    He caught the slight twitch of her lips