Spring's Mystical Promise by Leigh Ann Edwards

Author:Leigh Ann Edwards
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance
ISBN: 9781959988007
Publisher: Tule Publishing Group, LLC
Published: 2022-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

“Elspeth.” Broccan shook her gently. The thought of her dying tore at his heart.

He carried her as fast as he dared. Fionn, bloodied and torn, limped beside him. Oisin walked next to Fairfax, whose arm bore a bite mark.

When they finally reached the manor, Matty and Mirtha met them at the door.

Rhianwyn pushed past them to his side. “By Christ, what’s happened to her? Has Godric killed her? Oh dear God, that should be me!”

More absurdities! But before he could question his wife, Elspeth began coughing.

“Take her to the room next to Selena’s chambers,” Matty said.

“Fairfax!” Mirtha said, noticing the blood on his arm. She dropped to her knees and pulled back his tunic. “What’s happened?”

“We were attacked by sarding wolves!” The boy shrugged off his sister’s concern. “Sir Broccan and the dogs were battling them. But Elspeth told them to leave, and they obeyed.”

“Chester’s gone to send Cassian for Radella,” Broccan told Rhianwyn as he carried Elspeth inside.

His wife appeared stricken. She made no move to assess Elspeth or Fairfax, which was completely unlike her. She was always steadfast in her ability to stay placid and levelheaded when healing. He’d seen that on the training field. She hadn’t faltered when three dozen men were injured including himself.

Now, she only stared as he laid her injured friend on the bed. Elspeth’s face was grotesquely swollen. Her forehead was gashed as well as her throat. The amount of blood on the back of her gown left little doubt she’d been raped.

Broccan’s own blood boiled. Whomever had done this would pay with their life. He would defend any woman who’d suffered such indecency, but this was different. He couldn’t understand it, but what he felt for Elspeth wasn’t only that of his wife’s friend. It wasn’t even primal need or desire. He cared for her, far more than he should any other woman.

Any woman but his wife.

“We must place cool cloths upon the swelling,” Matty advised.

Rhianwyn stared at Elspeth, on the verge of weeping, as though she herself was to blame for this great travesty.

Broccan nudged her. “You must have some remedies that would assist with pain?”

She didn’t even answer.

“I’m not certain Elspeth feels pain just now,” Mirtha said.

Matty’s eyes filled with tears. “That might be a blessin’!”

Selena entered the room, then stopped short when she saw Elspeth on the bed. “Oh…by God’s nails. What’s happened to Rhi…er…to Elspeth?”

“We don’t know.” Broccan could barely control his apprehension and his fury. “We can only presume it had somethin’ to do with Godric.”

Just then Cassian, Chester and Radella arrived.

Radella glanced briefly at Elspeth. “I’ll need the lot of you to leave. Only Matty will remain.” She looked hard at Rhianwyn. “And you, if you’ve a mind to help…though by your aghast face, I’d suggest you’d be more of a hindrance.”

Elspeth lifted a hand. “Don’t go, Broccan.” Her voice was thick and cracked.

Rhianwyn turned to look at him.

“Please let Broccan stay with her,” she said. “If it brings her consolation.”

Selena cast her a wary glance.

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