Part 43 (2/2)
”Nay, Cat. He's abandoned me. I meant nothing to him when compared with his honor.” She spat that hated word. ”That is all that matters to him. I just hope it keeps him warm in his old age.”
Catarina gave her a knowing smile. ”No real man would ever willingly let the woman he loves be touched by another man. He will come for you. Trust me.”
It was a nice thought, but Nora didn't believe it for a minute.
Her father came forward to lead her to Ryan.
Please, let me break a leg or fall down dead.
It was all she could do not to turn around and run, screaming, through the village.
But no matter how distasteful this was, she wouldn't embarra.s.s her father or herself.
So she walked woodenly toward the crowd that was gathered there to see this living nightmare fulfilled.
Ryan waited with a grim look on his face.
Run, Nora, run.
Her father's tight grip on her arm was the only thing that prevented it.
”Don't embarra.s.s me, la.s.s,” he whispered under his breath as if he knew her thoughts.
Nora kept her gaze forward, focused on the gathered crowd. Ryan's plump mother was weeping in happiness. His father looked rather aggravated. The two of them stood off to the side, waiting for the moment when she would become their daughter.
They still didn't know how much money their son owed.
Not even she could bear to tell them. That was for Ryan to do.
Ryan stood at the door with the priest, but he refused to meet her gaze. He glanced at anything other than her as if ashamed of what he'd done.
And well he should be.
They paused in front of the priest.
Nora locked her legs together, afraid she was going to faint before this could be done.
She trembled as her father pa.s.sed her hand from his arm into Ryan's hands. It was all she could do not to curl her lip.
Her father publicly renounced his ties to her and moved away from them. He went to stand next to her mother, who watched with misery burning bright on her beautiful face.
Her feelings were mirrored in Nora's tight belly.
”I'm sorry about this, Nora,” Ryan whispered to her. ”But I promise I'll make you a good husband.”
Nora's thoughts whirled at his words and at the memory they evoked.
My wife...
A momentary slice of happiness slashed through her as a glimmer of hope appeared.
Something that just might save her.
Could she have found her reprieve?
Oh please, let this work.
The priest began the ceremony to bind them...
”Do you, Eleanor ingen Alexander of Canmore, take Ryan-”
”Wait!” she said, her heart pounding in fear and excitement. ”May I ask a question?”
”Nora,” her father's voice boomed. ”This isn't the time for your curiosity.”
She flashed him an impatient scowl. ”But 'tis an important question, Father.Really important.”
Ryan rolled his eyes and gave a long, disgusted sigh. ”Best let her have at the asking, or we'll have no peace from her tongue.”
She glared at him and fought down a sudden urge to kick his s.h.i.+n.
”Ask your question, la.s.s,” the priest said charitably.
Drawing a deep breath, she spoke. ”Can a woman marry one man while being handfasted to another?”
There was an audible intake of breath at her question.
The priest frowned. ”Why would you ask that?”
”Nora,” her mother said, her tone suspicious, ”what are you saying?”
Nora squirmed a bit as she hoped this worked to her benefit. Ewan might not want her, but at least this would save her from being tied to Ryan.
”Well...” she began slowly. ”Ewan told everyone that he was my husband while we were traveling.”
”Aye,” Catarina said, a smile breaking across her face as she caught on to Nora's plan. ”I heard his proclamation myself. He said it proudly before an entire gathering of people.”
”Aye,” Viktor concurred. He indicated him and Bavel. ”We heard it as well. You may check with any person who was there. Ewan made no pretense of hiding it.”
The roar of the shocked crowd became deafening.
Ryan's father decried it as trickery. His mother sobbed uncontrollably.
”And where is this Ewan now?” the priest asked, having to shout to be heard over the cacophony.