“He’s gone,” said Adalyn. “And I’m here. That’s all that matters.” Bravely she turned around, her hands at her breasts, holding her gown over them as best she could. “Knowing you are incensed helps me understand that I truly am safe here now. That I don’t have to fear such…such behavior ever again.”
She lifted her chin, and stared back at the gentlemen, expecting to see them smile.
But the looks on their faces were not happy ones, and she glanced down to see what was upsetting them.
She’d forgotten about the other marks.
Bruises, turning greenish yellow now, clearly betrayed the mark of a man’s hands. Each finger had left an imprint, and though she was covered, her gown had slipped low enough over her breasts to reveal them.
“Oh Adalyn, Adalyn,” sighed Jeremy. “Why didn’t you say something?” He came to her, walked behind, and gently began to lace her bodice.
She adjusted the gown as he did so. “They are not painful. Not anymore. And once they’re gone, I shall be able to put those memories behind me.”
She lifted her chin. “I have learned from it. Things I probably should have known before. But I had hoped for a modicum of kindness from my new husband, even though my mother told me to accept whatever he wanted to do to me, and not make a fuss. She told me he was my husband and that husbands can do as they like with their wives. She and my father were gone before the wedding, so I had nobody to ask, nobody to turn to. My hopes for some sort of happy union vanished the first night.” She shivered, then nodded her thanks to Jeremy who still stood behind her, his hands resting on her shoulders in comfort.
“I learned about cruelty, I suppose. And what a man will do when unchecked by a conscience or an iota of empathy for the woman he has married. Or, I think I should say bought, in my case.”
“I ache for you,” whispered Jeremy. “It was so brutally wrong what he did.”
“No man should ever raise a hand to a woman in anger, Lady Adalyn,” said Trick, his voice hard.
“You will never need to fear a man again, my Lady,” choked Evan. “Never. We’d all give our lives to prevent it.”
“Evan speaks for us all, my Lady,” Daniel touched her hand.
“Now, how can we best help you heal?” Giles’s voice was gentle.
She looked around at the faces she was coming to know better each passing day. A lump formed in her throat when she saw in their eyes that they meant every word.
They would indeed die for her, if need be, and it was going to take her time to absorb such a huge gesture of commitment and affection.
“Allow me to live happily here with you all,” she said, trying not to let her voice tremble with the tears that remained unshed. “This is the first happiness I’ve ever known. Every little thing any of you does…it means more than you know.”
She lifted a hand, a vague gesture that encompassed each man. “I am healing because of your kindness. I will heal completely because of you all. You have already given me so much, and every day I get better and better.”
A watery smile broke through her composure. “So just be who you are. That is the best medicine I could ever ask for.”
“Always, my Lady,” said Giles. “For all of us. That’s a pledge.”
The men hastily retrieved their brandies and raised them in a toast.
“Lady Adalyn. Always.”
She’d never been toasted before. The thought crossed her mind as she readied herself for bed later that night. After the dramatic revelations, her gentlemen had managed to resume their conversation and the rest of the evening passed quickly and quietly.
When it came time for her to retire, she did note that they said goodnight to her with gentle touches of affection, Jeremy kissed her hand, Daniel squeezed both of them, Evan kissed the inside of her wrist, and Trick lifted her hand to his cheek.
Giles walked her to the door. “I believe we’d all like to think you will sleep better tonight for having told us the worst, Lady Adalyn.”
She nodded. “It does feel better to have gotten such things off my chest.” She chuckled. “Although my gown nearly came with it.”
He laughed. “You have retained your humour. A great gift. Make sure you keep it handy.” He raised her hand and once more she felt lips press warmly against her fingers. “Sleep well, my dear.”
“Thank you Giles. I will.”
As she turned back the covers, she remembered the kindness in his eyes. Slipping between the cool linens and shivering just a little, she sighed, realising that yes, she probably would sleep better now that they knew of her situation. And how things had been in her marriage.
But even though such thoughts were comforting, it was a while before she could finally feel herself drifting and relaxing.
When the bed moved beside her, she froze on a muted cry.
~~~~~
“Hush, Adalyn. Hush.” She recognised the voice.
“It’s me. Jeremy.”
Looking over her shoulder, she saw him, standing in the shadows, and leaning on the bed as he shrugged out of his robe.
“What…is everything all right?”
“Yes and no,” he said, lifting the quilts and slipping in beside her. “I could not sleep for thinking about you and what that madman did to you.” He settled himself on the pillow and turned to look at her. “I have…well, I have an incident in my past that I cannot forget. And it left me with a violent distaste for any man who would hurt a woman. Physically.”
“But…Jeremy…should you be here?” She wasn’t afraid or concerned, more curious than anything else. Even though she was now sharing her bed with him.
“If you wish me to leave, Adalyn, just say the word. But I felt that it would be the right thing. For tonight.” He turned fully on his side and reached for her.
