The Shattered Rose by Jo Beverley Page B

protection.
    Gilbert growled, "You should have beaten her before Father arrived. You know how soft-hearted he is about women!"
    Will said, "For once I agree with Gil. Now that heis promised her his protection, he'll not let you touch her."
    "You can get a Church court to impose a penance," mused Gilbert. "Father can't interfere with that. Or when you send her to a convent, order her a daily whipping for a year. . . ."
    Galeran let it wash over him. He'd planned on being stopped by his father, knowing the best way to melt his father's anger and get Lord William on Jehanne's side was to hit her. What sickened him was that he'd found it satisfying to hit her; his move to follow, to grab her and hit her harder, had not been acting.
    He sent up a fervent prayer for strength and control.
    He shrugged out of his brothers' loosening hold and went over to where his father was scolding Jehanne as if she'd just spent too much at the midsummer fair. He made peace with her confused hounds, then said, "Enough of that, Father. I want to talk to my wife in private. I promise not to hit her again. Today at least."
    At his tone her dogs weaved between them, as if trying to separate them. Jehanne reassured them and sent them to the far side of the hall, away from their dilemma.
    Lord William seemed just as concerned as the dogs, as if he, too, would like to get between them, but he stepped back. "Away with you, then."
    Galeran seized Jehanne's. arm and steered her toward the solar. He knew his grip was too tight, but his fury seemed to have traveled to his hand and he couldn't control it. The last time he remembered being so unable to control himself was on his wedding night.
    It was like his wedding night in other ways too. Pent-up desire simmered in him, threatening to overwhelm at any moment. He was again like a dead tree ready to burst into flame at a spark.
    He had every right, too. Every right to throw Jehanne down and enjoy her body. Every right. Even if he were about to cast her off.
    He dragged her into the solar, kicked the door shut, and released her with a violence that staggered her. He saw that her face was red and would bruise. Despite his promise to his father, she looked as if she expected more of the same.
    He turned abruptly to put the width of the room between them, to rest his head on his arms against the hanging that covered the rough stone wall. "I'm sorry. I seem to be violent today."
    "I don't think you need reproach yourself for that." She spoke softly, but every word was clear.
    "Such violence serves no purpose."
    "That blow did."
    He pushed away and turned, leaning against the wall, arms folded. "I wanted to hit you, Jehanne."
    "If our situations were reversed, I'd want to Mil you."
    He looked at her, testing the implications of her words. "Would you indeed?"
    Now it was she who turned away, moving to fuss with the hangings around the bed. Their bed. Where she and Lowick had . . . ?
    "No," she said. "I wouldn't want you dead. But I'd want you punished. I'd find a way to make you suffer." She turned stiffly. "What punishment, Galeran? Don't play with me."
    "What would hurt you most? Beating? No." He was playing with her and wasn't proud of it, but didn't seem able to stop. "To take the babes away, I suppose . . ."
    She stared, turning sheet-white. "Galeran!"
    Ashamed, he pushed away from the wall to go to her. "Don't, Jehanne. I didn't mean it—"
    "Didn't they tell you?"
    "Tell me what?"
    She whirled and raced into the hall. Without a pause she picked up a pitcher of ale and hurled it full in Lord William's face, flinging the stone jug after. Fortunately he was still agile enough to duck, and the pot smashed on the wall.
    Even over his father's bellow Galeran could hear Jehanne screaming, "Why didn't you tell him? How could you not have told him? "
    He grabbed her before his father overcame a lifetime's scruples and beat a woman. "Told me what?"
    She was rigid in his arms. Rigid as stone, or a corpse.
    The dogs were