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I sabella’s heart pounded loudly in her ears as she approached Lord James, who was handing off his horse to a stable boy.

“My lady, I didn’t expect to see you again so soon! Have you found a way to rid yourself of that little rat you call a husband already?”

“I’ve spoken with him,” she said, evading the question. How should she broach the subject? Should she work up to it, or just tell him bluntly that she no longer wished to proceed with their agreement?

“And?”

Normally, she managed to be cool and collected under pressure, but her mind was still addled by all that had transpired with Martin. Words were not forthcoming for the first time in her life. “Well, he…that is to say I…”

“Get on with it. I have other business to attend to.” He frowned at her, and there was a warning in his gaze. This was not going at all as she had hoped.

“I wish to renegotiate our deal. Circumstances have changed, and I don’t believe a marriage between us would be wise.”

There. She’d said it. Her heart pounded in her ears, but she’d managed to get the words out.

The earl’s expression darkened.

“Hmm.” Lord James narrowed his eyes. “Walk with me. I wish to tell you a story.”

Reluctantly, she took his offered arm and followed him as he led her to the tower beside the gate, up the winding staircase and onto the battlement. She didn’t like being so far from Martin. What if Lord James attempted something? But she could hardly refuse.

From this height, she could see all of Yarmouth spread out before her and the countryside beyond.

It was an impressive sight. Not long ago, the thought of being countess of all this would have been her fondest wish, but now it only reminded her how very isolated she was up on this tower with Lord James.

Everyone below was simply going about their business.

No one bothered to look up. And even if they did, Lord James was their liege lord.

He could do practically anything he pleased, and they wouldn’t try to stop him.

A shiver crept up her spine. This didn’t bode well.

“What is this story you wish to tell me, my lord?” she asked as lightly as possible, trying not to betray her growing worry.

It didn’t help that she was standing exceptionally close to a very tall ledge.

No . She wasn’t going to think about that.

He brought her up here to intimidate her, and she wouldn’t let him.

“There was a man who lost a great deal of money to me playing dice. He was a minor noble from one of my domains. His name isn’t important. What is important is that he attempted to double-cross me.”

Isabella swallowed hard. “Oh?” she said, since he obviously seemed to expect a response.

“I don’t like to be double-crossed, Isabella. It makes me very angry.” His eyes bored into her. Clearly, he wasn’t going to accept her request gracefully.

She should have given him a piece of her mind and run for her life, but he was too close. What if he caught her? “I’m certain it does, my lord. What did the man do?”

“He tried to use weighted dice against me to win his money back. I knew at once that he was trying to cheat me.”

“Oh? And how is that?”

“Because I used weighted dice to win in the first place.”

Why was he telling her this? It was a rather alarming confession for an earl.

“I don’t like to lose, my lady.” He stepped closer and loomed over her. Good heavens, he was a large man!

“I…I’m not sure why you’re telling me this, my lord.”

He gripped her arm painfully hard. “You and I are more alike than you may think.”

No, she had nothing in common with this man. He was disgusting through and through. But she bit her tongue.

“We’re both devious and like to get our way.” He leaned over her, forcing her off balance.

The temptation to call out for Martin grew stronger and stronger. But could he hear her from up here? Would he arrive in time to save her from being thrown over the battlement?

“What happened to the man who double-crossed you?” She hardly dared ask. In truth, she didn’t want to know, but some inner voice told her to extend this conversation for as long as she could so that she could find a way out.

“I didn’t take my revenge on him. At least not at first.”

“No?”

“No. I started with his family. The people he loved. I locked his daughter and his wife in my dungeon and told him they would receive no food until he paid me. I knew he didn’t have the money, but I enjoyed watching him squirm.

Every day, I made him visit as they grew thinner and thinner, hungrier and hungrier.

He sold everything he had and gave me the money, but it only covered half of his debt.

So I gave him a choice. He could have his wife back or his daughter.

Since he’d only paid half of his debt, he only got half of his prisoners back. ”

Generally, Isabella thought that gamblers got what they deserved when they were punished for their profligacy, but punishing the man’s family was too cruel for words. “What happened then?”

“He chose his daughter, and he fled, thinking his debt was paid. But I had one of my men dispatch him before he left Norfolk. The mother and daughter now work in my kitchens where they will serve me until the day they die. They’re both rather pretty, and it seemed a waste to let them perish of hunger.

They’ve both borne me several children since joining my household. ”

Bile rose in Isabella’s throat. He was a monster. If only she were a man and had the strength to throw him off the battlement herself!

“I hardly know what to say.” The thought of those poor women being forced to submit to his attentions after what he’d done to their family made her furious. She balled her fists at her sides. If only she were a man, she would challenge him to a duel for his dishonorable behavior.

“Listen closely, then,” he said, grasping her arms roughly and pushing her back against the battlement. “You will rid yourself of your husband and make me exchequer and do it swiftly, or I’ll take matters into my own hands.”

“What do you mean?” She struggled in his grasp, desperate to escape. “Let me go!”

“I mean,” he said, looming over her so that she was bent backwards over the battlement, “that I will dispatch your irritating husband if you don’t get rid of him quickly enough. And your sister is not welcome to leave until you comply. Do I make myself clear?”

He was a disgusting, horrible, dangerous man!

How had she ever considered him a palatable husband?

Her heart thundered as she tried to tamp down her panic at being at his mercy at such a height.

The only way she could get out of this unscathed was to acquiesce.

That much was clear. But then what? Could she and Martin sneak away?

Perhaps they could find a way, but there was Adelaide to think of.

What would Lord James do to her sister if Isabella reneged on her deal?

And even Lord Christopher, kind and cordial as he was, could not take action against his liege lord.

“Very clear, my lord. But would you consider releasing me from our bargain if I gave you the information you needed to become exchequer without marrying you? I would gladly aid you in return for safe passage for us to leave Norfolk.” She had to try.

If it was wealth and position that he sought, perhaps she could give him what he wanted without sacrificing her own happiness.

“The problem with that, Isabella, is that I don’t trust you.

What would prevent you from double-crossing me and sending me to my doom rather than making my fortune?

No. I need you under my thumb, or I suspect you will stab me in the back.

Our deal stands, and you will abide by it or your weaselly little husband will pay the consequences.

” He shook her, and several of her hairpins fell out, dropping to the ground several stories below.

There was no way out. She had to agree, at least for the moment, or she might follow them over the long drop.

“I will do as you say.” There was no other way to get down from this battlement and away from his presence.

“I’m glad to hear it. Now go find that worm of a husband and be quick about it. I expect to hear you’ve convinced him by nightfall.” He pulled her away from the battlement and set her on her feet. “Don’t fail, or you know the consequences.”

Her knees shook, but she forced herself to stay upright. “Yes, my lord,” she said without looking at him, and she fled before he could make any further threats.

As she flew down the stone steps in the dark tower, her mind reeled at the tangle she had made of things.

It was all her fault that Lord James had taken notice of her.

She had planted the seed of a potential marriage, and now she was entangled in the twisted vines of her own plot.

Martin’s life was at stake, and her sister wasn’t much safer.

She had no doubt that Lord James would try to use Adelaide against her before this was all through.

Martin, at least, could defend himself, even if the two men were unevenly matched to all outward appearances. Her husband was brave and capable, and he did say he had bested Lord James in a tournament. But Adelaide was ill and completely at the earl’s mercy.

Her heart quailed at the thought, but she couldn’t let herself weaken. Her loved ones were threatened. She had to find a way out of this. It was all her fault that they were in this situation in the first place.

She made her way across the yard, and Martin took her by surprise, rushing to her side. “You didn’t stay in the dovecote?”

“I didn’t trust him, so I came out to the yard and pretended to practice sword drills, hoping to keep an eye on you. But the two of you disappeared into the tower beside the gate. I almost came after you. I was worried for your safety, alone with him like that.”

“And with good reason. The man is a snake.” She should have held back. They were still in the middle of the yard where anyone might overhear. She looked around quickly to see if anyone had. Fortunately, everyone was still going about their business.

Martin stopped in his tracks, taking her elbow and turning her to face him. “What did he do to you?”

Was it wrong that it sent a little thrill down her spine to see his fury on her behalf?

No one had ever been willing to fight for her before.

But she had to put an end to his questioning until they were somewhere more private.

“I am unharmed. Let us return to my chamber before we say anything more. There is much I need to discuss with both you and Adelaide.”

“Then let us make haste.” Together, they hurried into the castle as quickly as they could without arousing suspicion. Too many of Lord James’s men roamed the halls and crowded the bailey.

She needed time to think. If only she had long hours sitting peacefully aboard The Wind Song to puzzle through it.

It was so much easier to clear her mind when they were at sea.

In this castle there were too many dangers and distractions, and her guilt over her misguided actions bore down on her, making it difficult to form a coherent thought.

But Martin’s reassuring presence beside her steadied her. She had a good husband who loved her. There must be some hope as long as he was by her side.

When they reached the room, Adelaide was awake but lying in the bed. She sat up in alarm as they rushed in and bolted the heavy wooden door behind them.

Isabella looked back and forth between the two most precious people in her life and wondered how she was going to find the words to tell them of their peril. It was no use hiding. She had to get on with it. “I’m afraid we’re in great danger, and it’s all my fault.”

As she recounted her conversation with Lord James, Martin’s expression grew thunderous.

“How dare he threaten you!” Martin began pacing, his hand on his sword. “That no-good, cheating, bull’s pizzle. He isn’t fit to lick your shoe, earl or no.”

Isabella hurried to his side and put a placating hand on his arm.

“Please, Martin, don’t do anything foolish.

He’d be all too happy to dispatch you. Then not only would I lose the man I love, but Adelaide and I would be completely at his mercy.

” The story Lord James told about the wife and daughter of the man who owed him money sent a chill down her spine.

She couldn’t lose Martin, not right after she had found him. And Adelaide had to be protected from Lord James at all costs. They needed cool heads to find their way out of this, and unfortunately, it appeared that her words had the exact opposite effect.