Eliza Knight - The Rules of Chivalry by A Knight's Victory Page B

the spot where Arthur had been standing. The tent still reeked.
    What had his father always told him? Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
    Perhaps now was as good a time as any to go and speak with Thomas Devlin.

 
     
    Chapter Eight
     
    K ent entered her tent without warning. Elena stood, half dressed in only her chemise as Beth tied up her stays. The maid’s fingers stilled, her laces only halfway done, leaving Elena feeling vulnerable and exposed.
    “Leave,” Kent ordered. His black eyes were menacing. Her ladies faltered for a moment and then left.
    Elena pulled her arms to her chest attempting to cover herself , her fear escalating . She clamped her jaw tight when her teeth started to chatter. She wouldn’t show him weakness, even if she dreaded the sting of his hand.
    “You need not worry about me taking you now, woman.” He came around behind her, his rough fingers trailing over her bare shoulders.
    She shuddered with disgust , his words little consolation .
    “You want me, do you?” He took her shudder for one of desire. His rotten breath wafted over her face and she forced herself to keep from gagging. His hands moved to grip her rear, rubbing her buttocks crudely. “Well perhaps—”
    “Nay!” Her words came out more forcefully than she intended.
    “Dare you deny me?” he growled. He gripped her hips and thrust his flaccid member against her backside.
    “Nay, my lord. ’ Tis only— ’ tis only I am not clean. My monthly...” She said a silent prayer to the Lord for lying, but it was for her own good. A mauling by her husband was the last thing she needed.
    Her words worked like magic. He recoiled in disgust, pushing her away from him.
    “There is to be a hanging this afternoon. A thief has pilfered food from my tent. Likely to be lively entertainment before the feast begins. You will join me.”
    Elena swallowed her disgust. Her husband knew she hated to watch the death sentences be ing carried out, and forced her to attend whenever one occurred.
    “May I beg leave of going? My woman’s—”
    “Do not flaunt your disgusting bodily offenses to me and do not make excuses for doing your duty. You are a worthless woman. Show your lord respect and show your people thievery will not be tolerated. You will be there, or I shall see the boy is drawn on the rack before we hang him.”
    “ Aye , my lord husband.” If attending the hanging meant sparing the poor thief further torment then she would. Dear Lord in Heaven, forgive me.
    He snorted and came close behind her again. His fingers gripped the strings of her stays and yanked, tying her up much tighter than she usually was. A sharp squeak of pain escaped her. Air scarcely filled her lungs. The thick bones of the stays dug into her skin.
    “If you’re going to wear the ridiculous contraption, you’ll wear it with pain.” This time when he pressed against her, he was aroused.
    Elena bent forward as much her stays allowed and vomited.
    *****
    “My lady, pray forgive me for sharing your secret. Thomas would never do you harm. He only wishes to help. ” Raelyn pleaded on her knees, her head resting in Elena’s lap. Elena hadn’t spoken to her since their last conversation.
    Elena grimaced, attempting to remove the sordid image of the youth’s dangling legs from her mind. Her cries for mercy from Kent had gone unheeded.
    “How d o you know? Why would you divulge my secrets to him without my permission ?” Elena resisted the urge to stroke her dear friend’s head in forgiveness.
    “Thomas is the reason Michael is here.”
    “What do you mean?”
    Michael had not been at the hanging. But why would he be? It was a grotesque display of violence and power from her husband. Michael would never agree with it. Or at least the Michael she thought she knew… She’d yet had a chance to speak with about his abominable behavior from this morning.
    Raelyn raised her glistening eyes to Elena’s. “Why, Thomas sent him word of the