Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 111362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Sorrell looked to James standing behind them and was surprised to see his eyes glistening with tears.
She went to him. “You will look after my sisters and keep them safe?”
“You have my word, and, Sorrell, believe it or not I will miss you.”
Sorrell reached out and pulled him into a tight hug. “And I will miss you, dear brother.”
She hurried back to her sisters, more tears falling, and hugged and kissed them one last time. She reached for her husband’s hand he held out to her, clinging tightly to it, and a few moments later, tucked firmly against her husband atop his horse, she sent one last wave to her sisters.
Once out of the village, Sorrell buried her face against her husband’s chest and wept.
Chapter 17
Sorrell sniffled back the last of her tears and raised her head off her husband’s chest to look up at him. “Talk with me.”
She wanted to be distracted and Ruddock could easily provide that while solving two problems at once. One, give pause to her pain in leaving her sisters and two, explain to her the rift between him and his father.
“I envy the strong bond you have with your family. I had such a bond once,” he said and he hoped to have it again with her and the family they would have together.
“What happened?” she asked, resting her hand on his chest. “Was your father always heartless?”
She was quick to offer him comfort and she had no idea how much it meant to him, having gone too long without it. He’d almost forgotten what it felt like to have someone care and believe in him as she did, defending him by his word alone.
For the first time, he felt comfortable telling someone what had happened.
“It started after my mum died, about two years ago. My mum and da were much in love. Her death was not easy for him to accept. He locked himself away, leaving me to see to the everyday running of the clan and settling any potential problems that affected our clan or land.
“I returned one day from such a mission and was immediately summoned to his solar. His tongue was quick and sharp when he told me that I was no longer his son, never had been his son. He claimed my mum had been with another man and that man was my father. He ordered me to leave and never dare show myself to him again and, as not to sully the good Northwick name, he warned me never to refer to myself as a Northwick again.”
“Did he tell you how he came by this information?” Sorrell asked, her already aching heart wrenching for him.
“He told me he had undeniable proof and he hoped that Alida, my mum, was burning in hell for her betrayal.” He looked off in the distance, that moment burned in his memory and seeing it unfold again as it had done so many times. “That’s when I did something I never thought I would ever do. I hit my father hard enough to knock him off his feet.”
“He deserved it,” Sorrell said.
Some women agreed with their husbands just to please them, gain favor, or manipulate them. He didn’t have to worry about that with Sorrell as Willow had reminded him. Sorrell would always be truthful with him whether he liked it or not. It was plain to see in the sparkle of anger in her green eyes meant for his father.
“So you left home that day and haven’t been back since?” she asked.
“Aye,” he said, though it was only a partial truth. He had left home, though not entirely of his own accord. But that was better left for another time.
“Did you ever once think it could be true?”
He took no offense to her question. She probed for the truth just as he had and it felt good to discuss it with someone he could trust. “I admit that I gave the idea thought, briefly. I don’t recall a day I didn’t hear my mum and da claim their love for each other. They always held hands, as if they didn’t want to be separated, not even for a moment. My mum would always kiss my da before leaving his side even for a few minutes. It made no sense that she would ever look at another man.”
“Did your father at least show you this proof he claimed to have that you weren’t his son?”
“No, never. It took time, but I came across the name of the man who first raised the issue with my da… Sterling. From what I’ve learned, he is a man easily persuaded by coin to say whatever asked of him. I came close to capturing him, but he is a sly one, more so than anyone knows.”
“Does that mean you weren’t looking for solitude? That your search for this Sterling fellow brought you to our clan?”