"You spend much time out here, I'm told."

My body stiffens as the one voice I'm trying to escape invades my senses. The garden has become one of my refuges and after three months, I thought I was safe out here, safe from his presence and hers. Heaven knows, I've watered just about every plant out here with my tears. The flowers can attest to my misery, but no one else can.

Except now, if he looks at my face, he'll see that I'm crying.

Would he care?

Making a move as if I'm wiping sweat from my face, I attempt to remove the evidence of my pain.

"My lady wife, do you ignore me?"

Still keeping my back to him, I shrug and continue pulling the weeds. "I wasn't aware that an observation made by you required a response."

"I've wondered where you disappear to."

Not enough to find out the answer.

That's the wrong thing to think since it causes more tears to slide down my face. Before I can wipe them away, his hand grasps my arm, pulling me up to face him. I don't look at him, but I can feel the intensity of his gaze as he studies my face.

Humiliation complete.

"Why do you cry?"

His rough voice is honestly baffled, as if he cannot understand how someone in my situation could have any sorrow.

"Wife, look at me."

That word. That word I used to love and now despise. More tears well up in my eyes, but I force myself to meet his gaze.

"Tell me what causes these tears. You have been different since I brought you here after we wedded."

He wants an answer, so I give him the absolute truth. After all these months of holding it in, I wrap up everything in one short sentence.

"I do not like being married to you."

He wasn't expecting that answer and I can feel his whole body lock tight and his hand flexes on my arm.

"What is not to your liking?"

That almost makes me laugh, his voice is positively confused, as if I have everything a woman could want so how could I possibly be upset?

Shaking my head, I answer softly, "It matters not."

"It matters. I would not have my wife cry." Heavens! That deep voice of his, so rough yet so gentle, as it was when we had our glorious month together before our wedding. Back when I was hopeful for our future, when I looked forward to marrying this magnificent warrior and being his wife in every way. Back when I thought he cared for me, when I thought the look in his eyes was full of, if not love, then caring.

Back before he shattered all my ideals and dreams.

"Once I am with child, I would ask you to allow me to remove to another of your estates."

"Ah," he says as if understanding is dawning. "You do not like Bellford Keep. That is fine. There are others we can go to."

Typical man. Problem solved. Completely missing the actual point.

Looking at the ground, I shake my head. "You misunderstand me. I wish to go to another estate alone. Without you."

Again, his body locks solid.

"I would have your eyes for what I say next, wife." Grudgingly, I meet his eyes. And what I see in his is frightening in its intensity, its fury. "My wife will not live away from me. Ever. Do not bring this up again."

"Being with you brings me nothing but misery."

He looks as if I've slapped him his shock is so great at my audacity.

Then a cold anger slips over his features. "That is unfortunate since we are wed."

"Leave me," I dismiss him, not thinking.

Clearly the wrong thing to say as he leans down so his face is only inches from mine. "You do not command, wife. You would do well to remember your place."

"I assure you, I am never able to forget my place here."

Those damn tears spill over again, both my bitterness and heartbreak pouring out. What is wrong with me?

"You must learn to be happy in your situation. Any other woman would be happy to be my bride."

"Well then you should have married one of them. I find no pleasure in being your wife."

He grins at me.

Actually grins.

"You lie. You found great pleasure last night. And every night I come to your bed since we have been married."

I think, in that moment, I actually hate him.

"And that is the problem. I am not the only one you find pleasure with. So whatever pleasure you may force upon me, believe me when I say it is only physical and only temporary. My heart and my mind remain unswayed by you and wish to be far away from you because the pain you inflict is so much greater than the fleeting pleasure."

Since I can't force the warrior to leave, I spin around and storm off to the stables.

He doesn't follow.

Why should he follow his unhappy wife when his mistress is always there, always happy?