“I can hear you, Ashley, and I’m well on my way to full health.” I anchored my hands on my hips. “Tell me now.”

He whipped his face back to mine, his blue eyes stark with disbelief. “Truly? You can hear?”

“As of five minutes ago, it would seem.”

He prowled toward me, his gaze roving up and down, taking me in. Moonlight from the windows dashed across his striking features, highlighting his relief at my healthy appearance. He was so beautiful, especially when he stared at me like that, like I was his favorite view, his only destination.

“Look at you.” He stepped into my space, his hands finding and inspecting the condition of my injuries. “So bloody beautiful. Strong. Glowing. I knew you were out of bed and pushing yourself. Priest sent letters every few days, boasting about your progress.”

I shot Priest a startled look. He narrowed his eyes.

“I wished I would’ve been here, supporting you.” A spark of regret lit Ashley’s eyes. “Of course, you managed just fine. Extraordinarily so.” His hands slid to my face, framing it. “Your strength of will astounds. Truly an intimidating woman, and God help me, I’ve gone mad without you.”

He cupped the back of my head and drew my mouth toward his. And froze.

I leaned back to find a blade poised across his throat.

“Priest.” I gritted my teeth and met his angry eyes over Ashley’s shoulder. “You’re not going to cut him.”

He bent in, setting his mouth at Ashley’s ear. “Tell her.”

“Tell me what? About your history together? Your relationship with Arabella?” My pulse accelerated as I backed up and lowered into the armchair, glaring at Priest. “Is that how you and Ashley met? Is she the one you…you betrayed me with?”

Ashley sucked in a hard breath, his mouth a grim slash of pain. I’d never asked when she died. I only knew it had happened during childbirth.

“I can smell your shame, my lord. It sickens me.” Priest stepped away and tossed the blade toward the fireplace. “You’ve let it rule you your entire life. I’ve stood by you, honored your wishes, and protected your secrets at the cost of ruining my marriage!” His accent thickened, rising in volume with the force of his rage. Then he pounced, grabbing Ashley by the collar and hurling him to his knees before me. “Do you know that I have not made love to my wife in over two years?” With a hand in Ashley’s hair, he leaned in and snarled, “Tell her now or so help me God, I will break my vow and tell her myself.”

As Priest released him, my mind swam to keep up, creating and rejecting assumptions with the rapid beat of my heart.