Though Helen wanted to crack open the door and peer in like a mouse, she stepped inside and closed it with a deep, empowering inhale. “We must talk.”
Aleck looked up from the ledger. His black eyes narrowed with his disapproving frown. “Well? Out with it. I’ve things to attend,” he said, drumming his fingers to further make his impatience clear.
She clasped her palms together and stepped forward. There was no use trying to soothe him with flowery language. That had never worked in the past. “I request that you send Maggie and me to Iona.”
Aleck glared, the color of his face flushed like he’d held a fire to it. “Pardon?”
She’d seen that heated stare before and this time she would not allow him to intimidate her. “As you are aware, my brother, John, is Bishop of the Isles and resides at the abbey. He could help us secure a place in the nunnery. I would retire into the service of our Lord and raise our daughter with sound Christian values.”
“A nunnery? Have you lost your mind?” Aleck leaned forward in his seat, his scowl taking on a deadly glint. “No, wife. You’ll not be going anywhere, especially with my daughter.”
Beneath her heavy skirts, Helen clenched her bottom muscles and stared him in the eye. “Why ever not? You openly disdain me and you haven’t seen Maggie since the day she was born.”
“How dare you question me? What are you thinking with that feeble, female mind of yours? A nunnery?” Aleck braced his palms on the table and stood, leveraging his size for further intimidation. “You and the bairn are mine. My property. I’ll never allow either of you to leave Mingary.”
Her mind raced. She’d expected his refusal—had rehearsed her argument. “We could keep it quiet.” She spread her hands to her sides and took a bold step forward. “I simply ask to reside in a nunnery where I will no longer cause you consternation—or give you excuses to taunt me.”
He growled, but Helen continued before he had a chance to spew another rebuttal. “I’d hoped you might see reason after bashing the bed against the wall with Mary half the night. I-I understood when you took a leman upon my confinement. But if you persist—”
“So now you’re threatening me?” He scoffed and sauntered toward her. “My God, you are a foolhardy woman.”
This time, his insult made the hackles at the back of her neck stand on end. “Why is it that every time I confront you, you manage to completely avoid the issue and try to make me out the bumbling idiot?”
“Because—”
“No.” Clenching her fists, Helen took another step toward him. They were finally behind closed doors and she would confront him. “I shall tell you why. Because you have never cared for me. You haven’t given me an iota of respect since the day I came to Mingary. Last eve you couldn’t even pay me a compliment for ensuring the meal was prepared and plentiful for forty unexpected men.”
“You overstep your bounds.” His gravelly voice deepened.
She allowed his threatening tenor to embolden her. “Do I? Am I never allowed my say?”
Aleck’s eyes growing darker, he sauntered forward like a man bent on violence. Her husband had never struck her before—would he now?
Though Helen trembled from head to toe, she refused to flee. “I’ve kept this keep in good order for five years and I’ve never once heard a word of thanks from you. And yet you have the audacity to call me foolhardy.” Her chin ticked up. “I daresay, I’m not the foolish party in this room.”
“Watch yourself—you will push me too far.” He stepped within a hand’s breadth, towering over her small frame.
Her heart hammered so hard her temples throbbed. “There you go, using your size to threaten me. Isn’t that always the way?” Helen met his gaze. “You will not coerce me into submission this day. You claim you want a son? I have healed from birthing Maggie and am again ready to conceive.” The thought of lying with the brute turned her stomach sour.
His hand darted out and clamped on to her shoulder and he regarded her with a menacing glare. “Would you like me to bend you over the table now?”
“Och, aye?” she taunted with a sneer of her own, calling his bluff. “You choose to treat your wife like a whore?” Helen twisted from under his grasp and skittered backward. “You find Mary so much more attractive