The Consolation Prize (Brides of Karadok #3) - Alice Coldbreath Page 0,114

mistress’s life. If any of you feel you no longer wish to remain in our service, then you can pack your things and leave before the morrow.”

Everyone stared back at him open-mouthed. Otho shot him an exasperated look, while Walker merely looked amused. Armand set Una on her feet and hustled her halfway up the first flight of stairs before she’d even had a chance to draw breath.

14

Una’s heart sank as they mounted the staircase. For some reason, Armand was angry with her. Blindingly angry. She could feel it pulsing off him in waves. His fingers clutched at her waist sporadically, not in a comforting gesture, but rather as if he was making sure of her substance. She shivered slightly in dismay. But why was he so mad? She bit her lip and noticed his knuckles were white from where they clutched the bannister. Gently she reached out and touched his fingers in what she hoped was a conciliatory gesture.

“Don’t!” he burst out, and she tried to turn back to look at his face, but he tightened his grip on her and prevented her. “Face forward,” he ground out.

She froze. He was blaming her, she realized with dismay. He thought it was her fault! She felt a spurt of rebellion along with a pinch of pain. It was grossly unfair. She tried to stand straight and stiff on her step, trying to hold herself away from him, but he yanked her back roughly.

“Don’t!” he repeated, his voice sounding raw. His arms tightened around her like steel bands. What in heaven’s name was wrong with him? She forced herself to relax back against him and felt his hold loosen infinitesimally. It began to dawn on her that she was in serious trouble. By the time they reached the top of the stairs, she was fighting to remain calm.

It only made it worse when she got a glimpse of his face as he dragged her up the top step, his fingers biting into her wrist as he maneuvered along the dark-paneled corridor.

“It is a little hard on Otho to leave him to clear up that mess,” Una said, lifting her chin. “It’s probably the last thing he feels like going into right now.”

Armand ignored her, wrenching open the door to their bedchamber and bundling her inside. Once he’d shut the door behind them, he let his gaze sweep over her, narrowing his eyes to mere slits. “What the fuck did you think you were doing up there?” he hissed at her furiously.

Una stared at him. She opened then closed her mouth in astonishment. “Are you trying to give me a fucking heart attack?” he snarled nastily. To her surprise, Una heard herself give a slight sob as she shook her head. A tear sliding down one cheek. It didn’t seem to appease him, not one bit.

“Take off your dress,” he ground out, pushing her into the middle of the room. Una stared at him a moment, before reaching for her laces. He wrenched the door back open and strode out of the room, bellowing down the stairs for hot water. She had barely started unlacing when he reappeared behind her and started yanking open her gown.

“You’re tearing it,” she burst out in alarm at a loud rip of material. He didn’t answer but carried on pulling and tugging until it fell in a pile at her feet.

“It hardly signifies, since I never want to see you in this gown again,” he said tightly. Then he spun her around and glowered down at her.

“What do you do when your life’s at risk, Una, and I’m not there to protect you?” His voice was silky and calm now and for some reason that set the already tinkling alarm bells into a clanging peal.

“Um, well …” She gazed up at him, clutching at her bare upper arms. She knew her thin shift concealed very little.

“I’m waiting.”

“I act sensibly and rationally and—”

“No!” he burst out angrily. “No, you fucking don’t!”

Una winced. “I don’t?” She could hear the uncertainty in her own voice.

“What’s the point in acting rationally when you’re confronted by a fucking mad man?”

She chewed on her bottom lip. “Very well,” she conceded, licking her lips nervously. “What should I have done?”

“I’m glad you asked,” he said with a forced calmness that was somehow even more disturbing than his violent cursing. “Because I’m about to tell you and I expect you to take this fully on board, Una, as I don’t expect to have to