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wouldn’t wait too long. She may hate you
more for keeping it a secret.”
    “That is if I tell her.”
    “It would be cruel not to tell her.”
    Dominick sighed. “You’re right, I have to
tell her some time, but now is not the time.”
    “What do you think is making this ghost so
strong?”
    “A mother’s love. Nothing is stronger than
that. She’s protecting her daughter. When she died she couldn’t
protect Eleanor growing up, but now I’m her vessel and she will use
me to keep Eleanor safe.”
    “You believe she’s that strong?”
    “I’m sure of it. I have never experienced a
spirit more powerful.”
    “Why do you think her mother was
murdered?”
    “That I don’t know. She may reveal it to me
in time. This time she wanted me to see how she died. I will have
to wait to see how this unfolds.”
     

Chapter
Five
    L ater that day
Eleanor heard the sound of hammers pounding and shovels digging.
Looking out her chamber window, she saw goats and sheep being
herded into pens, and men clearing away rubble. Restoration of
Godwin had already begun. The new lord was wasting no time in
making the castle his own.
    Conflicting emotions swept over her. Relief
that Godwin would not be plundered by Robert McPhearson and left to
ruin. The resentment that the castle she had fought so hard to keep
together had now been taken away from her. For the rest she felt
consumed by sadness. She prayed not to be bound to any man, but
those prayers had been ignored. She sighed deeply. The reality was
that she could never keep this land safe on her own. If not
McPhearson, other predators would try to take her land, and with no
army Godwin was exposed to anyone who wanted it.
    Out over the horizon, the sun began to set.
Soon the wedding feast would begin. Already the smells of venison
cooking in open pits rose up to tempt her hunger. It had been
months since McPhearson had burned their crops. Since then, she and
her people had not eaten a decent meal.
    But along with the meal came wine and ale.
Her heart filled with dread at that thought. Inebriated men could
not be trusted. And then her wedding night would follow. She knew
she could not endure a drunken assault from her husband.
    Yet, Dominick’s kiss in the church had been
gentle, his touch when he’d found her in the hall just a few
moments ago barely a whisper. His actions were conflicting her
expectations. Was it all a ruse? She feared that running away and
her sharp tongue may have pushed him to his limits.
    At that time she hadn’t
cared, but now she faced being alone with him, and her nerves
frayed. Would she pay for her insolence on her wedding night, she
wondered, or would he be forgiving? Her shoulders slumped. In her
experience men couldn’t be trusted. They were blind beasts, ready
to pounce on any unsuspecting prey. With any luck, Dominick would
drink himself unconscious, and Eleanor would have one more night of
peace.
    T he great hall was
filling up with people, and Dominick wondered if Eleanor would come
down and join the celebration. Finally, he saw her descending the
stairs, and relief filled him as he watched her.
    He took the time to study Eleanor’s gown. A
worn, faded brown, it looked as though it had been mended in
several places. Despite her feelings for him his heart went out to
her. The hardships she had endured were more than most women could
bear, yet she had survived. For that she earned his respect.
    And she was beautiful, despite her shabby
clothing. Nothing could hide her marvelous green eyes, her creamy
white skin or her sensuous full lips. Desire blew through his soul,
and he closed his eyes to tamp down the threat of being consumed by
it.
    When he gazed back at her he was met with a
cold glare. The jade stones of her eyes held no warmth for him,
making him feel as though he had been thrown into an icy river. But
since Eleanor had seen little good in men, Dominick was challenged
to disprove her belief that all of his kind were vile