Plead Forgiveness: Betrayed Twice (Loyalty Series) Read Online Free

Would Philip really kill Aunt Eleanor so he could
remarry and produce an heir?
    Philip had always
seemed fond of Lady Eleanor, treating her with respect and kindness. Only when
she interfered on Ella’s behalf did he raise his voice, and sometimes his fist.
    At only a score
and six years of age, Aunt Eleanor still had her youth. Philip enjoyed having a
wife that made men envious, yet rarely took her to court, preferring to show
her off only at Greystone.
    Paen walked
silently beside her as they made their way to the stables, giving her time to
absorb the recent revelation. He saw the fresh wave a pain that engulfed Ella.
Her hands shook and her eyes glazed over with renewed hatred. During her
conversation with Colban, he sat by the open window and had heard everything
within the cottage. The older man did Ella a kindness, he thought, by revealing
the truth.
     
    Ella remained
silent as she gathered the items needed for Righ, and then only spoke to give
Paen instructions.
    Understanding that
she needed time to assimilate the truth, Paen did not take offense to her
brusque manner. He followed her directions without comment and after two hours,
Righ finally accepted him.
    As soon as Leif
arrived back at the stables with Apollo, Paen sent him up to the castle for
food and drink so Ella did not have to eat in the hall. Leif arranged their
midday meal in the hayloft that overlooked the bailey.
    Suspicious as to
why Paen bid her to go to the hayloft, Ella made her way up the wooden stairs
and saw Leif standing next to a blanket covered with food and drink. Relief and
joy reflected on her face. Paen soon joined them while Leif opened the wide
doors so they could watch the warriors train in the bailey.
    She had always
enjoyed watching men train for battle, and today even more so because it gave
her a reprieve from conversation. Throughout the meal, neither Paen nor Leif
brought up topics that made her uncomfortable. Instead, they jest about the
warriors and Bowen, who led the training.
    When they finished
the meal, Ella spoke to her companions. “Paen, Leif . . .thank you.” With them,
she did not have to say more.

5
    During the
following days, the threesome worked with Righ, slowly socializing him with
others. Apollo played an essential role in this phase of Righ’s training, which
Ella explained to her two male companions.
    “Righ spent the
bulk of his life around other horses. Apollo’s presence will ease some of his
anxiety.”
    With confusion
lingering on his brow, Leif asked, “They are both stallion, will they nae
fight?”
    Unlatching the
door to Righ’s stall, she answered, “Righ is younger then Apollo and accustomed
to being in a herd with other wild horses, including stallions. Since Righ is
so young, he is used to submitting to other stallions. Apollo will dominate him
and once Righ accepts that, he will follow Apollo’s lead.”
    Paen took Righ’s
reins from her offered hand and said, “I am nae sure I like my horse being
dominated.”
    “That is your male
pride speaking, not the common sense God gave you,” she said over her shoulder
as she went to fetch Apollo.
    Paen snorted. Yet,
her boldness to speak to him in such a manner honestly impressed him.  Most
women fear me, as they do Gavin, but Ella is fearless .
    Alone in the
enclosure, the two beasts instantly charged the other. They reared up on their
hind legs, sending their hooves slashing in the air. When Righ attacked, Apollo
deftly moved to the side, and then cornered him against the fence. Apollo kept
the younger horse contained until he calmed, then nudged it to show his
dominance. When Ella called for Apollo, Righ followed the older stallion.
    “Paen, Leif, stay
where you are.”
    The trio stood
separated around the enclosure, so neither she, Paen, or Leif were in close
proximity.
    Ella stroked both
horses then offered them the caramelized sugar apple cubes, which they accepted
without showing aggression. As she walked over to Paen, both horses