HeartFelt Promos – Professionals with Heart

Chapter One

Run. Run now.
        The words pounding in her head were unmistakable.
        She must run. She had to flee this house of pain and danger, and soon. She laid aside her book and sat as quietly as she could force herself. If Conor weren?t asleep she’d be tempted to leave immediately. Fear of Fergus ate at her mind and her body, and being his sister-in-law offered no protection. None at all. The menace loomed so dark as to be almost tangible to her Druid sensitivities.
        She’d heard of the dark scent of fear. She now could not only smell it, she could feel the dread trying to invade her being and immobilize her.
        Catriona had warned Ellen against marrying Fergus the very day the two met. He?d stopped them with some specious excuse as they walked together in Hyde Park. His aura, a muddy brown streaked with grey, betrayed his viciousness. She had no doubt of his evil character although Ellen refused to listen to her sister?s warnings. They married almost immediately, and he?d taken her to Scotland. He discouraged any visits until three weeks ago when Ellen?s illness made him relent and invite Catriona and Conor to help take care of her.
        Conor at almost thirteen had held up manfully through the funeral services. He?d cried a little this evening and Triona stayed with him until he fell asleep.
        She?d responded to people at the service today automatically.
        No, she couldn?t stay long. She?d only come to help Ellen.
        Yes, Ellen had been a beautiful girl.
        Yes, it was a terrible shame.
        Thank you so much for coming.
        She picked up the book again, but images of Ellen, emaciated, bruised over her entire body and weakened from her last miscarriage, were hard to suppress. Fergus proved even worse than she?d suspected. The first week of their stay he’d entered her sister?s room every night, dismissing Triona with a flick of the hand. Even in her room Triona couldn’t blot out the sound of her sister?s moans as Fergus exerted his conjugal rights on Ellen?s emaciated body. Thank the goddess he?d left her alone the last two weeks. Evidently even monsters no longer desired dying women.
        Merciful Merlin but she could hardly wait to leave. Perhaps she’d go to her room and start packing.