Chapter 724: Jocelynn’s Predicament (Part Two)
"They’re treating her like a prize mare," Virve said, narrowing her eyes as her fur raised at the notion of someone offering her to whichever man was chosen to sit on the Lothian Throne. "Do those men see her as anything more than a field to plow and plant their seeds in?"
"No, they don’t," Ashlynn said bitterly. "But Owain is very good at pretending otherwise. ’Prize mare’ is exactly the way he thinks of women. He’ll treat them gently so he doesn’t spook them, but..."
"Owain is already ’breaking’ your sister the way you’d break a horse," Isabell said, wincing slightly when her expression of disgust tugged at flesh that was still tender from the brief kiss of the hearth’s heat. "He hasn’t struck her, but Jocelynn says he’s come close. Ever since he returned from Blackwell County, and even a bit before he left, she’s been doing everything she can to keep him pacified and content with her."
When Isabell thought back on the list of things the young lady had admitted to doing in order to keep Owain’s attention, her stomach churned and her hands shook with the desire to find a weapon. Confessor Eleanor’s presence had been enough to keep Owain from deflowering the young lady before they could be married, but he’d been far too free with his hands and Jocelynn had been too afraid of his anger to deny his advances.
"Ashlynn, I won’t pretend that Jocelynn’s circumstances come close to what you have suffered," Isabell said. "But... She’s all but alone in Lothian Manor and she’s being schemed against on all sides."
"Bors is treating her like a set piece who’s destined to marry whoever he chooses to give his throne to," Isabell said, holding up one finger, then adding another finger as she continued to speak, ticking off her points as she went. "Owain is treating her like she’s already his property, and you know very well how little he cares for things he owns completely."
"Loman is actively contending for the throne," Isabell continued, holding up a third and final finger. "But he’s keeping his distance from Jocelynn. When I spoke to Confessor Eleanor, she implied that the Church won’t do much if anything to support your sister in Lothian City. In fact, the Church seems to be taking a step back while they wait to see the dust settle between the two brothers."
Isabell had hoped that the Church could at least become a place of refuge for Jocelynn, much like it had been for Jocelynn’s mother. But aside from Confessor Jocelynn who was acting as a chaperone for a member of her own family and the four Templars who had come with them, the Church intended to offer no support.