Lory might as well have struck her. And she would have preferred it, for Lory's words and their poison cut deeper. Aye, she was a man's property now. She and her unborn child. And Tobias, though much older than herself, didn't look as if he was about to fall over and die any given moment. The rest of her life was his now and she knew it. But to hear it so explicitly from her cousin's mouth still knocked the breath out of her.

She glanced at the cart, so as not to have to look at Lory. Her fingers wrapped around a turnip. She spoke quietly: "I only meant that ye could end up pregnant with no one to claim t' bairn, and then ye won't 'ave a choice. A man can pick you." And she'd have to be grateful for it too.