by Diane Darcy
Her ladies hurried with her to her bedchamber. She needed to change into her most beautiful gown, uncover and brush out her hair, one of her best features, pinch her cheeks and bite color into her lips.
“Wait!” called Gillian from behind them. “What’s happening? Where are you going?”
Marissa found she could not answer. She was scared spitless.
Determined to talk to Kellen and tell him everything, Gillian waited until Marissa was out of sight before leaving the solar. She’d explain who she was, or rather, wasn’t. She’d tell him where she was from, how she felt about him, and her hopes for their future together. Everything.
At the thought, her heart rate increased and her hands felt cold and clammy; but she really couldn’t stand the suspense a moment longer. With shaking fingers, she slipped on her pink pack for the proof it contained to back her claims, smoothed her yellow dress, and headed out to find Kellen.
When she reached the top of the stairs, she immediately saw Kellen talking with a well-dressed older gentleman below who, from the looks of him, could be none other than Kellen’s father.
Kellen looked up, smiled, and beckoned to her. “Gillian,” he circled his hand a few more times. “Come and meet my father.”
Taking a shaky breath and feeling a bit deflated by the fact that she’d have to put off her talk, she went downstairs and joined them, slipping her hand around Kellen’s arm, linking them.
He patted her hand possessively then held his own over it. “Gillian, this is my father, Lord Edward Hardbrook. Father, this is Lady Edith Corbett, my betrothed. I call her Gillian.”
Gillian smiled at the pride in Kellen’s voice and held out a hand, which Lord Hardbrook took in one of his, and bowed over in a graceful gesture before kissing the back. “I am very pleased to meet you, my dear.”
Gillian arched a brow at the smooth move. “Thank you. It’s nice to meet you, too. I can certainly see where Kellen gets his good looks and charm from.”
Kellen grinned and Lord Hardbrook laughed in surprise. “Thank you, my dear.” She could see he was flattered, but she’d meant it. His father was just an older version of Kellen, and it was nice to know Kellen would still be yummy to look at in a quarter-century. The thought made Gillian’s hand clench on his arm. Would it be her at Kellen’s side or some other wife?
“My son seems well pleased with his choice of bride, as am I,” said Lord Hardbrook. “I welcome you to our family.”
“Thank you.”
Lord Hardbrook’s eyes widened as he looked beyond Gillian and up the stairs. Gillian turned to see Marissa descending, dark hair floating about her shoulders, looking pale but beautiful in a royal blue gown, her fine features slightly strained.
When she reached the bottom, she took a deep breath then ran at her husband, throwing herself at him, her arms wrapping around his neck. Lord Hardbrook’s mouth dropped and he gaped for a moment but quickly encircled his wife and chuckled as she clung to him. “Hello, wife, I have—”
Before he could say more, Marissa grasped his head, pulled him toward her, and kissed him thoroughly. The man seemed frozen in place for a moment, but quickly relaxed and got into the spirit of the kiss, his arms tightening about his wife.
Gillian wiggled her brows at Kellen who brought a fist to his mouth to clear his throat and hide a smile. As the kiss continued, they both looked everywhere but at the couple in front of them.
Finally, Kellen took a step back, pulling Gillian along with him. “Well, yes, then. We will see you at supper,” he said, as he turned around, caught Gillian’s hand, and pulled her away.
They both walked fast until finally they were almost running out the front doors. They barely made it outside before they burst out laughing.
When her husband finally broke off the kiss to gaze down at her, surprise, pleasure, and interest in his expression, Marissa was pleased to see his breathing was as unsteady as her own. His gaze fell to her lips, his color heightened, and he clasped her in his arms as tightly as she could have ever wished for.
Her hands lowered to his chest and she could not help but smile up at him as she gasped for breath. “I have missed you, husband.”
A smile curved his lips as he gazed down at her. “I can see you have. I have missed my own sweet wife, as well.”
At his words, tears filled her eyes and the last of her misgivings melted away. She leaned up on her toes to whisper, “My ladies have moved Gillian’s things to their chambers. I thought perhaps you would wish me to show you our bedchamber and help you get settled?”
Edward glanced about quickly, nodded, released her, and practically shoved her toward the stairs, his hands firm on her waist. “I would like nothing better.”
Disbelief, relief, and happiness bloomed inside Marissa as she hurried up the staircase with her husband directly behind her, urging her onward.
She conceded that she had definitely been too harsh with Gillian. It turned out the girl knew a thing or two about managing a household, after all.
Kellen headed with Gillian across the bailey, toward the training field, and smiled when she giggled. “You are amused?”
“I couldn’t believe that was Marissa. I never would have guessed she had such a passionate marriage. Never.”
Kellen laughed. “Nor I. I have not seen the two of them act in such a way as that before, but I am happy for my father.” Marissa had seemed cold in the past, and he knew what it was to be married to a passionless wife.
Looking down at Gillian, he let go of her hand and put his arm about her shoulders, pulling her close, enjoying the sunshine, the walk with his lady, the way she so easily slid her arm into place about his waist, and the way his heartbeat sped at her touch. “My father is here, and soon yours will be, also. I cannot wait for you to be mine.”
He could not help but notice the way Gillian tensed at his words, her expression bordering on fear.
“You need not distress yourself. I will be gentle with you; I swear it.”
Gillian nodded and squeezed his waist. “I know you will.”
“Are you worried over the wedding?”
She shrugged but remained silent.
“I cannot wait until is it over, as well. Life will be more peaceful afterward. I swear I will do all in my power to help you settle into your new role. I want you to be happy, Gillian.”
Gillian pulled him to a stop and looked up at him. She opened her mouth to speak, closed it, and then sighed.
“What is it?”
She took his hand. “I have something I need to tell you. It’s important.”
Gillian looked about as if searching for privacy, and Kellen realized this could be the perfect opportunity to carry out his plan. “And I have something to say to you, as well. Come.”
Grabbing her hand, he pulled her toward the training fields, past his men and the orchard, and to the private garden beyond. He was relieved to see it was unoccupied as he dragged her toward a pretty little bench and settled her upon it.
She slipped off her backpack. “Kellen?”
“Aye. Give me a moment.” He could feel the pulse beat in his own throat, and could feel himself start to sweat as he paced back and forth. Finally, he stopped, took a breath, and rubbed the back of his neck. “Gillian, you are . . .”
He studied her beautiful face, the soft blue eyes, thickly lashed, the full and inviting lips, the high cheekbones framed by her disheveled blonde hair, and tried to remember the words so painstakingly memorized. Finding the distance between them intolerable, he knelt on one knee, his face almost even with her own, and grasped her hands in his.
His mind blanked, all the memorized words going straight out of his head. He swallowed and looked into her eyes. “Gillian, I have not the pretty words that some men do, but I . . . I have loved you from almost the moment we met.”
Tears filled her pretty eyes and, when she tried to speak, he put a finger to her soft lips, silencing her. He had to finish this or he’d kiss her and be done with it
.
“The first day I met you, when I took you from Royce, I knew you were mine. But do you remember at the rocks? When you took my hand as we walked back to the keep?”
She nodded.
“When you took my hand, I was certain I was yours.”
He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed the back, turned it over and kissed her palm, and then holding her trembling hand to his cheek, gazed into her tear-filled eyes. “You are everything. My life, my love, my all. Will you marry me, Gillian?”
“Oh, Kellen . . .”
Gillian felt her face crumple as he blurred before her. She’d been concentrating so hard on what she was going to say to him that when he’d sunk down on one knee, when she’d realized he was proposing, she’d been taken completely by surprise.
She blinked against tears as she looked into his earnest face, felt his warm, raspy skin against her fingers, and all the problems between them fell away.
She loved him, and he loved her. She could see it in his face; feel it as he looked at her. She wanted him to choose her so much, and here he was, this strong, capable, gorgeous man, barely breathing as he waited for her answer. He had such a tender expression on his face, it was all she could do to not simply melt into a puddle at his feet. He’d choose her when given the choice between her and Edith. She really believed he would.
His brow creased in sudden worry and he swallowed audibly. More tears rushed to her eyes. “Kellen, I love you so much.”
He let out a breath, grasped her hand on his cheek, and turned his head to kiss her palm again. “You had me worried for a moment, dearest.”
Her heart fluttered at the heartfelt endearment, and she watched as he dug in the pouch at his waist and pulled out an intricately braided silver ring. Tears blurred her vision. “It’s beautiful.”
“You have not answered my question. I know ’tis all arranged, but I would have you want me for your own self, as I want you, and not out of a sense of obligation.” He swallowed again as he studied her face, his vulnerable expression clearly revealing how much her answer mattered to him. “I would call it off if you did not truly want me.”
Gillian’s heart pounded. She loved him so much at that moment her heart ached. “Yes. If you could ever want me, just for me, then yes, I’d marry you in a heartbeat. It’s what I want with everything I have in me. I want to marry you, and be your wife, and have your babies, and love you until the day I die.”
He released a breath, lifted one of her hands, and kissed the knuckles hard. “Good, that is good.” He lifted his gaze and grinned at her. “Particularly as I am not sure I was being honest and could let you go if you said otherwise.”
She laughed. “Oh Kellen. I do love you. So much.”
He took a deep shuddering breath, slipped the ring on her finger, stood, and swept her into his arms. He kissed her roughly on the mouth, holding her almost too tight, before gentling.
A moment later he pulled back to study her expression and whatever he saw there made him smile. “You have made me very happy. I will make you happy, as well. I swear it.”
He leaned in to kiss her once more and as she clung to him; she hoped his words were still true when he learned the truth. And she’d tell him. Just as soon as he stopped kissing her.
A long while later, Kellen’s head lifted and he glanced around. It took her a moment, but Gillian realized she heard voices and started to pull away, to move out of Kellen’s arms, but he wouldn’t let her go. He quickly stole another long kiss, and another, smoothed back her hair, then reluctantly released her, and stepped back.
Peter’s voice called out. “Lord Marshall! Lady Corbett! Are you there?”
Excited chatter from the foster boys gave Gillian the strength to finger comb her hair, press her fingers to her swollen lips, and ease back a few more paces before the boys rounded the corner.
They let out a cheer when they spotted them. “There you are!” said Ulrick.
Peter glanced between the two of them, one brow arching.
Francis hooted at the sight of them. “We’ve searched everywhere for you! What have you been doing?”
Kellen cleared his throat, and Gillian bit her bottom lip to keep from smiling as Kellen, still catching his breath, stumbled out a hearty greeting. “Just showing Lady Corbett the flowers in the garden.”
Three faces crumpled in disgust. “Flowers!” said Francis.
Kellen shot Gillian a wide-eyed look that said help me out; but she only smiled and glanced down, glad she wasn’t the only one flustered.
It was good the boys had shown up. Kellen’s kisses were mind-scrambling, and they needed to talk. She needed to admit she was from the future, that she wasn’t Edith Corbett, and hope he still chose her. After his heartfelt proposal, she was starting to believe he just might.
“Flowers are foolish!” said Peter. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you! Lady Marissa has sent everyone out searching, and we found you first!”
“Ah, yes, very good, boys. You are clever indeed to have found us.”
“Lady Marissa promised an extra tart after dinner if we did!” exclaimed Ulrick, but his brows suddenly furrowed. “Do you think she means us to share one, or to have one to ourselves?”
Kellen’s expression was grave. “I’ll talk to her and make sure you each get one.” He winked at Gillian.
Gillian, her heartbeat finally slowing, asked, “What does Lady Marissa want?”
Peter grinned. “Oh, we did not tell you! Your family, come from Corbett Castle, have finally arrived! Lady Marissa and Lord Hardbrook had to wake from a mid-day nap to greet them without you, and she is quite put out at your absence. You must come quickly!”
Francis nodded vigorously. “Before she changes her mind about the tart!”
“My family is here?” Gillian’s voice trembled.
Kellen turned to smile at her. “We are one step closer to being wed.”
Fright had Gillian pressing a hand to her chest and she could actually feel her heart speeding, thumping. “But . . . but . . . you said it would take them three more days to get here.”
He shrugged. “Mayhap they had already left. No matter, let us greet them.” He reached forward to rub Francis’s hair. “I am sure young Francis is glad to see his parents again, as well.”
The boy smiled at him, but when the other boys took off running—yelling how they must tell Lady Marissa they’d found them first—he was quick to follow.
Kellen helped Gillian put on her backpack, tucked her into his side, and they started walking. Cold inside and out, she didn’t resist, didn’t know what to do. Her heart beat rapidly, thudding in her chest as they left the gardens and headed toward the orchard. Her instincts told her to run and hide, but she was well aware it was too late for that.
There was nowhere to go, and the moment she’d been dreading was upon her. She looked up at Kellen, who gazed down at her, a pleased and loving expression on his face and, again, though her throat had closed and her mouth was dry with fear, she felt a spark of hope.
Maybe Kellen really would choose her?
She swallowed and pulled to a stop. “Kellen, wait a moment. I . . . I . . . have something to tell you.”
“And I am anxious to hear. I want to learn each detail of how you came to love me. I want you to assure my poor heart that I am not alone in this feeling.” He suddenly pulled her into his arms and gave her another long, mind-blowing kiss.
When he finally broke it off, he pressed his forehead to hers for a moment, then smiled, grabbed her hand, and tugged her along. “We will talk later, without fear of interruption.” His smile widened. “Mayhap tonight?”
“But . . .” She let out a shaky breath. It was too late. She’d left it far too late and didn’t know what to say, anyway. She’d just have to face the music and see if Kellen chose her. The thought made her shiver.
She stumbled and he caught her easily, smiling down at her, his expression excited, eager. “Careful, we do not wish your father t
o think you ill-used.”
She sucked in a shuddering breath, nodded, and tried to return the smile. She’d never been so afraid in her entire life.
Chapter 30
When Kellen and Gillian entered the great hall, Tristan and Owen surged forward and tried to stop him, to tell him something; but he pushed past them, anxious to see Lord Corbett, and to assure the man he was a good choice for his daughter. To assure Lord Corbett that Kellen was well pleased with the match.
All eyes turned toward them—Marissa and his father, Lord and Lady Corbett, their daughters, even Kellen’s knights and servants—and the silence was unnerving.
Regardless, Kellen moved forward to warmly welcome Gillian’s family. He had no doubt Lord Corbett had taken great care to give Kellen his best daughter this time, so ’twas important to Kellen to show there were no hard feelings from the nastiness with Catherine. Now that Gillian was his, he could afford to be high-minded and forgiving. “Welcome, Lord Corbett. Lady Corbett. I see you have brought some of your lovely daughters, as well. You are all most welcome here.”
Pandemonium ensued as everyone started speaking at once, or rather, yelling at once.
Lord Corbett, his voice rising above the others, pointed at Gillian and demanded, “Who is this girl?”
Kellen turned to look at Gillian who, rather than greeting her family stood stiffly next to him, clutching his hand, her face a mask of fear.
Kellen quickly placed a comforting arm around her to protect her from her crazed family. First her sister Catherine had proved to be unsound, and now her father did not know his own daughter? Were she and her brother the only sane ones among them? Little wonder she’d arrived early. She had no doubt run away from home.
Lady Corbett now yelled at Kellen’s father, who bellowed in return as he pointed repeatedly with his finger at one of the Corbett daughters. Another of the girls, a younger one, cried and carried on in the most irritating way.