"In that case"-he straightened away from the book case-there's obviously no impediment to our marriage on your side."
She frowned at him. "Why do you imagine that?"
Brows high, he met her gaze. "Children. The Lady told you I was to father your children." She stared at him blankly, he elaborated: "Children. Plural. More than one."
She blinked, then her features blanked completely.
"It's a little hard to imagine how you could have a brood of children by me, without the benefit of marriage."
"Twins." She refocused abruptly on his face. "There's twins in your family-Amanda and Amelia."
Richard shook his head. "Their father's a twin, and their mother has twin brothers. Not at all the same as us."
"But…" Catriona stared at him. "The Lady made no mention of marriage."
"The gods don't have such ceremonies-marriage is an institution created by man."
"But…" She'd run out of buts.
He sensed it; he studied her, then said, his voice lower, less forceful-more beguiling: "I meant what I said before-that, if we marry, I won't interfere with your role." He searched her eyes, then his gaze steadied. "I swear always to support you in your position, to defer to you as lady of the vale."
He meant it; it was there in his eyes-a promise of fealty only a warrior could make-and then only to his queen Catriona felt her will swaying, bending… she was losing the battle to remain beyond his reach. And losing it on far too many fronts. More than one part of her mind was urging her to rethink-to accept all he offered.
As perhaps The Lady had intended her to.
Her head, mind and senses were whirling. With an effort, she regrouped-looked down and forced herself to strip aside all the complications of his motives and hers. And get to the heart of the matter.
After a quiet moment, she raised her head and looked him in the eye. "You're not going to let me go, are you?"
He looked straight at her-through blue, blue eyes. "No." She considered him. His face hardened. His gaze locked with hers, he softly added. "And you might like to ponder the fact that if you refuse me and bear my child, I'll have an unassailable legal right to that child."
Catriona heard the depth of his commitment, not to her but to their unborn child. "You'd take our child from me?"
His gaze didn't waver, she'd read his answer in his eyes before he stated: "I'd claim any child of mine from the arms of The Lady herself, if she sought to keep it from me."
Dragging in an unsteady breath, Catriona straightened-and felt the trap close firmly, tenderly, but tight. The warrior had secured his cause.
"It won't be as bad as I feared." Catriona dragged her brush through her hair and glanced at Algaria in the mirror. Her erstwhile mentor was agitated to the point of panic. "He's promised to support my position, my role, not undermine it. He didn't have to do that."
"Humph! That's what he says now-just wait until he gets you back to the vale. Once you're big with his child, he'll take over!" Pacing, Algaria swung about. "Do you realize he'll have the power to sell the vale?"
"He won't." In stating it, she was sure of it. "He's landless-a bastard-and a Cynster. He's more likely than any other to keep the vale-keep it for his children." Protect it for his children. Inwardly smiling, Catriona wielded her brush vigorously.
Algaria had not been present in the library; expecting to leave within a day, she'd been shocked to learn of the impending wedding. And convinced that Richard must have, using some unspecified and utterly inconceivable power, forced Catriona into accepting.
The only power he'd used was simply who he was-who he really was behind his mask; Catriona had tried to explain that, but Algaria wasn't ready to listen.
"I can't believe you've simply acquiesced!" Halting, Algaria stared at her.
"Believe me, there was nothing simple about it. Our discussions ranged over a gamut of issues."
"Did you discuss his character? The fact he'll want to rule-that he'll need to rule just as much as he'll need to breathe?"
Sighing, Catriona laid down her brush. "I didn't say it would be easy."
"Easy? It's going to be impossible!"
"Algaria." Turning on the stool, Catriona faced her mentor, her second-in-command. "I didn't make the decision lightly. When it came to the point, there were too many convincing reasons why this marriage should be-and few, if any, reasons against." Algaria opened her mouth; Catriona silenced her with an upraised hand. "No-I know about his strength-and so does he. He's vowed to contain it, to use it to support me, not wield it against me." She met Algaria's black gaze steadily "I intend giving him a chance to fulfill that vow. That's a right he's claimed-and one I cannot justifiably deny him. Until such time as he fails-until he breaks that vow-I do not wish to hear any more on the subject."
She waited, but Algaria, pinch lipped, said nothing-she started to pace again. "You could have suggested hand-fasting-at least until he shows his true colors."
"I doubt he'd accept it, and you know that's never been our way."
"Marrying men like him has never been our way, either!"
Catriona sighed and let Algaria's agitation slide past her. She didn't share it, but could understand Algaria's state. In common with all disciples of The Lady, Algaria possessed a deep-seated distrust of dominant men-for good and obvious reasons. It was a distrust she had shared, until she'd met Richard Cynster and felt the attraction a strong man could pose, and seen behind his mask to his vulnerability. Algaria possessed the talent to see behind his mask, too, but it was pointless to suggest that now. Her erstwhile mentor was too repelled by the vision of strength and dominance to stop and look beyond it.
Considering Algaria, she sighed again. "Times change, and we must change, too I'm too wise in life's ways to try to resist its flow-the currents carrying me to his arms are considerable. Many more than one, and powerful-The Lady's will and more." Algaria slowed; Catriona caught her eye. "I won't fight fate-I won't right life. That's not why The Lady put me here."
She held Algaria's black gaze for a moment, then calmly turned back to the mirror and picked up her brush. "I've agreed to marry Richard Cynster before witnesses-we'll be wed as soon as may be." She stroked the brush through her heavy hair, the rhythmic tug on her scalp was soothing. "And then," she murmured, eyes closing, "then, we'll return to the vale."
Tight-lipped, Algaria left her; in a state of unusual mental weariness, Catriona climbed into her bed. The thought of visiting Richard occurred only to be dismissed-she would be his soon enough, and he knew it. Triumphant, he'd been magnanimous in victory-in the drawing room, he'd frowned at her over the teacups and told her to get to bed and get some sleep.
Halfway there, Catriona felt her lips lift. Luckily, no one had been near enough to hear-all the rest of the family had been distracted, struggling to assimilate their "new" state. It was, in fact, their old state-that, perhaps, was one of the positives of the case-that being given their inheritance back, they now viewed it as truly theirs.
Now, hopefully, Mary would get new curtains.
The thought made her smile; she drifted deeper into sleep. More peacefully, more serenely, more reassured than she'd expected.
Things, somehow, would turn out right-so The Lady whispered.
Chapter 1O
They were married by special license, granted by the Bishop of Perth. Three days later, in the kirk in the village, Catriona stood beside Richard Cynster and listened as he vowed to love, honor and protect her. If he did all three, she would be safe; she made her responding vows-to love, honor and obey him-with an open heart.
And felt The Lady's blessing in the shaft of sunshine that broke through the heavy clouds and beamed through the small lose window set high above the altar to bathe them in Her glow.
Richard gathered her in his arms and kissed her-lingeringly. Only when he lifted his head and they turned to walk up the short nave did the sunbeam fade.
By the time they signed the register, then strolled out to the small
porch, winter had reclaimed the ascendancy. Clouds laden with snow, grey and churning, stretched from horizon to horizon. A carpet of snow already covered the ground; light flurries whirled on the bitter breeze.
The family followed them to the door, excited and garrulous. Because of Seamus's death, the small private ceremony in the old kirk-all that either she or Richard had wanted-had been agreed to by all. Both the weather and Seamus's death had mitigated against any further revelry. The snows had started in earnest; the passes were slowly filling. Richard and she had been in perfect accord that they should leave immediately after the ceremony, to ensure they weren't snowed in for weeks.
Pausing in the porch, Catriona saw the steamy breaths of their carriage horses rising beyond the lych-gate. She looked up at Richard; he was looking across the graveyard. She followed his gaze-and guessed his thoughts.
"Go!" Lightly, she pushed him. He looked down at her, his mask in place; she ignored it. "Go and say good-bye." She looked inward and afar, then refocused on him. "I don't think either of us will be here again."
He hesitated for an instant more, then nodded and stepped off the porch. She watched him head for a simple grave by the wall, then swung around and gave her attention to Jamie, Meg and the rest,
Halting before his mother's grave, Richard wondered what she would have thought of him marrying Catriona Hennessy. His mother had been from the Lowlands, too; perhaps she would approve. He gazed at the headstone, studied it carefully, letting the vision sink into his mind.
And recalled his thought, when he'd stood here in the moonlight just before he'd first met his witchy wife.
His wife. The words, even unuttered, sent a streak of unnerving sensation through him, powerful enough to shift the very bedrock of his foundations. Sensation and recollection mingled; eyes narrowing, he gazed at his mother's grave and silently made another vow.
To live life fully.
Straightening, he drew a deep breath and turned. And discovered Catriona waiting a yard behind him. She met his eyes, then looked at the grave. Richard gestured her forward, she came to his side.
For a moment, side by side, they looked at the headstone; inwardly, Richard said good bye. Then he took Catriona's gloved hand. "Come. It's freezing."
He drew her away. It was she who, halfway down the path, glanced back, then looked at his face, before shifting her gaze forward to where their party waited in the protection of the lych-gate.
They had two carriages-his and hers. Their leave taking was foreshortened by the increasing snow; within minutes, Richard handed Catriona into his carriage, then followed her in. Jamie shut the door and stepped back. Through the glass, Richard met Jamie's eyes, and, smiling, raised his hand in brief salute. Jamie grinned and saluted back.
"Good-bye!"
"Good luck!"
The carriage lurched; the wedding party, waving madly, fell behind. Sitting back, wrapped in his greatcoat, Richard stretched his legs out and settled his shoulders against the leather seat. Beside him, Catriona flicked out her skirts, then drew her cloak about her. Boots propped on a hot brick wrapped in flannel, she settled her head against the squabs and closed her eyes.
Silence, tinged with expectation, filled the carriage as it rumbled out of the Highlands.
Richard saw no reason to break it-as each mile of white landscape was replaced with the next, his mind was busy listing the various letters he needed to write. The first-a short note to Devil-had already been dispatched, along with Worboys, sent ahead to ensure the comfort of their first night. Informing Devil of his change of status had been easy; informing Helena, Dowager Duchess of St Ives, would be much less so. Aside from anything else, he would need to break his news in such a way that his stepmother did not immediately appear on the manor's doorstep, seeking to welcome Catriona into the Cynster family in the time-honored way. Oh, no-he wanted time-wanted them to have time-to find their own equilibrium.
To learn how to get on-for him to learn how to manage a witchy wife.
That definitely came first. Helena would have to wait.
"I hope we get to The Boar before nightfall."
Catriona was peering into the whirling white outside. Richard studied her profile; his lips quirked. Straightening them he looked ahead. "We'll be staying at The Angel."
"Oh?" Catriona turned. "But…" Her words died away.
Turning his head, Richard met her eyes, clear question in his.
"Well"-she gestured-"it's simply that The Angel is a very superior house."
"I know. That's why I sent Worboys to secure rooms for us there."
"You did?" She stared at him, then grimaced.
Richard kept his expression mild. "Don't you like The Angel?"
"It's not that. It's just that superior also means expensive."
"A fact you need not concern yourself over."
She humphed. "That's all very well, but-"
Richard knew the instant the penny dropped, saw her eyes widen as she finally noticed the luxurious appointments of his carriage-the fine, supple leather, the gleaming brass-finally remembered the lines and deep chests of the four greys between the shafts. Finally considered what she should have long before.
Her eyes, wide and startled, swung to his, her gaze arrested. She opened her lips on hasty words and nearly choked. Clearing her throat, she sat back against the seat and gestured airily. "Are you…?"
"Very." Enjoying himself, Richard leaned his head back and closed his eyes.
And felt the increasing intensity of her gaze. "How much is very?"
He considered, then said: "Enough to keep me, and you… and your vale if need be."
She searched his face, then humphed and sank back. "I didn't realize."
"I know."
"Are the Cynsters exceedingly wealthy?"
"Yes." After a moment, he continued, his eyes still closed: "Within the family, my bastardry counts for nothing-my father made provision for me as his second son, which, to all intents and purposes, I am."
She was silent for so long, he wondered what she was thinking.
"Jamie mentioned that you're accepted socially."
The murmured statement held no element of question; opening his eyes, Richard turned his head and looked at her-she was staring out at the snow.
"I expect that means you could have had your choice of all the young ladies from the very best families."
Compelled by the ensuing silence, he replied: "Yes."
"So…" She sighed, and turned to meet his eyes. "What will your family think when they learn you've married a Scottish witch?"
He would have quipped that they'd either think he'd lost his senses, or that it served him right, but the shadows in her eyes held him. Compelled him to reach out, slowly, and slide one arm about her. And lift her, with an ease that sent a very definite shiver through her, onto his lap.
"The only thing they'll care about," he murmured, juggling her, "is that I've chosen you."
He would have kissed her, but she stayed him small hands braced against his chest. "But you haven't." Gratifyingly breathless, she searched his eyes, then blushed lightly. "Chosen me, I mean."
He'd chosen her in the instant he'd first closed his arms about her, in the moonlight near his mother's grave, but he wasn't bewitched enough to admit it; his witch had enough powers as it was. Ignoring her hands, he bent his head and brushed his lips across hers. "You're mine." Breaths mingling, driven, their gazes locked-then, simultaneously, dropped to each other's lips. Searching, hungry, their lips touched again-achingly gentle-then parted. "That's all that matters."
Her lashes fluttered up; for one instant, green eyes met blue, and the air about them shimmered.
She sucked in a quick, shallow breath; in the same instant, he tightened his arms about her, then lowered his head and kissed her.
And she kissed him. With a devastating sweetness, an innocence-as if this were the first time. Which, in some ways, for her, it was. The first time she'd knowingly welcomed him as her love
r-a lover fully conscious, wide awake. Richard realized and inwardly groaned, and harnessed his raging desires, savagely hungry after tour days' starvation.
He deepened the kiss by gradual degrees, letting them both sink into the caress, into the warmth and heat, into that pleasurable sea. Letting their embers slowly glow stronger then flicker into flame; with an expert's touch, he fanned the flames until they burned steadily.
She followed his lead readily, openly without guile. As was her wont, she freely gave all he asked, accepting each intimacy as he offered it, surrendering her mouth to his conquest. He savored her thoroughly, then teased her into making her own demands, into meeting him and matching him, into returning the slow, languid thrusting of his tongue with clinging caresses equally evocative.
But their nerves remained curiously taut, their play curiously charged as if their first encounter as a married couple was somehow different. Richard sensed it in her, in the tension that invested her slight frame, in the tightness of her breathing-sensed it in himself-an alertness, an awareness, heightened to exquisite sensitivity.
As if their nerves, their bodies, their very beings, thrummed to some magic in the air.
Gently, he lifted her, rearranging her on his lap so that she sat across his legs facing him one knee on either side of his hips. Locked in their kiss, she barely seemed to notice; pushing her hands up, over his shoulders, she slid her fingers into his hair and angled her lips beneath his.
She moaned when he closed his hands about her breasts. He kneaded and, through the thick fabric of her pelisse, felt the mounds firm and fill his hands. Even with the benefit of a number of hot bricks, even with the heat rising between them, it was too cold to contemplate baring her. Instead, he glided his hands over her in long sweeping caresses-caresses designed to stir her to life. To love.
When she wriggled impatiently on his thighs, Richard reached between them, found the hem of her skirt, and slid his hand beneath.
He found her-startlingly hot in the cold air in the carriage. She would have pulled back from their kiss but he refused to let her; he kept her lips trapped, filled her mouth with slow, languid thrusts as he stroked her, parted her, penetrated her.
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