?You were the only one who did not try to get me to change my mind.?
?Only because I knew your stubbornness would dig in its heels even deeper with
any more pushing. There was no reasoning with you on the subject. You had to
figure out for yourself that the man loves you. But did you have to make him
wait until the last minute to wed him??
?Wait?? Rowena said incredulously.
?He did not fetch the midwife, he fetched the priest! And none of them would
leave until they had an ?aye? from me. That was blackmail. That was?
?Pure stubbornness on your part. You knew you were going to wed him. You just
had to make him suffer right to the end.?
Rowena snapped her mouth shut. Arguing with Mildred these days was like pulling
hairs. She lost a lot of hair.
Of course, she was just being stubborn. The man had been willing to die for her.
No grudge could hold up against that.
?Where is myhusband??
?Waiting without to see his son. Do I show him, or will you??
Not waiting for an answer, Mildred was already walking to the door to bring
Warrick in. Then he was there, looking down at her with such warmth and pride in
his eyes that the last of her animosity fled. She did love him, after all. That
had been made clear to her in so many ways long before she?d left him that it
was useless to deny it any longer.
She smiled shyly up at him.
?What do you think of him??
Warrick had not even looked at the baby yet. He did now, but his eyes came right
back to hers, and there was humor in them.
?I trust his looks will improve with time??
She looked down at her son in alarm, but was soon chuckling.
?There is naught wrong with the way he looks. He is supposed to be red and
wrinkly.?
?What happened to the daughter you hoped to give me??
She flushed, then grinned.
?I believe I finally got lucky, my lordnot to get that particular wish.?
He sat down on the bed to surprise her with a kiss.
?Thank you.?
? Twas not so difficultwell, mayhap a little.?
?Nay, I thank you for marrying me.?
?Oh,? she said, filling with such warm feelings she felt like laughing.
?That was actually? my pleasure.?
That got her another kiss, one not so tender.
?You are no longer angry with me??
?Nay, but if you ever send me to your dungeon again?
?I no longer have one. ?Twas torn down after you came here to Tures.?
?Why did you do that?? she asked in surprise.
? Twas an unbearable reminder of what I had done.?
?But you had reason, Warrick. Even I can?
?Do not make excuses for me, wenchor have you so soon forgotten the words you
threw back at me??
He was serious, but there was self mockery there, too.
?Very well, suffer a little longer if you must. But ?twas a waste of a good
dungeon do you ask me.?
Her sigh made him chuckle.
?Mayhap I did act too hastily. I can always have it excavated again.?
?You had better not, my lord/? she warned with mock fierceness.
?Then if I ever find the need to lock you in my solar again! will be sure to be
locked in with you.?
?Now that I will not object to.?
?So you are still a brazen wench??
?You do not mind my brazenness.?
?Nay, I do not.?
?And you love me.?
?All right, I love you.?
?Do not say it as if you are indulging me.
You do love me, Warrick. How can you not when j
?
?I do love you, wench.?
That sounded much better, so much better she drew him down for another kiss,
then the soft whisper ?I am glad ?twas you, Warrick. So glad.?
He remembered those words, spoken so long ago, and admitted finally ?So am I, my
lady. So, too, am I.?
Lindsey, Johanna - Prisoner Of My Desire Page 34