"If that is your wish, Gold . . . Mara."
"Mara, I would ask a favor of you," Tajarez said.
She smiled at him with a hint of mischief. "Ask and I shall grant you any wish."
He smiled slightly. "Do you test me, Mara?" He motioned for his cousins to be seated. He then took Mara's hand and pulled her down on the settee and sat beside her.
"What is the favor you wish, Tajarez?"
"My cousin, Sasha, has been learning English just so she would be able to converse with you and instruct you in the Lagonda language. It would please me if you would allow her to remain with you so she might begin to teach you our ways and customs."
"Were you so sure you would find me and I would consent to marry you?"
"I was hopeful," he told her, looking deeply into her eyes.
Mara turned to Sasha. "I would be delighted to have you say with me, Sasha. Can you stay tonight?"
"If my prince wishes it," Sasha told her shyly.
"I have many questions to ask you, Sasha. You will be my teacher, and I your devoted pupil."
Sasha smiled sweetly and lowered her head.
Tajarez spoke to Anias, and he and Sasha rose to their feet.
"Mara, Anias will take Sasha back to camp to gather her belongings. She will return later," Tajarez told her.
Mara stood up and walked over to Sasha. "I look forward to your return. Tell your brother Anias it has been a pleasure meeting him."
While Sasha translated, Anias looked deeply into Mara's eyes, and for some unknown reason, Mara felt fear prickle her spine. She chided herself for feeling that way. Anias was Tajarez's cousin. What would she have to fear from him?
She and Tajarez walked Anias and Sasha to the door. When they had gone, Tajarez slipped his arm around her waist, and steered her back into the sitting room. He closed the door and turned to face her. She went readily into his outstretched arms.
"I have wanted to hold you in my arms ever since I arrived," he told her, tightening his grip on her.
She raised her face to him. "I cannot yet believe you convinced my brother to allow me to marry you. How did you accomplish it?"
"Your brother is a fair man. He could see how desperately I love you."
She rested her head against his wide chest, hearing his steady heartbeat. This man she loved so deeply would soon be her husband, and she would travel with him far away to some unknown destination, leaving everything that was familiar to her. Something akin to panic flashed through her mind. She had felt a little disturbed this afternoon when David had told her of his meeting with Tajarez. That he was a prince of some highly advanced and intelligent Indian race, which had never been discovered by the outside world, was unsettling to her.
"Tajarez, how will the people of your tribe receive me as your wife?"
He heard the apprehension in her voice. "You saw how my cousins felt about you. Trust me when I tell you the rest of my people await your coming with great anticipation." He raised her face to his. "You are feeling frightened at the thought of leaving your family, Mara. I shall become your family, and I will love you so much, you will not be frightened for long." His voice deepened. "Beloved, I love you." His lips covered hers in a searing kiss that took her breath away, stealing her mind and removing her fear. He was her love. Without him, her life would have no meaning.
Tajarez tore his lips from hers, and released her. "I wonder how much more of this I can bear," he said in a voice intense with feeling. Then he turned his back to her.
She slipped her arms around his waist, and laid her head against his broad back. "I love you, Tajarez."
"Do not touch me, Mara," he said in an agonized voice, moving away from her.
"Tajarez, I do not understand," she said in a voice that showed plainly how hurt she was by his words.
He turned slowly to face her. "Do you not know what you do to me, Mara? I am a man, and when you are near me, I want to ... all I can think of is ... I want you," he said passionately.
She smiled, understanding his reason for rejecting her. "We will be man and wife soon, Tajarez.",
"When, Mara? How soon can I take you to my home?"
"I do not know, Tajarez."
Tajarez walked over to the French doors, pushed them open, and stepped out into the garden. Mara followed him and stood beside him. They were both quiet for a long moment.
"Your friends will not understand when they find you are marrying an Indian, Mara," he said, breaking the silence at last. "They will try to dissuade you from going with me." He did not look at her, but stared out into the darkness.
"It does not matter what my friends think," she told him, not bothering to deny he spoke the truth. "No one save yourself could keep me from following you. Tajarez, we have a holy book that teaches us about our God."
He turned to face her. "I know. You speak of your bible."
She was once again amazed by his unending knowledge and intelligence.
"Yes, it is called the Bible. I would like to quote you something that is written in it. I have always felt it is by far the most beautiful passage from the Bible. I believe it fits how I feel about you."
She touched his smooth cheek softly, as she began to speak:
Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: For wither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest will I die, and there will I be buried: The Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
Tajarez stared at her, unable to speak for the lump in his throat.
"No one can dissuade me from going with you as your wife, Tajarez. I love you."
"Beloved, beloved," he whispered, touching her face with trembling hands. "Make the marriage ceremony soon, Mara. Please make it soon."
She looked into dark eyes that seemed to be tormented.
"How soon, Tajarez?"
“Tomorrow.”
She laughed. "I cannot possibly make it tomorrow. There is so much to do. I need a wedding gown; I must pack my belongings. It all takes time."
He closed his eyes, and opening them, focused them on her face. "How much time, Mara?"
She could sense an urgency about him. She could wear her mother's wedding gown; that would save time. The wedding would be a small one, with just the family. "Will you give me a week, Tajarez?"
"Seven days?"
"Yes, seven days."
His arms tightened around her. "Mara, it will be a long seven days, and then it will be even longer until we reach my home."
"But we will be together on the journey to your home, Tajarez.
He looked down at her. "Did not David tell you that you will not truly belong to me until my father joins us together?"
"No, what do you mean?"
He took her arm and walked down the path toward the secluded part of the garden where he had found her the night before. "David told you my father is king of the Lagonda?"
"Yes, but I find it all a little difficult to understand."
"As his son, only he can join me to you, Mara. It is the law."
"Who would join us together if you did not have a father?" she said, not fully understanding.
"In that case, I would be the king, and I would perform the ritual."
She stopped and looked up into his face. "Sometimes I am frightened by that which I do not understand, Tajarez. I wish we were just two ordinary people."
"I believe a person's life is laid out for him before he is born, Mara, and there is very little he can do to change it."
"I am not sure I agree with you, Tajarez. Let me ask you a question. Say, for instance, if my home were burning, would you expect me to stand by, doing nothing, and say it was meant to happen, therefore, I should not try to put out the flames?"
"No. The Great Father gave man a mind and the ability to use it, that along with a sense of survival. What I am trying to say to you is from the day I came into this world, and the day you we
re born, the Great Father planned for us to be together. It might surprise you, but you and I were meant to come together even before that."
"I do not understand."
"Some day I will tell you how I know this, but not now. All you need to know is that I love you."
She placed her hands on her hips and smiled coquettishly. "Prove it."
He laughed deeply and pulled her into his arms. "Some day you will get your wings singed, little bird. I am not one of your prissy-faced beaux. If you flirt with me, you must suffer the consequences."
"What would you do?" she said daringly.
"You light the fire; I fan the flame, and we are both consumed," he said against her lips. His kiss was deep and searching, and Mara could feel nothing but his hard, lean body pressed against her soft curves, taking her sanity, and causing her virgin body to crave some unknown pleasure. His body was issuing her a command, and hers was ready to obey.
"Beloved, beloved, I have waited so long for you. Why must I continue to wait?" His lips traveled down her throat, and she felt as though they scorched her delicate skin.
"I love you, I love you," she whispered through trembling lips. His lips found hers once more, and they were both lost in wondrous feelings. Mara was startled when Tajarez broke off the kiss and pushed her roughly away from him.
"Walk me to my horse, Mara. I must leave you now," he said abruptly.
"Must you?"
"Yes, I can no longer remain."
"But why, it is early yet," she said in a wounded voice.
"Do not ask me any more questions. At the moment I am half out of my mind, wanting you." He pulled her toward the house, giving her little time to consider his words. When they reached the front of the house, George came forward with Tajarez's mount.
Releasing her hand, he mounted and looked down at her. "Do you remember the man you met today, the one who guided your family to my camp?"
"Yes," she said, looking up at him.
"His name is Palomas. He has been sent by my father to look after you. Do not be frightened if you see him. He has pledged to give his life to protect you. Sometimes you may see him. More often, you will not, but he will always be near."
Without another word, he rode away, leaving Mara feeling alone and very troubled. Sometimes he seemed very loving, and at other times, he was almost cold, unfeeling. Would she ever fully understand this man she loved? Her lips were still soft from his passionate kisses, and yet he had ridden away and dismissed her without a backward glance.
Tess showed Sasha into the sitting room, where Mara was waiting for her. Sasha was ill at ease, and Mara could see that she was feeling lost and out of place. Taking her hand, Mara drew Sasha down beside her on the settee, and offered her a cup of tea from the silver server Tess had placed on a table beside them along with some tiny tea cakes.
Mara poured steaming liquid into a delicate china cup, and added cream and sugar to it. "Would you like to try the tea, Sasha?"
"I have never had tea before, but if you wish it, I will have some."
Mara handed her the tea, which Sasha took and waited for Mara to give her guidance on how to drink from the fragile cup.
"It is very hot, Sasha. You must be careful not to burn your tongue," Mara cautioned. "I know no better way for two people to become acquainted than over a nice cup of tea.
Mara's heart went out to Sasha, knowing that she was afraid of making a mistake. Everything must seem so foreign to her.
Sasha took a sip of tea and despite her determination not to show her dislike of it, she wrinkled her nose in distaste.
Mara laughed and took the cup from her and placed it back on the tray. "I think one has to acquire a taste for tea. I remember the first time I had some. I did not like it myself, but I was determined not to let my mother see how bad I thought it tasted. After a while though, I came to like it."
"I will drink it, if you wish," Sasha told her.
"Of course you will not drink it. Excuse me, I will be only a moment," Mara said, standing up and walking across the room. "I will bring you something you will like." Mara found Tess in the kitchen, scrubbing a copper pan. Beads of perspiration were standing out on her forehead as she labored.
"Do you remember the drink you made me as a child, Tess? The one where you put mashed strawberries into milk and added sugar to it."
"Certainly," Tess told her, wiping her hands on her white apron.
"Could you make it for Sasha now? She does not like tea."
"Poor little mite. She was scared to death when she came to the front door. I will make it and bring it in to her right away."
When Mara returned to the sitting room, she found Sasha standing by the harpsichord, touching the ivory keys lightly. She jumped guiltily when Mara came up beside her.
"This is a harpsichord, Sasha. When the keys are played in harmony, it makes a beautiful sound. Would you like me to play it for you?"
"Please, I would like it very much," Sasha said, her eyes shining brightly.
Mara sat down and invited Sasha to sit beside her. Running her hands over the keys, she began to sing in a beautiful voice:
Once I walked alone
In my kingdom by the sea.
I was most contented
And was what I wanted to be.
Then one day a stranger
Came out of the mist to me.
He came uninvited
To my kingdom by the sea.
Golden days and velvet nights
That's what he gave to me.
He took all that I had to give
In my kingdom by the sea.
Sasha sat beside Mara, listening to what she was sure was the most beautiful sound she had ever heard.
The music filtered out into the garden, where Palomas stood concealed among the bushes. His dark eyes peered into the room where Mara was singing. Although he did not understand the words, he was mesmerized. The Golden One was indeed a goddess, with a voice so sweet it pulled at his heart. He renewed his pledge to protect her with his life. Silently he sat down on a bench and listened as the Golden One's beautiful voice drifted out to him.
Now I walk alone again.
If he ever returns to me,
He will find me waiting
In my kingdom by the sea.
After Mara finished her song, she encouraged Sasha to press the keys down, and they were soon laughing together, beginning to feel easy in each other's company, for laughter and music know no barriers.
Sasha drank the strawberry mixture and ate a piece of the tea cake, thinking they were very delicious indeed. Then Mara, sensing that Sasha was tiring, led her up the stairs to the bedroom across the hall from hers.
Sasha looked at the room, which had bed coverings of yellow, with stiff yellow curtains at the windows. A beautiful floral gray and yellow rug covered the floor.
"Like the rest of your home, Mara, this room is lovely."
"Do you think you will be comfortable here?"
"Yes, I will like going to sleep, knowing I sleep near you.”
"Did you bring something to sleep in?"
Sasha frowned. "I do not understand. I do not sleep in anything, do you?"
Mara laughed. "Yes, I do, but you must sleep however
you will be most comfortable."
"Mara, may I ask you something?"
"You can ask me anything, Sasha."
"Will you be pleased to have me serve you?"
"What do you mean when you say 'serve me'?"
"Tending to your needs, waiting upon you."
"Of course you will not wait upon me. You are my guest, and I need no one to attend me. Now the hour is late, and you must be very weary. I am right across the hall from you. If you need anything, you must knock on my door. There is water for washing, and anything else you might require. I am happy that you have come to stay
with me. Good night, Sasha."
Mara undressed for bed. She frowned. Something was bothering Sasha. She had been overly quiet whe
n Mara had wished her good night.
Mara slipped into her robe, walked across the hall, and stood outside the bedroom. She could hear Sasha crying brokenheartedly. Opening the door, she saw Sasha lying across the bed, still fully clothed, her body shaking from the heavy sobs. Sitting down beside her, Mara took Sasha's hand. Her beautiful brown eyes were full of misery.
Mara took her handkerchief from her robe pocket and dried Sasha's tears.
"Why do you cry? Have I said something to upset your
"The fault is not with you, but with me. My prince will be very displeased with me."
"Why is that, Sasha?" Mara asked softly.
Sasha tried to stem the flow of tears, but fresh tears washed down her face. "My prince will be angry because you are not pleased with me."
"Indeed, I am well pleased with you, Sasha. I like you very much."
Sasha gulped in a breath of air. "You do not wish for me to serve you. I have studied English very hard. My mother and father were so proud when my cousin chose me over all other maidens to serve you. I wanted so badly for you to like me, but I have failed, and I feel such shame."
Mara stared at her long and hard. She had not fully understood the importance Sasha had placed on being her servant. Sasha would be considered a princess in her tribe. Why would she deem it an honor to be of service to her? Mara did not understand, but she could see it meant a great deal to Sasha. Taking the young Indian girl in her arms, she hugged her tightly.
"Sasha, I did not fully understand what you were telling me, but if I cannot have you to serve me, I will have no other."
Sasha's face lit up, and she smiled brightly. "Do you mean this?"
"Absolutely."
"I will not disappoint you, I promise."
"Sasha, do you know how strange everything seemed to you tonight when you first came to my house?"
Sasha nodded.
"That is the way I will feel when I go to your home. But with your guidance, I will come to understand what is expected of me, so I will feel a little less lost. Will you do this for me?"
"Oh, yes!" Sasha cried, hugging Mara tightly in her enthusiasm.
"Sasha, I love Tajarez so much, and I do not want him to be ashamed of me. Will you teach me the language of your people, and the many things the wife of a prince should know?"
Savage Desire (Savage Lagonda 1) Page 14