Authors: Karolyn Cairns
A
feeling of hope leapt within her to think Rohan gave up all he wanted for her.
He was nothing but ambitious. Was it possible he gave up the earldom of
Rivenhahl for her? She shook her head, thinking it ridiculous to conceive. Her
magic helped Gavin win and cost her husband everything he could have ever
wanted. Guilt assailed her to know it. She was suddenly relieved he didn’t
believe her. She felt hopeful of her marriage now. Rohan blaming her for
getting a modest barony and a rundown keep in Scotland would hardly endear her
to him now.
I
gave up magic
, Madeline recalled with a sigh as she traced
the rigid muscles of her husband’s flat stomach. She was the baroness of
Rothford now. Magic had cost her too much and threatened all she could ever
have. She vowed to use it no more.
She
slid back down and lay next to Rohan. He didn’t rouse as she cuddled close to
him for warmth, her cheek against his side. Soon, she fell into a dreamless
sleep, her body pressed against his side.
Madeline
awoke with pleasurable sensations, eyes fluttering open slowly. Rohan’s lips
were sliding along the inside of her thigh, making her gasp as his mouth soon
delved into the smooth denuded flesh, making her gasp aloud.
Hot,
urgent sensations rocked through her in relentless waves as his lips and tongue
attacked the soft flesh there. She gripped his pale locks, arching under his
seeking mouth. Cries escaped her as a torrent of sensations coursed through
her.
Madeline
climaxed with a low moan, her heels digging into his shoulders. When he rose
above her she was dazed and overwhelmed. Rohan took her lips and made love to
her slowly, his body rising and falling over hers.
She
wrapped her legs around him, urging him to her now, her hips meeting his
hungrily. Rohan was pleasantly encouraged to hurry his movements, thrusting
deeply within her. His black eyes were filled with admiration as they moved as
one.
Madeline
nearly wept as he brought her to another scorching release, clinging to him,
breathless as he finally lay still within her. He raised his head from her
chest and smiled, displaying dimples in both cheeks, looking so boyish she
could forget he was a battle-tested knight. The white scar under his left eye
was round and thin. She touched it then, seeing him stiffen and his dark eyes
skittered away from hers.
“How
did you come to be scarred here? Did it happen in battle?” she asked curiously
as he slid away and rolled to her side, bringing her up against his chest.
Rohan
chuckled and held his wife. “I came by that from a woman, my sweet. So aye, it
was indeed a battle scar.”
“What
did you do to deserve such a wound? You could have lost your eye.”
Rohan
laughed and rolled her to the mattress, staring down at her with a grin. “Why
do you assume I deserved to be nearly blinded, wife?”
Madeline
smiled despite herself. “Your reputation with women precedes you. I was warned
to stay clear of you several times during the tournament.”
Rohan
smiled as his chin rested upon her stomach. “Do you listen to all that people
say, Madeline?”
“Do
you deny it?”
“I
don’t deny having many lovers, Madeline. I can’t recall any of them complaining
of me enough to earn this poor reputation you speak of,” he told her, his dark
eyes caressing her flushed face.
“You
have yet to tell me how you came to have the scar,” she prompted, blue eyes
filled with amusement.
“Her
name was Callista. She was my mistress for a time,” Rohan explained as he
nibbled upon her abdomen. “She was jealous of another woman and swung a wine
bottle at me in a fit of rage. There? Does that satisfy you to know?”
“Was
her jealousy well-founded?”
“Yes,
I was ending the relationship,” he disclosed and she sighed as she felt his
stubble against her hip as he kissed the indent there. “She felt I threw her over
for another.”
“And
did you?”
Rohan
raised an eyebrow and lifted his head, his dark eyes twinkling. “That doesn’t
merit trying to blind one, does it?”
Madeline
was enjoying herself too much to resist needling him further. “You admit to
deceiving her with another and are surprised by her reaction?”
Rohan
shrugged. “I didn’t actually admit to it.”
She
giggled and shook her head. “Then you got what you deserved.”
Rohan
chuckled and bit at her hip. “You would take her side in this? Would it matter
to you she had other men?”
“Why
would she try to blind you?”
“What
else can one do when you see them as they are for the first time?” Rohan asked
softly, his profound words making her question his depth. Madeline could see
now there were two sides of Rohan. The exaggerations of who he really was
startled her to see such contradictions now. His arrogance was real and earned.
His ambition was obvious having made it so far in the King’s Day tournament.
His prowess with women certainly couldn’t be argued by her. Rohan neither lied
nor gave her the impression he couldn’t be trusted. He had enough honor to
refuse Strathmore at the last. The only question she had was why he would seek
her out.
There
was more to him than those stories that were passed around. His black reputation
didn’t please him as much as it amused him. Other’s opinions of him didn’t seem
to bother him either. His confidence radiated from within. He didn’t second
guess himself. Rohan was his own man; that much was true.
“Tell
me about you now, Madeline,” he encouraged as he caressed her. “I know how you
came to be in de Mortaine’s company, but nothing beyond that.”
“My
grandmother raised me when my mother died,” she said softly. “We moved around
quite a bit. What do you wish to know?”
“The
Viscount of Lunley was your father?”
Madeline’s
lips tightened. “I grew up in his household. He never claimed me when he was
alive.”
“I
grew up much the same way,” Rohan replied with a touch of sadness. “My father
had no children and had no choice, as I saw it, but to accept me. That is how I
became a knight in King James’ service.”
“I
have three half siblings who despise me,” she continued with a sigh. “They
would make trouble for me should they hear of my marriage, I warn you.”
“Then
you can turn them into rats,” Rohan said with a soft chuckle as he slid up
against her and dropped a kiss upon her lips. “You needn’t worry over Lunley. I
have met your half brother. He is more a girl than a man.”
“They
threatened to see me burn before I left Lunley. I think you don’t see the threat,
Rohan. They would do as they said if they discover where I am,” she told him
with a shiver of unease. “I wouldn’t want them to make trouble for you.”
“You
are worth whatever trouble they would bring to my door, Madeline,” he breathed
against her ear, his dark eyes filled with desire. “We leave here in a few
hours. I would not waste our time worrying of things that may not come to
pass.”
He
once again became the teasing seducer. He made her forget the threat of her
half siblings. Rohan brought her to pleasure once more making her shake and
cling to him, wonder in her expression before he rose to see to the wagons that
would take them to Rothford. While he was gone, Tillie arrived to assist her in
bathing and changing.
She
returned to her room and found Gerwin and Lady Strathmore reclined upon the
settee together, purring contentedly. Tillie had all her chests packed when
there was a knock at the door. She answered it and smiled to see Alastair
there.
He
came in and grinned down at her. “I came to see you off. Your husband is down
at the stable driving the servants into fits right now over the neglect of his
horse. I hope the man treats you as kindly as he does that animal.”
Madeline
giggled. “He treats me well, Alastair. You need not worry over it. Rohan is
nothing like what you think.”
Alastair
smiled at her use of her husband’s name. “Then I am pleased for you, Madeline.
The men ordered me to see to you this morn. They vowed to beat Rohan should I
see one bit of disappointment on your face. I see none of that.”
“Did
Gavin choose his bride?” she asked hesitantly, pain flickering in her eyes.
“I
got that thankless task,” he complained and smiled. “I found him a bride during
the feast, though he has not seen fit to even meet her yet. The wedding is in
three hours and he hunts with the king.”
“He
will come around, Alastair.”
“The
lady is quite lovely, though I must warn you she is the stepdaughter of Sybilla
of Lunley, your half sister. I came to warn you that your half brother will
attend the nuptials,” Alastair said and his eyes were concerned. “It is best if
you are not here then.”
“We
leave within the hour, Alastair,” she informed him and looked uneasy despite
knowing she would bypass running into Robert. “How is it you chose Sybilla’s
stepdaughter out of all the ladies you had to pick?”
“She
seems to despise that one, enough of a recommendation already,” he said with a
smile. “I overheard her arguing with her father. It was either she marry or go
to a nunnery. I took pity on the nuns. She is quite spirited.”
Madeline
was pleased Gavin would have a suitable bride. By now her binding wore off. He
was free of the spell that she put upon him. He would no longer feel such angst
over her marriage to Rohan.
“All
is as it should be,” she said and sighed. “We leave for Rothford today, and
from there, Ireland. Rohan takes me to his home.”
Alastair
grinned at the peevish tone in her voice. “Rothford is but a few miles from
Rivenhahl, Madeline. I can see the man’s concern.”
“Gavin
is to be married. He will forget about me.”
“Regretfully,
that is hardly the case this morning. He is in a foul temper and can’t be
reasoned with,” Alastair said with a shrug. “There was more than just magic at
work there, Madeline. He cares for you deeply. I don’t think he realized it
until he lost you to Rohan. Whatever spell you cast upon him has not lessened.”
She
glanced at him in surprise. “How did you know what I did?”
“He
was besotted with you one minute, and acting like the knave he’s been known to
be with women the other. He was acting very unlike himself,” Alastair replied
with a teasing grin. “The incident with the horse made me question all before I
discovered the truth in the barn.”
“It
was naught but a simple binding,” she argued. “It shouldn’t have held this
long.”
“Perhaps
Gavin cared for you without you using such methods,” he pointed out. “Either
way, he is grieving his lost love this morn and regretful. It is fortunate you
go with Rohan to his homeland.”
Madeline
smiled wistfully, unable to conceive Gavin cared for her without the spell. She
thought it impossible without it. Knowing he still had feelings for her this
morning troubled her. She recalled Alastair’s meeting with the Duke of Monteith
and pushed such feelings of guilt aside.
“How
did your interview with Monteith go?”
Alastair
scowled. “He doesn’t deny me. The man thinks to run my life now. He’s adamant I
take my place as his heir, even offered me one of his lesser titles. That
should please Vivienne well enough.”
“That’s
wonderful, Alastair!” she exclaimed and saw he still frowned. “Why are you not
happy? I thought this would please you?”
Alastair
sighed and looked away. “The man’s wife and daughters are another matter. They
loathe the very sight of me. I can see to take his offer would be to engage
several enemies within his home.”
“You
will win them over,” she assured him. “Take the chance, Alastair. What have you
to lose?”
“You
don’t understand, Madeline,” Alastair said and sighed, his dark eyes filled
with unease. “He claims he married Lady Anne by secret ceremony. This was
before the queen commanded him to marry his current wife. That is why Lady Anne
never married after I was born. That makes me his heir and her daughters all bastards.
How do you think that goes over with his Duchess?”
“It
was not your doing,” she argued. “You had nothing to do with it.”
“It
does not matter to her. I have a very dangerous enemy in her. I can see that.”
“What
will you do?” she asked, biting her lip. “Do you wish for my help?”
Alastair
looked appalled. “No! We know what that would mean. Turning those devious
ladies all into cats won’t help me.”
Madeline
giggled and agreed. “If you should change your mind I will be at Rothford.”
“I
will handle this without magic, but thank you,” he said with a smile. “Do you
see now you have no need of it?”
She
looked confused. “What do you mean?”
“It
is obvious Gavin cares for you without it. You should have more faith in
yourself, Madeline. Try not to bewitch your husband overmuch.”
When
Alastair left, she thought about his disclosure. Gavin had feelings for her a
bit too late, she thought with sadness. She was married to Rohan now and looked
forward to getting to know her handsome enigmatic husband. He needed to give
Lady Jocelyn a chance. She glared at her bag of spells. She vowed to throw it
away but decided one last spell for Gavin’s sake would be allowed.