Ria Cantrell - Celtic Storm 03 (25 page)

“Well I was thinking that I am rather smitten with you and in fact, I love you. I love everything about you, Rhianna. I know you think I am being….”

Rhianna’s finger pressed his sensual mouth and she said, “Sshh. I would like you to please repeat that.”

“What? That I love you?”

With a slight nod of her head, her eyes searched his in the flickering firelight of the room and he said, “I love you, Rhianna. There, it is said. Now you know the truth.”

Rhianna made a small laugh at his proclamation and she rubbed her cheek against his, feeling the scratchy shadow of his day growth of beard bristling against her face and she said, “I love you, too, Erik Ragnorsen.”

“What?”

At first he thought he had heard incorrectly. She did not seem like a girl who toyed with a man. Even despite his proclamation of love to her, he still could not believe what his ears just heard.

“I dare say you heard me, Erik Ragnorsen.”

“I did, but I think I heard wrong. What did you just say?”

“Now you are just forcing me to say it again.”

“Aye. I suppose I am. Please say it again.”

This time she looked directly into his eyes. Emerald fire met blue ice and she said, “I love you Erik Ragnorsen,” and this time he believed her. He kissed her, then, as they warmed themselves by the fire and by the new found love they had admitted. All nightmarish memories told by Randall du Montefort seemed to be dispelled for the moment. The world around them was fading to gray as they kissed; one man and one woman, opening their hearts to an improbable love, but love just the same. Erik just wanted to hold Rhianna and feel her in his arms. As she kissed him, he felt desire rising within him. He thumbed her cheek softly and he said, “Do you want to come to bed with me?”

She smiled warmly, with love in her eyes for him. She kissed him deeply, meeting his tongue with the tip of her own. She said, “What do you think?”

Erik lifted her up in his arms and he carried her over to her bed. She giggled; no longer shy about being with him. He loved the sound of her laughter. It filled his heart with warmth and happiness, despite what had come to light that night. Both of them put the horror of the day behind them and lost themselves in the comfort of their burgeoning love.

They quickly rid themselves of their clothes and they soon found delicious pleasure in each one’s arms. When Erik felt Rhianna welcoming him inside of her, they joined their bodies as their hearts had now become bonded to one another.

If Rhianna could have dreamed that being with a man felt this way, she knew that she would have never reacted as badly as she had when first he showed up at du Montefort. But it wasn’t just being with any man; it was being with Erik. As they passed the hours making love, Rhianna knew that Erik was all her heart ever needed or desired. She silently thanked the Fates for throwing them together and she offered up an apology for trying to change her Destiny and doubting Their choice of mate for her.

~Chapter Thirty~

For the next few weeks, life seemed to return to normal at du Montefort. When no imminent threat surfaced, the villagers slowly returned back to their homes. They could not live their lives in fear, many thought. Besides, Harvest was rapidly approaching and so they went home, emptying the keep of the added residents.

Erik had wanted to seek retaliation against the lord of Morcar Keep, but Randall thought that was unwise. He convinced Erik that retaliation was just what Aaron Jasper wanted. If siege was laid upon Morcar, then du Montefort would be left vulnerable. Randall insisted that du Montefort be fortified instead, and that if an attack was brought to the keep, they would be ready for it. Erik agreed and worked with the soldiers and forces that were in place at Montefort.

Guards were stationed in the village and rotations of watches were implemented for the safety of the locals. As life returned to business as usual, the announcement of a double wedding filled the air. Both Randall and Erik thought there was no need to wait now, and it would be best to plan the wedding just before Harvest, when all hands would be needed to reap what had been planted for the winter stores.

During these seemingly peaceful weeks, few could miss the new found love and adoration that had grown between the Mistress du Montefort and her handsome protector, Sir Erik Ragnorsen. What they had tried to keep secret for a time became obvious to even the villagers as their affection toward one another was hard to hide.

Erik’s love for this unlikely mate that the king had chosen for him grew daily. As their love grew, so too, did Rhianna’s spirit; for it was as if she blossomed before the eyes of Erik and of all those who loved her. She was radiant with the love of Sir Erik and after those few weeks, few remembered their first few days of angst and provocation. Rhianna was in love; that was certain. The love poured out upon her by her betrothed nurtured her and healed her of her past tragic memories, as well. While she was once so very serious and stoic, she could now be seen laughing frequently and beaming with joy. It was as if Erik’s love for her pushed all the ugliness of her past somewhere that may never have to be revisited again. She rarely cried herself to sleep or for that matter, had any night terrors now. Erik assured it by being with her and tucking her into his arms each night where she felt safe and cherished.

Rhianna thought that perhaps, she had never been so happy in all of her twenty-three years. Andarra stood blissfully by as she observed the two developing a deep love for each other laced with mutual respect and caring. She was overjoyed at the announcement of the weddings of her two wards; her “bairns”.

Randall continued to heal both physically and emotionally. Even though some of the memories that had been kept in the darkness of his mind had surfaced and were of terrible events, he was able to put them aside now and move on with his life. He loved Janelle and he could not wait to make her his bride.

So the days to follow were spent in preparation of the weddings for both the Lord and Lady of du Montefort Keep and their respective partners. The sense of jovial celebration spread through the local village. Everyone wanted to do their part in the wedding feast. In addition, there was a constant stream of merchants bringing in items for the celebration.

The banns were posted. The priest had been called and the preparations were underway. The two couples did not wait for the customary three times of asking for the postings. They had decided they wanted to have the weddings sooner than later because of the necessary harvest time that was rapidly approaching. Also, Janelle had confided to Rhianna that she thought she may be with child. She told no one else but she had been quite ill several mornings and Rhianna would know what to do to ease it.

Rhianna was thrilled at the news and even as she helped the lovely Janelle with remedies to abate the morning sickness, she wondered what it would be like if she was carrying Erik’s child. She suddenly wanted to raise his children more than she had ever dared to hope for. Long ago, she believed she was never going to wed, let alone carry babes. Her work and responsibilities to du Montefort were vast and she thought she was just not destined to have those dreams fulfilled, so she did not dwell on them. She thought it better to not want that which she could not have, but now as she and Erik had become so close and their wedding was only a week or so away, Rhianna allowed herself the fantasy of a happy marriage to a handsome knight with a brood of their babies to fill the castle halls.

During a morning meal, the two couples sat together. Janelle was not looking very happy or well and Randall was concerned. He said, “Rhianna, would you be able to make something to ease Janelle’s troubles? It seems something has not agreed with her.”

“I am fine, Monty. Rhianna has already given me something. It will pass.”

Rhianna tried not to giggle because Janelle really looked poorly.
Men! They could be so dull at times. Something has not agreed with her, indeed.

Erik glanced at Rhianna with a widening smirk. Well, at least her betrothed was not as thick as her brother. Erik grabbed Rhianna’s hand under the table and a secret understanding passed between them. She looked into his eyes and she knew he wanted her to be in the same condition as Janelle. It warmed her heart because it suddenly seemed that he wanted the same things out of life that she did. How had she ever doubted it? His eyes silently asked if it was possible she already carried his child and she just slightly shook her head. He leaned over and whispered, “Then I shall have to double my efforts. Meet me behind the tapestry in the Northeast tower.”

Rhianna could not contain the giggle this time, despite poor Janelle’s malaise. Randall raised an eyebrow at the exchange between his sister and Erik and though he had not heard what had been said, he could not miss the obvious proposition that Erik had given his sister. Randall declared, “You do not think to dishonor my good and saintly sister, do you?”

Rhianna thought, “If only you knew, dear brother. I have been happily and thoroughly
dishonored
by this good knight….,” but she only smiled innocently and said, “Randall, while you were away, I had to maintain all we hold dear. I did not need your guidance then and surely, I am capable of making decisions for myself without needing you to defend my honor. Besides, you may need to see to your own lady.”

Randall glanced at Erik and he said sheepishly, “I apologize for her willful outburst, Sir Erik. I fear she has been indulged a bit too much and that she has grown a little wild. I take responsibility for that. I do vow; I am sorry for it.”

“Aye, she is a bit wild, but I rather like her that way. Besides, I do know how to tame her and she knows I am not reluctant to inflict that measure of discipline to her should the need arise.”

Rhianna gasped in horror. Her mouth hung open and all thoughts of making babies with Sir Erik were replaced by the memory of
that
specific
discipline he had inflicted on her posterior. She snatched her hand from his and she said, “You, sir, are a Blackguard!”

Even though she was feeling unwell, Janelle laughed at the interchange. This couple was like fire and ice, but they seemed well suited for each other, to be sure.

Not to be bested, Randall then said, “Are you saying you laid a hand on my sister?”

“Well you said yourself that she was spoilt. A man cannot have an ill-mannered wife, now, can he? It was only fitting, since your lack of discipline to raise her was meted out by the man who will be her husband.”

“I am not spoilt. He said indulged…not spoilt. And you still had no right to spank me.”

Randall could not contain his laughter, fairly choking to hold it back as it exploded through his lips at the idea of someone, anyone spanking his sister, let alone this king’s knight. From what Randall could see, Erik was a very even tempered man, schooled in self-control, so for Rhianna to try his patience to the point of earning a spanking, it had probably been well-deserved. Rhianna turned on him and said, “Oh, it’s funny that he spanked me, is it? I was humiliated.”

“My love, no one knew of that punishment as I recall it was given out in private. I only said disciplined.”

“I really need to hear how my wild sister earned a paddling from this goodly knight.”

Rhianna hissed, “No you do not. Besides only minutes ago you were ready to defend my honor with this--this lackey of the king.”

“Rhianna, careful. This
king’s lackey
, does not take kindly to being called such a thing. I fear this time if I promise you will not sit for a week, you won’t and I shan’t have you standing the entire time at our wedding feast.”

Rhianna looked like she was about to explode.

“How dare you? How dare both of you? You, Sir, will not touch me. And do not hope for a biddable wife on your wedding night; spoilt as I am. And you,” she said pointing her finger in Randall’s face. “You need to see to Janelle. Are you such a dolt that you do not even know when a woman is…well…when a woman is
not ill
? It would seem to me that Janelle’s brother should be challenging you for her honor.”

Rhianna stormed off and Erik just swept his arm in the direction of her exit and said, “See?”

The two men burst out in laughter at Rhianna’s little bout of temper. When they composed themselves, Randall said, “You actually spanked her? You are a braver man than I. Perhaps I indulged her after our parents’ demise, but even I would not try to paddle her.”

“Well, she has quite the saucy little tongue, that sister of yours. King’s lackey, indeed. That, I am afraid is the least venomous thing she has said to me.”

Randall laughed. He liked this man, who had been chosen to wed his strong-willed sister. He seemed perfect to balance the fire that burned so in her. While he did not relish Erik striking his sister, the thought of the man paddling her like a wayward child brought fresh chuckles out of him. Through suppressed laughs, Randall chortled, “I am sorry, Erik. I may have ruined your chance at a happy wedding night; which suits me fine, as her brother and all, but as a brother knight, I truly am sorry.”

Erik pinned Randall with those cold Nordic blue eyes and he said smugly, “I am not concerned. I know how to…break down her defenses…though; I suppose I should not say such a thing to her brother.”

Again Randall raised one eyebrow and he said, “Well, I truly would much rather hear how my sister earned a spanking, for that had to be quite a tale.”