Ria Cantrell - Celtic Storm 03 (33 page)

“But I have a gift…a special brew for the…”

Drew did not want to provoke her, but he was not going to risk anything that could terribly go wrong. He put his hand up and he said, “I thank you for your kind offer, but all the recipes and refreshments have been set to a theme. I am positive that when next you come, we will have enough room to store new casks.”

Drew gave a silent order and the guards knew that they were not to permit this woman into the wedding feast. As he turned his back on her, he felt a sense of desperation and something else.
Fear?
He did not know what she would have to fear, but it was so strong, he could almost taste it. All the more reason that she would be left at the gates. There was something not right about this woman and Drew was not going to risk anything while she was close at hand.

Drew hung back and waited for all the wedding guests and revelers to gain entrance. It would be difficult to keep that woman at bay, as the gates were to remain open until the next day when the lesser festivities would prevail. This day, though, there would be a series of feasts and revels. First they would all break their fast with a light repast of breads, cheeses, ales and baked apples. Drew had been requested to sit at the high table with the wedding party, but he knew he needed to maintain the safety of the wedding guests and the du Montefort household. He would remain at the gate long enough to be sure there was no mischief afoot. Drew watched the insidious woman and her mule cart travel down the road until he could no longer see her. Satisfied that she would cause no further trouble, he instructed the guards at the gate that under no circumstances was she to gain entrance into the keep. Having found her as distasteful as Drew had, the guards were pleased to comply and so Drew took himself to the first feast and went to congratulate the happy couples. 

~Chapter Thirty-Nine~

The wedding day was filled with joy and celebrations. There was a list tourney set toward midday and both Erik and Randall were thought to participate, but both men eyed each other and agreed to decline. Perhaps they would compete in the later games; Erik had mentioned with a sly grin that Rhianna did not miss. She wondered at it, but did not press him. She thought perhaps Randall still felt the effects of his ordeal and thus, Erik did not want to overshadow her brother. However, something about their two grins led Rhianna to believe their refusal to take part in the list tourney had nothing to do with anything as chivalrous as she imagined.

The celebration was in full tilt and all who were in attendance could not deny that it was a grand festival. Food and drink was plentiful. There were jongleurs, minstrels and acrobats to entertain the feast goers. The weather was crisp and clear and the bounty of harvest was upon them.

For the main banquet, musicians were called to serenade the brides and to provide dancing for the guests. The feast consisted of partridge and pheasants, trout and oysters that had been steamed in milk. Luscious platters of roasted boar and venison tempted the revelers with sumptuous flavors. Spiced mulled wine flowed freely and everyone there seemed to be enjoying the wedding feast. Wheels of cheese and delectable fruits like poached pears and quince were added to the side boards for people to enjoy. Many of the villagers had provided small cakes which were stacked before the bridal couples. As tradition would have it, the couples were to kiss over the stacks and the higher the stack of cakes, the better the luck for the couple, so long as the stack did not topple.

They made it a game, stacking the cakes one by one and requiring the couples to kiss after each layer was placed down. Both couples had reached the level of five cakes. When the sixth cake was added, Janelle and Randall kissed, not even touching the cakes between them. Erik thought smugly that he was taller than Randall, so it should be easy to reach his beloved’s lips over the stack. When he leaned over and touched his lips to Rhianna’s, though, the stack tumbled to the platter below. Cheers were made for Randall and Janelle, but a shiver of foreboding passed upon Rhianna. She looked into Erik’s eyes with a guarded gaze of concern that was present in her expression. Knowing that she thought it to be some sort of a silly omen, he kissed some of the clotted cream that had smudged onto her cheek and he said, “It is just a game, Rhi.”

He flashed her such a dashing smile that she pushed aside the feeling and went back to enjoying her wedding.

Erik then set to dance with Rhianna. Taking her hand, he fairly pulled her to the center of the floor where other revelers were standing for the next dance. She fairly giggled as Erik led her through a series of steps and she was astounded at his grace and agility. In truth, Erik was achy from his brawl with Randall, but he was not going to show his bride one bit of it. Besides, if she knew what had transpired between him and her brother, there would be hell to pay and he did not want to risk a fight on their wedding night. No, he would suffer through it, as he had no one to blame but himself. He whirled her and passed her to the men standing in line until she was again in his arms. Rhianna caught her train in her hand and as she followed the steps, Erik felt dazzled by the image of her holding her skirts up away from her ankles. She seemed giddy with joy and Erik was certain he had not ever seen her so happy. He never wanted her to be without the laughter that now spilled from her like a bubbling fountain. The sound of it was more precious than the jeweled dagger she had bestowed upon him as a wedding gift, which he proudly wore in his belt.

When the time arrived for the brides to prepare for receiving their grooms, many women surrounded the girls and led them to their respective bridal chambers. Each bride was undressed and donned in beautiful sheer nightrails. The bedchambers had been sprinkled with sweet smelling herbs and the beds bore flower petals upon the coverlets. When the hair of both brides had been brushed, the girls were arranged in their own beds and awaited their grooms to arrive.

Rhianna looked over at the empty space in her bed and her heart thudded with anticipation of being with Erik again. It had only been a few days since she shared his bed, but she missed being with him sorely. Her stomach fluttered when she thought about the delicious ways Erik made her sigh and desire coursed through her veins.

At long last, there was a raucous cacophony of noise outside her door and Rhianna knew the party dwellers were bringing her man to her. She instinctively pulled the coverlet up to her chin because the nightrail left nothing to the imagination. As the door burst wide, a group of men were carrying her big husband almost like those in effigy and they deposited him with a bounce onto the bed. There were more than a few ribald comments and quips and Rhianna felt herself flush at the bawdy jests. Their merrymaking, though, was infectious and Rhianna did indeed have the perfect “sheath prepared for Erik’s Sword”. She blushed deeper at the thought but was anxious for them to be alone.

With a hearty laugh, Erik commanded the men to leave them to themselves and reluctantly, they left, closing the door with a heavy thud behind them. As their laughter and jests grew fainter, Erik turned to Rhianna and offered her a seductive grin. She thought he looked like a wolf about to devour his prey and she giggled, knowing she would be well devoured before the morning came. He plucked the bed covers from her fingers and his pupils dilated at the sight of her in that sheer nightgown. She thought she heard him moan a little and used it to her advantage. She crawled toward him on all fours and she watched as his eyes observed her advance. He was actually grateful that they had put her first time behind them, because he liked her to take the initiative at times. He was glad she was no longer a shy virgin, because while virginity had its merits, Erik enjoyed Rhianna’s passion. And passionate she was!

Erik leaned in and kissed her and he said, “I have been waiting all day to be alone with you. You looked lovely today.”

She lowered her lashes coyly. “So did you,” she replied honestly. He slid his doublet off and left his under tunic opened across his chest. She was forced to remember that time some weeks ago when she had seen him chopping wood in Alric’s yard and her mouth had gone dry then as it did now. She was certain he could hear the wild pounding of her heart. Whether he heard it or not, his hand gently palmed over her left breast as it peaked through the shimmering fabric of her night rail. He bent forward and took her erect nipple between his teeth, capturing it; fabric and all as his tongue flipped over it. He watched for her reaction and saw her eyes roll back as she moaned softly. He laid her back against the down filled pillows and he saw her reaching for the hem of the sheer gown. He stilled her hands and said gruffly, “Leave it on…it is like you are basked in moonbeams.”

He stood and peeled his trews off his legs and shucked his tunic to fall beside them at the foot of the bed. Then pulling the covers down, Erik took a moment to gaze at his beautiful bride lying there in the glow of the fire and candles that lit their chambers. She took all of him in her sight, in his magnificent male perfection. As the firelight flickered against his skin, Rhianna noticed a shadow across his middle. What the hell? It looked like a nasty bruise. She sat up quickly and put her hand to the spot. He sucked in his breath sharply. Bloody hell! He had forgotten there would be a bruise.

~Chapter Forty~

“What is this, Erik?”

Not wanting to break their mood, he said, “T’is nothing. I got it in the lists when I was training.”

“Training? When?”

“This morning, never mind about it.”

“This morning? You were training this morning? Why?”

“I train most every day, Love. You know that,” he answered with a half-truth. If she learned he and Randall were beating the tar out of each other, he could kiss his wedding night celebration goodbye. But as her eyes narrowed and searched his, Erik knew there would never be anything that he could hide from her.

“There is something you are not telling me. What is it?”

Erik sighed. So much for his planned seduction. Sitting heavily on the bed beside Rhianna, he said, “Alright. I did not want to tell you because I knew…oh hell, I knew you would have my hide.”

“Tell me what?”

“Randall and I were sparring before dawn. We were just aiming to work out some tension before the wedding, but it got a little out of hand.”

“You and Randall were fighting? Why?”

“Sparring, Love. Sparring. But then he wanted to defend your honor and so, we ended up sprawled in the dirt.”

“Who won the fight? You know he has been ill,” she said in defense of her brother.

“Aye, I know it. I was going to go easy on him, and in all honesty, he almost bested me. He has all this pent up anger inside of him, I suppose because of what he endured. If it wasn’t for Andarra, I fear I would not be….”

“Andarra? Are you serious? Andarra knew about this? Do you not know how ridiculous it is to be fighting on your wedding day? Both of you could have been hurt or worse!”

Erik stole a quick kiss from her lips before more of a tirade ensued.

“I know. It was foolish of both of us and I am sorry.”

“And how did Andarra thwart your foolery?”

Erik cleared his throat sheepishly and said, “She stood on Randall’s arm and she put her staff into the small of my back.”

Rhianna’s eyes went wide at the mental image of the old chatelaine stopping the two big men mid fight. Erik thought she was going to start searing him with a well-deserved tongue lashing and as he waited for it, Rhianna began to laugh. She laughed until tears formed in her eyes and her side ached. Erik grinned like a simpleton and ventured, “You find it amusing?”

“Not that you were fighting my brother on your wedding day. That I think was quite stupid, actually. Any number of things could have happened…the least being you being badly hurt…but the idea of that little old woman putting a stop to your foolery is brilliant.”

Wiping at the tears in her eyes, Rhianna sobered enough to say, “Come here. Let me look at it.”

Not wanting to provoke a fit of temper, Erik thought to do as he was bidden for a change and so he sat close to her so she could inspect the damage across his midsection. With gentle fingers, she pressed into the darkened spot and felt him suck in a gasp. “Have a care, woman. That hurts.”

“Yes, I suspect it does.”

Rhianna moved from her spot and stood. She fumbled with the contents of a chest located at the foot of the bed. Erik watched her in her near nakedness as she dug through the trunk, seemingly to have forgotten that her beautiful little rump was on full display to his gaze. When she found what she had been looking for, she stood and walked casually over to their bed. Pushing him not so gently back against the pillows, Rhianna opened a jar of some pleasant smelling ointment. She sat, cross-legged beside him and she explained, “This is a recipe of comfrey, crushed violets and St. John’s Wort. It is known to help heal bruising. The comfrey and violets speeds in the healing of the damaged flesh and the St. John’s Wort aids in easing the pain and discomfort of it.”

Rhianna gently rubbed the salve into Erik’s flesh. She added, “I should really let you suffer, you know, but I have better uses for you this night, so I hope the salve does its duty…so you can,” she added wistfully. At the mention of him doing his husbandly duty, hot desire returned to him and he sprung to life before her in proof that he had no intention of disappointing her. He saw her lick her lips slightly and he knew his erection had not gone unnoticed by his beautiful wife.