Julie Garwood - [3 Book Box Set] (85 page)

Madelyne felt as though she was being swept away by a tide of arousal rushing through her. She met Duncan’s demand by giving him all she knew how to give. Aye, she was just as savage in her quest to devour him. She was just as hungry for his touch, just as frantic.

The noise finally penetrated Duncan’s mind. Reason was slow to return, however. He pulled his mouth away only to immediately return to her bruised lips a second time.

Madelyne also caught the sound. When Duncan finally lifted his head away from hers, she realized the soldiers were cheering. Good Lord, she’d quite forgotten they were there.

She knew she blushed and told herself she didn’t care. Duncan didn’t seem the least concerned, but he was so covered with dust and grime, and a full week’s worth of whiskers, it was difficult to see any reaction.

He kissed her again, a quick, hard kiss it was, that told her he wasn’t the least concerned about their audience. Madelyne’s arms circled his waist. She leaned the side of her face against his chest and squeezed with all her might.

He sighed, pleased with her enthusiasm.

Madelyne remembered her duty, when she heard a discreet cough sound behind her. She should introduce Duncan to her uncle. The problem, of course, was that she couldn’t get the words past her throat. And when Duncan leaned down and whispered, “I love you Madelyne,” she became too preoccupied with weeping to speak at all.

Duncan motioned for his men to dismount and turned to
look over Madelyne’s head to the old man waiting a short distance behind her. He pulled Madelyne into his side, unwilling to let her move away from him for even a short time, and then said, “I am Baron Wexton.”

“I would certainly hope so,” Father Berton answered. The priest smiled over his own jest and then started to bow. He was stayed from the formal show of respect by the baron’s hand.

“’Tis I who should kneel before you,” he told the priest. “I’m honored to meet you at last, Father.”

The priest was humbled by the baron’s speech. “She is your greatest treasure, is she not, Baron?” he asked. He was looking at Madelyne now.

“Aye, she is,” Duncan admitted. “I will be forever in your debt,” he added. “You have protected her for me all these years.”

“She isn’t yours yet,” Father Berton announced. He was pleased to see the surprise that remark caused. “Aye, I’ve still to give her to you. ’Tis a marriage I’m speaking of, a true marriage, Baron, and the sooner done the better for this old man’s peace of mind.”

“Then you will wed us in the morning,” Duncan dictated.

Father Berton had witnessed the passionate kiss between the baron and his niece. He wasn’t at all sure tomorrow would be fast enough. “You’ll not be sleeping next to Madelyne tonight then,” he warned. “I’ll continue to guard her well, Baron Wexton.”

Duncan and Father Berton exchanged a long, hard stare. Then Duncan smiled. For the first time in a very long while, he found he couldn’t intimidate someone. Nay, the priest wasn’t going to back down.

He nodded. “Tonight.”

Madelyne witnessed the exchange. She knew full well what the two men were talking about. She thought she might have looked as red as a sunburn. It was, after all, an embarrassment for her uncle Berton to know she’d slept with the baron.

“I would also like to wed Duncan tonight, but I do not—” Madelyne paused in her explanation when she saw Anthony walk over to stand by her side. “Father, this is the vassal I old you about,” she said, smiling now.

“You are the one who placed yourself between my niece
and Louddon when he tried to strike her again?” the priest asked, moving forward to grasp Anthony’s hand.

“I was,” Anthony admitted.

“Again?” Duncan shouted. “She wasn’t in the king’s protection?”

“It was nothing,” Madelyne protested.

“He would have killed her,” the priest interjected.

“Aye, he wanted to harm her,” Anthony said.

Madelyne could feel the tension in Duncan’s grip around her waist.

“It was nothing,” Madelyne protested again. “A mere slap …”

“She carries the bruises still,” Father Berton announced with a vigorous nod.

Madelyne gave her uncle a good frown. Couldn’t he tell his comments were upsetting Duncan?

When Duncan tilted her face up so that he could see the marks, Madelyne shook her head again. “He’ll never touch me again, Duncan. That is all that matters. Your loyal vassal did protect me,” she added before turning back to look at her uncle. “Uncle, why do you incite Duncan’s anger?”

“There are marks on her shoulders and back, Baron,” Father Berton said, ignoring Madelyne’s question.

“Uncle!”

“You did not say a word to me,” Anthony said to Madelyne. “I would have—”

“Enough. Father, I know you well. What game do you play now?” Madelyne demanded.

“You were about to tell Baron Wexton you’d like to marry him tonight, child, but you didn’t finish your comments, now, did you? The truth of the matter, Baron,” the priest said, turning to Duncan, “is that my niece will try to delay this marriage. Won’t you, Madelyne? You see, child,” he added, giving Madelyne a tender smile, “I know your mind better than you think I do.”

“Does he speak the truth?” Duncan asked, frowning. “You have not changed your feelings, have you?” Before Madelyne could answer, he said, “It will not matter. You belong to me, Madelyne. ’Tis a fact you cannot turn your back on.”

Madelyne was so astonished that Duncan would feel such insecurity. She realized then that his feelings were just as
vulnerable as her own. It seemed that he needed to hear the words of her love as often as she did. “I love you, Duncan,” she said, loud enough for both Anthony and Father Berton to hear.

“I’m aware of that,” Duncan returned, sounding arrogant again. His grip lessened, though, and he did relax against her.

“There is much to be seen to,” Anthony commented. “I have need to speak to you in private, Baron.” The vassal turned and started to walk away.

“And you must surely be in need of a meal,” the priest added. He turned to walk back inside his cottage. “I shall begin preparations immediately.”

“A bath is first,” Duncan said, giving Madelyne a good squeeze before releasing her. He was following her uncle, when Madelyne’s words stopped him cold. Anthony and Father Berton also paused.

“We cannot marry just yet, Duncan.”

She could tell, from the look on all three faces, that none of them cared for her announcement.

Madelyne clasped her hands together. Her words were hurried, for she wanted to make Duncan see reason before he bellowed at her. “If only we could wait until Gerald is wed to Adela, then Louddon cannot use the argument…”

“I knew it,” Anthony muttered. “You still try to protect the world. Baron, that is only one of the announcements I’ve need to explain to you.”

“She always would protect those she believed needed it,” the priest said.

“You don’t understand,” Madelyne said, rushing up to face Duncan. “If we marry now, you’ll be going against your king. He’ll give Adela to Louddon. That’s what the missive suggested, Duncan.”

Madelyne would have continued her argument but for look in Duncan’s eyes. She couldn’t stop wringing her hands, but she was able to close her mouth.

Duncan stared at Madelyne a long moment. She couldn’t tell if he was pleased or angered with her now. “I have but one question to put to you, Madelyne. Do you have faith in me?”

She didn’t need time to think about it. Her answer was quick and forceful.

“I do.”

Her answer pleased him. Duncan embraced her, placed a chaste kiss on her forehead, and then turned away again. “We marry tonight.”

He stopped then, but didn’t turn around. Madelyne knew what he waited for. Aye, he sought her agreement.

“Yes, Duncan, we’ll marry tonight.”

It was, of course, the correct answer. Madelyne knew that well enough when her uncle started chuckling, Anthony started whistling, and Duncan turned to give her a firm nod.

He wasn’t smiling. That didn’t bother her, however, when she realized Duncan had never doubted her. Her answer was but a reaffirmation. Nothing more.

The next hour was a blur of activity. While Duncan and Anthony sat at the small table inside the cottage and ate their supper, Father Berton went to explain the situation to his host, the Earl of Grinsteade.

The earl was still hanging on to life, and though he didn’t have the strength to attend the ceremony, Duncan would pay a formal visit as soon as the wedding was over.

Duncan and his vassal walked to the lake behind the earl’s home to bathe and speak to each other in private. Madelyne used the time to change her gown. She brushed her hair until it curled to her satisfaction, then decided to forget fashion and leave it unbound. She knew Duncan preferred it that way.

She wore his colors again, of course. Her shoes and chainse were a pale cream in color, and partially covered by the hand-stitched royal blue bliaut. She’d worked nearly a month on the yoke circling the neckline of the bliaut, making minute stitches, all the color of cream, of the design she wished to effect. In the center of her artwork was the outline of her magical wolf.

Duncan probably wouldn’t even notice, she thought. Warriors of his stature didn’t take time to note such things. “It’s just as well,” she admitted out loud. “He’d think me fanciful again and surely tease me.”

“Who will tease you?” Duncan asked, standing in the doorway.

Madelyne turned, a smile on her face, and looked at her warrior. “My wolf,” she immediately answered. “Is something amiss, Duncan. You look … unsettled.”

“You grow more beautiful with each passing hour,” Duncan whispered. His voice felt like a caress.

“And you more handsome,” Madelyne said. She smiled at Duncan, then dared to tease him. “I’m wondering why my intended would wear black attire to his wedding though. Such a grim color,” Madelyne announced. “And one used for mourning. Could you be mourning your fate, milord?”

Duncan was taken aback by her comments. He shrugged before answering. “It is clean, Madelyne. That is all that should matter to you. Besides, it is the only other clothing I carried with me from London.” He started toward her, his intent obvious in his dark gaze. “I’m going to kiss you senseless enough not to notice my attire.”

Madelyne ran to the other side of the table. “You cannot kiss me until we are wed,” she said, trying not to laugh. “And why didn’t you shave?”

Duncan continued to stalk his quest. “After.”

Now, what did he mean by that? Madelyne paused to frown. “After?”

“Aye, Madelyne, after,” Duncan answered. His hot stare confused her almost as much as his odd remark.

She deliberately hesitated long enough to be captured. Duncan pulled her into his arms. He was about to take her mouth, when the door opened. A loud cough gained his attention.

“We’re waiting to begin,” Father Berton announced. “There is one worry, however.”

“What is that?” Madelyne asked once she’d wiggled out of Duncan’s arms and righted her appearance.

“I would like to walk by your side, but I can’t be in two places at the same time. And who be the witnesses to this act?” he added, frowning.

“Can you not walk with Madelyne to the altar and then proceed with the mass?” Duncan asked.

“And when, as priest I ask who gives this woman in holy matrimony, I should then run to Madelyne’s side to answer my own question?”

Duncan grinned, picturing the scene.

“It will be an oddity, but I could manage,” Father Berton announced.

“My soldiers will all bear witness,” Duncan said. “Anthony
will stand behind Madelyne. Is that good enough for you, Father?”

“So be it,” Father Berton decreed. “Go now, Baron, wait by the makeshift altar I have fashioned outside. You’ll be wed under the stars and the moon. ’Tis God’s true palace to my way of judging.”

“All right then, let’s get this over and done with.”

Madelyne took exception to his choice of words. She chased after Duncan, claiming his hand to get his attention. “Over and done with?” she asked, frowning.

When he looked down at her, Madelyne decided he’d been teasing her. And then he spoke, and her frown disappeared altogether. “We have been bound to each other since the moment we met, Madelyne. God knew it, I knew it, and if you’ll only reflect upon the truth, you’ll admit it too. We’ve pledged ourselves to each other, and though Laurance was not a priest and couldn’t give us his true blessing, we are still wed.”

“From the moment I warmed your feet,” Madelyne whispered, repeating his past explanation.

“Aye, from that moment.”

She looked as if she were going to weep. What an emotional woman his gentle wife had turned out to be. While her reaction pleased him, he knew she wouldn’t wish to appear so undisciplined in front of his men. He immediately sought to repair her control. “You should be thankful, you know.”

“Thankful for what, Duncan?” Madelyne asked, dabbing at the corners of her eyes.

“That it wasn’t summer when we met.”

She didn’t understand at first. And then she laughed, a full, lusty sound that warmed his heart. “So it’s the weather that gave you to me, is that your way of thinking?”

“You wouldn’t have had to warm my feet if it had been summer,” he said. He gave Madelyne a quick wink.

She thought he looked most arrogant. “You would have found another reason,” she said.

Duncan would have responded to that comment if Father Berton hadn’t started pushing him toward the door. “The men are waiting on you, Baron.”

As soon as Duncan left, Father Berton turned to
Madelyne. He spent several minutes advising her on her duties as wife. When that task was done, he spoke from his heart, telling her how very proud he was to claim her for his family.

And then he offered his arm to the woman he’d baptized, seen raised, and loved as a daughter.

It was a beautiful ceremony, and when it was finished, Duncan presented his wife to his vassals. The men knelt before Madelyne and gave her their vow of loyalty.

Duncan was exhausted and impatient. He left his wife to pay an official call on the Earl of Grinsteade, and returned to Father Berton’s cottage less than twenty minutes later.