Delight (30 page)

"No,
"
Matthew retorted. "Because of the sacrifice I made for you and Rowena.
"

"
Why do you keep prattling on about sacrifices and arrangements?
"
Rowena said in annoyance. "You do not make sense, Matthew.
"

Douglas leaned back on the bed, grinning insultingly. "Perhaps his corset is so tight it
'
s stopped the circulation of blood to his brain.
"

"
I have heard of such things happening,
"
Rowena conceded with a chuckle.
"
Hildegarde often
cannot breathe for lacing herself up like a sausage
."

'
"Vanity of vanities, all is vanity,
'"
Douglas quoted, folding his arms under his head.

"Was that Shakespeare again?" Rowena asked.

"
I believe
'
tis the Bible,
"
Douglas said.

Rowena grinned at Matthew.
"
Would you like to borrow my petticoats tonight?"

"
You are the most ungrateful pair I have ever met,
"
Matthew said.

Douglas
'
s grin faded.
"
Why did you write me that your leg was broken?"

"I was playing Cupid," Matthew said grumpily. "In my naivete I envisioned you as a pair of potential lovers. I hoped that Rowena would inspire you to live up to the responsibilities of your newly
acquired nobility.
"

"She certainly does inspire me,
"
Douglas said. Then,
"
Rowena, what are you looking for?
"

"The spear for you to skewer your brother,
"
she answered. "I trusted him, and he deceived me. I will not be deceived again.
"

Douglas stood up abruptly.
"
He manipulated us. That is another reason why I should murder him.
"

Matthew backed toward the door.
"
I don
'
t understand. I thought you two had fallen in love—
"

"
I've had a little rest.
"
Douglas took the spear from Rowena, his face ominous. "Now I'm ready to skewer you in earnest.
"

"Not unless you catch me," Matthew shouted. He thumbed his nose. Then he made a mad dash through the door just as Douglas lunged at him.

* * *
* *

R
owena shook her head, listening to them crash down the castle stairwell like a couple of wild boars. Curses rose into the air. Footfalls came running to investigate the commotion.

"
Boys,
"
she said.

Hildegarde poked her head into the room.
"
They are killing each other, Highness."

"I know.
"
Rowena sighed.

"Shall I send for the physician?"

"
'
Twould not hurt,
"
Rowena said.

"Has Sir Matthew asked to give you away at the wedding?" Hildegarde asked.

"
The way Douglas is going at him, it does not seem either of them will live that long. Why is it that the men in my life are so prone to violence?
"

"
I
couldn't answer that, Highness.
"
Frowning, Hildegarde moved into the room to gaze at the fortune in jewels arrayed on the bed. "Good God. The crown jewels of Hartzburg—but this means—"

"My father is in grave trouble,
"
Rowena said in a heavy voice. "He cannot hold out without reinforcements. Jerome was telling the truth. You may pack our belongings, Hildegarde. It looks as if I will be a warrior wife right after the wedding.
"

29

D
ouglas couldn't sleep. For one thing he
could not twitch a muscle without groaning in misery. For another, he would be married tomorrow, and if life got any sweeter than this, he simply could not imagine how.

His lady lay waiting for their wedding day within the tower. He grinned, anticipating the long nights ahead of loving his young wife, the chill winter mornings when he would snuggle into her body. When their bairns would bound into their bedchamber, disturbing them with shrieks of laughter and selfish demands. They would raise a family and grow old together, the years passing to make a potpourri of precious memories.

But did he deserve it? Did the little bit of good he
'
d done in the glen make up for years of greed
and hurting people? Was he worthy of happiness? Guilt nagged at him for a life wasted, for the injustices he could not forget.
'
Twould take a long time before he could live with the man he had been.

Or perhaps he would die having never made peace with himself. Something yet was lacking in his life. The love of a woman was a priceless blessing. Yet all was not well deep within his spirit. That last echo of darkness must be exorcised.

God help me, came the unvoiced cry from his heart, the human cry of countless hurting souls, the cry that Heaven waited so long to hear.

And to answer.

He got dressed and suddenly found himself in the castle chapel. Someone had left candles burning on the stone altar. Rowena most likely. His princess believed in the power of prayer.

"She
deserves happiness,
"
he said aloud.

"So do you.
"

He turned in astonishment and saw Dainty kneeling behind him.

"
I never knew you were a praying man,
"
Douglas said in accusation.

Dainty
'
s deep laughter resounded against the stone walls.
"
How do you think we survived so many wild years together, Douglas?
"

"I thought we had the Devil
'
s own luck.
"

Dainty just smiled and stared at the stone
crucifix
on the altar.
"
That
is where we find our forgiveness and our purpose, Douglas."

He swallowed. "Not for men like me."

"Especially
for men like you."

Aidan came in a few seconds later. He halted in his tracks when he saw he wasn
'
t alone.

"Did you come to pray for me too?
"
Douglas demanded.

"Hell, no,
"
Aidan said. "I was looking for the solar."

G
emma felt a strange quickening in her heart. She walked down the hall and saw a gentle light radiating from the chapel.

'
Twas a light more powerful than the dawn, than the two candles that burned low on the altar.
'
Twas a light that filled her with unspeakable joy and peace. The beauty of it brought tears to her eyes.

She gasped in wonder as she saw her brother kneeling between the stone slab pews. Her tears fell freely as she joined him. He put his arm around her waist, hugging her in a silence that neither of them could defile with words.

Afterward she said,
"
We were born
poor, Douglas. Why do you suppose we
'
re living in a castle now, and you
'
re marrying someone as wonderful as Rowena?
"

His voice was wry. "Certainly not because we
'
ve led an exemplary life.
"

"You've been a son of a swine,
"
she said earnestly as they rose from the rough floor.
"
Why would God give you grace?
"

"
I don
'
t have an answer.
"

They walked out into the hall. The castle was stirring, men singing, maids bustling to and fro to prepare for the great day ahead.

"
But why should God give you all this when so many people suffer?
"
Gemma persisted.
"
Why doesn't he give it to them?
"

He turned to her at the top of the stairs.
"
Perhaps that part is up to us.
"

O
n the morning of her wedding, Rowena covered her face, throat, and shoulders in a cold cream concocted of oatmeal, lard, whipped eggs and ground almonds. It was a popular receipt
at
court for the beautification of a noblewoman
'
s skin. Mrs. MacVittie had passed it on to Rowerm, claiming the n
otorious Countess of Castlemaine
swore by it.

The princess wanted to look perfect for Douglas.

Douglas intended to give his princess a
ne
ck
lace of water pearls. He had purchased it many years ago on a whim on a Jamaican wharf
for a
woman he had not yet met.

He knocked now at that woman
'
s door, the woman of his dreams. A monster answered him. He stifled a shout, backing into Aidan in the hall. The monster was probably a female—it had
nice
breasts and wore a nightgown.

"
'
Tis bad luck to see the bride on her wedding day!" Hildegarde bellowed from the depths of the room.

The door slammed on the monster.

"
Bride?" he said numbly.
"
That
was my princess?"

D
ouglas and his princess bride were married a few hours later in the castle chapel, on a quiet afternoon in early December. Frederic and Jerome, as emergency members of the council, had granted permission for the ceremony. Pirates and village folk crowded the courtyard to admire the laird
'
s wife in her lutestring-trimmed silver gown and tiara.

Douglas looked dashing in black velvet with a brocade hat and red sash on his shoulder that also served as a sling.

A band of pipers escorted the bride and groom on their ride into Dunmoral for the wedding feast. Father Gordon followed on his donkey.

Rowena looked radiant as she alit from the peat cart. "Humility before hierarchy,
"
she had said when Douglas asked earlier if she wished to ride in a proper carriage.

It was a custom in this part of the Highlands to throw a shoe for luck at the newly married couple. Henry hurled an old brogue into the air.

Rowena ducked, and it hit Douglas on the side of the head, stunning him.

"Oh, Douglas," Rowena said, covering her face in her hands. "My goodness, are you hurt?
"

"I don
'
t know," he answered.
"
My body is too benumbed to feel any more pain.
"

There was a Highland wedding feast with oatcakes, cheese, cold mutton and a gigantic Bride
'
s pie decorated with Cupids in the crust. The guests drank elderflower wine and heather ale.

The miniature pirate sloop
Delight
was floated in the loch with tiny candles glowing from its decks. Fire blazed from the miniature brass cannons.

Mrs. MacVittie gazed upon the celebration with a look of pride. "I have accomplished my dream. A shipload of pirates and they didn
'
t drop a single spoon.
"
She sighed deeply. "I call that a job well done.
"

"
A shipload of pirates and they didn
'
t murder anyone,
"
Douglas said under his breath. "I call that a miracle.
"

D
esire unfurled deep inside Rowena. Her breasts swelled as Douglas kissed each one in turn, blowing on her nipples until she twisted under him. His tongue circled her navel. He began branding her entire body with burning kisses. And with each he whispered,
"
Mine.
"

He seduced his wife in the winter shadows. A low fire burned in the hearth. Predator and pirate that he was, he plundered every ounce of sweetness from her body. Over and over.

She learned quickly how to please him. She slid her hands down his broad chest, to his belly, taking hold of his shaft. He gasped.

Shyly she explored his rugged body, the muscular ridges, the scars and healing bruises, the hard contours. His belly quivered. Her innocent touch aroused him so that it hurt to breathe. And when he felt her mouth at his manhood, his head fell back, and a low groan broke in his throat.

"I love you,
"
he said, tangling his large hands in her hair.

"
And I love you, my lord,
"
she whispered.