Kissing the Bride (Medieval 4)

She kissed him back, losing herself in his embrace, knowing this was all new to her. Never had she wanted a man as she wanted Reynard, never had she allowed her mind to be subjugated by her feelings in a situation such as this. It had always been too dangerous, but now…now, she did not care.

His big hand slipped beneath her cloak and closed over her breast, cradling her, her nipple hard against the flesh of his palm. Passion ripped through Rhona like lightning. Every sense came alive, turned molten.

Reynard tucked her in closer against him, his hand squeezing gently, his mouth hot and open on hers.

Voices, down in the yard. The boy from the inn, and another, younger voice. Rhona went still, trying to clear her head, trying to pull back from the mindless desire she had been indulging in. Reynard, too, had drawn away, turning his head to see down from the loft without being seen. After a moment the voices retreated, and all was quiet again. He looked back at her, surveying her swollen mouth and glittering eyes. His own mouth was reddened from their kisses, and deep in his dark eyes desire still lurked. But he had tucked it away for now, and she admired his control.

Rhona cleared her throat and smoothed her hair back, for it had come unbound and fell in ringlets about her face. As if he sensed her discomfort, Reynard reached out and twisted a curl about his finger, letting it bob free. He smiled, his smile broadening when she blushed.

Rhona shifted away from him, trying to regain something of her businesslike manner. There were things to say, and things to hear. Secrets to share between them.

“Tell me. What have you heard at Gunlinghorn these past two days?”

He seemed content to let her bring him back from daydreams to cold reality.

“Your chaplain, Jean-Paul, came to see Lord Henry when he was at Gunlinghorn Harbor. He wore a mask over his face. He told Lord Henry that he would give him a choice. The first was to leave Gunlinghorn and return to London, and if he did this, then Jean-Paul would not reveal whatever it is he knows about Lord Henry. But he would only be allowed to do this if he could persuade Lady Jenova to wed your father. The second choice was to remain at Gunlinghorn and face the consequences of his secret being told to everyone. In short, of having his life destroyed.”

Rhona nodded. It was much as she had guessed when she had overheard her father and Jean-Paul.

“And what did Lord Henry say to that?”

“Not a great deal. He was taken by surprise.”

“What will he do?” she demanded impatiently.

Reynard met her eyes, and he hesitated. Rhona wondered why she felt as if he was deciding between telling her the truth or a lie.

“He does not want to abandon Lady Jenova to such a fate,” he said at last, “but neither does he want his secret to become known. Jean-Paul gave him a week to make up his mind.”

“He will stay,” she said with despair. “He is not the sort of man to leave the lady in peril. He will stay, and Jean-Paul will expose his secret, and Jean-Paul probably knew that that was what would happen when he gave Henry the choice. It is part of the Purgatory he is forcing Henry to undergo.” She looked into Reynard’s black eyes, searching their depths. “I think he has something else planned. Another plot that Lord Henry does not know of. I overheard him and my father this morning. Jean-Paul said he had a friend at Gunlinghorn, but he meant a spy.”

“The groom,” Reynard said quietly.

“Nay, not the groom. Someone else, someone close to the family.”

Reynard puzzled over this for a moment with a frown. “You are aright, my lady. The priest will not let things rest where they are now. He knows Lord Henry will destroy himself rather than abandon Lady Jenova to Baldessare. He hates Lord Henry. I could hear it in his voice. That degree of hatred will not be satisfied with mere threats. He will want to carry them through. He will want to be sure that Lord Henry is helpless to prevent his lady’s suffering.”

“Believe me, he is the sort to force Henry to watch them in the bride bed.”

“Jesu, he is a monster!” Fury narrowed Reynard’s eyes.

“No more than my father,” she said quietly.

“I pity Lady Jenova.”

Rhona watched him a moment, thoughtful. “Does she know? Has Lord Henry told her the change in bridegroom?”

“Nay, I don’t think so. I know he has said nothing of whatever it is Jean-Paul knows of him.”

“He should tell her,” Rhona said urgently. “If she loves him, she will understand, whatever this secret is. Women are far stronger than men think them; they have to be.”

Reynard smiled. Rhona realized then what she had said. Had she forgotten which side she was on? Her freedom, and Alfric’s, depended on Lady Jenova’s downfall. She must not forget that, she must not grow squeamish now….

Reynard turned his attention once more to Jean-Paul. “Do you know who he really is? Do you know anything at all about him?”

“I think he is truly a priest. He knows too much to be playing a part. He has been with us a year now, and I am surprised he’s stayed so long, for he is a clever man. I think he could do far better than Hilldown Castle. It is as if he chose us on purpose, for some reason of his own.”

“Perhaps he did.”