The Raider (Montgomery/Taggert 9)
“Jessie,” he said, reaching out his hands for her.
She grabbed her clothes and almost returned to him when she saw a shaft of moonlight touch his nude body, but she thought of what he’d said and her anger surged. She began pul
ling on her clothes.
“Did you think I was going to marry someone else and come sneaking away in the night to you?”
“Jessie, you don’t love Montgomery.”
“Maybe I don’t, but he’s been good to me in a way you with all your bravura will never understand.” She stood still in the moonlight in her underwear. “Let me make this clear to you: tonight is your one chance. One, no more. If I marry another man tomorrow, there’ll never again be any more of this.”
The Raider was on his feet in a moment, his nude body pressing against hers. “You to live like a nun? How will you feel a week from now when I slip into your bedroom?”
“Our bedroom. My husband’s and mine.”
He smiled at her. “Would you like to wager that Montgomery won’t sleep with you? You might roll on him and crush him.”
“Alexander is a good man and you leave his name out of this. Is that your final word? You won’t marry me?”
“I can’t. If there were any way I could, I would. Jessica, I’ll visit you. You can visit me here.”
She angrily pulled on her dress. “No, I take vows tomorrow and I plan to honor them.”
He smiled knowingly. “You’ll never be able to do it.”
“You have never met a Taggert before.”
Chapter Fifteen
HER wedding day was a rainy one, bleak and drizzling, the world looking as unhappy as Jessica felt. She kept her chin high and refused to think of the Raider’s words to her. But she wasn’t going to be some tragic heroine who loved one man while married to another. From this day forward, she was going to put the Raider out of her mind. Even as she thought this, part of her mind was laughing in disbelief.
Eleanor had helped her dress in a navy blue silk dress that had belonged to Alex’s mother and then commanded her to sit perfectly still while she saw to all the preparations for the wedding breakfast.
Eleanor didn’t try to talk to her sister about the forthcoming marriage and Jessica was sure she was too disgusted with her to speak.
But as Jess sat there, alone in Adam’s room, she became fidgety and thought she’d like to talk to Alex. She looked out the window, saw that no one was in sight, then made her way along the edge of the house, through the weeds, to Alex’s room. When she passed Sayer’s room, she glanced in to see Nate helping the old man get dressed. Nate started toward Jess, but Sayer caught her brother’s arm and nodded at her. She nodded back to him and continued on to Alex’s room.
As politely as circumstances allowed, Jess knocked on Alex’s window. When he didn’t answer, she climbed into the room. “Alex,” she called but heard no reply, so she sat down on a chair and waited. He entered through a door leading to another room. He wore a brilliant scarlet coat embroidered with darker red flowers and tendrils that put her plain dress to shame.
When he saw her, there was an immediate look of pleasure on his face but then it changed to one of annoyance. “You shouldn’t be here. Haven’t you heard that it’s bad luck to see each other before the wedding?”
“I wanted you to know that I saw the Raider last night.”
Alex was primping before a mirror. “I’m sure it was a strenuous meeting. I’m surprised you’re here today. Didn’t he sweep you away on his black horse? Carry you to his golden castle?”
“Alex, I came to talk to you, not to fight. I want to tell you that I’ll honor my vows to you. I won’t—” She had to swallow hard. “I won’t be seeing him again.”
Alex just stood there, staring at her for a moment, and she couldn’t read what he was thinking. “Come with me, Jess,” he said and led her through a door.
“My room was once the nursery, but one by one my older sister and brothers left and I stayed in it. My mother used this room for sleeping when one of us was ill. I’ve had it furnished for you. You have your own bedroom.”
Jessica looked at the little room, prettily done for her with a small bed, a wardrobe, a chest and a chair. It was the first time in her life that she was to have a space that was entirely hers alone.
“Alex, you’re very good to me. Better than I deserve. I swear that I’ll be a good wife to you.”
“Fresh fish every day?” he asked, his eyes laughing.
She smiled at him. “And a child in every room. Alex, could I try on that coat? I like red.”