Read Online By Grace Possessed by Jennifer Blake - Free Book Online Page A

it so.”
    “I am to accept that this dread fate awaiting your betrothed is the only reason Henry is being so generous with the marriage settlement.”
    Cate gave the Scot a cool stare, affronted by some small change she heard in his voice. “What other purpose could there be?”
    “I don’t know,” he answered, his concentrated gaze scanning the crowded hall much as he had scanned the forest around them last night. “Mayhap you’ll enlighten me.”
    Shock surged over her, only to be routed by anger. “You think that I… No, and no again! I must tell you that however gently reared females may behave in Scotland, sir, they do not play at dalliance in England!”
    He turned his gray-blue eyes upon her in heated assessment. “Not even with a king?”
    Dunbar’s audacity robbed her of speech. Lifting her train out of the way with a hand that trembled with the need to strike him, she swung about to leave him.
    “Hold.” His voice was low yet firm as he reached out to catch her arm in a loose clasp. “I was wrong to speak so. It’s just that Henry seems uncommonly concerned for your welfare.”
    Her arm burned where he touched, setting off a melting feeling inside her. She drew it swiftly away, holding it against her side. “If he is concerned, it’s from gratitudeand obligation, because my older sister helped prevent injury to his heir and his queen not long ago, as well as to Henry himself. There is nothing personal in it whatever.”
    “I did hear whispers of an attempt on his life during the summer,” Ross allowed.
    “You may have done, though the details are known to few. I was not there myself, and Isabel refuses to speak of it.”
    “Isabel is your sister married to this Braesford that Henry mentioned?”
    Cate tipped her head a fraction. “A fine knight and great favorite. Know you of him?”
    “The name is familiar, though I don’t believe he’s among the border lords my father counts as enemies.”
    “You may thank God for it, as he is a dangerous foe. He has not had time to make many enemies, however, as he received his lands from Henry after Bosworth.”
    “That would explain it.” The Scotsman paused, and then went on in quite a different tone. “Shall I make my amends now or later?”
    “Amends?”
    “For my insult.”
    “Later would be…”
    Cate stopped, unable to go on for the hard knot that formed in her throat. That he accepted her word without further explanation was so unexpected that she knew not what to say or where to look. Her late stepbrother, who had been guardian to her and her two sisters until his death, had never been particularly reasonable.
    “Later it is,” he said quietly. “Meanwhile, on the subject of what we should do now, I have another suggestion.”
    “Yes?”
    “We could dance.”
    “Dance,” she repeated, not quite certain she had heard him correctly. Though someone played on a lute, it was not a tune suitable for such exercise. Moreover, a shadow of amusement lay in his eyes despite the gravity of his features.
    “During the coming evening. If we lift our feet to music, it may appear we are light of heart and obedient to Henry’s commands for the time being.”
    “Surely there is something else.”
    “Or we could sing.”
    “I am more inclined to wait.” She laughed a little as she spoke, in spite of herself. She had no real wish to forget his suspicion or be distracted from it by his nonsense.
    “As you will. We may sing while making merry at the approach of Christmas. We can hum with the monks in their chorals, whistle with the serving maids and trill with the jongleurs. No one will ever suspect we are plotting treason.”
    “Treason?” she exclaimed. “Not I!”
    “Aye, you, as flaunting the will of a king can be a hanging offense.”
    “Be serious, please! Are we to pretend to happiness at this betrothal, then, as if we long for the wedding date? Must we act as if it is real?”
    “Have I not just said so?” He reached to take her