Read Online Claire Delacroix by The Scoundrel - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: The Scoundrel
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resolve.
The pair reached the aisle beside me and I had my chance. The lady was on my side, though Tarsuinn was on the aisle between she and I.
“My lord. My lady, you look more splendid than could be imagined,” Tarsuinn murmured. She spared him the thinnest smile of acknowledgement, her gaze flicking past him.
I smiled boldly as she glanced into the shadows cast by my hood, and winked when her eyes widened ever so slightly. She took a quick breath, a spark lit in the depths of her sapphire gaze and color blossomed suddenly upon her cheeks.
My own heart skipped. This was Evangeline, my Evangeline.
She was not entirely surprised to find me here, that much I knew, nor was she disappointed. A flame kindled in the depths of her eyes as she held my gaze, one answered by the fire she awakened in my loins. I felt warm from head to toe, warm as I had not been since we lay entwined abed.
Before any others could note her response, she abruptly averted her face. I noted the line of her shoulders, the sweet curve of her cheek, the indent of her waist beneath her kirtle and knew that night could not come soon enough. I felt the weight of Niall’s disapproval without even looking his way, and understood that his ambitions were extensive.
Not that any such nuptial matters concerned me. Niall was welcome to wed the laird’s daughter - just one more night in her bed would sate me, and then I would be gone from this foul land forever.
Indeed, I understood so much of the lady now, though it changed nothing. Evangeline had stolen the relic so that her father could prove that the grace of God blessed his suzerainty. Fair enough. There was, however, no reason for the Titulus to remain here after its showing upon this night. It would be a waste to lock such a prize away.
Just as the lady was wasted in this remote citadel. No doubt, her father could not find a fitting suitor for her here. I understood suddenly why she had left such a telling clue of her identity and location - perhaps she contrived to resolve the matter of nuptials herself.
I swallowed my smile, for I have never had an inclination to do what is honorable, or what is expected of me. I had no need for a wife and even less desire for one.
Evangeline could drive the heat from my bones afore she knew that detail.
The trick would be to slip between her thighs without her father guessing my intent. The prize was sufficient to risk far more than I might have risked otherwise. This, after all, would be my last theft.
I had best make the night worthy of remembrance.
* * *
IV
Evangeline was so quiet and still that she might have been a statue, some pagan goddess wrought of stone, had she not been so modestly attired. Her father lifted the Titulus high to the sound of prayers, but I watched Evangeline. Her gaze came to me seemingly of its own accord, perhaps because I alone knew that her small smile was less for her father’s triumph than her own.
Her smile warmed and color touched her pale cheeks anew as our gazes locked. A song of desire began within me, heating me as naught else had done in this land.
Save Evangeline.
The procession filed out but I lingered, shaken by my response. I hovered in the chapel’s shadows while countless peasants filed past the altar to brush their fingertips across the relic. I was protective, concerned that one would be so bold as to touch it too hard or even try to steal it. Only when it was safely locked away and the key hung from the monk’s belt did I follow the company to the hall.
The mood in the hall was raucous and celebratory. Fergus had proven the legitimacy of his suzerainty with the presence of the relic, and his subjects seemed intent upon drinking themselves into a stupor in their relief.
I could barely glimpse Evangeline, let alone draw near to her, for she sat demurely beside her garrulous father. That man held his prized gyrfalcon again upon his fist and fed it morsels from his own trencher, more interested
The pair reached the aisle beside me and I had my chance. The lady was on my side, though Tarsuinn was on the aisle between she and I.
“My lord. My lady, you look more splendid than could be imagined,” Tarsuinn murmured. She spared him the thinnest smile of acknowledgement, her gaze flicking past him.
I smiled boldly as she glanced into the shadows cast by my hood, and winked when her eyes widened ever so slightly. She took a quick breath, a spark lit in the depths of her sapphire gaze and color blossomed suddenly upon her cheeks.
My own heart skipped. This was Evangeline, my Evangeline.
She was not entirely surprised to find me here, that much I knew, nor was she disappointed. A flame kindled in the depths of her eyes as she held my gaze, one answered by the fire she awakened in my loins. I felt warm from head to toe, warm as I had not been since we lay entwined abed.
Before any others could note her response, she abruptly averted her face. I noted the line of her shoulders, the sweet curve of her cheek, the indent of her waist beneath her kirtle and knew that night could not come soon enough. I felt the weight of Niall’s disapproval without even looking his way, and understood that his ambitions were extensive.
Not that any such nuptial matters concerned me. Niall was welcome to wed the laird’s daughter - just one more night in her bed would sate me, and then I would be gone from this foul land forever.
Indeed, I understood so much of the lady now, though it changed nothing. Evangeline had stolen the relic so that her father could prove that the grace of God blessed his suzerainty. Fair enough. There was, however, no reason for the Titulus to remain here after its showing upon this night. It would be a waste to lock such a prize away.
Just as the lady was wasted in this remote citadel. No doubt, her father could not find a fitting suitor for her here. I understood suddenly why she had left such a telling clue of her identity and location - perhaps she contrived to resolve the matter of nuptials herself.
I swallowed my smile, for I have never had an inclination to do what is honorable, or what is expected of me. I had no need for a wife and even less desire for one.
Evangeline could drive the heat from my bones afore she knew that detail.
The trick would be to slip between her thighs without her father guessing my intent. The prize was sufficient to risk far more than I might have risked otherwise. This, after all, would be my last theft.
I had best make the night worthy of remembrance.
* * *
IV
Evangeline was so quiet and still that she might have been a statue, some pagan goddess wrought of stone, had she not been so modestly attired. Her father lifted the Titulus high to the sound of prayers, but I watched Evangeline. Her gaze came to me seemingly of its own accord, perhaps because I alone knew that her small smile was less for her father’s triumph than her own.
Her smile warmed and color touched her pale cheeks anew as our gazes locked. A song of desire began within me, heating me as naught else had done in this land.
Save Evangeline.
The procession filed out but I lingered, shaken by my response. I hovered in the chapel’s shadows while countless peasants filed past the altar to brush their fingertips across the relic. I was protective, concerned that one would be so bold as to touch it too hard or even try to steal it. Only when it was safely locked away and the key hung from the monk’s belt did I follow the company to the hall.
The mood in the hall was raucous and celebratory. Fergus had proven the legitimacy of his suzerainty with the presence of the relic, and his subjects seemed intent upon drinking themselves into a stupor in their relief.
I could barely glimpse Evangeline, let alone draw near to her, for she sat demurely beside her garrulous father. That man held his prized gyrfalcon again upon his fist and fed it morsels from his own trencher, more interested
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