every caress was evidence of her unfamiliarity with a man’s touch.
“I know.” She whispered in response to his claim it was his right to touch her. Tears filled her eyes at his fierce reminder.
“I’ll never hurt you.” His thumb was gentle as he brushed away the tears that spilled over her lower lids.
“Truly?” Rhiann wanted to believe him. She wanted to trust him, because if she was unable to rely on his word her future was too terrifying to contemplate.
“Truly.” His assurance was whispered against her lips as he brushed his own against hers. Rhiann fought conflicting emotions at his gentle touch. One to draw away from this new intimacy, the other to restrain the urge to lean into his arms and let herself be swallowed up in his strength.
“I don’t wish to hate you.” She whispered. Their lips were still just a breath away as he lifted his face away from hers.
“Then don’t.” Nathan recognized he was asking a lot of her considering the events leading up to their marriage.
“I will try to love you.”
He smiled in surprise at her hesitant declaration. Her adjustment would be much easier if she could eventually grow to have some affection for him, but he would not demand her love. She could save her tender feelings for his sons, but if she needed to love him, neither would he crush her gentle regard. “I will do my best to be worthy of your love.” At her hesitant smile he wrapped one arm around her slender waist and steered her towards the king’s home and the celebration awaiting them.
A large cheer erupted at their entrance and Nathan grinned when Rhiann immediately edged closer to his side. The king beckoned them forward and Nathan knelt before his liege lord. Rhiann did not need his gentle urging to kneel by his side. He nodded approvingly at her graceful action and squeezed the small hand he held in his.
The king gave them his blessing and bid them rise. He signaled for silence from his guests. “I am well pleased with this match. I bid you all to welcome Lady Rhiann and join me in offering your best wishes for a happy future.” A loud cheer erupted at his words, and after a few moments the king once more held up his hands for silence. “Tis my privilege to provide a generous dowry fitting for such a worthy bride, though as I have already informed my vassal, even the most generous dowry must take a distant second to the woman it accompanies.”
A hushed silence fell over the crowd. All knew who Rhiann’s father was and the rich estates he left behind. They waited anxiously to learn if one of the richest estates acquired in the invasion of Saxony would be awarded to the duke’s daughter’s new husband. “My loyal vassal and good friend, Nathan, has proven his value and loyalty again and again in his years in my service. As you all know I reward service in the measure it is given to me. For this reason I award the lady’s father’s estates to Baron Nathan, the new lord of Heaven’s Crest.”
Thunderous applause erupted at the king’s announcement. If there were noblemen who were dissatisfied or disgruntled over the king’s proclamation, their disappointment was drowned out by those who were genuinely happy for Nathan. His own men, many of them younger sons with no hope of inheriting lands of their own, saw his huge step up in status as a reflection of their own possibilities.
Rhiann lifted her glance toward her husband’s face and for a brief moment saw the flare of triumphant satisfaction in his eyes. She knew nothing of his family background but she guessed this moment meant a great deal to him, more than she could possibly understand. He looked down to find her watching him and bent towards her and whispered in her ear. “I will take good care of your father’s lands and his daughter. You need have no fear entrusting either to my care.” He turned to his king and repeated his pledge to guard his lands, his
“I know.” She whispered in response to his claim it was his right to touch her. Tears filled her eyes at his fierce reminder.
“I’ll never hurt you.” His thumb was gentle as he brushed away the tears that spilled over her lower lids.
“Truly?” Rhiann wanted to believe him. She wanted to trust him, because if she was unable to rely on his word her future was too terrifying to contemplate.
“Truly.” His assurance was whispered against her lips as he brushed his own against hers. Rhiann fought conflicting emotions at his gentle touch. One to draw away from this new intimacy, the other to restrain the urge to lean into his arms and let herself be swallowed up in his strength.
“I don’t wish to hate you.” She whispered. Their lips were still just a breath away as he lifted his face away from hers.
“Then don’t.” Nathan recognized he was asking a lot of her considering the events leading up to their marriage.
“I will try to love you.”
He smiled in surprise at her hesitant declaration. Her adjustment would be much easier if she could eventually grow to have some affection for him, but he would not demand her love. She could save her tender feelings for his sons, but if she needed to love him, neither would he crush her gentle regard. “I will do my best to be worthy of your love.” At her hesitant smile he wrapped one arm around her slender waist and steered her towards the king’s home and the celebration awaiting them.
A large cheer erupted at their entrance and Nathan grinned when Rhiann immediately edged closer to his side. The king beckoned them forward and Nathan knelt before his liege lord. Rhiann did not need his gentle urging to kneel by his side. He nodded approvingly at her graceful action and squeezed the small hand he held in his.
The king gave them his blessing and bid them rise. He signaled for silence from his guests. “I am well pleased with this match. I bid you all to welcome Lady Rhiann and join me in offering your best wishes for a happy future.” A loud cheer erupted at his words, and after a few moments the king once more held up his hands for silence. “Tis my privilege to provide a generous dowry fitting for such a worthy bride, though as I have already informed my vassal, even the most generous dowry must take a distant second to the woman it accompanies.”
A hushed silence fell over the crowd. All knew who Rhiann’s father was and the rich estates he left behind. They waited anxiously to learn if one of the richest estates acquired in the invasion of Saxony would be awarded to the duke’s daughter’s new husband. “My loyal vassal and good friend, Nathan, has proven his value and loyalty again and again in his years in my service. As you all know I reward service in the measure it is given to me. For this reason I award the lady’s father’s estates to Baron Nathan, the new lord of Heaven’s Crest.”
Thunderous applause erupted at the king’s announcement. If there were noblemen who were dissatisfied or disgruntled over the king’s proclamation, their disappointment was drowned out by those who were genuinely happy for Nathan. His own men, many of them younger sons with no hope of inheriting lands of their own, saw his huge step up in status as a reflection of their own possibilities.
Rhiann lifted her glance toward her husband’s face and for a brief moment saw the flare of triumphant satisfaction in his eyes. She knew nothing of his family background but she guessed this moment meant a great deal to him, more than she could possibly understand. He looked down to find her watching him and bent towards her and whispered in her ear. “I will take good care of your father’s lands and his daughter. You need have no fear entrusting either to my care.” He turned to his king and repeated his pledge to guard his lands, his
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