Read Online The Defiant Bride by Leslie Hachtel - Free Book Online
Authors: Leslie Hachtel
Ads: Link
spoken highly of this new Henry but his father was kind and caring in the beginning of his reign, too. What if he feels betrayed? Or defied? He is still a monarch and they can be as changeable as a wisp ofsmoke in the wind. If he thinks for one moment you do not bow to his throne, he could punish you in ways we cannot even imagine. And what of her? Do you not think she is entitled to be part of this decision? Can you not give her time? She has been through a great deal. Coming here must be difficult enough.” Leah wanted to gain Richard’s support in this argument, but knew it would be unfair to ask.
“I hear you, sister. I understand your concerns. I believe I would be mad not to make her mine immediately. The king will forgive me, of that I have no doubt. I will convince him I was madly in love and could not delay another moment. He will understand.” Thoughts swirled in William’s brain. He believed he knew his new monarch, but he prayed he was correct in his assumptions. If he misjudged, it would be disaster to so many. He would have to present it in just the right vein. He would tell the king he’d been overcome and could not help himself.
Would he be telling Henry the truth? Was he, in fact, overwhelmed, or did he need to possess the prize? Was he was certain he was hit by Cupid’s arrow? He hated to examine his motives. Sometimes he did not like what he discovered. He wanted to be a man who earned respect, especially from himself.
Leah cleared her throat, interrupting his reverie. “What of the lady herself? Will she forgive you? She took desperate measures once to avoid a marriage not of her choosing.”
“Ah, wooing her and having her grow to love me will be the greatest of pleasurable tasks, I assure you.” He raised an eyebrow for emphasis, then smirked even as a whisper of a doubt gnawed at him. He hoped her headstrong ways would not impede his goal.
“It is good that I love you, almost as much as you love yourself.”
“You tease me, sister. You know I am right in this.”
“Do you care for her, William?”
“Leah, ever since I first laid eyes on her, I have been out of my mind. I know that sounds silly coming from me, but it is true.”
“If you do not love her, it is not fair to marry her like this. In point of fact, none of this is fair to her.”
“She is stubborn. I know this. But I will convince her of my love. I want to be the one to ensure she never has another anxious day in her life. I want to care for her. Build a life. Have heirs. Have pretty little girls who look like their mother.” As he spokethe words, he knew them to be the truth. He had fallen for this incredible, magnificent woman instantly. When he thought her only a creation of his fever, he had been bereft. If she had not existed, he would have felt emptiness the rest of his days.
“I am convinced. Now, all you have to do is convince her.”
“It will be my lifelong goal.”
“What of Melissa?”
Richard rose at this and excused himself.
“You are a coward,” Leah teased him.
“Not at all, my lady. I merely have pressing matters to attend.”
Leah shook her head and turned her attention back to her brother.
“Melissa is a mere formality and I will deal with her. It’s not as if she were my ladylove or even if there was any true affection between us. She can be difficult, but I will bring her to understand and be reasonable.” Again, his bravado of speech belied the doubts that worried him. Melissa was a shrew whose family had long been favored at court. Now that she was the lone surviving heir, he worried that Henry might feel the need to champion her cause. The match was arranged before her parents perished and the king might feel obligated to honor it. He was unsure how much influence she could exert. He had to rely on the knowledge that Henry trusted him and loved him like a brother. He knew, in his heart, that all the obstacles would be overcome. It would not be easy, but his heart was lost to
“I hear you, sister. I understand your concerns. I believe I would be mad not to make her mine immediately. The king will forgive me, of that I have no doubt. I will convince him I was madly in love and could not delay another moment. He will understand.” Thoughts swirled in William’s brain. He believed he knew his new monarch, but he prayed he was correct in his assumptions. If he misjudged, it would be disaster to so many. He would have to present it in just the right vein. He would tell the king he’d been overcome and could not help himself.
Would he be telling Henry the truth? Was he, in fact, overwhelmed, or did he need to possess the prize? Was he was certain he was hit by Cupid’s arrow? He hated to examine his motives. Sometimes he did not like what he discovered. He wanted to be a man who earned respect, especially from himself.
Leah cleared her throat, interrupting his reverie. “What of the lady herself? Will she forgive you? She took desperate measures once to avoid a marriage not of her choosing.”
“Ah, wooing her and having her grow to love me will be the greatest of pleasurable tasks, I assure you.” He raised an eyebrow for emphasis, then smirked even as a whisper of a doubt gnawed at him. He hoped her headstrong ways would not impede his goal.
“It is good that I love you, almost as much as you love yourself.”
“You tease me, sister. You know I am right in this.”
“Do you care for her, William?”
“Leah, ever since I first laid eyes on her, I have been out of my mind. I know that sounds silly coming from me, but it is true.”
“If you do not love her, it is not fair to marry her like this. In point of fact, none of this is fair to her.”
“She is stubborn. I know this. But I will convince her of my love. I want to be the one to ensure she never has another anxious day in her life. I want to care for her. Build a life. Have heirs. Have pretty little girls who look like their mother.” As he spokethe words, he knew them to be the truth. He had fallen for this incredible, magnificent woman instantly. When he thought her only a creation of his fever, he had been bereft. If she had not existed, he would have felt emptiness the rest of his days.
“I am convinced. Now, all you have to do is convince her.”
“It will be my lifelong goal.”
“What of Melissa?”
Richard rose at this and excused himself.
“You are a coward,” Leah teased him.
“Not at all, my lady. I merely have pressing matters to attend.”
Leah shook her head and turned her attention back to her brother.
“Melissa is a mere formality and I will deal with her. It’s not as if she were my ladylove or even if there was any true affection between us. She can be difficult, but I will bring her to understand and be reasonable.” Again, his bravado of speech belied the doubts that worried him. Melissa was a shrew whose family had long been favored at court. Now that she was the lone surviving heir, he worried that Henry might feel the need to champion her cause. The match was arranged before her parents perished and the king might feel obligated to honor it. He was unsure how much influence she could exert. He had to rely on the knowledge that Henry trusted him and loved him like a brother. He knew, in his heart, that all the obstacles would be overcome. It would not be easy, but his heart was lost to
Similar Books
