Read Online The Intended by May McGoldrick - Free Book Online Page B

him
affectionately on the arm. “Truly, I am happy for you,
Edward. You are so brave—such a hero. This was too long in coming.
But then, it had to happen sooner or later that the King would
recognize your successes.”
    Edward chuckled, pleased with her response.
“You talk as if I am about to be made a member of the king’s Privy
Council.”
    “Why not? You deserve all good things,
Edward.” She folded her hands before her and looked up into his
face cheerfully. “When do you leave?”
    “When His Grace is ready.” Edward glanced
uncomfortably at Mary’s inhibiting presence. Then he reached down
and took Jaime by the elbow, pulling her away. “I want to talk to
you...alone.”
    “We can speak here, Edward.”
    The knight looked around, focusing on an
arbor of climbing roses not far away. “Nay, Jaime. There in the
arbor!”
    She dug her feet in the dirt and shook her
head. “We cannot, Edward,” she whispered back, looking cautiously
over her shoulder at Mary. “Why, Mary just told me that your
brother’s wife, the Countess Frances, spoke to her specifically—and
just this morning—about the impropriety of the two of us.”
    “Who the devil is Frances to meddle in our
affairs?” Edward exploded, turning on Mary, who began to stand and
then sat again, staring into her lap in embarrassment.
    Jaime raised a hand and placed it against his
lips. Raising herself on her toes, she whispered confidentially.
“She is only looking after my reputation, dear cousin. You wouldn’t
want wagging tongues to blacken my name in your absence now, would
you?”
    His strong hands gripped her shoulders hard,
and he nearly lifted her off her feet as he pulled her into his
embrace. “I’ve been wanting to do this all day,” he said, bringing
her face close to his.
    “Mary is watching,” she managed to get out
before his mouth slanted over hers, crushing her lips with his
kiss. She planted her hands against his chest and tried to push
herself away. Jaime felt her face burn as his lips devoured hers.
She could feel his fingers, like iron, digging into the flesh of
her arms. Suddenly, he broke off the kiss, and pressed his lips
close to her ear.
    “This will be our final parting, Jaime. I
know you want me, and I believe you are as impatient as I. So think
all you want, and plan as you will. When I return from the king’s
court, we will be sending word to your parents. We will announce our betrothal.”
    Jaime simply stared at him as he drew back to
look into her eyes. He eased his grip on her shoulders.
    “Once the agreement is reached with your
family,” he vowed, “we can marry the next day or the next year, so
far as I am concerned.” His large hands framed her face, his thumb
running over her full lower lip.
    “Once the papers are drawn,” he repeated.
“You are mine to keep.”
    She lowered her eyes and stared at the
stitching of his doublet. He wanted her the same way he wanted a
prize at sea. He would win her—take her—the same way he would take
a treasure ship from the New World. By force and strength. That was
Edward’s way.
    “Be good, Jaime,” he said softly, as his
hands dropped to his sides. “Dream of me.”
    She looked up, suddenly caught off guard by
the tenderness she saw in his gray eyes and heard in his voice. Her
heart pounded at the gentleness in his tone, and her head whirled
in confusion. How could he be so different from one moment to the
next? The two sides of this man tore at her, and her face reflected
her bewilderment as he bowed and, without another word, started
back for the house.

Chapter 8
     
     
    Malcolm fell. As if from the sky, he dropped
like a stone. He could see the heather below, rushing up at him,
each purple flower so clear, so distinct. The onrushing air tore at
his face, his hair, peeling back his lips, forcing his eyes open.
Fear possessed him, but try as he might, he could not close his
eyes. He moved his hands to cover his face, but spread his arms
with shock,