Very slowly and very deliberately he pulled away. His heart was banging like a drum and his skin was hot and tight with passion and unspent lust. It would take a long time for his body to cool.

She mewled in frustration and tried to pull him back. He smiled and shook his head. “Not yet, sweetheart. Not until we are wed.”

The frustration had not yet left her body, and her eyes fired a dark blue. “You are sure of yourself, aren’t you? You think that one kiss will change my mind?”

“It isn’t your mind I want to change.”

He wanted her heart.

When she realized what he meant, the fight seemed to leave her. “Oh, Alex.”

“Will you marry me?”

She nodded, it seemed helplessly. “Aye. I will marry you. Though God knows, we both might come to regret it.”

He was too happy to heed the words of doom. But they would come to him later.

Chapter 15

15

THE NEWS OF Alex’s return and their engagement spread quickly, and the repercussions did not take long to be felt. Sir Henry was predictably furious, and Alice—although feeling vindicated—accused Joan of betrayal, treachery, and taking advantage of their “kindness and generosity” in taking her in. As it was true—albeit for different reasons—Joan’s guilt gave her more patience with her cousin’s dramatics than she might have had otherwise.

Alice was still harping the next morning as they readied to join the other women to go hawking—the queen had wasted no time in organizing the hunt to show off her prized falcon. The fact that this wasn’t court and they were only weeks away from war didn’t seem to bother her.

Joan put down the fur-lined plaid cloak she’d picked to go with her cousin’s riding habit on the bed to protest yet again. “I had no idea what he intended, Alice, truly. Alex did not tell me where he was going. I was just as surprised as you to see him riding in with the king.”

“You expect me to believe this?”

“It’s the truth.”

“Leave her alone, Alice,” Margaret interjected. “You saw her face; you know Joan did not plan this. Besides, it is a good match. Surely you did not intend our cousin to remain unwed forever?”

They all knew that was exactly what she intended. But even Alice realized it would sound churlish and selfish to admit as much. “Of course not.”

“Then what objections do you have?” Margaret asked. “Sir Alex is from an old and respected family, and is a baron of considerable lands on both sides of the border.”

“He is a Scot,” Alice said.

“So are we,” Margaret reminded her.