ask. “Assuming, of course, it was your intended you slipped from the warm safety of your bed ta meet with in this…” He glanced around. “This perfectly dark and dank spot for an assignation. I freely confess ta being a poor substitute for the man ye seek, mayhap the poorest ta be found the world over. Perhaps ye’ve noticed how very little I have in common with the man of your dreams.” When she blinked in confusion, he added, “Our gracious host.”
Abrielle tossed her loosened hair over her shoulder. “I fear ’tis you who’ll be disappointed, sir,” she told him.
“Truly?” He ambled a few steps closer, regarding her with deliberation. “I cannot think how, when the heavens above have seen fit to reward my own nighttime rambling with a glimpse of the fairest beauty ever sent to earth.”
Though she roiled inside, she feigned control, rolling her eyes in seeming humor. “Indeed you are your father’s son, a Seabern through and through. But since there is no one here you seek to impress, you may as well save your pretty words. I was referring to the disappointment you will surely suffer when you realize how very wrong you are. You see, I’ve no assignation planned for this evening, with our gracious host or anyone else.”
He took another step, and Abrielle was very aware that the closer he came, the softer and lower pitched his voice became, and as he moved closer still, she felt a frisson of velvet shivers along her spine. “Are ye so sure ye know me well enough ta know whom it is I seek ta impress?” he asked.
“I am sure I do not need to know you any better than I do,” she told him.
“Ah,” he said, with an unmistakable trace of amusement. “In that case, my lady, I acknowledge my poor judgment, and can only wonder what causes you ta wander through the keep, dressed so poorly against the chill, and at an hour most happy brides would be sound asleep, dreaming sweet bridal dreams.”
Abrielle hugged herself as if she were cold, thankful he could not know how very warm she’d grown these past moments. “I marvel at your intimate knowledge of brides, sir. Speaking only for myself, I could not sleep, and thought some crisp night air might bring those sweet dreams you refer to. In my restlessness, I wandered farther than I intended.”
Abrielle tensed as he came closer still, and reminded herself it was past time for her to take leave of him, and assured herself she would soon, but not just yet. She had to ask herself what was wrong with her, for if ever there was a time in her life when she ought to be erring on the side of caution, it was surely now. Instead, with so much at stake, not only for her, but for those she loved most in the world, the troublesome reckless streak she’d shared with her father and had thought she’d outgrown, or at least learned to suppress, suddenly chose to make itself known.
“It is easy ta wander too far in a place such as this,” he assured her, now very near, his closeness forcing her heart to beat even more rapidly than before, something she would not have thought possible.
She lifted her chin, vowing she would not let him see her fear, and forced herself to dissemble. “Yes, you’re right, I find I’m much further from my chamber than I’d thought. One must cope with one’s nerves as best one can, and a wedding causes so much happy anticipation…”
The words nearly stuck in her throat, but she would not have him know the extent of her family’s desperation. She had lost much, her dear father, her first betrothed, her safety and peace of mind, even herdreams for the future, and soon even more would be taken from her, but she would not surrender the battered remnants of her pride.
Raven arched a dark brow. “‘Happy anticipation’? Forgive my impertinence, my lady, but I seem ta recall that the last time I saw ye with de Marlé, he was accosting ye. Is it
Abrielle tossed her loosened hair over her shoulder. “I fear ’tis you who’ll be disappointed, sir,” she told him.
“Truly?” He ambled a few steps closer, regarding her with deliberation. “I cannot think how, when the heavens above have seen fit to reward my own nighttime rambling with a glimpse of the fairest beauty ever sent to earth.”
Though she roiled inside, she feigned control, rolling her eyes in seeming humor. “Indeed you are your father’s son, a Seabern through and through. But since there is no one here you seek to impress, you may as well save your pretty words. I was referring to the disappointment you will surely suffer when you realize how very wrong you are. You see, I’ve no assignation planned for this evening, with our gracious host or anyone else.”
He took another step, and Abrielle was very aware that the closer he came, the softer and lower pitched his voice became, and as he moved closer still, she felt a frisson of velvet shivers along her spine. “Are ye so sure ye know me well enough ta know whom it is I seek ta impress?” he asked.
“I am sure I do not need to know you any better than I do,” she told him.
“Ah,” he said, with an unmistakable trace of amusement. “In that case, my lady, I acknowledge my poor judgment, and can only wonder what causes you ta wander through the keep, dressed so poorly against the chill, and at an hour most happy brides would be sound asleep, dreaming sweet bridal dreams.”
Abrielle hugged herself as if she were cold, thankful he could not know how very warm she’d grown these past moments. “I marvel at your intimate knowledge of brides, sir. Speaking only for myself, I could not sleep, and thought some crisp night air might bring those sweet dreams you refer to. In my restlessness, I wandered farther than I intended.”
Abrielle tensed as he came closer still, and reminded herself it was past time for her to take leave of him, and assured herself she would soon, but not just yet. She had to ask herself what was wrong with her, for if ever there was a time in her life when she ought to be erring on the side of caution, it was surely now. Instead, with so much at stake, not only for her, but for those she loved most in the world, the troublesome reckless streak she’d shared with her father and had thought she’d outgrown, or at least learned to suppress, suddenly chose to make itself known.
“It is easy ta wander too far in a place such as this,” he assured her, now very near, his closeness forcing her heart to beat even more rapidly than before, something she would not have thought possible.
She lifted her chin, vowing she would not let him see her fear, and forced herself to dissemble. “Yes, you’re right, I find I’m much further from my chamber than I’d thought. One must cope with one’s nerves as best one can, and a wedding causes so much happy anticipation…”
The words nearly stuck in her throat, but she would not have him know the extent of her family’s desperation. She had lost much, her dear father, her first betrothed, her safety and peace of mind, even herdreams for the future, and soon even more would be taken from her, but she would not surrender the battered remnants of her pride.
Raven arched a dark brow. “‘Happy anticipation’? Forgive my impertinence, my lady, but I seem ta recall that the last time I saw ye with de Marlé, he was accosting ye. Is it
Similar Books
