My Heart Belongs to You (Medieval Romance Trilogy Book 3) by Leigh Bale

rested on his elder brother. “Her people will swear their oath to me after we wed. She’ll be my wife before the sun sets. Even Father Edward agrees it’s my right to demand the marriage whether Malcolm de Litz had lived or died.”
    “Do you think Lambert de Litz will claim Sutcliffe now his father is dead?”
    Clenching his teeth, Nicholas shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. I hold the keep. He can’t have it.”
    “If Lady Ysabelle refuses you, the oath of her people won’t matter much. She has a mind of her own.”
    What an understatement. He only hoped she would yield to reason.
    Nicholas popped a piece of mellow cheese into his mouth and chewed furiously. “Of course, but I perceive she has enough loyalty for Maston to do as he asked. I don’t blame her for being upset, but I think she’ll do what is right when the time comes.”
    A thoughtful frown lowered Alex’s brows. “Though it was my hand that did the deed, she will blame you for Sir Malcolm’s death. Do you think she cared for the mon?”
    Nicholas grimaced. “I hope not. If she prefers to be wed to such a mon, she is more a fool than I believe.”
    “You must consummate the marriage ere the English arrive. Even then, King William will still seek your death.”
    “True,” Nicholas nodded. “But with my marriage to Ysabelle and the possibility of my heir, the church will honor our vows. It would take my death to free her, and I don’t plan to die any time soon. I have no doubt King William and I can arrive at some kind of agreement.”
    “Then, who will you support? The English king, or the Scots king?”
    Nicholas scowled. Truthfully, he didn’t care. But he had enough political acumen to tread carefully. “Though my father was English, I have given my vow to Scotland’s king. I will remain loyal.”
    “Be careful, Nick. Your lands sit along the border. It might chafe to ride the fence.”
    “I willna support a king who would steal my bride from me.”
    Alex chuckled with amusement. “It will tweak William’s pride mightily to have a Scotsman ruling Sutcliffe.”
    A sigh rumbled in Nicholas’s chest. “My concerns are more for the comfort of my wife and our people. I have no doubt my lady has a preference. When the time comes, I’ll consult her. Though she sometimes acts rashly, Maston told me she is loyal. I will soon discover if that’s true.”
     
     

Chapter Six
     
    Within minutes, Ada returned after Nicholas had sent her to request Ysabelle’s presence in the great hall. With a superior smile, the handmaiden stood beside Nicholas’s chair at the lord’s table and curtsied stiffly. “Begging your pardon, my lord, but Lady Ysabelle asked me to send her regrets. She cannot join you this evening.”
    Nicholas tensed. “Canna’ or willna?”
    Ada pursed her lips. “She did not say, my lord.”
    With an impatient snort, Nicholas peered at the woman. “What did my lady say, exactly?”
    The maid blinked several times and wrung her hands. Nicholas frowned and scooted his chair back from the table. Sensing his rising displeasure, servants set their trenchers of meat and cheese aside and scurried toward the safety of the back of the room. Light from the massive fireplace sent flickering shadows across the walls, but the cheery warmth suddenly dimmed.
    “I would rather not repeat her words, my lord,” Ada said.
    No doubt, it wasn’t kind. Ysabelle had a penchant for speaking her mind. It amused Nicholas, to a point. Now, he was anxious to end this verbal warfare.
    “Speak,” Nicholas urged. “Do not fear.”
    Ada gave a deep harrumph. “My lady said it would be a cold day in Hades before she supped with the Scots Devil in her very own hall.”
    A bark of laughter escaped Alex. Anger boiled up within Nicholas and he felt the color drain from his face. The little minx still defied him. It didn’t bode well. Nodding at the handmaiden, he clenched his hands as she bobbed her head and departed.
    Alex guffawed into his goblet