Page 24 of Single Desire
A part of her longed to laugh hysterically. Happy is the bride whom the sun shines on. Yet another sign of marital good luck! Another part of her longed to turn around and run, for surely it would never be so.
Alec McBride looked far more ready to murder than to marry.
All at once Maura’s pulse was racing. Alec was a shrewd man. His bearing was that of one who would not be deceived or easily persuaded. Lord help her if he discovered the truth now.
The deacon cleared his throat. In a haze she heard his voice. “Dearly beloved, we have come together…to witness and bless the joining together of this man and this woman…”
Under his breath, Alec muttered a foul word.
Maura’s head jerked up. Her body turned to stone, her blood to ice.
The deacon must have heard as well. He stumbled over the words, paused, then began again, this time in a rush. When it came time for Alec to say his vows, he bit out, “I do.”
Those same words clogged in Maura’s throat. But she remembered what she had to do, remembered her promise to her father. “I do,” she whispered. But, in truth, the oath was to her father—and her clan.
Alec slipped a plain gold ring on her finger, and then it was done. Finished. Dimly, she heard the deacon pronounce them man and wife.
Slowly she let out her breath. Relieved beyond measure, she started to turn away. Alec caught her elbow.
“Haven’t you forgotten something?”
A devilish little smile curled his lips.
Maura’s lips parted. She did not trust that smile, oh, not a whit!
“I’ve yet to kiss my bride.”
Her eyes widened. Why, the wretch!
And there was no escaping it. One hand on her back, the other curled around the nape of her neck, he kissed her with breath-stealing boldness, long and hard. He used his tongue, curling it around hers. Though she longed to squirm away, pride held her immobile. When he finally released her, his expression was one of blatant satisfaction.
Maura pressed her lips against the back of her hand. It was a travesty, that kiss. She wanted to level a jab at that squarely shaven jaw; at the very least, a slap upon his cheek.
But he still held her. Maura didn’t try to jerk herself away. Something in her sensed he would snatch her back, so what was the use? Aware that the others had turned away, she released her anger in the only outlet left to her. “Why did you kiss me like that?”
“What! You did not like it? I thought you would be pleased that I showed my…” There was nothing but mockery in that small, deliberate pause. “…ardent adoration for my new wife.”
He released her. The oaf! Did he think he was such a prize that he must gloat? Her body stiff, her shoulders rigidly erect, Maura clenched her jaw so tight her teeth hurt. She started to turn, but he tucked her hand into his elbow.
A brief wedding breakfast followed. Alec was polite throughout, but she knew he was chafing, ready to leave.
The baron accompanied them as they walked outside, where a carriage awaited. He offered his congratulations. Alec acknowledged it with a brief handshake.
The baron turned to Maura. “You’ll come back soon, won’t you?”
Maura’s smile was shaky. “Soon.” She wouldn’t, of course. And though she had known him briefly, she liked him. She truly did, and it left an awful taste in her mouth that she had so misled him.
She waved to the baron from the carriage as she and Alec left for the dock, just a few miles away. Murdoch accompanied them. But soon they would be alone.
She and her husband.
The atmosphere within the carriage was stifling. Murdoch watched the countryside. Maura looked down at her plain wedding band. Unbidden, she found herself twisting it on her finger. Alec said nothing, but she could feel the oppressive weight of his gaze on her.
Very soon they stood on the dock. Maura watched as her small trunk was loaded onto the vessel that would take them to Scotland.
Scotland…and the Circle of Light.
All too soon it was time to board. To leave Murdoch. To leave Ireland. Oh, God, it was like tearing a part of her heart out.
