Page 95 of The Scot

Chapter 39

“’Twas a bit strange having a wedding amidst so much death.”

Roysa had a difficult time believing she had just walked into her chamber, with her husband.

“Unfortunately, death will be our constant companion these next few months. Or even years.”

Squatting in front of the hearth, Terric tended to the fire, having relieved the chambermaid. Though thankfully not the one who fancied her husband. She was one person Roysa would not miss when they finally left Dromsley.

“To think, I did not like you.”

Roysa liked him very much now. He wore nothing but a long linen shirt, one she was eager to remove.

Because it was her wedding night, Idalia had insisted on helping Roysa dress in the lady’s chamber, as if she were not capable of doing so with her own maid.

Once Idalia had left, satisfied with her appearance, Roysa had opened the door connecting her chamber to that of her husband—this, she knew, would be her true chamber. Terric had just been crouching down to the fire. Two goblets of wine awaited them, though she had eaten and drunk her fill at their wedding feast.

The one that had also served as a victory celebration. Unlike this morn, when they had buried the fallen, including Gilbert, the mood at their wedding had been almost lighthearted.

Wives and their children had been brought back into the castle, and the only evidence of the short siege and ensuing battle was the large bump on Terric’s head, which could be felt though not seen. And the freshly dug graves. Even her father had smiled more than normal, his acceptance of her new status coming much more easily than she would have expected.

Her father had posed only a half-hearted objection last eve, saying her mourning period was not yet over, but Terric had declared firmly, “’Tis over.”

Not the flowery proposal the old Roysa would have liked. But she’d learned not to place too much value on appearances. Although she’d never expected her second wedding would take place on the same day as a funeral . . .

Naught mattered except her very handsome husband, who stood and made his way toward her.

“Do you think it odd,” he said, slipping his finger down to the sole tie on her shift. Pulling it, he let the two long strings hang down. “That we are man and wife?”

Her core began to pulse.

She wanted him to kiss her. Now.

“And not one time . . . ,” Terric continued.

He didn’t kiss her, as she’d hoped. Instead, Terric lifted his shirt over his head, standing gloriously naked in front of her. The fire’s light flickered on his backside, and Roysa was sure she’d never seen anything so appealing in her life.

“Did I . . .”

He gripped the sides of her soft linen shift and lifted it over her head, letting it drop to the floor. One more step, and they would be touching.

“Tell you . . .”

She couldn’t help but look down. Terric, hard and obviously quite ready, still did not touch her. Roysa could not seem to move herself.

When he did take a step, she did the same—although she moved backward. Right up against the door.

“That I love you.”

Her heart skipped a beat.

“Do you say it now?”

Terric reached over and ran his fingers down her arm.

“I thought to show you.”

She swallowed. “Aye?”