Page 38 of Tanglewood Legacy (The Three Sisters 3)
“Come with me to see the priest now. We can be married this afternoon.” He pressed his forehead to hers.
“Why the rush?” She giggled.
He gripped her hands between their chests. “For one, we took no precautions. You might be carrying our child even now.”
The thought made something powerful blossom inside her heart, soft petals opening. “I’m pleased the thought of my being with child doesn’t frighten you, but I can stop that from happening with a simple potion. We don’t have to rush.”
He kissed her on the nose, then bounded off the bed and started to dress. “Oh, I intend to rush. I aim to make this permanent before you come to your senses and change your mind about me.”
She laughed, leaning back on her elbows to watch him. “I’m not going to change my mind.”
“Then I must marry you so that you can spend every night in my bed without excuse or need for stealth. I want you on my arm and by my side always.”
Fetching her dress, she hailed the shadows to help her back on with it. “Very well, we’ll go to see him after breakfast. Have Allyette make us something. I’m about to arrive at your front door.” She circled her wand, and the shadows carried her outside the wall.
* * *
After lingeringover breakfast to the raised eyebrows of Pierre’s servants, not because they suspected she’d spent the night—she made sure to appear as if she’d arrived by invitation at the gate—but because their lingering stares made their affection for each other as apparent as anything could be, Isis accompanied Pierre to the parish church, where their engagement was posted in the wedding banns. The priest agreed to marry them in three weeks’ time, an eternity for Isis, who had no intention of keeping her hands off him for that long.
“You’ll just have to stay at Tanglewood Plantation,” she insisted as they strolled the square that evening.
He grinned. “You’ll ruin me, mademoiselle. You’ll start a scandal.”
She laughed. “Three weeks, Pierre. No doubt, I will see you in my dreams. I suspect the night itself will round you up and bring you to me.”
With a wink, he brushed his hand along her arm, awakening fire in her blood once more. “Who am I to deny the night itself?”
Leaning into him, she was surprised when he stopped short and whispered in her ear, “Be alert. Blakemore is coming. Strange man. Not someone to give any reason for scrutiny.”
Isis followed his gaze to see the dragon himself, Gabriel Blakemore, headed straight for them, a square of parchment in his hands. “The purveyor of imported goods? I thought he was the type to keep to himself.”
“Oh, he is,” Pierre murmured. “But that’s the problem. On the rare occasion he does speak, everyone listens. There’s not a soul in this parish that doesn’t fear getting on his wrong side.”
The twitch of Gabriel’s lips told her the dragon had heard every word, but he didn’t admit to it as he approached them and bowed slightly at the waist. “Monsieur Baron. Mademoiselle Tanglewood.”
“Good to see you again, Blakemore.” Pierre gave him a formal smile, his hand subtly pressing possessively into her fingers on his arm as if he were afraid if he let go, Isis would float directly into Gabriel’s arms. Little did he know just how unlikely that would be. Aside from Tavyss and Medea, she was not aware of a single dragon/witch pairing. The relationship was exceedingly rare and now prohibited in Paragon.
“I heard congratulations are in order.” Gabriel smiled, his dark eyes flashing with internal fire.
Now, Pierre preened. “Oui. I’ve worn her down, and she’s agreed to become my wife.”
Isis laughed. “I’m not sure who wore who down, but yes, we will be wed.”
“Excellent.” Gabriel’s gaze met hers. “In that case, I’m sure you’ll only need one of these, but perhaps, Isis, you can deliver the other one to your sisters.” He handed a rectangular envelope to Pierre and another to Isis.
She untied the ribbon holding the invitation shut and unfolded the corners. “You’re holding a masquerade?”
The dragon tipped his head in acknowledgment. “Tomorrow night. My first. I think it’s time we all got to know one another better, especially considering recent events.”
“You mean the murders,” Pierre clarified.
“And the capture of the murderer.” Gabriel fixed her with an intense stare. “The killer was arrested just this morning. Delphine Devereaux. They say she murdered her husband and then her sister’s husband.”
Isis gripped Pierre’s arm tighter. “They caught her?”
Gabriel leveled a loaded stare. “Only an hour ago. They’ve imprisoned her, awaiting trial.”
Isis shot a look at Pierre, her eyes widening. This was what she was afraid of. No wonder the dragon was throwing this masquerade on short notice. Gabriel knew exactly what it meant that Delphine was in prison, and he was creating an alibi. Isis gripped her invitation tighter.
