“Tell me!” Madelaine’s heart thumped wildly against her breast.
“After you sleep. And not before.”
Two days later Madelaine’s stomach churned as Grey led her through the corridors of Windsor castle and to his aunt’s apartments. She was to wait with Helen while he went and talked to his brother. She’d been the one to prod him into this action, but now that they were on the course, she was worried. What if Grey’s father had never been in a situation where he had to put his family over his vow?
She pressed a hand to her queasy stomach. That was silly. Surely he had and Grey would soon learn he could serve the king and be the husband he wanted to be at the same time. Still, she worried now that she’d convinced Grey to talk to his brother, the possibility was there that he could change his mind about marrying her.
She struggled to silence the annoying voice of doubt as Grey knocked on his Aunt Helen’s door. When the door opened and Abby stood smiling on the other side, Madelaine stepped into the room and grasped Abby to her. She pressed close to Abby’s ear. “Are you being treated well?”
Abby nodded. “Lady Helen is wonderfully witty and has been very gracious to me.”
“Thank you, dear,” Helen chimed coming through the short hall that led to the sitting room.
Madelaine regarded Helen with an amused smile. “I can see how it is you’ve come by so many castle secrets.”
Helen patted her hair, which was swept up into a flattering updo. “I do have excellent hearing. And it so happens I’ve recently heard a new bit of salacious gossip.”
“Are you going to share it?” Madelaine was all too glad for the happy moment. Today may yet end in tragedy if the king refused to listen to Grey’s suggestion regarding her father, so she’d linger in bliss as long as she could.
Helen grabbed Madelaine by the hands. She blinked at the unexpected contact. “Grey wrote that the two of you are to be married tonight!”
Madelaine’s jaw dropped open. She forced herself to close it. “Tonight?” Her pulse raced ahead. She wanted to marry Grey, buttonight? She said the first thing that popped into her mind. “We’ve no priest.”
Grey smiled indulgently at her. “We do. My brother has arranged itandcalled in a favor to get us a special license.”
“But you haven’t even spoken to your brother yet,” she said, all too aware that Abby and Helen were looking between her and Grey as they spoke. “What if you change your mind, depending on what he says?”
“I’ll not change my mind, Madelaine.” He turned to his aunt. “Might I have a private moment?”
“Hmm?” His aunt looked riveted to her spot.
Grey sighed, his exasperation unmistakable. “I’d like a moment alone with Madelaine, Aunt. Don’t you and Abby have something you need to do?”
“Of course,” Helen exclaimed, a blush staining her cheeks. “We can get Madelaine’s flowers and gown ready.”
“My what?” Madelaine exclaimed.
Helen’s answer was an airy wave of her hand as she and Abby departed the room.
Grey slipped an arm around Madelaine’s waist and drew her near. His heat and warmth instantly calmed her racing heart. “Nothing Edward says will change the fact that I want to marry you tonight. Whether I leave my brother and feel I can continue as anequerryor seek a new profession, I will do it with you as my wife. And I refuse to wait to marry you and chance you concocting some scheme to save me from myself.”
“Bravo!” Helen cried from the other room.
Grey grinned, and Madelaine couldn’t help but smile back. He loved her just as she loved him, heart and soul. No matter what came next, they had each other. He pressed his lips to her ear. “Besides, the king might be more amenable to pretending to pardon your father in a fit of madness if he understands that I will personally ensure my father-in-law stays away from Court and behaves.”
She pressed her head against his chest and curled her fingers around his arms. “I’ve no right to ask this of you.”
“You did not ask.” He pulled back and kissed her full on the mouth. She returned the kiss with abandonment, not caring that Helen and Abby might be watching from the other room. The way he kissed her stole her breath and left her body feeling as if she floated. Heat crept over her and thoughts of the two of them entwined in each other’s arms as they had been before filled her head. It was a good thing they’d be married tonight. She refused to sleep in any bed but his, though propriety would demand otherwise if they were unwed. When a throat cleared in the other room, Grey laughed and brushed his finger over her swollen, throbbing lips. “Get ready for our wedding while I’m gone.”
She nodded, pressing her fingers to her lips. “Hurry back.”
“Always, for you,” he said before leaving.
She traced a finger over her lips. She was loved by a man who adored her for her oddness. How surprising and wonderful. She wished her mother was still alive. For the first time ever, she felt something she was doing—marrying Grey—would have made her mother proud, and she was doing it in her own unique way.
Grey had been so sure Edward would tell him Father had always put the king first. When his brother told him otherwise, Grey could do no more than stare, while trying to comprehend that he had truly not known his father and deal with the sadness and regret that swelled within him.
Edward leaned back in his chair with a smile. “Why the astonished look? Did you expect to hear otherwise?”
