He was right. The duke himself greeted them, apologizing for having missed the MacGregor celebration, and his young wife, Jane—just twenty and daughter of a knight—was anxious to prove her new station. She welcomed them with all the fervor Rory would expect for a close family member.
He bowed and gestured. “This is Miss Juliana Caldwell. She is—”
“I am handfasted to him.”
Rory felt his mouth gape and quickly closed it. Had he heard her right? Had she just announced—admitted, for the first time—that they were handfasted?
Jane clapped her hands. “That is wonderful! We just got married ourselves”—she turned pink and looked at her husband—“so I can imagine how excited ye are! We will give ye our best guest chamber!”
“That is nae necessary—”
“Of course it is!” Jane glanced at him as though he might lack wits and then turned to Juliana. “Men just doona understand these things. Ye have been on the road in this horrible weather, and a bride wants to feel special.”
Juliana gave him a furtive look at that and, since he was completely flummoxed, he raised an eyebrow. Her brow creased ever so slightly—a harbinger of adiscussionthey were sure to have later—then she put a bright smile on her face.
“It does feel wonderful to be off my horse and somewhere warm and dry.”
“We have already eaten, but I will have Cook send ye a tray and some wine to celebrate your handfasting. And I’ll have a hot bath sent up as well. Do ye require the assistance of a maid? Or…” Jane gave her a wink. “Will your husband assist ye?”
Rory managed to stifle a grin as Juliana turned the color of a summer sunset. He really should let her untangle herself from this web she was weaving. His wayward cock was already trying to stand at attention at the thought ofhelpingher with her bath, but then he remembered all that she had confessed. Whatever her reason had been for telling the Murrays they were handfasted, he was not about to force himself—in any manner—on her.
“Mybrideis still getting used to the idea of being handfasted, since it hasna been long,” he said, thinking all of five minutes. “She is still a wee bit shy”—he didn’t dare look Juliana’s way—“so I think she might enjoy privacy.”
This time it was the duke who looked at him as though he were addle-brained, but he held his peace.
“That is very chivalrous of ye to consider her feelings,” Jane said. “How gallant.”
Juliana made a choking sound. “He has been…very kind.”
Kind.She thinks I’m kind.It wasn’t exactly an exciting word. Certainly not one hinting at any kind of passion. And it definitely put a damper on the way his thoughts were leading.Hadbeen leading. Whatever her reason, it was clear she was not extending an invitation of any sort. More than likely, she didn’t want to be alone in a strange castle and wanted him to hold her like he had last night.
When Rory finally got to the guest chamber more than two hours later, Juliana was already in bed asleep. He shut the door quietly behind him. The duke had invited him to the library for brandy while Juliana was bathing and had ordered some venison and cheese to be brought. Murray no doubt wondered, though, why Rory lingered over the brandy and then asked for a second. He’d made some sort of lame-sounding excuse that his “bride” wassore—a poor play on words since she’d been in the saddle all day and not naked under him in bed—and he was giving her a bit of respite. The duke—only nine and ten himself—had looked puzzled at that, and Rory had hastily changed the subject. He just hoped word never got back to Strae Castle about his seeming lack of prowess. His brothers would never let him live it down.
He kicked off his boots and quickly divested himself of his outer garments. He considered leaving his small clothes on, but Juliana was sound asleep, so she wouldn’t know if he slept nude or not. He’d be up before she was, since it would be another long day to get home. Taking that last piece off, he slipped into the bed beside her and sighed. It was going to be another painful night for him, which would have nothing to do with his wounded leg.
…
Juliana kept her eyes closed as she heard Rory enter the bedchamber and begin removing his clothes. Was she going to be able to go through with this? Her thoughts had changed so much. She knew she could trust Rory. He had proved himself to be a good man, kind and considerate. Even when they argued, he didn’t demean her. And…she wasfeelingthings. Things that made her body tingle in odd places. She wanted to have Rory touch her. Wanted to feel his lips on hers. Wanted torespondlike a woman should when she desired a man. And, yes, she diddesirehim. Yet…Dear Lord. What if…
She felt the mattress cave slightly as he lay down, and for a moment, the old panic threatened to rise. She swallowed hard, then turned and opened her eyes.
“Did I wake ye?” Rory’s voice sounded a bit strange.
“No.” She hesitated. Did she have the courage?If I don’t act now, will I ever?Another swallow, then a deep breath. “I want you.”
“I am here. Ye are safe.”
“I know.” She paused again, then tentatively put her hand on his bare shoulder. “I want you to”—she took a second deep breath and closed her eyes—“to consummate our handfasting.”
There was complete silence on his part. Was he not going to say anything? Worse, was he going torefuse? Slowly she opened her eyes to find him searching her face.
“Are ye sure?”
Juliana looked into his eyes and saw desire burning there.Yes.She wanted this. This was Rory. He would not hurt her. Taking yet another deep breath, she nodded. “I am sure.”
He smiled. “Then let me show you pleasure.”
As Rory rose up on one elbow to lean over her, she closed her eyes again. He’d part her thighs now and soon his weight would be on her, holding her down, and then he would… She tensed, in spite of herself.
