CHAPTER TWELVE
Sully balked at the idea of Josephine riding out in the dead of night to meet incoming riders. No amount of pleading seemed to deter her as she pulled on her heavy leather boots over her woolen hose and heavy black woolen tunic with the de Carron insignia sewn onto it. He might as well have been speaking in tongues for all of the response he got out of her, for she acted as if she didn’t hear him. He followed her across the room and finally fell silent as she pulled her hair to the nape of her neck and secured it into a tight bun.
With Sully pacing nervously beside her, Josephine took her helm from its stand and plopped it on her head. Her helm was different from the knights. It was a basic style, cutting down over the ears and running higher along the base of the skull to allow for her hair. Chainmail hung from the ears and around the neck and extended to her shoulders. There was a hook in front where she could secure the mail to completely protect her neck, but she rarely did. Extending from the top of the domed helm was a four-inch spike, designed to ram victims if all else failed.
Josephine rushed from her chamber, securing her sword and dirk as she went, and tied on her heavy black woolen cloak. Sully followed, hoping against all hope that she would change her mind. But given the fact that she wouldn’t even look at him, he didn’t think that was much of a possibility now.
“Fortify the wall after I leave,” she instructed Sully as they exited the keep and headed into the bailey. “Andrew is riding with me, so you will command his men until we return.”
“What of his second, Thane?” Sully asked. “What is his role?”
“He is at your disposal,” she said. “I’m taking Etienne, Albert, Burl, Severn, Henly, and John with me, plus forty men-at-arms. Andrew is bringing thirty of his men since he has more to spare. It will be a big escort party, Sully. You have nothing to fear.”
Sully doubted that seriously. A soldier brought up her beloved war horse and Josephine’s attention turned to the beast. She paused a moment, stroking the hugely-muscled neck and tickling the silky nose. Calibas snorted in recognition of her scent and voice, shaking his gigantic head that was at least as long as Josephine’s entire torso.
With a slap to his chest, she pulled herself nimbly onto the broad back. The darkness of the night dimmed the silver coat of the horse, but it could not blot out the glorious color entirely. He wasn’t white, nor was he gray, but the luxurious silver that came in between. His thick mane had streaks of black in it, as did the tail.
Calibas was twelve years old, and had been Hugh’s horse for all but two of those years. Josephine had taken the horse after her father died, working with the animal that everyone considered meaner than Satan himself. After much hard work and coaxing, the horse finally seemed to take to her, much to the surprise of the other knights. Being an excellent horsewoman, Josephine controlled the huge beast with soft-spoken commands and leg pressure, as well as any man twice her size. In battle, the two fought as one.
Josephine gathered Calibas’ reins and, immediately, the horse began a nervous dance, excited to be on the move. Keeping a tight rein, she looked about her for Andrew and his men, but had yet to see them.
“Where is Andrew?” she asked to no one in particular.
“Outside the gates, my lady,” one of the soldiers told her. “He awaits you.”
It was the answer she’d been looking for. “I shall return shortly,” she called to Sully from atop the prancing beast. “Bolt the gates when I leave!”
Sully nodded as she and over forty men pounded across the inner bailey and headed for the gatehouse. He frowned to himself as she disappeared from view, deeply unhappy that she was possibly putting herself in danger.
But arguing with her would do no good. It never had. In a huff, he turned around to go about his duty but almost plowed into Justine instead. She stood behind him in her nightshift. It was a thin woolen gown. Her straight brown hair hung loose to her waist. Her blue eyes looked curiously at Sully.
“I heard the commotion,” she said. “Where is my sister going?”
“Incoming riders,” he said in a hard voice. “She is riding to meet them.”
Justine’s eyebrows drew together. “Who is it?”
Sully shrugged. “They are flying green and yellow,” he said. “Most likely the Kennedys.”
“Oh.” She looked beyond him, out to the outer bailey. “And she is going alone?”
Sully pursed his lips irritably. “She is not,” he said. “D’Vant is going with her.”
Justine simply stood there and nodded her head, still looking towards the outer bailey, but that’s not where Sully was looking at all.
He noticed that Justine was starting to shiver and her hard nipples were rising through the fabric. The slight breeze caught the gown, gently caressing it against her body and lifting tendrils of her hair. He’d never really looked at her like that before – like a man looks at a woman – but given their intertwined destinies, he supposed he had a right to look at her like that now. As a woman.
As a wife.
And he had to admit that her hard nipples were rather tantalizing. But before he burst forth with a demand that she retreat back into the castle, he found himself evaluating the rest of her. With her hair loose, and her cheeks slightly colored from the chill, she was rather pretty. Quite pretty, actually. At closer scrutiny, he noted that her eyes were a darker shade of blue; like a warm summer sky. In this light, she looked a bit like her sister. Nearly every bit as lovely.
But the fact remained that she needed to go inside before any of these soldiers also enjoyed the fact that her nipples were poking through her shift. He cleared his throat.
“Inside, my lady,” he ordered quietly. “It is too cold out here for you.”
But Justine put up her hand. “Wait,” she said, some concern in her tone. “Shouldn’t my sister be…”
Sully cut her off by grasping her by the shoulders and spinning her in the direction of the door. “Do not argue, Lady Justine.” He gave her a shove, perhaps a little harder than he should have.
But Justine wouldn’t be pushed around. “I am not arguing,” she said. “I am simply concerned for Josephine. Stop pushing!”
He put a hand to the small of her back firmly. “One more word, my lady, and you go over my shoulder.”
She jumped away from him and stomped her foot. “Stop shoving me, Sully,” she said angrily. “You are an ill-mannered clod and if you ever lay a hand on me again, I’ll…”
She didn’t quite finish her threat and he crossed his big arms expectantly “You’ll what?”
Justine scowled at him, forgetting her concern for her sister and focusing on Sully’s taunting face. A handsome taunting face. Truth be told, she couldn’t think of a threat serious enough. Her scowl turned into a smug expression.
“I’ll turn my sister loose on you and then you’ll be sorry!” she finished.
Sully feigned fear. “Say it is not so!”
Justine didn’t appreciate his humor. It was then he realized she had been serious. Uttering a small cry, she flew at him in a white blur. He dodged her easily, squatting down in the process so that she fell conveniently across his left shoulder like a sack of flour with the force of her momentum.
With his bundle screeching in outrage, Sully carried her into the keep and up to her chamber, waiting until she was in the room before depositing her onto her bed. But Justine wasn’t finished with him; she glared at him furiously, pushing her hair out of her eyes.
“Get out before I take a sword to you,” she growled.
Instead of arguing, he bowed gallantly and turned for the door. He liked her much better when she wasn’t pretending to be a witch. She had spirit like her sister and she wasn’t willing to surrender easily. Perhaps this marriage wouldn’t be so much hell after all. It might actually be rather fun. With his thoughts lingering on the coming marriage, he turned for the chamber door but paused before leaving.
“May I ask a question, my lady?” he requested.
She looked at him, her angry expression having turned into a pout. “What is it?”
Sully tried not to grin at her expression. “What are you planning to wear for our wedding tomorrow?”
The question took Justine by surprise and the petulant expression faded. “I… I do not know,” she said. “I haven’t given it much thought.”
It was a lie. Ever since she’d agreed to the marriage, her wedding gown was all she had thought about. She didn’t know why she lied; maybe it was because she didn’t want Sully to think she was looking forward to the union. But when he simply nodded and opened the door, preparing to leave, she stopped him.
“What would you have me wear?” she asked, somewhat eagerly.
Sully looked at her a long moment, then Justine swore she caught a glimpse of color in his cheeks.
“Don’t brides usually wear pink as a symbol of purity?” he asked.
“Yes,” Justine said hesitantly. “But I do not own anything pink. Will blue do?
“Blue?” he repeated thoughtfully.
She nodded as she took a step towards him. “It is the most delicate shade of light blue,” she said. “Of course, if you hate blue, I can always wear black.”
“Nay!” Sully put up his hand as if to stave off the mere thought. When he saw her rather startled expression, he forced a smile. “Blue would be most acceptable, Justine. I am sure you will look beautiful in it.”
I am sure you will look beautiful. Justine’s heart began to race. Was it possible he actually thought she might be beautiful? Her Sully, the man she had dreamed of for so long?
“Then I shall wear it if it pleases you,” she said, fighting off a rather giddy smile.
Sully simply nodded, smiling in return before quitting the chamber. If he hadn’t known better, he might have thought Justine was just the least bit pleased by all of this.
*
Andrew was waiting outside the gates for Josephine’s arrival, clad in his gray and black leather and sitting astride his magnificent red destrier. The horse snorted and foamed as the party approached, but he controlled it as if he were holding nothing more than a goat on a leash. It was a true testament to Andrew’s skill and strength, the manner in which he controlled a nearly uncontrollable animal.
Josephine approached quickly, her big silver horse tossing its tail about, a flash of light in the darkness. Her men had torches, as did his men, giving the entire party a rather eerie appearance. To the incoming riders, it would be intimidating, indeed.
“We ride!” Josephine cried over the noise of the riding party.
Andrew and Thane flanked her as they rode off into the night. The countryside around them was deathly still with the half-moon in the glittering sky above. This part of the country had softly rolling hills interspersed with heavenly valleys that were covered with wild heather and hemlock in a dazzling display. It was also a part of Scotland heavily controlled by rival clans including the Stewart, Kennedy, and Douglas clans.
Given that de Carron wasn’t from one of the dominant clans, it made them, and the entire Ayr earldom, rather an island unto itself. But Hugh had known the value of the clans and he’d made sure to have good relationships with them, even the Dalmellington until the deaths of James and Marie. Still, the de Carron Clan was considered by most of their neighbors to be friendly and generous.
Josephine wanted to keep it that way.
The riding party was silent as they traversed the hard-packed, uneven road. Although Josephine’s mind was focused on the possible confrontation ahead, she found her attention drifting to Andrew beside her. She didn’t dare look at him.
Josephine knew this road like the back of her hand, as did Calibas. She did little else but sit astride him as he cantered along, charging off into the night. Her mind wandered a bit, going back to the events of the day, and she saw Andrew again when he strode into the gypsy camp. He was so tall, so beautifully muscular, that it had been all she could see. He consumed her entire attention. Andrew, of course, had been his usual disarming self, but somehow through all of the charm, no one doubted his threat.
It had been enough to save her from the gypsies, at any rate.
Josephine’s stomach tightened to think of the first kiss they had shared. And the second. But she could not comprehend or even know what lay in store for her on her wedding night. She wondered what it would be like, progressing beyond that kiss and giving herself over to the man she had married. Still, it seemed like a wild, impossible dream.
One that would soon be a reality.
“Riders!” came a cry.
Josephine was jolted from her train of thought. In the faded moonlight, she could, indeed, see a riding party heading towards them, about a quarter-mile down the road. They were just coming through a bank of black trees and they were, indeed, flying banners, but she could not make them out.
“Halt!” she called.
The party pulled to a stop, with the horses snorting and dancing. Josephine was focused on the mystery riders.
“Andrew,” she said. “Hold here. I shall ride alone to meet them.”
Andrew gave her a long look before replying. “As you wish,” he said, unhappy. “But humor an old soldier. Should hostilities seem imminent, give a signal by latching the protective neck guard of your helm. We shall come.”
“You can see me that far ahead?”
“Take a torch and I can.”
Josephine’s jaw muscles flexed, but she agreed. Digging her spurs into Calibas, she galloped down a slight hill and onto the level road, racing towards the incoming riders. As she drew closer, she could see the banners rippling.
Blast! She still couldn’t make out the insignia. But it didn’t take long before the riding party halted at the sight of her and sent forth a rider to meet her.
The rider carried the standard and as he came upon her, she could see it was the king’s banner. Her heart sank. Josephine reined Calibas to a stop, waiting for the rider to reach her. When he did, it was a young knight, not unhandsome, but very determined looking.
“Let us pass in the name of the king,” he demanded. “We ride to Torridon.”
She remained cool. “I am Lady Josephine de Carron, heiress to the Ayr earldom,” she said evenly. “You are approaching my home. Who are you?”
Even in the dim moonlight, she could see the young man’s face wash with an incredulous look. He stared at her a moment as if he could hardly believe what he was seeing. After a few awkward seconds, he nodded his head sharply.
“Nicholas de Londres, nephew to King Alexander,” he said proudly. “’Tis an honor, Lady Josephine.”
Shock filled Josephine at the announcement, but she covered well. “The king has arrived?”
“Aye, my lady.”
“You are early. We were not expecting the king until the day after tomorrow.”
Josephine thought he smiled, but it was hard to see in the dark. “We made excellent time,” he said. “The king was anxious to reach yer fortress.”
“How far behind you is the king?”
Nicholas looked over his shoulder. “About a half-hour at a hard gallop.”
That was much closer than she had imagined and her shock was starting to turn to panic. Not much time to prepare, Josephine thought with disgust. Damn! But she couldn’t convey what she was feeling, not in the least. If she did, it might make the messenger suspicious and that suspicion would get back to the king.
She had to make the man feel welcome.
“Will some of your men accompany me back to Torridon and help us prepare for the monarch’s arrival?” she asked. “We should like to show the king all due respect.”
Nicholas nodded. “It would be my pleasure, Lady Ayr,” he said. “Let me collect some men and we shall join ye shortly.”
He spurred his horse back to his party. Josephine did the same.
Thundering back to her waiting men, Josephine was confronted with Andrew’s curious face.
“Well?” he demanded. “Who is it?”
Josephine exhaled sharply as she slapped her helm against her thigh. “It is the advance party for the king,” she said. “The king himself is less than an hour’s ride away.”
Word rippled through the men. They had not known the king was coming, as it was something Josephine had only shared with those closest to her. She could hear the ripples of surprise but she couldn’t tear her eyes from Andrew’s. Silent words passed between them.
The king is here!
Andrew was feeling the same shock that she was. All of their plans; everything, would never be. The king was less than an hour from Torridon and there was hardly time to accomplish what needed to be done.
Andrew could see the fear and defeat in her eyes before she tore her gaze away. Quietly, he reined his great animal next to hers. But she wouldn’t look at him; she kept her eyes averted.
“I must stay and escort the party back to Torridon,” she said when she realized he was next to her. “You take half of the men and return now. Tell Justine the king approaches and to prepare.”
His jaw muscles flexed as he watched her lowered head. He knew what her concerns were now that the king was nearly at her door. Truth be told, he had the same concerns as well. He couldn’t stand seeing the defeat in her eyes.
“How long will it take the priest to arrive at Torridon?” he asked quietly.
“Not soon enough.”
“How long?”
She looked up at him, hearing determination in his tone. She could see that he didn’t have the same resigned attitude that she did.
“Mayhap an hour,” she said.
Andrew’s mind was working quickly, desperate to salvage the situation. An hour away? Much could happen in an hour.
“Justine and Sully can still be married,” he said. “We can do it right under the king’s nose. He will never know how swiftly we moved heaven and earth to accomplish it.”
Josephine couldn’t help but feel some hope. He was taking charge and she needed that at the moment. “That would create one less worry. With Justine married, I would only have to worry about myself.” Suddenly, her face lit up. “And I could give Justine Torridon as a dowry. It is within my rights as mistress!”
Andrew could see that the spark of hope was back in her eyes. It fed his own sense of determination, that the king’s visit should not be the end of their plans.
“Thane!” Andrew barked, turning to his second as the man rode up. “Take a few men with you and ride for Torridon. Inform Lady Justine the king approaches and tell her to prepare for her wedding within the hour. Inform Sir Sully as well.”
As Thane nodded sharply and went about his task, Andrew turned to one of the Torridon knights that had ridden with the group. Andrew was a man who never forgot a face, or a name, even of someone he’d only met once, so he addressed the knight by his name.
“Albert,” he said evenly. “Ride to St. John’s Church in Ayr and find the priest. Bring him to Torridon before the end of the hour and you shall receive one hundred marks.”
Young Albert’s eyes bulged and he looked to his mistress as if in disbelief of the offer. But Josephine merely nodded and the young knight dug his heels into his horse, shooting back down the road the way they had come. There was no mistaking the knight’s sense of urgency.
Now that things were in motion, Andrew turned back to Josephine. She was looking at him with hope again and it fortified his heart. He’d spent his entire life making decisions on his own, decisions that affected only him. But now, he was making a decision that would affect her as well.
She trusted him.
“Josephine,” he said quietly. “Do you still wish to marry me?”
The hope in her eyes flickered, then dimmed. “It is too late for us,” she said softly. “There is no time.”
“You have not answered my question,” he said. “Do you still wish to marry me?”
A feeling of sadness washed over Josephine. Of course, she still wanted to marry him. She had become accustomed to the thought of becoming The Red Fury’s wife. Perhaps she had even been excited about it, anticipating a future she never thought to have.
Even now, he was still offering to marry her. The king was upon them and, still, he was willing. She thought that, perhaps, he was simply taking pity on her and offering her an easy solution to a complex problem. He was being chivalrous. But the situation was far more complex than they both realized.
He had offered her an easy out – now, she would offer him one.
“Nay, Andrew,” she replied quietly. “I no longer wish to marry you. Your offer was most kind, but it is no longer necessary. Please return to Torridon, and I will pay you your money this night. You are free to leave whenever you wish.”
Pulling back sharply on the reins, she turned Calibas around and headed back towards the group of men, now gathered behind them, waiting for the king’s advance party to arrive. Andrew watched her go, but he wasn’t going to let her get away so easily. Spurring his horse after her, he managed to catch Calibas and roughly grind the horse to a halt.
“Give me those!” Josephine jerked the reins from his grasp. “Why did you do that?”
Andrew pulled his horse close until he was right next to her; the horses were bumping into each other.
“You did not allow me to finish our conversation,” he said quietly. “You do not wish to marry me? Then that is your misfortune. You agreed to it. I will tell you this, now. I told you once that I wanted you. Now I will tell you again. My body cries for you, Josephine de Carron. My heart lightens at the mention of your name. Say that you will marry me, and I will fight God Himself for that right. Now, do you still wish to marry me?”
Josephine was stunned. She searched his face for any hint of doubt, but was met only by rigid determination. God’s Bones, was he serious? Was it really true? His words lifted her spirit more than she ever imagined words could. Was it possible that the man was as attracted to her as she was to him? His words would seem to prove that theory.
“You may only have to fight the king,” she said after a moment. “As I do not believe God would quibble with you when He, too, believes I should be married.”
The corner of his mouth twitched. “Then perhaps, it is by divine intervention that I am here.”
Josephine continued to stare at him in the darkness, feeling her heart race until it was nearly close to bursting. As it stood, she would rather marry him than any other man on earth. They seemed to be two pieces of a puzzle that fit perfectly with one another to form a thing of beauty – he gave her strength and wisdom, and she brought out feelings in him he never knew were possible. Each, individually, were formidable, but together they were invincible.
The Red Fury had found his mate.
“I would marry you, then,” she whispered finally.
He reached down and removed a heavy leather glove from her hand. Raising the soft white fingers to his lips, he warmly kissed them, lingering for a moment while his eyes locked with hers in the moonlight. After what seemed like an eternity, he released her hand.
“A wise decision, Joey,” he said, watching her grin. “Have faith that all will be as it should. We shall be married and the king will simply have to accept it. Do you believe me?”
“I do.”
“Then return to Torridon and ensure that your sister marries Sully as soon as the priest arrives,” he said. “As your betrothed, I shall escort the king to Torridon. It would be my privilege.”
Josephine smiled at the man, a smile brighter than the sun. “As you say,” she said. “I shall prepare Torridon for the king, personally.”
He flashed a grin at her. “Obedience becomes you.”
“Do not get used to it.”
She heard him laughing even as she turned her horse around and raced back to the group of men, some of which headed back with her to Torridon.
But she, too, couldn’t wipe the smile from her face.
There was much to smile over.