Cotharach, December 22, 1378

It had been two days since Vida’s father had left for Perth. In the surprise and bustle of the MacIans’ arrival yesterday, she had been busy and hadn’t stopped to worry about what might be happening with him. Meeting her cousin Katherine had been wonderful. Learning from their patrols that Lindsay men were encamped on Rattray land to the southeast and MacNab land to the west had her nearly sick with worry. But foremost in her thoughts today was her father. When he left on Monday, she figured there might be a chance he’d return yesterday but barring that, she expected him today at the very latest. When one of his men-at-arms arrived alone in the afternoon, her heart fell. The man had requested to speak to Tomas privately.

Tomas had taken her hand and said, “This concerns Vida more than anyone. She’ll hear this message with me.”

“But, Sir Tomas, the laird—”

“—left me in charge. Vida will stay to hear this.”

It had actually been a relief to hear the Lord Sheriff had delayed the case, but the fact that he accepted Lindsay’s claim about the betrothal was distressing. Clearly, her father didn’t believe Tomas’s parents would arrive to help. Thus, fearing the case wouldn’t end well, he’d sent instructions for Tomas to flee with her.

“Vida, my love,” said Tomas, “don’t worry so. As I knew they would, my parents brought enough gold to help with the debt. This will all be resolved tomorrow.”

Even now, Tomas, a number of Ruthven men, and the even more MacIan men were preparing to leave at first light. They would be transporting the full amount of gold needed to pay the debt. They couldn’t risk encountering thieves by traveling after dark or with anything less than a large force of skilled warriors.

“But, Tomas, you’ll have to pass through Rattray land where the Lindsays are encamped in order to reach Perth.”

Tomas assured her all would be well. “We’ll be traveling with a large force of well-trained men.”

Still, Vida couldn’t help but worry and she said as much to Katherine at the evening meal.

Katherine smiled warmly. “I know ye’re worried. Ye can’t help but be. Still, I can assure ye, the MacIan men are among the best warriors in the Highlands. They will be able to handle anything that arises.”

“That’s good to hear. And if Tomas, Ethan, and Drew are any indication, I have to believe you.”

Katherine patted her hand. “But believing me and letting it ease yer mind are two different things.”

Vida nodded. “I’m also worried about Cotharach’s protection. Our men at arms have vastly improved since Tomas arrived, but I’m concerned.”

“What worries ye?” asked Laird MacIan.

She frowned. “Well…I guess…I like playing chess. And sometimes, one must draw one’s opponent’s attention away from one’s own plans. It has become clear that Naughton has his eye on gaining Cotharach and Clan Ruthven for his own. But he can’t be assured that Papa won’t be able to pay the debt or that someone won’t come through with another loan, just as ye have. So, if he really wanted Cotharach, drawing Papa away and then attacking from three sides would be one way of catching us off-guard.”

Both Tomas and Laird MacIan gave her admiring looks. Laird MacIan said, “Very well-spotted, Vida. You must be an excellent chess player.”

“Ruthless,” said Tomas with a laugh. “And ye’re right, Vida, it is a possibility.”

This didn’t exactly calm her fears.

“But, my love,” continued Tomas, “Da and I have discussed this. If ye approve, I’ll leave him in charge of the men here while I go to Perth. He is an experienced warrior and leader—no match for the handful of Lindsays encamped around us. Cotharach will be in good hands.”

She nodded. “That makes me feel a bit better.”

Just then, one of the guardsmen who had been on duty at the gate entered the hall with a Trinitarian priest and a young boy of about twelve. He escorted them to the head table. “My lady, Sir Tomas, this Red Friar and the lad with him have a tale you must hear immediately.”

Vida nodded. “Certainly. Father, I’m Lady Vida Ruthven. This is my betrothed, Sir Tomas MacIan, and his parents Laird and Lady MacIan.”

“I’m very pleased to meet you all. I am Father Owen and this lad is Will.”

The boy was slender, had tanned skin, white-blonde hair, and deep blue eyes. He bowed and greeted them, “Pleased to meet you my ladies, Laird, Sir Tomas.”

Vida smiled. “Join us at the table and have some supper as you tell your story, Father.”

“Thank you, my lady. However, I can only tell a small piece of it. Most of it is Will’s to tell.” They were seated and the priest continued. “As you can see by my scapular,” he pointed to the red and blue cross on the outer garment of his habit, “I am a priest in the Order of the Most Holy Trinity. Our charism centers on redemption and mercy. From the very earliest day of our order, we have been devoted to the mystery of the Holy Trinity and the ransom of captives held by nonbelievers. Although rooted in the Crusades, most of our work now involves gaining freedom for the victims of piracy who have been sold into slavery.”

A chill passed through Vida. “Piracy?”

“Aye, my lady. And the story we bring you, concerns your father’s ship, the Mermaid Queen.”

“It was pirated?”

“Aye, my lady.”

Horrified, Vida’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, dear God.” She glanced around. Lady Katherine seemed equally upset. Tomas and his father wore grim expressions.

“But God is good. I and some of my brothers were in Tangier, working to gain the release of other captives, when we learned of a Scottish ship that had been sailed into port, and sold along with all of the crew members.”

“You were able to save them?” asked Tomas.

The priest shook his head. “Not immediately. We did not have enough funds to secure everyone’s release but we brokered an arrangement with the slave trader who bought them. My brothers paid the man a sufficient amount for the sustenance of the crew for sixty days, during which time the order would acquire the funds needed to purchase the crew’s freedom outright. We had some remaining funds, approximately enough to purchase three men. However, the captain insisted that the coin be used to secure the release of young Will here, the ship’s cabin boy. You see, men who are sold into slavery are used for forced labor. The fate of women and children who are forced to be slaves is usually far worse. And the prices they bring are often significantly higher. Captain Lowther feared that if a buyer offered enough coin, the slave trader would sell Will in spite of the agreement with us. Because I am a Scotsman, I agreed to accompany the lad back home.”

“When did this happen?” asked Tomas.

“In August. It has taken us a while to get here. First it was necessary to travel to Spain so that the brothers there could begin gathering the funds to ransom the remaining crewmen. Then we had to wait until we could book passage to England or Scotland. We finally arrived in Edinburgh three days ago. We went first to the Red Friar’s Abbey in Scotlandwell, then came here. But I’ll let the lad tell the rest of the story. I assure you, they were not set upon by typical pirates.”

The boy had been eating hungrily while the priest talked. Vida couldn’t suppress a smile when Will swallowed what was in his mouth, took a drink from his goblet, then wiped his face with his sleeve before launching into his tale.

“The Mermaid Queen left port at the end of June and the first leg of the journey went well. We arrived at the port in Cadiz, Spain, at the beginning of August. The captain took on fresh provisions and water there. We were only in port a few days before setting out again. To Captain Lowther’s surprise, there was another ship from Dundee, the Salty Swan, already in port when we arrived.”

Vida frowned. “The Salty Swan? That’s one of Naughton Lindsay’s ships and it left Dundee after the Mermaid.”

“Aye, my lady, it did. Our captain knew that too. He even talked with the Swan’s captain who said he’d left port on the next tide but managed to make better time.”

Vida shook her head. “But that’s not true. It left days later.”

“Aye, my lady, after all that happened, that doesn’t surprise me. She was riding high in the water when we were in port as if she were nearly empty. Captain Lowther thought her contents must have been sold in Cadiz and that the Swan would be taking on goods there. We left Cadiz as planned. We were only hours out of port when sails were spotted behind us. We assumed it to be another merchant vessel, but it was too far away to identify her. By evening, as we set a course towards the Strait of Gibraltar, the ship began to gain on us. The lookout and first mate said she was a Portuguese merchant ship. I didn’t think so. She was fast, and high in the water, like an empty ship. I found the captain in his cabin and told him what I’d seen. He ordered me stay in his cabin while he went on deck. Before long, from the captain’s porthole, I could see the other ship coming along side. It was the Swan. I heard fighting on the deck but it didn’t last long. It turns out six of our crewmembers, including the first mate, had been bribed by the captain of the Swan. They overpowered Captain Lowther and the Quarter Master, drugged some of the seaman and assisted the captain of the Swan in taking the ship.”

“You were pirated by Lindsay’s ship?”

“Aye, Sir Tomas. Our crew was shackled and locked in the Mermaid’s hold. I heard some of the Swan’s men arguing with their captain over this. Apparently, he was supposed to murder the entire crew to ensure no one would ever learn what had happened. But he said if he sold us into slavery, we’d never see Scotland again anyway and it was foolish not to take the money we’d bring. So, men from the Swan piloted the Mermaid, and both ships made port in Tangier the next day. Then, the Mermaid’s cargo was transferred to the Swan. It had been empty from the time it left Dundee. That’s how it made such good time. The captain of the Swan sold the Mermaid to a Moroccan merchant. Then he sold the entire crew, including the men who betrayed us, to a slave trader.”

“And were your brothers eventually able to gain the men’s freedom, Father Owen?” asked Vida.

“Aye. The coin was taken to Tangiers before Will and I left Spain and I received word that they’d been released.”

Tomas shook his head in disbelief. “I can’t believe the Swan’s captain turned on the men who helped him.”

His father shrugged. “He’d have to. Lindsay was clearly behind this. He couldn’t risk a single crewmember ever returning to Scotland. Especially not men who had already demonstrated that their loyalty could be bought. If they’d turned on one master for a price, they’d turn on another.”

Will nodded. “Aye, that’s what the Swan’s captain said.” He cast a sidelong glance at the priest. “I thought they deserved what they got, but the Red Friars ransomed the whole crew.”

Father Owen chuckled and ruffled the boy’s hair. “Will’s learning it’s sometimes hard to understand the nature of God’s mercy.”

Niall MacIan laughed. “The truth is, lad, by rescuing them, in spite of what they’d done, those men will always bear the guilt of their betrayal. Perhaps they’ll be less tempted to ever do it again.”

“Aye, that’s what Captain Lowther said too. Most of the men argued with him but he stood firm, saying he didn’t condone revenge. He said if the men returned to Scotland, he would seek justice for their crimes.” The boy frowned. “I don’t understand the difference. It seems right just to me for them to have to suffer the fate they led us to.”

Lady Katherine smiled. “The difference between revenge and justice is hard to understand, Will. Let me ask ye this, if another lad yer age called ye a rude name, what would ye do?”

“I’d tell him he was an eejit and he ought to shut his fat gob.”

Her eyes sparkled with amusement. “And would he? Shut his fat gob, that is?”

Will’s brow drew together. “Probably not. He’d probably say something worse to me.”

“And you’d say something worse back and so on. But how would it end?”

“I don’t know. A fight I guess.”

Katherine nodded approvingly. “I suspect so. I have sons and that is the usual progression of silly arguments. But ye see, it’s a constant spiral down. One person hurts another. Then the other person wants to hurt the first one a little bit more. And it just keeps on going like that. But justice is different. It’s fair, rational, and brings closure. Letting an impartial judge decide the punishment for their crimes helps ensure that it will be fair.”

“Doing to them what they were planning to do to us seems pretty fair to me.”

Katherine laughed. “Still, ye aren’t really impartial now are ye?”

“Nay, I guess not. But what if they don’t come home?”

“If they don’t come home, it will be because they fear the crown’s justice, not the captain’s vengeance, therefore, they have essentially condemned themselves to exile. You see it wouldn’t be Captain Lowther, any of his men, or the Red Friars who are forcing them to stay away. It’d be their own guilt.”

“I suppose I understand that.”

Tomas had been watching his mother with something akin to awe on his face. “Mam, the way you do that has always amazed me.”

“Do what?”

“Explain things that aren’t always easy for little ears to understand.”

“Oh, that. I learned it from yer father.”

Niall shook his head. “Ye didn’t learn it from me. I’m not very good at it.”

Katherine laughed again and flashed Niall a cheeky grin. “No, I don’t suppose ye are, but ’twas from helping ye see my point of view that I learned it.”

Niall chuckled, “Aye, well, that’s entirely possible.”

Katherine smiled at Vida. “And men aren’t all that different from wee lads sometimes. Vida, I expect ye’ve learned the same thing over the years from Uncle Ambrose.”

“Be that as it may,” said Niall with mock sternness, “We have a problem to address.”

Tomas nodded. “Aye, we do. It appears that Lindsay has been working for some time to lay this trap. If he sent his ship on the heels of the Mermaid Queen in June, that was weeks before Ruthven incurred the debt.”

All of the implications of that began swirling in Vida’s brain. “So, Naughton entered into a game of chance with Papa, and when Papa was losing, allowed him to secure a debt with goods from a ship that would never reach its destination.”

Tomas shook his head. “I doubt there was ever any ‘chance’ involved in that game. There is no way of proving it, of course, but it’s likely that Lindsay cheated to ensure yer father incurred a significant debt.”

“Yer probably right,” said his father. “What’s more, if he has put so many components in place to secure this victory, the chances that he has nothing else up his sleeve are slim. This makes Vida’s earlier concerns additionally worrisome. He might have more men on the road between here and Perth than we know, waiting to ambush Ruthven men who might be transporting a large amount of gold. Ye can be certain he won’t leave this to chance, so it’s likely to be a sizable force. He may even have more of his troops waiting in places we’ve yet to discover, prepared to attack Cotharach.”

Tomas nodded. “I suspect ye’re right, Da. In Laird Ruthven’s message to me, he wanted me to flee with Vida. Clearly if I had done that, I’d also have met Lindsay men on the north road.”

“So, what are we going to do?” asked Vida.

A broad grin spread across Tomas’s face. “We’ll give them no cause for alarm. We no longer need to transport the funds to Perth. If Father Owen and Will present what they know to the sheriff, Lindsay will be the one facing justice. And any men he might have lying in wait along the route won’t give a second look to a farmer, a priest, and a young lad traveling to Perth.”

Vida frowned. “Are ye sure that’s safe? Why not just travel with a sizable contingent of men anyway?”

“Because warriors will most definitely draw their attention, which would likely end in a battle,” answered Laird MacIan. “And that would put Father Owen and Will at risk. Tomas is right, they’ll pay no attention to a priest, and two peasants. And that will leave a much stronger force here to guard Cotharach.”

Tomas addressed the priest. “Father Owen, will ye and Will accompany me to Perth?”

“Aye, of course,” said the priest.

“Then we’ll go by wagon at dawn.”

Vida laid her hand on top of Tomas’s hand where it rested on the table and gave a squeeze. “Thank you, Tomas, for everything you’ve done for us. Katherine and Niall, I can’t thank you enough either. After learning some of the ugly truths about my father, I would have understood if you’d turned your back on us.”

Tomas pulled her hand to his lips and kissed it. “This is about much more than your father. I could never let ye or this clan pay the price for his wrongdoing.”

“None of us could,” added Katherine.

Having the support of Tomas and his parents touched her beyond words. Naughton Lindsay had made a series of calculated maneuvers that would have ruined Clan Ruthven and left her in his control. And to make things worse, her father had been far too easily manipulated along the way. That frightened her more than anything else.

When she retired to her chamber that night, she couldn’t free her mind of the fear gripping her. Even though all of their problems seemed to be resolving, they had skirted so close to disaster, it chilled her to her core.

Something had to be done to ensure nothing like this could ever happen again and it couldn’t wait until Tomas returned with her father from Perth. In fact, that might be too late. It needed to be addressed right now.

She rose from her bed, put on a dressing gown, and, taking a candle, slipped out of her chamber into the dark, quiet corridor. She walked resolutely to Tomas’s room and tapped lightly on his door.

Tomas opened moments later, wearing only a tunic, but a sword in his hand. “Is something wrong? What’s happened?”

“Nothing has happened. Nothing new anyway. But I need to talk to you.”

“Vida, this isn’t exactly proper,” he said, even as he opened the door wide to let her in.

She stepped into the room. “I know it isn’t. What I’m about to ask you probably isn’t either, but it won’t stop me.”

His eyebrows shot up and a slow smile spread across his face. “Well, make yerself comfortable. Can I pour ye a goblet of wine?”

A goblet of wine. That was exactly what she needed. “Yes, thank you.”

He poured two goblets of wine from the ewer that stood on his table and handed one to her. “Will ye sit down, my love?”

“Aye, thank you.” She sat in one of the chairs at the table, and fortified herself with two long swallows of wine.

He frowned, taking the seat opposite her. “Something’s worrying ye.”

Vida nodded. “Aye. I think we need to get married.”

Tomas laughed. “My darling lass, we are getting married.”

“I mean tonight.”

“Ye know Father Michael will not marry us until the banns have been announced for the third time.”

“I know. But we could handfast, here, right now.”

“Vida, there is no longer any fear of ye being forced to marry Naughton Lindsay.”

“And that is exactly my point. My father made a series of terrible decisions that landed us here. The one good decision he made was to ask you to marry me. But thanks to the greed of the Swan’s captain, everything has turned out in my father’s favor. I fear, once he realizes he has been miraculously extricated from this mess, and he finds out who you really are, he’ll change his mind about our wedding.”

A pained look crossed Tomas’s face. “I suppose that’s his prerogative.”

“But it would be the wrong thing to do. And I would live in fear of him doing something like this, only perhaps even more dangerous in the future.”

“I understand, really, I do. And I want to marry ye. But ye must know, it’s likely to infuriate him. Are ye prepared for that?”

“Aye. I am.”

“Then there is one other thing to consider. Even if we are married, that doesn’t prevent him from endangering the clan’s well-being in the future.”

She frowned. “I know.” She leaned across the table and grasped his hand. “And while I hope, between us, we can exert a bit more control, that isn’t my main reason for wanting to handfast tonight.”

“Then what is yer main reason?”

She felt the color rise in her cheeks and glanced away for a moment embarrassed. But she’d gone this far, she had to finish it. She returned her gaze to his. “I love you. I love everything about you. You are a skilled warrior and a good leader. But you are also kind, compassionate, and generous. I love being with you. I can be myself without worrying that you won’t approve. And what’s more, I’m confident that you love me too.”

The look on his face was priceless and worth every bit of the effort it took to say all of that.

“Vida, my precious lass, I do love ye, with everything in me.”

She looked down, fighting tears. “But I’m so afraid Papa will ruin everything again. I can’t risk losing you, Tomas. I don’t think I could stand living without you.”

~ * ~

Live without her? Nay, Tomas couldn’t do that. “Oh, sweetling.” In one swift move, he pulled her off her chair and into his lap. “Although I’d thought about the possibility, I didn’t think your da would do that. Your happiness seems to be very important to him. But ye’re right, he doesn’t always make sound decisions and ye know him better than anyone. I won’t risk losing ye either. Of course, I’ll handfast with ye.”

He felt her relax in his arms and she nestled against him. She had truly been terrified.

“Do we need a witness?” she asked.

He chuckled. “I’m not sure. I’ve never handfasted with anyone before.”

She smiled up at him. “I haven’t either. But if we are doing this to ensure Papa doesn’t stop the wedding, I figure we should have someone who can serve as our witness.”

Tomas nodded. “I could ask Drew or Ethan, but I figure if we choose a friend of mine yer father might not believe they tell the truth. We should choose someone who yer father respects.”

“Aye, ye’re right. We should ask Manus. Papa respects him and Manus respects you. If it never needs to be revealed, he will keep our secret, but he will stand by us.”

“Then Manus it is. I’ll go fetch him.”

She shook her head. “Nay, let me go. He will want to ask questions of me to make sure you aren’t exerting some sort of pressure. I will be better able to convince him if we are alone.”

“I’d rather go with ye, but if ye think it’s best I’ll wait here.” He helped her off his lap and walked with her to the door.

“It won’t take long, I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

His chamber was dark and chilly, the fire having been banked for the night. It lent a clandestine atmosphere to the whole thing that Tomas didn’t like. So, he lit several candles and stoked the fire to warm the room. He also wrapped himself in a plaid. He wouldn’t marry her half-dressed.

Then he waited.

And waited.

He guessed it hadn’t been all that long, but it felt like eons. He had time to think about what they were doing, but he didn’t change his mind. Vida had been right on all counts. He had feared as much, but hadn’t allowed himself to think of the possibility of not taking her as a wife.

So, by the time Vida returned with Manus, Tomas’s resolve had only been strengthened.

Vida’s face was alight with a smile. “Manus has agreed to be our witness.”

Tomas took her hand, kissing the back of it. “Excellent.” To the small, sleep tousled man in her wake, he said. “Thank ye, Manus.”

“’Tis an honor, Tomas. And make no mistake, I love Vida as a daughter. I want to see her happy and I know she will be if she is married to you. Even so, I would not normally go behind my laird’s back to see it done. However, I firmly believe Vida is right about her father and the risk he poses to the clan. You are, without a doubt, the best man to lead us. Therefore, as it is in the clan’s best interests, I will witness this. I hope the wedding will take place in a few days and no one ever needs to know. But if something goes awry, we’ll do what we must.”

Tomas nodded. “I appreciate yer confidence, Manus, and I swear I will do what I must to see Clan Ruthven remains safe and prosperous.”

“I know you will. Now, I would like to get back to bed, so let’s get this done. Ye need only state your intention to take each other as husband and wife.”

Tomas turned to face Vida, taking both of her hands in his. “I, Tomas MacIan, take ye, Davida Ruthven, to be my wife until we are parted by death and I promise ye I will be true.”

Vida’s smile was like a beacon of light, making the candles he had lit pitifully unnecessary. “I, Davida Ruthven, take you, Tomas MacIan, to be my husband until we are parted by death and I promise you I will be true.”

Tomas leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips. “I love ye, Vida MacIan.”

A blush suffused her face. “I love you too, Tomas MacIan.”

Manus cleared his throat. “Well, now that’s taken care of, I’ll return to my chamber.” He glanced towards Tomas’s bed. “And…uh…one last thing. Normally a handfasting should not be…uh…consummated until it has been blessed by the church. That said, an unconsummated handfasting can be set aside, but once consummated it cannot.” He smiled, inclined his head in a slight bow and left.

As the door closed behind Manus, Tomas grinned. “I think we’ve just been instructed to have our wedding night a bit early.

She giggled. “Aye, it would seem so.”

He pulled her into his arms and gave her another kiss. She melted against him, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her warm response pleased him. “Is that what ye wish to do? I mean, I don’t want to push ye, if ye aren’t ready.”

She answered him by pulling him down into another kiss.

“Ye’re so beautiful,” he said as he ran his hands softly over her back and down her sides, ending the journey by cupping her breasts in his hands. “And ye taste so sweet.” He continued the gentle assault on her mouth, sliding his tongue over hers then lightly sucking on her lower lip. He opened her dressing gown. She wore only a silk shift. He gently rubbed his thumbs over her nipples, feeling them pebble beneath the soft fabric. She gave a low moan, leaning into his touch.

He slid the dressing gown over her shoulders, allowing it to puddle on the floor. Then he kissed her again as he untied the ribbons of her shift, pushing it over her shoulders and off. Stepping back, he gazed at her for a moment. “So beautiful,” he repeated.

She flushed under his gaze, but made no move to cover herself. Instead, she unbound her hair from its braid before stepping back towards him. “Ye have me at a bit of a disadvantage.” She removed the plaid he had donned so hastily, dropping it on the pile of her clothes.

Her small hands roamed over his chest and shoulders; the feather-light touch inflamed him even through the fabric of his léine.

He too explored her body with his hands, scarcely able to believe she was his.

She gave a little shiver.

“Ye’re cold.”

“Nay, I just like the way that feels.”

He lifted her into his arms anyway and carried her to the bed, laying her gently on it. “Still, ye’ll be warmer here.” But he couldn’t help taking a step back to simply gaze on her again. She was a vision. Her hair a silk cushion under her delicate, lushly-curved body. He drank in the exquisite sight and, although her blush deepened, she didn’t look away from him. “My lovely bride, ye please me so.” She smiled and her green eyes sparkled.

He pulled off his léine, smiling when he heard her soft intake of breath. Climbing into bed beside her, he pulled the covers up over them both and gently stroked the length of her body, planting soft kisses on her face. As she relaxed into his touch, his lips moved to her neck, making her purr with pleasure. Then he continued his journey to her silky shoulder, before finally capturing a nipple lightly with his mouth and suckling gently.

As he continued to gently lave her pert nipple, she murmured, “Mmmm, I like that.”

“I thought ye might.” His hand trailed down her stomach until he reached the nest of curls hiding her womanhood. “Ye might like this too.” His fingers stroked her softly, and he smiled at the slightly surprised look on her face.

Within moments, she closed her eyes and writhed against him as he massaged the sensitive spot between her legs. Her breath came in short gasps. He could feel the tension building in her, so he stopped.

Her eyes flew open. “Why did you stop?”

“Because, my beautiful bride, anticipation makes everything better.” He kissed her and began caressing her again. He set a pace that had her arching towards him, wanting more, but not quite enough to allow her to find release. She looked as if were lost in some other world. It was the most erotically beautiful sight he’d ever seen.

Finally, when she had hovered on the edge so long he knew the slightest change in touch would send her over, he knelt between her legs and entered her. Her eyes flew open, but if she felt any discomfort, it didn’t show. She rose to meet him.

“Oh, Tomas…”

Her frenzied movements drove him to increase his pace.

“Let it go, Vida,” he whispered and she shattered in his arms, crying out his name again. As the waves of her climax shuddered through her body, Tomas too found his relief, filling her with his seed. Panting, he rested his forehead on hers and whispered, “Vida.” It was almost a supplication.

He shifted his weight to the side and held her to him, still joined.

She ran her hands lightly down his arms and across his chest. He captured one of her hands in his and kissed her fingertips. “Are ye all right?”

“Oh, aye. More than all right.” Her voice sounded breathless.

“I didn’t hurt ye overmuch?”

She looked confused. “Hurt me? Nay.” She frowned. “But it’s supposed to hurt a lass, isn’t it?”

Pleased, he chuckled. “Not if ye do it right.”

She gave him a wicked grin. “Well, I won’t ask where ye learned, but clearly ye do it right.”

He pulled out of her gently and she turned on her side, snuggling against him, her head resting on his shoulder. He buried his face in her hair, inhaling deeply. “I love the feel of ye in my arms.”

“I love being in yer arms. I hate to leave.”

He kissed the top of her head. “Why would ye leave?”

She sighed. “Because if I wait until morning, I’m likely to run into someone. We’re keeping this a secret for a few days, remember?”

He groaned. “Oh, Vida, I’m sorry. I don’t like the idea of ye sneaking back to yer chamber, as if we’ve done something wrong. But I wouldn’t see ye shamed for anything.”

“It will only be a few days and I’ll sleep in your arms every night for the rest of our lives.”

“Aye, my love. For the rest of our lives.”