Marie interlaced her hands so he wouldn’t see them shake. “They sought to bind themselves to me to gain an alliance with my father. He is a powerful lord,” she finished on a whisper.
Colyne watched her, his gaze shrewd. “A strong allegiance is often part of arranged marriages. You are a beautiful woman, Alesia. Could they nae see that as well as your intelligence?”
“Men driven to gain power see not the beauty in a well-crafted sword, only the lethal bite of the blade.”
“If they bid for your affections with anything but sincerity, they were fools.”
Fools or not, if Colyne knew the truth, it would change how he viewed her. “I should have told you before of my betrothal. I meant to, but the days passed so quickly and there was so much on my mind.” She drew a calming breath. “Tonight, I was afraid if I told you, you would leave me untouched. I wanted this night with you to cherish. But my fears of a lonely life are little excuse for my actions.” She paused, gathered her courage. “I was selfish. It is just that . . .”
“What?”
That I love you.The unexpected revelation shocked her to the core. She must be wrong. She cared for him deeply, but love?
Mary’s will, with her future already pledged to another, she could never contemplate a life with Colyne. And as much as she wanted to, she didn’t dare inform Colyne of her royal tie.
She stared up at him, wanting him to see the truth in her eyes as she spoke. “You make me feel what no other man has. When you kiss me, touch me, you make me want what is forbidden.” Shame filled her at her words, but she forced herself to continue. If not her pledge, she could give him this. “You made me understand what it is like to be truly wanted—for me, not for the prestige I can bring a man.” Her breath hitched. “I was wrong. I am sorry.”
He stared at her for a long moment and his anger fell away to frustration. On a rough sigh, he stepped forward and cupped her chin. “I am sorry as well.”
She’d prepared herself for his condemnation but not his empathy.
A tense second passed.
Then another.
The pain she witnessed in his expression stole her breath. Marie lay her head upon his chest. “I beg of you, do not hate me.”
“I canna. Even after . . .” He stroked his thumb against her cheek. “God help me, I still want you.” Colyne drew back and studied her. “There may be a way.”
“A way?”
“Aye. I shall speak with your father on your behalf.”
Panic swept her as she thought of Colyne approaching her father. “Do you not think if I believed there was a way to stop my wedding I would?”
“If you were given the option to choose your betrothed,” he continued, “ ’twould seem that your father will understand it would be a mistake to allow you to marry a man you do nae love?”
“It is impossible,” she said, her words cool as she struggled for calm. Duty weighed heavy on her shoulders, concerns she could not dismiss.
Even for Colyne.
But a part of her wished for his intervention because his heart was involved. A wish. Though he cared for her deeply, it was far from love. Aching, she started to turn away.
He caught her hand. “I will meet with your father. Mayhap ending your betrothal will be as simple as paying the promised dowry.”
However much she wished it, nothing he could say would alter her destiny. She shook her head. “My vow has been given. My father will not change his mind.”
A smile touched his mouth. “Your father may dismiss a common knight, but there is something I have nae told you.”
She remained silent. Whatever he was about to share would change nothing.
He laced his fingers through hers. “I am a knight, aye, but as well, the Earl of Strathcliff.”
“A Scottish lord?” Marie wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry. Loving Colyne, had she met him before her betrothal, given his title and status, her father would have happily granted her permission to wed him.
“Alesia—”
Colyne’s use of her second name was a blunt reminder of his ignorance of her royal tie.
