Page 56 of A Touch So Wicked

Damian returned to the hall in time to watch the interplay between Dickon and Maggie. From the look of things, his friend was making little progress with the stubborn lass. Ah well, he had his own problems to deal with. His intended bride had arrived and his marriage was at hand.

Damian spied Elissa filling a pitcher with ale and followed her with his eyes. There was much to admire about Elissa besides her beauty, but stubbornness wasn’t among her finer qualities. His expression turned grim when he recalled how she’d come to his bed, then lied about her motive.

Damian caught Elissa’s attention and beckoned to her.

“More ale, my lord?” she asked coolly.

“Nay. Has Lady Kimbra settled in?”

Elissa gave a derisive laugh. “Hardly. Surely you realize Lady Kimbra despises Misterly. She says it isn’t up to her standards. The Highlands isna London, and well she knows it.”

“She’ll learn to like it,” Damian said with more conviction than he felt.

“Your lady asked me to convey a message,” Elissa informed him. “She will await upon you in her chamber tonight.”

Damian nodded. For some reason he didn’t relish the meeting. He was grateful for the king’s beneficence in this arranged marriage, but he feared the cost to his peace of mind would exceed the benefits to his livelihood. What little he saw of Lady Kimbra did not impress him, but he was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. Not one to make snap decisions, Damian decided to withhold judgment until he knew his intended bride better. It was unfair to compare Kimbra to Elissa on such short acquaintance.

After the evening meal, Damian conferred with Sir Brody concerning billeting arrangements and provisions for the extra guests. Sir Brody assured him that their guests would not stretch Misterly’s budget.

“May I make a suggestion, my lord?” Sir Brody said.

“By all means,” Damian replied, his curiosity piqued.

“Lady Marianne has made a remarkable recovery. I think it would benefit both her and her kinsmen if she took her evening meals in the hall. The Frasers need to see how well their lady is prospering under your care.”

Damian searched Sir Brody’s face. “There’s more to it than that, isn’t there?”

Sir Brody nodded. “Lady Marianne feels she has been isolated too long and misses contact with her kinsmen. She asked me to convey her request to you.”

Damian pondered Lady Marianne’s request. He had no objection and told Sir Brody as much. The width of Sir Brody’s smile told Damian that the lady and his steward had gotten even closer than he had suspected.

Aware of the passing of time, Damian rose and ascended the stairs to Lady Kimbra’s chamber. Kimbra’s timid little maid answered his knock, her smile wavering when Damian strode past her before she had time to announce his presence.

“You may leave, Daisy,” Kimbra said, waving the girl away. Daisy scooted off with remarkable haste.

Damian’s steps faltered when he saw Kimbra draped across the bed in daring dishabille, her generous bosom all but exposed by her low cut dressing gown and one shapely leg bared nearly to her thigh. Dimly Damian wondered why the sight of her lush curves failed to stir him.

“Thank you for coming,” Kimbra purred. “I thought perhaps your fiery little mistress would fail to give you my message.”

“If you’re referring to Elissa, who by the way is not my mistress, she did deliver your message. What is it you wish to discuss?”

Kimbra patted the bed beside her, her eyes bright with invitation. “Come sit beside me, my lord. As you said, we should begin immediately to get to know one another.”

Damian perched gingerly on the edge of the bed. This woman was to be his wife, his life’s mate. Why did he feel so uncomfortable around her?

“Now then,” Kimbra began, “shall we discuss our living arrangements? How long must we remain in this savage land,” she asked with a delicate shudder that sent the sleeve of her dressing gown tumbling downward, “before we can take up permanent residence in London?”

Damian’s gaze dropped to her breasts, wondering how many men had been privileged to gaze upon them as he did now. Was he getting an innocent? He wouldn’t be surprised if she cuckolded him before the ink was dry on their marriage papers. He shook his head to dispel his doubts and vowed to be more tolerant of her flirtation. Born and raised in London, she was probably conducting herself according to the behavior she’d learned at court.

“You haven’t answered my question, my lord,” Kimbra said archly.

“I have no intention of taking up permanent residence in London,” Damian replied. “Misterly is now my home.”

Kimbra pouted, then reached for him, running her hands down his chest in a suggestive manner. “I have been known to change men’s minds.”

Damian pulled away. What was wrong with him? Kimbra was a beautiful, sensual woman, he should be quivering with desire instead of shrinking away from her. “You’ll find I’m not easily swayed.”

“I refuse to be stuck away in this godforsaken place after our marriage,” Kimbra proclaimed petulantly. “These people are strange to me. They hate me. My bath water was tepid, the food was disgusting, and your mistress was disrespectful.”