Page 84 of A Touch So Wicked

Elissa took a deep breath. “I forgive you.”

Elissa couldn’t bring herself to ask if Maggie had given herself to Sir Richard, for she hadn’t the right. “I canna tell you whom to love, Maggie. I just want you to be happy.”

Maggie squeezed her hand. “Ye deserve all the best, Elissa. I hope Lord Damian makes ye happy. Do ye love him?”

A long pause. “I think so. But I donna know if I could live with the guilt. He’s not the husband my father wanted for me.”

“Yer father is dead,” Maggie said softly. “Tavis Gordon broke the faith when he torched the village. Lord Damian helped us, even your father would agree were he alive. His lordship has provided food and lodging to those in need. He loves Misterly, and for that he has gained our respect. He sent Lady Kimbra away, which pleased everyone. Ye need not fear that our kinsmen willna accept yer marriage to Lord Damian.”

Elissa searched Maggie’s face. “Are you sure?”

“Aye. I wouldna lie to ye.”

“Damian doesna love me,” Elissa said on a sigh.

“Are ye sure?”

“I…asked him.”

Maggie sent her a pitying look. “I’m sorry, Elissa. I thought, nay, I truly believed his lordship cared for ye. He’s marrying ye, is he not?”

“Our marriage is convenient to him. He believes our union will strengthen Misterly.”

“Lord Damian may surprise ye,” Maggie ventured. “I must leave. Sir Richard is waiting below to escort me to the village.”

There was nothing more Elissa could say. Maggie trusted Sir Richard, and Elissa prayed she didn’t love in vain, for Elissa knew well the feeling. Marrying an Englishman wasn’t what Elissa had dreamed of, but she was willing to make the sacrifice if it brought peace to Misterly.

The keep was a beehive of activity during the days preceding Elissa’s wedding day. Even the tapestries had been taken down and cleaned. Food was being prepared in enormous amounts, from main dishes to pastries. Elissa had no idea Winifred was so talented in culinary arts.

Elissa saw little of Damian before the wedding. For reasons of his own, Damian had not come to her in the night or tried to seduce her, and Elissa wasn’t sure whether she was relieved or disappointed.

Damian’s invitation to Tavis had thus far gone unanswered and Elissa feared the outcome should Tavis decide to attend. It wasn’t difficult to imagine the havoc he could wreak. Not for the first time, she wished Damian hadn’t been so bold, for no good could come of it.

The day before the wedding, Elissa was summoned to her mother’s chambers. She stopped just inside the door, surprised to find the room crowded with chattering women.

“Come in, my dear,” Marianne invited.

“What’s this all about, Mama?”

“I wanted you to have proper wedding attire so I invited a few of our kinswomen to help fit my own wedding gown to your more voluptuous figure.”

Elissa spied the lovely pale blue gown spread out on Marianne’s bed and gasped in delight. “Are you sure? ’Tis beautiful,” she said, fingering the fine silk.

“Verra sure. Put it on so we can see how it fits.”

For the next two hours Elissa stood in the center of the chamber while the best seamstresses of the group altered the gown to her form. There was sufficient material in the seams and hem to make the bust slightly larger and drop the hemline, but the rest needed little or no adjustment.

The sleeves were long and fitted, the waist tightly cinched, and the neckline was modest while showing an enticing hint of cleavage. Shimmering blue silk flowed over her trim hips to the tips of her satin shoes. The final touch was a short veil, held in place by a jeweled cap.

“You look lovely,” Marianne sighed. “The color is perfect with your red hair and fair complexion.”

The effusive compliments that followed Marianne’s words made Elissa actually feel like the cherished bride of a man who loved her.

The rest of the day passed with uncommon haste. Elissa did not see Damian until the evening meal. She took her place beside him at the table and toyed with the food on her plate. Suddenly she felt Damian looking at her and she returned his gaze.

“Your appetite seems lacking tonight, my lady,” he said wryly, his half-smile lavish with charm. “Are you worried about the ceremony tomorrow?”

She flushed but did not look way. “We’ve hardly spoken these past days, I’d hoped you’d changed your mind.”