Page 56 of An Enchanted Knight

How does one go about explaining the whole ‘honor’ thing to a knight, without sounding like a total slut? Torn between wanting to laugh hysterically, throw herself into his arms screaming ‘yes!’ or running from the room, Gwen frowned at him.

“Tristan, do you believe me? About Clara?”

“Aye, deep inside I always knew she died that day in the forest.”

That put to rest, she had to ask. “Did my sister say I had to marry you?”

“Aye,” he replied, his eyes questioning.

There it was. The only reason he asked was because he felt he had to. Damn Sabrina— why hadn’t she warned her of their conversation?

He came up behind her. “I know I don’t have much to offer you, but…”

This time a bark of laughter escaped, as she always tended to do when overwhelmed by events.

Nothing to offer? Just filthy rich, handsome beyond words, a laird, great in bed—well, amazing in bed—not to mention she was in love with him.

“Are you all right?” Tristan’s confused words sent her into peals of laughter, so loud Edith entered the room.

Gwen turned to face the woman and tried to speak, waving her hands, not making any sense. Finally, seeing the somber faces forced her to stop laughing. Sniffing she took a breath, wiping her eyes. “I’m sorry, I laugh when overwhelmed. Edith, can you please explain the nature of modern relationships to your… er, son?”

She giggled again. “He thinks he has to marry me for honor.”

Edith became stern. “Come sit down, both of you.” She sat on a large couch where they joined her, on either side.

“Tristan, you do not have to marry Gwen, even if you’ve been intimate. I assume you have, and that is why you’re asking, am I correct?”

She waited until Tristan, who frowned at Gwen, nodded. “People marry for love mostly, nowadays.”

“’Tis not reason to laugh,” he contended.

Edith gave Gwen a pointed look before turning back to Tristan. “That is true, but don’t take offense. It’s nerves, not mirth.”

“Now, Gwen,” Edith spoke to her, tapping her knee. “Are you of modern thought that you’ll only marry someone that suits?”

Sober now, Gwen replied, deciding to be honest. “I will only marry someone I am in love with and who loves me.”

“There now.” Edith got up, leaving while she and Tristan watched her. “Now, tell him no, since I take it he didn’t profess to love you.”

“What do you mean you said no,” Sabrina’s voice went up several octaves and forced Gwen to hold the phone away from her ear. “But you love him!”

“The only reason he asked was because you told him he had to. As a matter of fact, he didn’t ask. He stated that he would marry me. He is doing the honorable, knightly thing.” Gwen huffed impatiently. “Why didn’t you tell me of this conversation, Sabrina?”

Her sister’s giggle infuriated her. “All right, I admit I did say he had to marry you, but I also said to ask only if he loved you.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

“We are 51% owners of McRainey Industries. Our finances are managed by Barron’s Asset Management. We have holdings in Scotland Bioresearch and Aer Lingus. We bank at The Bank of Scotland, with additional accounts at Allied. The McRainey Estate is self-sufficient, sustained by earnings from horse-breeding and our crops. My net worth is just over seventy million.” Tristan recited, pacing the length of the large office. His aunt nodded, occasionally glancing down at notes.

“Tell me about yourself.”

“Tristan Ronan McRainey, I am two and…,” he corrected himself, “I am thirty-two years old. I lived abroad most of my life, traveling constantly with my father’s family, anthropologists, and therefore have little hands-on knowledge of modern technology. Never been married, no children…” He stopped speaking when someone knocked at the door.

Hannah entered and handed him an envelope, picked up the empty tea service, and left. They’d received a summons. Derrick was filing a motion to freeze McRainey Estate’s assets, maintaining that Edith intended to commit fraud in order to keep him from taking over the estate and its holdings.