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She hugged him even more tightly, longing for the pleasure that swelled within her to sweep them both away. His touch teased her senses; drawing the joy he had begun with his gentle kisses to the blissful peak of rapture. This was the reason they had been born, to become as one, and she spoke his name in a deliriously happy sigh, remembering this time to call him Michael.
Mylan could not bear to release his bride when the love they had shared had again been perfection. It had been the same tantalizing ecstasy for them both from the beginning. He had promised to teach a young woman he had thought little more than a beautiful child the wonders of passion, but she had known far more than he of the gentle art of love. That was her secret; he realized with a sly grin, her tender touch seared his flesh with the heat of flames. He could think of no way to inspire the same devotion in her heart, if the depth of his emotions were not returned in kind.
“That is a marvelous smile, are you at last content?” Celiese purred softly as she lifted her fingertips to his lips, gently outlining their shape.
“It is you who must be content to give Robert the answers he seeks. I wanted only to put you in so blissful a mood, if such a thing is even possible, that you will please him.” He meant to tease her, but had to grab her wrists to avoid being slapped for that jest.
“I want your affection to be for me, not for his benefit!” she cried out indignantly, crushed that he had be so underhanded in his purpose.
“Why do my words always confuse you so when my kiss never does?” he inquired thoughtfully. He lowered his mouth to hers, stilling her complaints with a slow, sweet kiss that left her again languidly relaxed in his arms.
Her luminous green gaze swept his tender expression, hoping for some sign of agreement as she asked, “Must I see that horrible man again? Couldn’t we simply leave Rouen now?”
“Yes,” he responded agreeably, but he explained the conditions. “If you’ve changed your mind about wishing to remain here in France, then we can walk out of his house now and be gone before he has sense enough to realize what we’ve done. We would have to make haste for Denmark and never return to these shores. Are you now prepared to abandon the cause that brought you home in the first place?”
He held his breath
, praying she wanted only to return to his farm and be his wife, as if no other consideration would ever occupy her heart or thoughts. She still wore Thor’s small silver hammer and he brought it to his lips, kissing the charm for good luck, despite his recent conversion to her faith. He would gladly seek help from whatever sympathetic source he found available, if he could win her for his own.
She gave his words careful thought, and then shook her head. “That would be a cowardly thing to do, and neither of us lacks the courage to follow through on our convictions.” She saw his gaze darken as he moved away and knew her answer had displeased him, but it had been the truth and she could not avoid speaking it.
Their loving mood shattered by the response she had given to her own question, Mylan spoke gruffly as he gathered up the clothing he had scattered about the floor in his haste to join her in the high bed. “When you are dressed we will seek out Robert, and I hope your common sense rather than your courage will prevail.”
Recalling the way the duke had looked at her that day with a lust he had made little effort to conceal, Celiese grew even more apprehensive about their meeting. “Michael?” She sat up, clutching the lightweight blanket to her breast as she called to him. “You will stay with me, won’t you? I won’t have to face him alone?”
Not understanding the reason for her concern, he returned to sit upon the edge of their bed. “It matters little whether I’m there or not when you must speak for yourself. He will not accept my answers as yours.”
“But you can’t leave me alone with him!” she implored him frantically, making no effort to be brave now.
Suddenly understanding her worry, he had little patience with her fears. “Don’t be ridiculous. He knows you are my wife and he would not take advantage of your situation to satisfy his own desires.” He thought her idea ludicrous until he realized Robert had undoubtedly raped dozens of women in the years he and his men had spent pillaging the French countryside.
They would have gloried in the thrill of violence, striking terror into the hearts of all those not fortunate enough to escape their thirst for blood in their relentless pursuit of the treasures gained honestly by others. He knew exactly what sort of man Robert was, and he had no reason to believe he had moderated his behavior to satisfy King Charles’s edict that he adopt the French culture as his own. All Robert had done was accept the thin veneer of the French civilization; surely his heart was no less filled with greed and lust than it had ever been.
Mylan would not trust Raktor to speak alone with Celiese and not abuse her, why had he forgotten in his efforts to win her freedom just how vicious Robert could be? “I will remain at your side only if you promise to give the replies Robert wants to hear. Is that a bargain?” He felt a slight twinge of guilt in asking for her word upon something he had already decided in his mind, but he was at his wit’s end as to how to make her present a moderate viewpoint to the duke.
“That’s cruel!” she objected sharply. She was tempted to refuse his offer, but it was in her best interests to accept, no matter what terms Mylan might present. When he got up to leave she reached out to touch his arm. “Yes, it is a bargain. I promise to be so agreeable the beast will think me the most pleasant woman he has ever met.”
Seeing the fire of anger blazing brightly in her eyes, Mylan leaned down to kiss her cheek lightly, his gesture a sweet one simply for spite. “Wear your hair in a modest style, and see if Marcela can find a suitable veil. If your appearance is more circumspect he will expect your answers to be also.”
“Whatever you wish,” she replied through clenched teeth, yet she did not trust Mylan not to hand her over to the overbearing duke should the man have the audacity to demand he do so. Her heart fell at that prospect, for it would be a betrayal of an unimaginably evil sort, and more than her heart could bear to consider.
Mylan was soon attired in the magnificent blue apparel he had worn for their wedding, and Celiese had again bathed and dressed in the new brocade gown. Mylan thought better of repeating any of the instructions he had given her earlier. If she did not understand what it was she must do by now, then he had no hope she would leave the duke’s palace alive.
He had his dagger at his belt, but could see no way to wear his sword in the man’s home, although he would have preferred to have the deadly weapon at his side as well. “Are you ready?” His glance swept over her quickly; she had coiled her hair atop her head and covered it with a light veil as he had asked, but it made the elegant line of her slender throat doubly appealing. He extended his hand and she took it, her fingertips trembling slightly as they met his, and while he smiled, his expression seemed to do little to give her courage.
*
Robert was waiting for Celiese in a small chamber off the main hall. He had wine ready to serve and looked forward to winning several concessions from the striking beauty before he released her from his protection. Mylan would be traveling most of the time, so Celiese might prove to be an amusing mistress if he warned her sufficiently of what she would suffer if she did not please him. The thought filled him with a heady anticipation, and when the elegantly clad young woman arrived upon her husband’s arm he dismissed the young man immediately.
“Michael, I have many things locked away in storerooms, items I neither want nor need. Have Jaret unlock one of the rooms for you now, and set aside those items you think would bring the best return in trade. I am anxious to see how skilled a trader you actually are.”
Celiese recalled Andrick saying that he and Hagen were far more interested in profitable trade than their older brother, who sailed for adventure alone. However, if Mylan had convinced the duke that trade was his interest she would not dispute his word. She hoped he would now find some tactful way to refuse the duke’s offer; he had not been able to avoid becoming his sparring partner earlier in the day, and she feared he might again have to give in.
“That is not an assignment I care to begin tonight, sir,” Mylan replied forcefully, his tone polite but firm. “I must see Celiese safely to her home where I will have to make extensive repairs to her house before I can devote myself to the ventures we have discussed.”
Robert frowned impatiently. “Need I remind you I have not given permission for her to leave Rouen? It is pointless for you to worry over where she will live as long as I insist she reside here.”
Mylan straightened to his full height, his posture proud as well as assertive, “Celiese is my wife, sir. Our reason for marrying today in your chapel was so there would be no argument as to my responsibility for her happiness. I plan to be the most protective, as well as loving, of husbands.” He waited a moment to be certain the threat in his words had been understood, and he could readily see from Robert’s furious glance that it had been. “Now what is it you wish to ask her, so we might have your permission to leave Rouen as freely as we entered it?”
