Claire Delacroix (47 page)

In the morning, Brianna led Luc to the side of her dame’s sarcophagus with hasty steps. She checked that none was about, then dropped quickly to one knee. Luc followed suit, his brow furrowed in a frown, though he said naught.

Brianna scrabbled with her fingers to remove the one loose stone—the one that did not appear loose—and as soon as Luc saw what she did, he finished the deed. His gloved hands were so much stronger than her own that the stone was quickly removed.

And the metal box was securely in Brianna’s grip once more. She bit her lip with her relief, then handed it to her spouse. “Will you carry it for me?”

“If you prefer.” Brianna nodded at his inquiring glance, not trusting herself to ensure the safety of the treasure. Luc smiled, accepted the box, and slipped it into the pouch secured beneath his tabard.

’Twas there he had secreted all their coin for the voyage and Brianna liked very much that Luc considered her mother’s letters as much of a valuable. He shifted his tabard and cloak, then arched a dark brow at Brianna.

“It cannot be discerned,” she confirmed and Luc captured her hand securely within his own.

A sound carried from the stables and Brianna caught her breath, feigning that she prayed while with shaking fingers she tried to replace the stone.

Luc covered her hand with his own and smoothly managed the deed, his low voice murmuring the paternoster beside her ear. Their gazes met and held for a charged moment, then Brianna folded her hands around Luc’s own.

When they finished, Luc helped her to her feet, then led her toward the stables. Denis was there, his squires busily tending a pair of palfreys while the ostler murmured to none other than the destrier Raphael.

Brianna looked to her spouse in surprise, but Luc strode to the steed’s side and took a brush in hand. “He looks anxious to run, Denis.”

“As always, my lord. He seems to sense when you mean to ride him.”

Brianna blinked. “You have ridden him since the day you went to Endlist?”

Luc grinned. “Aye, a man must occupy himself while his wife tallies the accounts.”

“You! I labored while you played!”

Luc chuckled and winked at Denis. “The lady clearly has not brushed down a steed so large nor cleaned his hooves of mire.”

The ostler nodded approvingly. “A solid few hours of labor, my lady, of that you may be certain.” He beamed at the destrier. “But such attention has made all the difference to this one.”

Raphael, apparently knowing he was being discussed, snorted and stamped his foot. He fixed Luc with an expectant glance and tossed his head. When Denis reached for his bridle, though, the stallion danced away from the ostler with a disdainful flick of his tail.

Luc chuckled and grasped those reins, urging the steed to his side. “Always one to challenge expectation, are you not?” he murmured to the beast. Luc rubbed Raphael’s ears and the horse nuzzled his neck with obvious affection. “But when it matters, such a noble creature can be relied upon. I have missed his ilk, Denis.”

Raphael tossed his head as though he would agree with the sentiment. Dozens of tiny silver bells fastened to his harness rang at his move. ’Twas clear the beast was delighted with his appearance, for there was a gleam in his eye.

Brianna watched Luc check the steed’s harness, gentleness in his every move, and listened as he murmured to the beast. And as she stood in the sun-flecked interior of the stables, a simple truth echoed in her heart.

She loved this man. She loved his gentleness and his strength, she loved his concern and his protectiveness. Indeed,
she knew she could rely upon his integrity, just as she knew he would occasionally challenge her expectation.

Luc Fitzgavin had sworn a pledge, after all, to win Brianna’s heart, and she smiled with the certainty that once again, he had kept his word.

Luc’s eyes were deeply blue as he turned to Brianna and lifted his gloved hand to her. Not for the first time, she had the sense that he could read the secrets of her very heart.

But this time, Brianna did not care. She held his gaze and smiled.

“My lady, shall we ride together?”

Brianna accepted Luc’s aid, liking how his hands fitted securely around her waist. “Perhaps,” he murmured against her temple, “you might be so kind as to remind me to fetch my spurs while we are at Llanvelyn.”

Brianna pulled back to meet his eyes. “You yet have them?”

“Of course!” He glanced significantly to the destrier. “And I shall have need of them to ride this feisty steed.”

Brianna tapped his shoulder with resolve. “If your spurs are there, then we shall retrieve your mail, as well. I do not like you travelling without such protection.”

But Luc chuckled easily at her concern. “I think, Denis, the lady means to keep me.”

The ostler chortled in turn. Luc kissed Brianna’s brow, as though unable to resist the opportunity, then lifted her to the fore of his saddle. “Luc, I am most serious.”

“I know.” But a moment later, Luc’s warmth was fast behind her, his arm around her waist, his muscled thigh against her own, his breath in her hair. “Fear not,” he whispered against her hood, “you will have the leisure of ensuring all you desire from Llanvelyn comes to Tullymullagh for our return.”

And Brianna had to be satisfied with that.

The destrier was exultant and clearly impatient to be on his way. Luc and Denis made short work of looping the reins of the two palfreys to Raphael’s saddle, then the trio of steeds pranced into the chill of the bailey. Brianna was delighted to find so many roused so early, all evidently intent on waving farewell.

“I shall ensure all runs smoothly,” Uther declared.

“I have no doubt,” Luc countered, a thread of humor in his tone. His arm tightened around Brianna and he gave Raphael his heels. The first few flakes of snow tumbled from the pearly morning sky as Brianna left Tullymullagh for the first time in all her days.

But she was with Luc, and the love burning in her heart meant that her home was wherever that man might be. Brianna had found her one true love, where she had least expected he might be, precisely as she had always dreamed.

And now, all Brianna had to do was win Luc’s heart for her own.

Though truly, the man treated her with such consideration that she dared to hope the deed was already well begun.

Two days later Brianna awoke when the first pink of the dawn stained the horizon. The light fanned through the shutters, painting the humble tavern chamber in rosy hues.

Brianna smiled as she nestled deeper against her husband’s warmth. Luc breathed deeply and evenly, the rhythm of his heart steady beneath Brianna’s ear. These days of each other’s company had been a delight, the intimacy between the two growing by leaps and bounds without the distraction of obligations.

Brianna smiled, as she admitted once more that her husband had decided aright.

Knowing that they must be on their way to the ship soon, she eyed the confusion of their belongings and decided to
surprise him. Brianna rolled from the heat of the bed with reluctance. She packed her few things quickly, then scanned the comparative order of Luc’s possessions.

A church bell rang in the distance, surely for Matins.

But Luc only nuzzled the spot Brianna had vacated, sighed, and slumbered on. She resolved immediately to let him sleep yet longer, for the man had labored heroically the night before. Brianna bit back her grin and folded his chemise, laying aside the chausses Luc would surely wear on the ship that day.

Beneath the chausses was the satchel Luc wore beneath his tabard. Brianna could not resist the urge to check upon her dame’s precious box. ’Twas there, as she had known it would be, but beside it lurked the sack Gavin had granted Luc at his investiture.

Curious, for she had never handled the seal of Tullymullagh, Brianna pulled out the sack. She slanted a glance to the sleeping Luc, then resolved it could harm little to look. She loosened the lace, dumped out the contents, and was stunned to find not one seal falling into her hand, but two.

One bore the familiar crest of Tullymullagh.

The other made Brianna’s heart stop cold. She could not be certain, so she kneaded the red sealing wax also in the sack and pressed the seal deep into its softness. When Brianna regarded the imprint, she felt the blood drain from her face.

’Twas the seal of Llanvelyn Manor she held in her hand.

’Twas the very seal Luc swore he had come to Tullymullagh to make his own that he carried in his satchel, the seal that Gavin had denied him.

The seal Gavin had promised to grant Luc if he but went on Brianna’s quest.

Win or lose.

Luc had refused that offer, Brianna had not wed Burke, yet now Luc had the seal.

Brianna’s mouth went dry. Was her wedding the result of some wager between father and son? She could not believe it!

But she had to know the truth. Brianna launched herself across the room and shook Luc bodily awake. Surely the man would reassure her?

“When were you granted the seal of Llanvelyn?” she asked breathlessly when first Luc’s eye opened.

“What?” Luc frowned, ran a hand through his hair, and regarded her as though she spoke in tongues. Brianna wagged the seal beneath his very nose until his eyes widened in recognition.

“You said your sire would not give it to you—you said he had broken his word,” Brianna choked out the words, her tears rising in fear. “Gavin said he would grant it to you when Burke took my hand or when you went upon the quest. Luc! Is that why you took me to wife?”

Luc gave himself a visible shake. “Brianna, ’twas not like that. You have concluded wrongly.” He reached for her shoulders, but Brianna danced away.

“Then why did he grant it to you?”

“I do not know! Why does the man do
anything
?” Luc frowned impatiently and sat up on the side of the bed. “Brianna! You make much of little. If you but grant me a chance to explain—”

“You have but one thing to explain,” Brianna declared, her back against the most distant wall of the chamber. ’Twas clear she had her spouse’s full attention for his eyes were deadly blue. “Did your sire grant you the seal of Llanvelyn in exchange for wedding me?”

Luc looked away. His lips drew thin, he swore softly, then
he turned his gaze upon Brianna. “I cannot guess his thinking.”

A lump rose in Brianna’s throat, for this was far from the reassurance she desired. “When did he grant it to you?”

Luc swore softly. “You must not make overmuch of this,” he urged with a shake of his finger. “But when he granted me the seal of Tullymullagh, the seal of Llanvelyn was also enclosed.”

“On the very day of our nuptials?”

“Aye.”

Brianna frowned. “But you said naught to me. Why be secretive if you truly have naught to hide?”

Luc grimaced and shook his head. “I did not think it of import.”

“Not of import!” Brianna was outraged by these words. “But, Luc, you said ’twas all you wanted!”

“I was wrong.” Luc shrugged. “I felt naught when Gavin entrusted it to me.” His sapphire gaze blazed into her own and his voice dropped low. “It did not matter. Brianna, I swear it to you, I did not wed you for Llanvelyn.”

Brianna came within a hair’s breadth of believing him. In truth, Luc had never lied to her and there was a sincerity shining in his gaze.

But there was one confession she needed to hear and it could wait no longer. But three words would make all come aright.

Brianna caught her breath and leaned closer, never breaking Luc’s gaze, her grip tight on the seal. “Why
did
you wed me?” she asked unevenly. “You told me yourself that marriage was not for you. What compelled you to change your thinking?”

And for the first time since Brianna had known him, Luc Fitzgavin seemed at a loss for words. He stared at her, though not a word fell from his lips.

He was completely flummoxed by her question.

But Brianna knew full well what that meant. She felt her very heart rend in two. Luc could not pledge his love for her because he felt none.

And Luc told her no lies.

“Knave!” Brianna cried and flung Llanvelyn’s seal in his very face. “I
loved
you! I granted you my all! I even believed that there was some tenderness lurking within your heart for me!”

Luc cast the seal he had instinctively caught aside. He came after her, nude, his eyes bright with determination. “Brianna, you must let me explain.…”

But she already knew he could not tell her what she wanted to hear. Brianna snatched up her small satchel, hating the weak tears that blurred her vision, and felt the anger drain from her voice.

“You and my father were right,” she confessed softly. “ ’Twas folly indeed to believe in the merit of love.”

And Brianna pivoted toward the door.

“Brianna!” Luc roared, but Brianna was not going to stop. She darted from the chamber, slamming the door forcefully behind herself despite the hour. Hot tears plummeted down her cheeks, blurring her vision, but she clung to the wall and raced down the steps as quickly as she was able.

She had been such a fool!

Love was not to be hers, ’twas clear. She would return to Tullymullagh, for she had nowhere else to go, and there she would weep until she could weep no more.