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Now, when Je
"You bastard!" Je
Royce was about to say more when he caught sight of a long stone building nestled against a hillside ahead. Turning to Stefan, he raised his voice to be heard above the slackening rain. "That looks like the place." As he spoke, he dug his spurs into the stallion, sending the animal into a ground-devouring gallop. Beside and behind him the band of fifty men followed suit, and a moment later they were all galloping down the rutted road with Aunt Elinor's protests about the jouncing she was receiving rising above the hoof beats.
He drew up before what was unmistakably a priory and dismounted, leaving Je
"What about Lady Elinor? What if she can't withstand the ride?"
"If she can't, you'll have to find a cottage and leave her there."
"Royce," Stefan said with a worried frown, "don't be more foolish than you have been. Merrick's people could be right behind you."
"He'll lose most of today trying to convince Hastings and Dugal he's i
With a reluctant nod, Stefan reeled his horse around and rode off. "Plot?" Je
"What a cu
"I do not know what you are talking about!" Je
"I am talking about the abbess from Lunduggan who arrived at the castle during our feast last night escorted by a small 'army' of her own, and you damned well know it," he snapped, lifting his fist and pounding imperatively on the heavy oaken door. "They were slowed by the rain, which was why your pious Friar Benedict was forced to pretend to an illness that would delay the ceremony."
Her chest heaving with indignation, Je
His insolent gaze roved down her bare, wet bosom, making Je
Lifting his arm, he pounded with impatient vigor on the oaken panel, which swung open, revealing the polite face of a startled friar. Ignoring the friar for the moment, Royce glared contemptuously at his future bride. "We're here because two kings decided we were to wed with all haste, my sweet, and that's what we're going to do. You aren't worth starting a war over. We're also here because the prospect of being beheaded offends my sensibilities. But most of all, we're here because I find it irresistibly appealing to thwart your father's plans for me."
"You are mad!" she snapped, her chest heaving. "And you are a devil!"
"And you, my dear," Royce imperturbably replied, "are a bitch." With that, he turned to the horrified friar and unhesitatingly a
A look of comical disbelief spread over the pious man who was garbed in the white robes and black mantle of a Dominican friar. He stepped back more from shock than courtesy, allowing them to enter the hushed priory. "I-I must have misheard you, my lord," he replied.
"No, you did not," Royce said, stalking inside, and hauling Je
Recovering from his earlier shock, the friar, who appeared to be about twenty-five, turned to Je
"A treacherous, scheming bastard," Royce snapped, his fingers digging painfully into Je
"I-I see," Friar Gregory said with admirable composure. Lifting his brows he gazed expectantly at Royce. "Now that we've discovered the identity of the lady, and the supposedly tainted circumstances surrounding the birth of her sire, would it be too presumptuous of me to inquire as to your identity, my lord? If so, I believe I can hazard a guess-"
For a split second, a glimmer of amused respect replaced Royce's anger as he gazed at the undaunted young friar, whom he towered over, but who as yet showed no fear of him. "I am-" he began, but Je
Friar Gregory's eyes widened at her outburst, but he remained outwardly calm. Nodding, he provided, "The duke of Claymore."
"Since we've all been properly introduced," Royce told the friar curtly, "say the words and have done with it."
With great dignity, Friar Gregory replied, "Normally there would be formalities to be met. However, from what I've heard at this priory and elsewhere, the Church and King James have already sanctioned it. Therefore there is no obstacle here." Je
"Yes!" Je
With only a momentary hesitation to gather his courage, the young friar turned slowly to the powerful, implacable man beside her and said, "My Lord Westmoreland-your grace-I ca
With a start of dismay, the friar realized what he should have considered from the very first, and he turned back to Je