Her betrothed looked a bit surprised at the flash of temper lighting her eyes. When he spoke, his voice was tender. “Lady Fitzdrummond’s offer to throw herself into my bed was refused. Do you really think I would toss away gold in exchange for clay?”
Tanon bristled. Eleanor offered to throw herself into his bed? Oh, if she wasn’t a la—“Gold?”
“Aye.” He nodded, watching the exact way confusion quirked her brow.
Tanon wasn’t fully certain, but for the space of a breath he looked as if he were fighting, not an armed opponent, but her effect on him.
Silly, she chastised herself, remembering all too clearly how many times she thought he meant to kiss her today, when in truth he’d been thinking of his sweet pastry. She wouldn’t be so naïve again.
Her value to you is noted.He had said those words to the king. William loved her, and the Welsh obviously knew it. That’s why Gareth needed her. She was the perfect peace offering, Wales’ security that the Normans wouldn’t attack and risk killing her while she lived among them.
“Gold is a precious asset to your people right now, is it not?”
Gareth stared at her, looking like he wanted to say something. Before he could, Tanon averted her gaze from his. “I’ve already resigned myself to this marriage. You’ve no need to—”
He closed the distance between them in one stride. His scent of leather and forest hovered over her. She looked up into his eyes gleaming with heat beneath his long lashes.
“…pretend that you…” Her words caught in her throat when he lifted his hand to her face. Her eyes opened wider. “What do you think you’re doing?” She could barely breathe as he angled his head, bringing his mouth closer to hers. This time there was no mistake. He was going to kiss her! Tanon knew she should move away, but his smile was so captivating, so familiar before his lips brushed across hers. He didn’t stop there, that she might be able to gain some control over her limbs and push him away—after calling him a scoundrel for kissing her right here in the corridor—but caressed her mouth with beguiling tenderness and lingering hunger that pulled a low moan from her.
He withdrew slowly and spread his gaze over her hooded eyes, her parted lips. “Tanon Risande,” he whispered across her lips, “I’ve missed you.”
Chapter Seven
Tanon sat ather father’s table watching Gareth share his drink with Hereward the Wake beside the great hearth. Supper had already been served and her newly betrothed still hadn’t come to her table. He knew where her family’s table was, for he had looked to it a dozen times already.
Her mouth still tingled from his kiss. Saints, she’d been kissed! She almost lifted her fingers to her lips, remembering how wonderful it felt. Tender, possessive—and terrifying. For it tore away at her defenses and left her weak and willing. But more than his kiss were his words. He missed her. She wanted to smile remembering. If there was one thing that could capture her heart, it was the boy she’d dreamed of come to life as a man.
“Tanon, love,” said her father to her left. “I’m happy to see you smiling. Tell me. What is it that makes my daughter so happy? Is it because the prince arrived just in time to save you from marrying deCourtenay?”
Oh, it was true! Once again, Gareth saved her from Roger. She was about to nod when Eleanor Fitzdrummond sauntered by her betrothed, but to Tanon’s relief, Gareth didn’t so much as blink in the wench’s direction. Had he truly refused Eleanor? The thought of it made him even more attractive, blast him. It would be tragic if she allowed herself to care for a man who only valued her for the safety she could provide for his people. But there was more to it than that. Wasn’t there? He missed her.
“Gareth and I were friends,” she told her father. “He protected me from Roger and became my most treasured human friend.” Her father smiled, warming Tanon’s heart. “I missed him when he left, more than I thought was possible. But tonight,” Tanon told him, “he told me that he missed me too. I have no objections to being his wife, I just wish I didn’t have to go to Wales with him.”
She wished she didn’t find him so compelling to look at. Every time she noticed something about him that she hadn’t noticed before, like the way his thumb stroked the side of his cup while he listened to Hereward, or the way the soft black wool of his shirt caressed the molded angles of his chest, she forced herself to look away. But before she could help herself, she was staring again. Just when she decided to turn her attention somewhere else for good, he caught her eye and winked at her.
“Who’s the man hovering around the prince?” she heard her uncle Dante ask her father. “His jousting skills were a bit unconventional at the tourney today, but most impressive.”
“He’s Prince Gareth’s first in command,” her father told him, sparing Madoc a brief glance. “His name is Madoc ap…” Brand rolled the word around in his mouth for a moment, then gave up. “Enfer, they have a strange language. I cannot pronounce the name. A simple word like “greetings” is transformed intocyfarchion. Try saying that while keeping your tongue in the right place.”
Rebecca, who always sat at the Risande’s table, lifted her serviette to her mouth and began to cough. Tanon jumped up and patted her back and held a cup to the nurse’s lips.
“Well, whatever his name is, he’s already given you three”—Dante narrowed his shimmering gaze on Madoc—“Non,four black glares, brother.”
“I think he took offense to something I said to his lord on the way to his room last eve.”
Tanon turned to her father. “What did you say to him?”
“Just a little advice from his betrothed’s father about keeping you safe.” Brand told her with a soft smile.
Dante laughed, knowing exactly what kind of advice Brand had offered Prince Gareth. He turned to his wife, flashing his dimple at her. “Brand makes enemies wherever he goes. Aren’t you happy you married the charming brother?”
“I think she would have preferred the handsome one. Oui, ma belle soeur?”Brand favored Gianelle with a smile so breathtaking that when she saw it, one of the serving women dropped a mushroom into Tanon’s cup.
Sighing, Gianelle popped a small slice of heron into her mouth. “I have learned to make do with what I have,mon frère plus beau.”
Dante laughed and swooped down on her, burying his face into her neck. She giggled at something he whispered to her and swatted him with her serviette.
Tanon watched them with a longing gaze, and then smiled at Robert, their oldest son at thirteen, and their daughters, Katherine and Cassandra. She was glad her mother was still above stairs with her maid Alysia tending to her twin sisters, Ellie and Anne, for she didn’t think she could bear watching the affection all around her without giving in to her own affection for the Welsh prince.