Page 29 of The Handfasting
But theyhadconsummated the marriage. She’d let him… Nae, he corrected, he’d imposed himself upon her. It had been an accident, but ithadbeen his fault. Maybe she hadn’t wanted for it to happen.
Still, she’d never told him the truth—that she was not his real betrothed—even though there had been ample opportunity for her confession.
She’d laughed with him.
She’d slept with him.
She’d made him fall in love with her.
Was it all a lie? Did she have no feelings for him?
He frowned, swallowing down the lump lodged in his throat.
It didn’t matter, he told himself. They were not intended to be husband and wife anyway. He would find some way to annul the marriage. No one had seen them in the bedchamber. He could claim he’d never consummated the handfasting. That way she could continue her life, unburdened by their sin.
But his heart felt like it was breaking in two. He couldn’t get her laughing gray eyes out of his mind. Nor could he think about the other sister, the one he was supposed to marry, without a shudder of distaste.
He would do his duty, for king and country, no matter how painful it was. But he would never be happy about it.
Chapter 7
Ysenda watched with the rest of the clan as the Yuletide bonfire was lit in the courtyard. Sir No?l stood beside her. The flames illuminated his face. But his expression was still inscrutable, as it had been since he’d returned from the keep. She didn’t know what was wrong. Somehow he seemed…distant.
It was probably just as well. After failing to convince Cathalin to do the right thing and marry No?l, Ysenda figured her only hope was to make No?l fall in love with Cathalin. Once he saw her sister in her best light, surely he couldn’t help but be charmed by her. All men loved Cathalin. And of course, Cathalin would fall madly in love with him, for what woman would not? Maybe then Ysenda could repair the damage that had been done.
Of course, the whole idea made her sick at heart. She couldn’t bear the thought of losing No?l, especially to her spoiled sister. But for the sake of her brother, whom she’d vowed to protect, and for her clan, to whom she owed allegiance, she’d make the sacrifice.
“Ysenda!” she called softly to her sister, nudging her when she didn’t respond to the unfamiliar name.
Cathalin scowled.
Undaunted, Ysenda touched No?l’s forearm and smiled back at her sister. “I was goin’ to tell Sir No?l about the time we tried to save the pups in the pond.”
Cathalin stared silently back. Finally she shrugged and said, “Go on then.”
Ysenda gave her sister a pointed look. “But ye tell it so much better.”
Cathalin sighed. “What’s to tell? We saw the pups in the pond, and we jumped in to pull them out.”
Ysenda’s face fell. “Aye.” She turned to No?l to explain. “But ’twas silly, because the mother hound was only tryin’ to teach them to swim.” She grinned. “We didn’t know they could swim, so we dove in to save them. And when Ca-, my sister found out, she was furious, because she got her new gown soakin’ wet.”
Cathalin managed a small smile then. “After ’twas ruined, I gaveyethat gown.”
“So ye did,” Ysenda said with a chuckle.
She glanced at No?l. His expression was one of polite interest, no more.
Ysenda tried again. “Your hair looks lovely tonight, dear sister.”
That worked. Cathalin touched her locks. “Do ye like it? It took Tilda half the morn to braid.”
“’Tis beautiful. Don’t ye agree, Sir No?l?”
He nodded.
Cathalin, clearly annoyed by his lack of praise, pursed her lips.
Ysenda wrung her hands. What more could she do? What would impress No?l?
