Page 40 of Knight of Chaos
Chapter Twenty-Six
Ingrid sat inTheobald’s bedchamber near the hearth, awaiting his arrival to consummate their marriage and the vows they had taken this day. ’Twas not as though they had not previously made love but now Ingrid’s soul cried out for what had been. Long gone were the days when they occupied a tent together getting to know one another when they were not lifting their swords in battle for the Empress’s cause. Nay! She had been forced to wed so the brute could claim a title and strip away her lands that by right belonged to her! How would she ever forgive him or know that he truly loved her for who she was and not the wealth that would now line his coffers?
Bitterness consumed her leaving a sour taste in her mouth. Reaching over for a goblet of wine, she took a sip hoping some kind of magic might overturn the iciness of her cold heart. But ’twas no use, she thought putting the cup back down. How quickly life had changed. One moment she was happily in love and now… Ingrid shrugged, covering her face with her hands. Now, she had no idea how to move forward with the knight who was now her husband.
A heavy sigh left her. She was probably being ridiculous and should search her heart for her earlier feelings of Theobald and what they had shared together. They had been happy… at least for a few brief, stolen moments. She had fallen in love with him and deep down she knew he cared for her too… Did she not? But for some stupid reason all that had changed the moment he had told her of her birthright. Confusion wracked her head to the point that she did not even trust her own feelings. ’Twas not the best way to start a marriage together.
The door opened and there Theobald stood filling the entryway with his magnificent body. The rush of excitement seeing him was just as familiar to her as when he first found her hiding in the forest. She had never believed in love at first sight until she met this warrior who stood at the doorway.
Her attempts to remain uninterested to him would fail. She knew it with the next breath she took and, by the look upon his face, so did Theobald. As much as she might try to hide her feelings for him, the love she bore him would overrule whatever wrong he had done to her. Wrong at least in her overactive mind. In truth, what had he honestly done wrong? And yet, doubt still lingered in her mind and ’twas most unwelcome.
He closed the door, sliding the bolt into place. His stride across the room to her was like a lion stalking its prey. Towering over her, he took one finger and ran the warm digit across her cheek causing her to shiver in delight. Aye… her body would betray her faster than whatever else she might attempt to keep hidden from him.Bloody Hell!
“You are not in bed,” he said and her heart once more betrayed her knowing what awaited her beneath the coverlets.
Ingrid shrugged as though his words mattered little to her. “I waited for you. I thought we could have speech together,” she murmured raising her tormented hazel eyes upward.
“Aye. There is much to talk about but mayhap such a discussion can wait until the morn. The day has been long.”
His words only confused her further about how they could proceed from this point forward. She wished to have this conversation cleared once and for all. Otherwise, she was unsure if she would ever be able to trust him.
“Theobald…” His name whispered in the darkness of the room lingered in the air as though to pull their two souls together. He took her hand bringing it to his lips.
“You are chilled,” he said pulling her to her feet. Once close to his hard, well-formed body, she could feel the heat of this man. His strength and the warmth that was radiating from him were enough to curl her toes in anticipation of what would happen between them once abed.
“Am I?” she asked not realizing he spoke the truth.
“Aye.” He took her hand and walked her toward the bed, throwing back the covers and waving his hand for her to get in.
Her fingers trembled when she tried to undo the ribbons of her robe at her throat. He saw her dilemma and with a huskyallow me, he swiftly took care of the problem including slowly drawing the robe from her body. His warm hand caressed her shoulder before he replaced his fingers with his lips until he took her robe and placed the garment on a nearby chair. Now Ingrid only stood there with the lightest linen outlining her body from the fire in the hearth. His hot gaze roamed the length of her before he once more motioned to the bed.
Ingrid would not be reminded a third time, so she went to lay down and he pulled the coverlets over her quaking body. ’Twas not from the cold this time. Nay! ’Twas from the anticipation of Theobald joining her in their marriage bed and what would come next.
He went around the bed to the side nearest the door and sat on the edge. Ingrid watched his broad shoulders when he stretched and saw his sword stood near at hand. With a quick check of the room, she saw her own blade was also near the head of the bed as if it but awaited her need to use it for her protection.
His boot as it thumped upon the floor caused Ingrid to return to the present, and she watched in fascination when Theobald drew his tunic up and over his head. The rippling muscles of his back made Ingrid’s fingers twitch in desire to touch his skin. Aye… she would most certainly fail in keeping up this pretense that she was angry with him for deceiving her. For in truth, ’twas not Theobald’s fault they had been forced to marry. The Empress did in fact do her a favor by having them wed. She could not stay mad at him, and she was being foolish for even trying. She loved him and deep down in her soul, Ingrid knew Theobald cared for her too.
Her decision made, she threw the coverlet from her body and crawled across the bed to mold her body up against her husband’s. He flinched in surprise but recovered quickly by looking over his shoulder into her eyes. Taking her hand, he kissed the inside of her wrist, and she gave him a smile.
“I thought you were angry with me,” he murmured, turning slightly to look upon her fully whilst she sat back on her legs.
“I was,” she replied. “I was hurt and confused. I am certain you can understand my predicament if you think of how you would feel if the situation had been reversed.”
“Aye. ’Tis not exactly how I would have chosen to begin our lives together, Ingrid. I did not care that the Empress forced my hand, but you must know I would have offered for you once we had completed our service to her,” he said humbly whilst he took a lock of her hair between his fingers. Its length took on a life of its own as he caressed her tresses, and it wrapped around his fingers as though taking possession of him. “You must know I care for you… nay… love you.”
She gazed up into his eyes and there was nothing in their depths that told her he spoke a falsehood. He loved her and her heart soared hearing those beloved words escaping his lips.
“As I love you, Theobald.” Her hand reached up to skim down his face, the scratchiness of his stubble causing friction to add to the excitement of what they were about to share.
He stared at her for another moment before returning to the task of undressing. She was only allowed a glimpse of his magnificent body before he joined her in their bed, drawing the coverlets over them. He pulled her into his side, his arm wrapping itself around her shoulder keeping her close.
With the steady rhythm of his heartbeat under her ear, she ran her hand along his chest until he took her hand once more and kissed it.
“Go to sleep, Ingrid,” he murmured before kissing the top of her head. “I suspect the morrow will be just as long as today.”
Confusion wracked her bed. Go to sleep? On their wedding night? She raised herself on her elbow to stare at the man in bewilderment.
“But are we not going to—”
