Page 23 of What Dreams May Come
He wanted to object, so I hurriedly added, “My mother, Lady Juliet, is a gracious lady who reveres you as the prince of Verona. That said, with our betrothal you’ve become family, and the defenses that protected you from any deserved reprimand have tumbled. I don’t wish to explain to either of my parents whatmorehappened between us tonight.” I pinned him with a stern gaze. “Do you?”Say no,please say no.
“I have become family,” he said in awondering tone.
Not what I expected him to dwell on, but... “Aye.”
“Your mother would...scold me?”
“Most assuredly, and my father would rudely handle yourroyal person.”
Escalus seemed almost charmed. Yes, because on his “Reasons to wed Lady Rosaline” list, he had included his liking for my family. Although on the “Reasons not to wed Lady Rosaline” list, he had included his dislike of our collective shouting. Which made no sense in light of my warning about Mamma’s scolding.
I never claimed to understand men as a whole. It’s a whole different gender.
I explained, “Tonight I’ll wear the ring so I may show our sisters it’s been retrieved, and to let them know...well.” I didn’t need Escalus to know about the inappropriate sonnet that had originally sent the girls out into the night, and of the correction that needed to be made. “Afterward, I’ll send it to you via trusted messenger.”
“You’ll wear it until morning. That is my wish. Then I’ll send my bodyguards to Casa Montague and you’ll slip the ring to them.” He corrected me decisively. “I’ll have it sized to fit your finger more comfortably.”
“Thank you.” I didn’t realize he’d noticedmy discomfort.
“You’ll wear my ring until morning.Do you so vow?”
He had a bee in his beret about this one. “I do.” That was a little too close to a wedding vow for comfort, and I saw by the faint twitch of his lip he appreciated the significance.
“Later, in an appropriate and public ceremony, I’ll again place my ring on your hand for all to view.”
I ran my finger over the largest stone. “I promise, when it’s time, I’ll wear this ring as a sign of your possession.”
He rumbled a little, maybe a laugh? “You still don’t understand. I haven’t possessed you yet, Rosie.” His hand slid around my waist, he pulled me into his body and leaned over me, until I felt his breath on my lips. “When I do, I’ll mark you with more than diamonds. I’ll mark you with pleasure and with passion. I will have you, Rosie, and everything in you. I vow that to you and to the heavens.”
Prince Escalus did intense very well, and the way he put the words together sounded less like a promise and more like a threat. I waited for an agonized moment of anticipation for his kiss.
He released, stepped back, and in a return to his normal tone of voice, he said, “Now go give my sister and your sister a good fright, then let them know they’ve been saved by your cleverness, and any further indiscretions on their part will be met with justice swiftand terrible.”
So anticlimactic. So annoying. I touched my lips with the tip of my tongue. I swear they felt swollen...and I swear I heard his breath catch. “Yes, my prince.”
If he noticed my snippy tone, he gaveno indication.
With one finger, he touched my cheek. “For you, sleep will knit the existence you believe unraveled, and when you wake tomorrow all will be as it was, and this like a dream, yet a vision of aheady future.” With that, he was gone, disappearing into the depths of the garden like some dark and propheticguardian angel.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
I went at once to the bedroom where I knew Princess Isabella and Katherina slept, no doubt secure in the knowledge I would succeed in my quest to regain the princess’s ring. I openedthe door and —
“Rosie!” Both girls leaped off the bed andran to hug me.
I had forgotten how, at that age, I could stay awake all night talking about nothing and everything, solving Verona’s problems while simultaneously discussing acne cures, speculating on life and marriage, giggling about my parents’ lifelong love affair and secretly longing for what they share.
Personally, after the walking, the running, the stress, the thievery, the fighting, the encounter with the prince...I was pooped.
I must have sagged in their arms, for together they supported me as they led me to a chair—I cautiously sat—thrust watered wine into my hand and placed a platter of fruit, bread and cheese on the table at my elbow. They knelt on the floor beside me and watched worshipfully as I raised the goblet to my lips with shaking fingersand drained it.
Katherina poked Princess Isabella with her elbow and pointed at my left hand. “See? I told you Rosie wouldget your ring.”
Princess Isabella gasped, leaned forward to touch the diamond withtender fingers.
To me, Katherina said, “She was worried, but I never was!”
“I had faith in Rosie,” Princess Isabella replied sharply. “I worried about her health and well-being. As I should, for look at her! She’s exhausted.”
