chairs scraped back on the flagstone floor, everyone talking in small groups. Lacking a ballroom at the mansion, there could be no dancing, so the guests returned to the parlor, chatting and gossiping as the sky turned a fiery crimson, then the sky gradually darkened. Morgana lit the two oil lamps, which gave the room a pale cast and at the same time, brought the jewels into brighter focus. With knowing looks and winks and suggestive comments, the guests eventually said their farewells, leaving Keir with his new wife, his father-in-law, and of course, the two sisters he was only too glad to leave behind.
Time now to return to the inn, Keir mused with mixed feelings. He could scarcely wait to have his new bride in his bed but feared hurting her while initiating her into the joys of marriage.
While Kelwyn Muir saw the last of his guests out the door, Keir stood with his arm lightly draped around his wife’s waist, making chit-chat with her sisters. Within a few minutes, Lord Muir joined the group, a smile of pride and happiness on his face.
Nola and Alana exchanged a look, then Nola addressed her father, her gaze skimming the others. “Papa, Alana and I have been concerned about our dear sister Morgana, since she has no maid and no one to attend to her needs at the lodge. Morgana has done so much for us. ‘Tis only right and proper that we repay her many kindnesses. If it’s acceptable to everyone, we thought we would accompany Prince Keir and Morgana to the lodge and stay there to help her.”
Glancing at Morgana, Keir saw a surprised look cross her face, an expression that surely mirrored his own.
“Why, now nice of you to think of me,” Morgana said with a grateful smile. “I think that is a splendid plan.” She looked to her father, who also appeared surprised. “What do you say, Papa? After all, you will be alone for several days. Can you manage by yourself?”
Lord Muir made a negligent gesture. “Oh, don’t worry about me. I can manage quite well by myself. Lady Ahearn–she’s a widow, you know–has kindly offered to assist me here and has even invited me to have dinner at her residence.” He grinned. “So yes, I’m sure I’ll do just fine.”
“Good,” Alana replied. A look of smug satisfaction captured her face. “Then Nola and I will meet the prince and our dear sister at the inn tomorrow morning. And we can all ride to the lodge together.”
With no choice but to agree, Keir injected a note of enthusiasm into his comments, for he was far from feeling any gratitude toward them. A hint of uneasiness crept over him, a suspicion of the sisters’ motives. Self-centered brats that they were, why had they undergone this transformation of helpful generosity? He struggled to shake off his qualms, to give the sisters the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps he had misjudged them, for his acquaintance with them was of short duration.
While Morgana went to her room to fetch her satchel, he added his thanks to hers, telling the sisters he truly appreciated their thoughtfulness. But doubts persisted.
Wearing a fur-lined cloak, Morgana returned with her satchel and threw him a look of expectation. Since he had already hired an extra horse, they left the house with arrangements for the sisters to meet them at the inn the next morning.
He and Morgana walked out into the night, where a multitude of stars glittered overhead, and lightning bugs flitted about. The air was chillier now with the onset of night, and a welcome breeze cooled their faces and fluttered their cloaks about them.
Whatever the future held for them, he vowed he would protect his wife from all adversity and harm. And maybe he would even learn to love her.
* * *
Embers glowed in the stone fireplace in their room at the inn, a large canopied bed dominating the chamber. Morgana cast a wary eye on the bed, excited but afraid of what was to come this night. She didn’t
Time now to return to the inn, Keir mused with mixed feelings. He could scarcely wait to have his new bride in his bed but feared hurting her while initiating her into the joys of marriage.
While Kelwyn Muir saw the last of his guests out the door, Keir stood with his arm lightly draped around his wife’s waist, making chit-chat with her sisters. Within a few minutes, Lord Muir joined the group, a smile of pride and happiness on his face.
Nola and Alana exchanged a look, then Nola addressed her father, her gaze skimming the others. “Papa, Alana and I have been concerned about our dear sister Morgana, since she has no maid and no one to attend to her needs at the lodge. Morgana has done so much for us. ‘Tis only right and proper that we repay her many kindnesses. If it’s acceptable to everyone, we thought we would accompany Prince Keir and Morgana to the lodge and stay there to help her.”
Glancing at Morgana, Keir saw a surprised look cross her face, an expression that surely mirrored his own.
“Why, now nice of you to think of me,” Morgana said with a grateful smile. “I think that is a splendid plan.” She looked to her father, who also appeared surprised. “What do you say, Papa? After all, you will be alone for several days. Can you manage by yourself?”
Lord Muir made a negligent gesture. “Oh, don’t worry about me. I can manage quite well by myself. Lady Ahearn–she’s a widow, you know–has kindly offered to assist me here and has even invited me to have dinner at her residence.” He grinned. “So yes, I’m sure I’ll do just fine.”
“Good,” Alana replied. A look of smug satisfaction captured her face. “Then Nola and I will meet the prince and our dear sister at the inn tomorrow morning. And we can all ride to the lodge together.”
With no choice but to agree, Keir injected a note of enthusiasm into his comments, for he was far from feeling any gratitude toward them. A hint of uneasiness crept over him, a suspicion of the sisters’ motives. Self-centered brats that they were, why had they undergone this transformation of helpful generosity? He struggled to shake off his qualms, to give the sisters the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps he had misjudged them, for his acquaintance with them was of short duration.
While Morgana went to her room to fetch her satchel, he added his thanks to hers, telling the sisters he truly appreciated their thoughtfulness. But doubts persisted.
Wearing a fur-lined cloak, Morgana returned with her satchel and threw him a look of expectation. Since he had already hired an extra horse, they left the house with arrangements for the sisters to meet them at the inn the next morning.
He and Morgana walked out into the night, where a multitude of stars glittered overhead, and lightning bugs flitted about. The air was chillier now with the onset of night, and a welcome breeze cooled their faces and fluttered their cloaks about them.
Whatever the future held for them, he vowed he would protect his wife from all adversity and harm. And maybe he would even learn to love her.
* * *
Embers glowed in the stone fireplace in their room at the inn, a large canopied bed dominating the chamber. Morgana cast a wary eye on the bed, excited but afraid of what was to come this night. She didn’t
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