sure she had no idea she was doing so; Alice was so careful to show only what she wanted to be seen.
Fire and ice, he thought. Judith's beauty was like fire to Alice's icy blondeness. He smiled as he thought how easily fire melted ice, but then remembered that it all depended on the heat of the fire and the greatness of the block of ice. His brother was a sane and sensible man, rational in every aspect except one—Alice Valence. Gavin adored her; he was insane when anyone even hinted at her flaws. His new wife held an attraction for him, but for how long? Could she overcome the fact that Alice held his heart? Raine hoped so. As he looked from one woman to the other, he realized that Alice might be a woman to worship, but Judith was a woman to love .
Chapter Five
« ^ »
At the end of the long wedding mass, Gavin took Judith's hand and led her down the steps to the altar where they knelt before the priest as he blessed them. The holy man gave Gavin the kiss of peace, which he then transmitted to his wife. It should have been a kiss of duty; but though it was over quickly, Gavin's lips were lingering, causing Judith to gaze at him, her golden eyes mirroring her pleasure as well as surprise. Gavin grinned widely with pure joy, took her hand in his and led her at a half-run from the church. Once outside, the crowd threw a shower of grains that by sheer volume was almost lethal. He lifted Judith onto her horse, her waist tiny even when swathed in layers of fabric. He would have liked to put her onto his mount with him, but he'd committed enough of a faux pas when he'd first seen her. He started to take the reins of her horse, but Judith led her own animal and he was pleased; his wife would need to be a good horsewoman.
The bride and groom led the procession back to the Revedoune manor house, Gavin holding her hand tightly as they entered the freshly cleaned great hall. Judith looked at the rose petals and lilies spread on the floor.
Only a few hours ago, these flowers had seemed an omen of the dreadful thing that was about to happen to her. Now, looking at Gavin, his gray eyes smiling into hers, the idea of being his wife did not seem so dreadful at all.
"I would give a great deal to know your thoughts," Gavin said, his lips close to her ear.
"I was thinking that this marriage does not seem nearly as bad as I once thought."
Gavin was stunned for a moment then he threw back his head and bellowed with laughter. Judith had no idea that she had insulted him and complimented him in one sentence. A well-trained young lady should never have admitted to disliking the idea of marriage to any man chosen for her. "Well, my wife," Gavin said, his eyes sparkling, "I am more than pleased."
Their first words to each other had been spoken—and then there was time for no more. The bride and groom must stand in line and greet the hundreds of guests who congratulated them.
Judith stood quietly beside her husband and smiled at one guest after another. She knew very few of them since her life had been so secluded.
Robert Revedoune stood to one side, watching his daughter, making sure that she did nothing wrong. He would not be certain he had her off his hands until the marriage was consummated.
Judith had been concerned that her clothes would be overly rich but as she watched the guests, murmuring "thank yous," she knew her attire was conservative. The guests were dressed in peacock colors; several of them, all on one body. The women wore reds, purples and greens. There were checks, stripes, brocades, appliqués, and lush embroidery. Judith's gold and green stood out through its understatement.
Raine suddenly grabbed Judith's waist, lifted her high above his head, then planted a sound kiss on each cheek.
"Welcome to the Montgomery clan, little sister," he said sweetly, deep dimples in his cheeks.
Judith liked his honesty and openness. Miles came next. She had met him when he came as proxy for Gavin. He had stared at her like one of
Fire and ice, he thought. Judith's beauty was like fire to Alice's icy blondeness. He smiled as he thought how easily fire melted ice, but then remembered that it all depended on the heat of the fire and the greatness of the block of ice. His brother was a sane and sensible man, rational in every aspect except one—Alice Valence. Gavin adored her; he was insane when anyone even hinted at her flaws. His new wife held an attraction for him, but for how long? Could she overcome the fact that Alice held his heart? Raine hoped so. As he looked from one woman to the other, he realized that Alice might be a woman to worship, but Judith was a woman to love .
Chapter Five
« ^ »
At the end of the long wedding mass, Gavin took Judith's hand and led her down the steps to the altar where they knelt before the priest as he blessed them. The holy man gave Gavin the kiss of peace, which he then transmitted to his wife. It should have been a kiss of duty; but though it was over quickly, Gavin's lips were lingering, causing Judith to gaze at him, her golden eyes mirroring her pleasure as well as surprise. Gavin grinned widely with pure joy, took her hand in his and led her at a half-run from the church. Once outside, the crowd threw a shower of grains that by sheer volume was almost lethal. He lifted Judith onto her horse, her waist tiny even when swathed in layers of fabric. He would have liked to put her onto his mount with him, but he'd committed enough of a faux pas when he'd first seen her. He started to take the reins of her horse, but Judith led her own animal and he was pleased; his wife would need to be a good horsewoman.
The bride and groom led the procession back to the Revedoune manor house, Gavin holding her hand tightly as they entered the freshly cleaned great hall. Judith looked at the rose petals and lilies spread on the floor.
Only a few hours ago, these flowers had seemed an omen of the dreadful thing that was about to happen to her. Now, looking at Gavin, his gray eyes smiling into hers, the idea of being his wife did not seem so dreadful at all.
"I would give a great deal to know your thoughts," Gavin said, his lips close to her ear.
"I was thinking that this marriage does not seem nearly as bad as I once thought."
Gavin was stunned for a moment then he threw back his head and bellowed with laughter. Judith had no idea that she had insulted him and complimented him in one sentence. A well-trained young lady should never have admitted to disliking the idea of marriage to any man chosen for her. "Well, my wife," Gavin said, his eyes sparkling, "I am more than pleased."
Their first words to each other had been spoken—and then there was time for no more. The bride and groom must stand in line and greet the hundreds of guests who congratulated them.
Judith stood quietly beside her husband and smiled at one guest after another. She knew very few of them since her life had been so secluded.
Robert Revedoune stood to one side, watching his daughter, making sure that she did nothing wrong. He would not be certain he had her off his hands until the marriage was consummated.
Judith had been concerned that her clothes would be overly rich but as she watched the guests, murmuring "thank yous," she knew her attire was conservative. The guests were dressed in peacock colors; several of them, all on one body. The women wore reds, purples and greens. There were checks, stripes, brocades, appliqués, and lush embroidery. Judith's gold and green stood out through its understatement.
Raine suddenly grabbed Judith's waist, lifted her high above his head, then planted a sound kiss on each cheek.
"Welcome to the Montgomery clan, little sister," he said sweetly, deep dimples in his cheeks.
Judith liked his honesty and openness. Miles came next. She had met him when he came as proxy for Gavin. He had stared at her like one of
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