She traced his mouth with her tongue, and his eyes darkened with a merciless desire. He wanted her, and she could feel his desire rising to meet hers.
After today, she would have no choice but to leave him forever. Like removing a part of herself, she’d do what was necessary to push him into Katherine’s arms.
But for now, and only this moment, there was this. His mouth slid over her cheek, down to her throat. When Ewan stopped kissing her, she saw the raw apprehension in his eyes.
Like a man who hated himself for what he’d just done.
EwanavoidedbothKatherineand Honora for the remainder of the afternoon. Guilt weighed down his thoughts, and he contemplated the right course of action. He didn’t deserve to be here, much less wed Katherine of Ardennes. The kiss he’d shared with Honora had been the final blow to his honor.
He should leave Ardennes, turning his attention back to his ambitions. There were other heiresses and other ways of gaining the land he wanted. Being alone was no less than he deserved.
He trudged into the Great Hall, taking a seat among the other suitors, next to Sir Ademar. The knight’s face appeared grim, his knuckles white as he clenched his fists.
“What is amiss?” Ewan asked.
“Lady Katherine has made her choice of a h-husband. It will be announced this night.”
The unexpected news caught him without warning. Had she chosen a different suitor? Glancing around, he saw that Gerald of Beaulais was no longer among them.
“Where is Beaulais?” he asked Sir Ademar.
“Gone. He . . . he left since the Lady Katherine did not choose him.”
Ewan wouldn’t miss the hot-headed Norman and was glad he’d gone. But he still saw tension on the knight’s face. “Whom did the Lady Katherine choose?”
Before Ademar could answer, the Earl of Ardennes stood from his chair upon the dais.
“My daughters have chosen from among the suitors,” the Earl of Ardennes began, rising from his chair upon the dais. “I am happy to announce their betrothals. Lady Honora has selected Sir Ademar of Dolwyth to become her husband.”
Sir Ademar glanced in his direction, an incredulous look upon his face. It was clear that Honora had not told him of her intentions, but the knight did not seem displeased.
Ewan’s hands dug into the wooden table, caught up in disbelief. Honora had said she had no desire to wed. Had she changed her mind after what they’d done this afternoon?
He tried to catch her gaze, but she refused to look at him. Instead, she reached over and squeezed her sister’s hand. Katherine’s smile was radiant, her eyes searching the crowd.
And then he knew. Honora had agreed to a betrothal for her sister’s sake. She smiled at Ademar when he approached the dais, but her heart wasn’t in it.
Would she go through with the marriage? Though Ewan knew it would be a good match, the simple fact was, he didn’t want her to wed another man.
But the earl hadn’t finished. He stood, holding Katherine’s hand, as he raised his goblet in a toast. “My youngest daughter has selected Ewan MacEgan as her husband.”
He was hardly aware of the words of congratulations spoken by those around him. Words failed him as he half rose from his seat.
Honora stared straight at him, giving a faint nod. There was no happiness in her expression, only resignation. She believed this was what he’d wanted. And after this afternoon, after he’d broken his vow not to touch her again, she had taken it upon herself to bring Katherine back into his grasp.
He tried not to stare at Honora, but beneath her masked smile he saw misery.
Ewan wasn’t sure how he managed to walk to the dais, for each step made it feel like a snare had tightened around his neck.
And when Katherine flew into his embrace, he saw the sheen of tears in Honora’s eyes.
Thatnight,intheprivacy of their shared bedchamber, Katherine whispered, “Ewan hasn’t said a word to me, Honora. Was I wrong to choose him?”
“Of course not,” she lied. “It was a surprise, that’s all. He was expecting to talk with our father first, I imagine.”
Honora’s stomach wrenched at the thought of what she’d done. The stunned look in Ewan’s eyes had made her want to weep. She had spoken to her father out of desperation, knowing that Ewan had too much honor to refuse the match. He would accept Katherine as his bride and gain the land he’d always wanted.
In turn, she would slip away quietly before her own wedding could take place. Though she disliked the idea of hurting Sir Ademar, there was nothing else she could do.
