Quinn was relieved that she saw the sense of his appeal.“There would be a change,” he dared to tease her and was rewarded with a fleeting smile.
“Let us begin this discussion again,” Melissande said, her tone softer.“I owe you an apology, and I was disappointed that you had departed yesterday morn, for I could not surrender it to you.”
“An apology?”
“I was too harsh.I said too much about the reputation of Annossy.”Melissande flushed and dropped her gaze.A note of confusion claimed her voice and dismissed every bit of Quinn’s vexation.She so seldom allowed him to glimpse her vulnerability and it affected him powerfully.If she could have guessed that he was hers to command for the price of a single tear, he did not doubt she would have been more prepared to share her true feelings with him.
That did not mean, however, that he could make such a sweet confession.
Now, she paced, her brows drawn together in annoyance.“I cannot fathom why you make me so angry, or why I lose my composure in your presence.It frightens me to so lose control of my own tongue.I feel uncertain of what will happen when we argue, and that troubles me.”She fell silent then, and her color rose even more as she stole a glance at him.
Quinn could not help but chuckle in his relief.“We have this in common, my lady,” he murmured.“I am known for my temperance yet you—” He took a breath as she watched, then shook his head.“You, my lady, set my very blood afire.”He wagged a finger at her.“I want to shout with fury when you challenge me.I could shake you to make you see sense.”
“Or your version of it,” she countered, softening her words with a smile.
Quinn smiled, surprised into it.“I could kiss you to silence or seduce you until you have no argument to make.”
She stared at him, eyes wide, and swallowed.“Is it not unnatural?”she whispered.
“I do not care.I think it most excellent.I like that we enflame each other, for it hints that this union is of import to both of us.”He took a step closer and she did not retreat.Nor did she look away.“For when all is said and done, it seems we oft agree.”
“Aye,” she admitted, her gaze clinging to his.“And the simple truth of it is that even though you say I irk you, you have never raised a hand against me.You never have shaken me to see sense, or seduced me to silence me.”
“And I never will.”
Melissande nodded with welcome confidence in that.She swallowed, then impaled him with an intent glance.“Why did you leave Sayerne?”
Quinn was startled by the abrupt question, but knew he had to reply.“Because he beat her,” he said, bowing his head at the ignoble truth of it.His throat tightened at the memory and he hated that he had been not able to defend his own mother.“He struck her until she bled and I could not bear it.I was only a child when I tried to defend her, then he beat me, as well.”He swallowed and looked away from Melissande, glad that she had never known such horror.When he recalled his father’s violence and hatred, he could understand her doubts about his nature.
She laid a hand upon his arm and he laid his hand atop it, grateful for this encouragement.His voice was husky when he continued.“I tried to convince her to flee with me, but she would not leave him.I could not persuade her.”
“You tried, Quinn.”
“It was insufficient.He learned of what he called my treachery.He beat me for it, then cast me out.It was the dead of winter and she cried out, but then she was silenced.”His throat worked and he could not summon any words for a moment, so overcome was he by the awareness of his own weakness.
Melissande stepped closer.“You were only a boy,” she whispered, giving him clemency that he could not give himself.
Quinn fought to compose himself.“I should have frozen to death outside the walls.But Tulley was at hunt and found me.He took me away and sent me to train for my spurs.”He dared to meet Melissande’s gaze.“I thought to learn to fight that I could defend her.”
“But by the time you could do as much, she was dead,” Melissande whispered, her words filled with welcome compassion.
“And Tulley dictated my course.I owe him my life, but I still regret that my mother would not come with me.”
“She died there as a result,” Melissande said.“She died for her loyalty to Jerome.”
Quinn nodded and bowed his head.“I should never have left her.”
“Then you would be dead, as well.Even I know that Jerome did not tolerate defiance.”She leaned against him but he could not look at her.“You are not your father’s son, Quinn, and I am most glad of it.You are a man of honor.”Then to his astonishment, she placed her hand upon his cheek.“I feared you had abandoned me,” she whispered.“I was shaken by how much I missed you.I am most glad of your return.”
Quinn risked a glance at his lady, to find her eyes shining.His heart skipped.“No matter the terms?”
She smiled.“Apparently so.”
Quinn could not summon a word to his lips.Desire raged through him, but he reminded himself of her courses and strove to keep his need in check.
“I watched for the flame at the mill last night, as you could not,” she admitted, remaining close and speaking as if she knew he needed a moment to compose himself.
“Did you?”The confession pleased Quinn greatly, even though he knew that his comrades would have watched as well.He was filled with tension yet unwilling to move lest he frighten Melissande away.He watched her, nigh holding his breath, as she tipped her head back and trailed her fingertips down his cheek to his mouth.Her skin was soft and cool, and he felt like a rough warrior in comparison to her fine beauty.
