It was a little difficult to maintain any order to her thoughts when he held her so close to him, but Jolene persevered. “Marriage, once consummated, is forever. We have known each other for but a few days and most of that time was spent running from Harold. We may not suit each other at all, but once we, er, share a bed, there will be no turning back.” That was not exactly true, but she would rather face walking away from an unconsummated marriage than leaving a man she had been intimate with.
"Aye, I ken it. Why would ye think we wouldnae suit?"
"Tis possible. We really do not know each other well. As I said, we have only been together for a few days and most hours of those days were spent on horseback. A fortnight from now you may well regret this most heartily. Why not wait a while ere you make this a true and binding marriage?"
"This is why."
The moment he lifted her off her feet, she wrapped her arms around his neck to steady herself. She opened her mouth to tell him to put her down and he kissed her. It took but one stroke of his tongue in her mouth and she lost all urge to protest. By the time he ended the kiss, Jolene was clinging to him like the most tenacious ivy. Even as she tilted her head to allow him better access to her throat, she struggled to regain her senses.
"E'en if ye refuse to marry me, lass, I will have this.” He traced the shape of her small ear with his tongue and felt her tremble. “Aye, and I think ye ken it."
She did and wondered why she did not feel shamed by that admission. The rules were most clear. A lady clung tightly to her virtue until she was married. She did not stand in orchards and cling tightly to big, strong Scotsmen. Yet, she could not deny the truth Sigimor spoke so bluntly. Married or not, she would share his bed. She did not have the strength of will to keep turning away from what he could make her feel. At least if they were married she would not be sinning, she thought as he gently detached her from him and set her back on her feet. There was still that possibility of fleeing back to England and having the marriage ended there, she reminded herself.
As she met his steady gaze, saw the desire darkening his eyes, she decided to stop worrying about it. Why not grasp a little delight for herself? Why not savor the pleasure she knew he could give her for as long as she could? If the passion he offered proved to be a shallow thing, if there proved to be nothing else to bind them together, she had a bolthole. At least she would have some very fine memories to cling to if she had to return to her old life.
"Very well,” she said.
The words had barely left her lips when he grasped her by the hand and towed her back to the church. A few sweet words or gentle assurances that all would be well might have been nice, Jolene muttered to herself as she struggled to keep pace with him. Sigimor did seem to be somewhat inept at wooing, except for his ability to kiss her senseless. She doubted it was solely due to the fact that they were running from Harold and that gave a man little time for a proper courtship.
Sigimor was just about to march into the church when the priest opened the door and beckoned them inside. Jolene was vaguely aware of the others standing behind them as they knelt before the priest. She felt a touch of sorrow over the fact that the only member of her family to witness her marriage was Reynard who was too young to understand the importance of the occasion. She also buried an attack of guilt as she said her vows, speaking the sacred words even as she held fast to the plan to end the marriage once Harold was defeated. Jolene tried to ease the fear that she was lying to God by telling herself she would only flee if she foresaw absolutely no hope of a good marriage.
Once the vows were spoken and the blessing given, Sigimor led her to a small table set against the wall. “Tis the marriage lines,” he said and pointed to the bottom of the document. “Put your mark here."
Jolene nodded and began to read the paper.
"What are ye doing?” asked Sigimor.
"Reading this document,” she replied, a little surprised at how simple it was.
"Tis in Latin.” Sigimor frowned at her.
"I did notice that."
Once over his shock that she was a learned woman, he felt a pinch of insult over how carefully she was reading the document. “There is nay reason to read it so carefully or do ye think I mean to trick ye in some way?"
"Nay, of course not, but Peter was always adamant that one should read a document most carefully before putting one's seal to it. He said that, no matter how honest the man, no matter how much you trust him, it takes but one error in spelling or one awkward phrasing to alter the whole meaning of the agreement. He also said that, although you and the other man may ne'er take advantage of that error, there is no trusting what someone else may do with it."
Her immediate assurance that she did not suspect him of any trick soothed Sigimor's pride. He also had to agree with the lessons Peter had taught her. The way both Liam and William had murmured their agreement told him he was right to think Peter's advice had been wise. She could not know how precise Liam always was in his writings. When she began to sign her name, he leaned over her shoulder to watch and his eyes widened.
"Jolene Ardelis Magdalen Isabeau deLacy Gerard Cameron? Wheesht, the name is bigger than ye are,” he muttered.
"Mother felt compelled to honor a vast array of her family,” Jolene replied. “Poor Peter was also so inflicted.” She briefly smiled at Reynard. “He made sure his wife did not succumb to the same impulse. Reynard is named after his two grandfathers and no more. So, he is Reynard Henry Gerard. A few of our kinsmen disapproved, feeling that such a short name was, well, almost common. Peter would always reply that few would find it common when Reynard reached an age to add Earl of Drumwich after his name, along with Baron of Kingsley, which he already holds claim to."
Sigimor watched the little boy idly skipping around the men gathered in the church. “Tis a lot of weight the wee lad carries upon his shoulders."
"Aye, and it will only grow heavier for his mother's family holds several other titles and, unless someone breeds a son soon, they shall fall to him."
"But Harold cannae claim them if the boy dies, can he?"
"Nay, for he holds no blood tie with the mother's family. I am not sure he knows of all Reynard might claim. It could change his mind about his dark plans for the child. As guardian, he would have access to whatever wealth there is within those estates. Then again, he may know a little about how important Reynard is to his mother's family for he was as careful to stop me from sending word to them as he was in keeping me from contacting any of my own kinsmen."
"Reynard's guardian will have to be verra carefully chosen."
"Aye, but I fear I will have little say in the matter."
"Weel, there is no use worrying o'er it now."
She nodded and watched Sigimor take the priest aside for a moment. It was a little difficult to accept that she was married. No rings had been exchanged and there would be no celebration. In a few minutes they would all be back on their horses to ride until the sun set. She was not even sure her wedding night would be spent in a proper bed.
