Ivo tensed but did not let her go. If anything, he held her tighter, clinging to her now, as she had clung to him.
“Ivo? You have said that you love me, Ivo. You must tell me. Whatever it is, it cannot be as bad as Filby.”
Ivo sighed, opening his eyes to stare into nothing, into the past. And Briar could tell that it was more dark and bitter than any she could imagine.
But she was right, she knew it. The time had come for him to share with her the darkness of his soul.
“Mary?”
Mary looked up, wane-faced and miserable.
“Are you all right?”
She shook her head, tears sparkling in her lashes like pearls. “Where is Briar?”
Sweyn moved closer, carefully, as if he were afraid of what she might do. Or was it himself he was afraid of? “Ivo has taken her to Lord Radulf. All will be well, Mary. Ivo will take care of your sister, never doubt that. He is an honorable man.”
“But why are they gone so long?”
Sweyn sat down beside her. “They are arguing. You know what they are like. Or else they are making up their argument, with kisses and cuddles.”
Some of the anguish left her eyes as she considered that. Then it returned. “I should have stopped her from going to meet Ivo’s brother. What if he had hurt her?”
Sweyn brushed her cheek with his thumb, feeling her soft, silky skin against his own rough flesh. “Stopped Briar?” he teased her gently. “Can any of us do that, Mary?”
She met his eyes, a steel determination in her own he had never seen before. “I could, Sweyn. I am stronger than I thought.”
Sweyn looked into her sweet, serious face and knew in a single instant that he was doomed. His carefree, roving days were done. Over. For all time.
The words formed in his throat and he tried to hold them back, but it was like sweating chain mail. If he did not speak them, he would choke.
“I love you, Mary.”
She stared, as well she might, and for a terrible moment he wondered if she would reject him. And then she gave a brilliant smile and said, “Are you sure?”
He nodded, jerkily, feeling light-headed with relief. “Aye. I don’t understand why this has happened now, after all these years, but I love you, Mary.”
She reached up and cupped his face, smiling into his blue eyes.
“Then all is well, Sweyn.”
“I hope so, Mary,” he said, leaning forward to press a chaste kiss to her lips. “You have turned me into a new man, and I am not sure about him yet. But I know one thing, my lady. I will not take your innocence without a priest’s blessing.”
Mary sighed and shook her head with mock disappointment. “Where is the adventure in that, Sweyn?”
“The old Sweyn would not have hesitated to bed you, lady, but the new one will not. Take it or leave it, the choice is yours.”
Mary smiled, a slow and very satisfied smile. “I will take it. Now please kiss me, and properly this time.”
Sweyn laughed, and some of his old arrogance was in it. “Oh, I will kiss you properly, Mary. I will do that.”
Bending his head he captured her mouth with his, drawing his last and forever love into the heady world of passion.
Chapter 14
She did not know what she asked.
Ivo leaned back, so that he could see the yellow candlelight reflecting in her hair. Her eyes were so deep, like a forest glade, somewhere to take shelter and to rest. If only that were so, Ivo knew he would remain here with her forever.
