“My lord, I—”
“Nay, please let me finish,” he said as he released her hands and raked his hand through his hair then turned from her for a moment. Turning back, he said, “I do not wish to dishonor you or your family, but my need to be near you increases by the second, and I cannot imagine you finding someone else.”
He looked like he was in pain. Marion moved to him and placed her hand on his cheek. “My lord, what ails you?”
His hands were around her waist in an instant as his lips claimed hers. She opened to him as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body against his. She had no capacity for restraint like earlier. She wanted him, every part of him touching her in every way.
His body was hard and thick and melded perfectly to hers, and she wanted to feel so much more. Marion brought her hands to his shoulders and pulled at them. He groaned in his throat and slid one hand down to cup her bottom which was near impossible to find considering the layers of her skirt. After shifting his hand a couple of different ways, the action struck her as humorous as laughter welled up from within her.
Probably from the nervous excitement of their shared passion, but in the next moment, Marion had released him and was laughing as she tried to catch her breath. His bewildered expression made her humor all the more ridiculous, yet it was unrelenting.
“Lady Marion, you must tell me what amuses you,” he said, clearly not sharing her mirth.
“I do apologize, my lord. But you see, my gown—well, my gown has many parts to it.” Her mirth turned to embarrassment, for how could she tell him he’d been nowhere near his intended mark.
Realization dawned on him and thankfully, he was not too arrogant to realize the relative impossibility of him ever finding her buttocks.
“I see, my lady. Your mirth is about the situation rather than my attempt.”
“Aye, my lord, for I much enjoy your attempts,” she said, wondering where this wanton response came from. That wasn’t true; she knew exactly from where. From the same place that throbbed and pulsed every time he laid hands and lips on her. And she was growing to enjoy it.
“Well then, next time,” he said leaning close to her ear so that his hot breath spread down her neck, “I shall find alternative access.”
He then straightened and offered his arm again as if nothing had happened.
“Now come, my lady. I need to finish this discussion with you before we have need of an entirely different one.”
*
They sat ona stone bench overlooking the loch for a spell so that Alexander could collect his thoughts. What was happening to him? He’d always held confidence when in the presence of a woman, even one for whom he’d held a passionate interest. But this? Nay, this was territory for which he had no navigation.
His plan was sound. Under a formal courtship, they could spend time together and really see if they were compatible in more than just a physical way. His first betrothal had been arranged by his father and, well, he was not prepared to venture down that path at the moment.
“My lord, you wished to ask me something?”
He turned to her and attempted a smile. “Aye. Lady Marion, will you allow me to court you?”
Her brow knit for a moment. “Court me, my lord? Is that not a question for my father?”
“Aye, I do wish to speak with your father, but in the meantime, will you accept that the king has given his blessing?”
Marion opened and closed her mouth a couple of times as if she did not know what her response would be. This was not howAlexander hoped the conversation would go.
She drew in a deep breath and stood a little straighter. “And will you send word to my father?”
“Aye, I will send word immediately if you agree.” He waited for what felt like an eternity. “Do you agree, Lady Marion? Will you let me court you so that I may know you better?”
Thankfully his last comment brought a wee smile to her lips. “Aye, my lord, I will let you court me.”
“Excellent,” he said. “I assure you I offer you the highest level of respect, and from this moment on, you shall have a chaperone with you at all times to protect your reputation. The king has planned to remain here for some days, and I do hope that is your plan as well?”
“Aye, I understand I am to remain here during their stay and return to Linlithgow with them at the end of their tour.”
“Then it is all set. I will return you to the ladies and begin my planning. There is so much I wish to show you, Lady Marion,” he said genuinely, meaning that in the best possible way. From now until she returned to Linlithgow, he would not lay a finger on her. He would allow nothing to jeopardize her reputation.
As they returned to the castle, he noted she seemed a little quiet, but he didn’t have time to inquire for his mind was abuzz with ideas on how to entertain her. He found the other ladies and then kissed Marion’s hand and headed off to see his steward. All who witnessed the gesture would be left in no doubt of its meaning. The thought of sharing all that he loved in his realm with her brought a sense of contentment he had not felt in a very long time. He would cover every inch of the grounds with her and every part of their lands. He was proud of his family and the effort they had put into making the castle and the grounds a haven.
It was clear to him that she had an interest in his manuscripts and particularly the ones containing the local legends and he knew exactly how to best present them to her.
