Fear for the man I loved did me in.
I started sinking.
No way out.
No escape.
I tipped over.
Chapter Two
A Bride’s Heaven
“I have you, Ruth. I have you.”
Strong, bony arms caught me and pinned me to equally gaunt ribs.
“Breathe, Ruthy, breathe.”
Adam’s voice.
He’d found me, brought me from that gray place, not quite awake, not quite able to say anything. A place I’d visited more and more since finding Uncle’s coat. When would my nerves surrender to my boldness? I wasn’t this fragile, was I?
“It’s fine, my Ruthy. I know the innkeeper scared you.”
His voice touched my heart, cutting through my confusion.
I squinted and saw it was him. Tall, thin him.
He was a beanpole with arms—my beanpole.
Strong, pulse-racing tight, he held me. Who knew his embrace could offer the comfort of a warrior king like that hero in theIliad…or was it theOdyssey—one of those poems he loved to read?
Peace settled upon me, and I let brave me return his embrace, no shyness, not even in front of his driver.
Adam, my Adam, was here.
“Ruthy, I told you to wait. My queen doesn’t lift her own trunk.”
His voice sounded like a song saying my name. His pitch, a smidge lower than alto, sweet-talked the remaining shadows from my mind. He was good at convincing my fears and good sense to flee.
With my arm locked in his, Adam scooped up my trunk like it was paper and headed me around the corner.
One low star centered above my husband’s carriage.
Husband.
I could breathe.
I could dance.
I could sing with gratitude for my husband. The innkeeper was horrid, the room terrible, but my Adam was wonderful. “Can’t wait to introduce you to my parents.”
Adam offered a small smile, his I’m-not-so-convinced smile, his let-me-change-your-mind smile, then moved to the yawning driver.
It was horrible this man didn’t get sleep, either.
Adam came toward me. We’d literally been kicked out of this inn, and this man here, moved with the swagger of a prince.
