Coulter, Catherine. Rosehaven / Catherine Coulter.

“What think you of marrying Sir Alan and remaining at Sedgewick?

Severin must ask the king, but he will probably agree. Perhaps you could visit Oxborough once every five years.”

Marjorie laughed. “Aye, that is an acceptable idea. Sir Alan pleases me sufficiently.”

“You will never have to worry again that you will starve.” “No, I daresay that I won’t. And I will have my Eloise forever.” Severin couldn’t stand it anymore. He was upon them in an instant. He picked Hastings up in his arms and strode away with her, calling over his shoulder, “I will send a messenger to the king on the morrow. Sir Alan, see to Lady Marjorie and Eloise. I believe we would like you to return immediately to Sedgewick. All your men as well. Ah, before you leave, bury de Luci’s men. Leave him on the beach below, I care not.”

Hastings said, as she nibbled his earlobe, “At least I won’t have to see her silvery hair for five years.”

It was very late. The castle was quiet save for the snores of the men sleeping in the great hall, and Belle, who could make noises louder than any man-at-arms at Oxborough. Beside her the armorer was sleeping blissfully. He was sprawled out on his back and he looked dead.

In dwirfcedchamber, Severin was over his wife, deep inside her, staring down at her face in the dim light of the single candle.

“No, Hastings, don’t move. I just want to remain here for a while, just feel you and know that I am feeling you without lust rampaging through my body. I want you to feel my love for you, which at this moment is greater than my lust, but I cannot promise that it will last much longer.” He leaned down and kissed her. He said into her mouth, “You are mine now, damn you. No more strife between us, no more believing it is another woman I want. I want only you. Will you strive to believe

me?’

“You mean that I cannot yell at you when you vex me with your orders, or you trample my daisies?”

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“Aye, you can yell so loudly that the gulls will come in from the sea to see what is happening. That has nothing to do with the core of us. What is between us will grow, Hastings, and become more powerful as time passes. Do you believe that?”

“Aye, I must for I love you more than I lOve life_ when Marjorie vis. its Sedgewick in five years, you swear you will not stare at her and whisper about her silvery hair?”

“I will spit at her feet.”

She laughed, lifting her hips just a bit. ^e bit her chin «Qbey ^ Hastings, and hold yourself still, else it won’t go well for you ”

She laughed. “Even if I were to enrage you in the future5» she sai^ giving him that siren’s sloe-eyed look, “I now know exactly what to do to make you forget every shred of your anger. Aye? : know exactly how to make you as blissfully happy as Gilbert the goat with a new boot to

chew.”

“I know that you do.”

She stared up at him, forgetting for a moment that he was beginning to move slowly within her. “What do you know?”

“My mother loves me. Her loyalty is to me. Dame Agnes ancj Alice are very fond of my mother. They also believe she has sound advice. They don’t believe my advice is so bad either. Indeed, there was a good deal of laughter.”

“What does that mean?”

He moved more deeply now, and she felt him touching her as only he could. She didn’t think again for some time. When at last she was breathing more easily, feeling the heat of him against the length of her, knowing that a woman couldn’t be happier Or more content than she was at this moment, she said again, “What do you mean tnat your mother loves you? Naturally she loves you. You are her son. What do you know? What is this about Dame Agnes and Alice? What about laughter?”

“My mother told me you were always in your best humor when you were working in your herb garden. She said it was there that I had my best chance of having you decide to work your skills on me.”

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