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CHAPTER 32
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Satisfying Her Darkest Fantasies CHAPTER 33
After washing out her mouth and getting dressed, Mary headed below stairs where she was met by Gannon. She raised her eyebrows in surprise when she saw him because since her poisoning, Edward had made it a point to have either himself or one of his brothers guarding her every moment of every day. It was a fact she was resigned to and had accepted with good grace.“Good morning, my lady,” Gannon said cheerfully.“Good morning, Gannon. Tell me, what have you done to anger your laird?”Gannon blinked and eyed her with confusion. Then he laughed as he realized she was jesting with him over his duty.“Nothing, my lady, ’tis the truth I volunteered for the chore of looking after you today. The laird and his brothers have gone out to greet the McDonalds.”Her eyebrows rose again. Any talk of the McDonalds had been dispensed with after her poisoning. Why, she’d even forgotten the matter of an alliance herself. The McDonalds’ departure was not on pleasant terms, so the idea that they had retur
Satisfying Her Darkest Fantasies CHAPTER 34
Over the next weeks, the weather grew warmer and Mary spent as much time outside the keep as she could. Though she wouldn’t admit as much to Edward, she kept a sharp eye to the horizon, watching for when her dowry would be brought by the king’s escort.Edward’s missive to the king had gone unanswered thus far, but Mary held hope that any day they would hear the news that the dowry had been carried to Woods land.Her belly had pooched ever so slightly. It wasn’t noticeable under the full skirts of her dress, but at night, naked, beneath Edward, he delighted in the tiny swell that harbored his child.He couldn’t keep his hands or his mouth from the mound. He’d palm and caress it and then kiss every inch of her flesh. His obvious joy over her pregnancy brought Mary great satisfaction. Her clan’s joy over the announcement warmed her to her toes.When Edward had stood during the evening meal and announced Mary’s pregnancy, the hall had erupted in cheers. The word raced throughout the keep
Satisfying Her Darkest Fantasies CHAPTER 35
“I have bad news, Laird,” Gannon said in a grim voice.Not liking his commander’s tone, Edward looked up with a frown as Gannon strode toward him, still dusty from his travel.“Did you bring Father McElroy?” Edward demanded. Time was of the essence. Edward had sent Gannon to fetch the priest so that he could bear witness to the wedding ceremony performed for him and Mary. They only awaited the priest’s arrival before they departed for court.“He’s dead,” Gannon bit out.“Dead?”“Murdered.”Blasphemies spewed from Edward’s lips. “When?”“Two days past. He was traveling between McLauren land and McGregor land to the south when he was set upon by thieves. They left him to rot and he was discovered by McGregor soldiers the next day.”Edward closed his eyes. Thieves? Not likely. Priests had nothing to steal. A thief wouldn’t have bothered. It was more likely that Cameron had arranged for the priest’s murder to prevent his testimony before the king.The one card that Edward held was the fac
Satisfying Her Darkest Fantasies CHAPTER 36
He turned to survey the many people seated at the tables in the hall. “Let us eat,” he announced.The servants lining the wall burst into activity, filling goblets with wine and setting out the trenchers of food. The aroma was tantalizing and the tables overflowing with bounty.“Eat,” Edward whispered to Mary. “You must keep your strength up.”Edward and Duncan’s presence at the same table made the tension so thick that the rest of the noblemen seated around them remained silent. Archibald suffered no ill effects and ate grandly, gesturing for seconds and then thirds of the roast chicken.Edward was ready to be done with the meal so that he and Mary could retire to their bedchamber, but Archibald kept up a steady stream of mundane and tiresome chatter that made Edward’s head ache.He had no patience for games played by courtiers. Everyone knew why he and his men were there, and the air was charged with anticipation over the potential confrontation. The people assembled were all but li
Satisfying Her Darkest Fantasies CHAPTER 37
Alarm beat in Mary’s chest as she settled more comfortably in the chair. Her hands shook and she hid them in the folds of her skirts so as not to betray her unease.“I do hope His Majesty’s ailment is not serious,” she said politely. “I had looked forward to making the acquaintance of my only blood relative.”“That’s not entirely accurate,” Archibald said. “I am the king’s cousin, so that makes us related by blood.”“Aye, of course,” she murmured.“I would ask that you wait here, cousin, until you are summoned to the great hall. I will, of course, provide refreshment. You’ll want for nothing during your confinement.”Cousin, and then his casual reference to confinement, made the hairs on Mary’s nape prickle. Still, he viewed her kindly and seemed genuinely concerned over her well-being, so she smiled and offered her thanks.“I would speak to you, if permissible, about the matter before you, my lord.”He patted her arm. “ ’Tis not necessary, dear lady. I am sure the experience has been
Satisfying Her Darkest Fantasies CHAPTER 38
A cry rippled across the room as Mary shot to her feet. “Nay!”Edward was in a state of shock. A man he’d trusted with his very life, with Mary's life, had betrayed them all in the cruelest fashion possible. It was also apparent that Edward had never had a chance from the start. Archibald was in league with Duncan Cameron. What wasn’t clear was whether the king was also in league with Cameron, or whether Archibald boldly plotted against his cousin.“My lord, please hear me,” Mary pleaded. “ ’Tis not true. None of it is true! My husband is Laird Woods!”“Silence, woman!” Duncan roared. He backhanded her in reprimand and she fell into the chair she’d just risen from.“She is distraught and clearly not thinking straight, my lord. Please forgive her impertinence. I will deal with her later.”Edward could not be contained. As soon as Cameron struck Mary, Edward went crazy. He exploded across the room, hitting Duncan in the chest. The two men went down as, once again, chaos reigned.This ti
Satisfying Her Darkest Fantasies CHAPTER 39
“Aye,” Alan agreed. “What then do we do?”“We steal into his keep and take Mary back.”Caleb let out a deep breath, the sound loud in the quiet of the dungeon cell. “You make it sound like a simple raiding mission, Edward. Cameron will expect such a trick as well.”“We’ll succeed. We have no other option.”Caleb, Alan, Gannon, and Cormac voiced their agreement. Silence fell once again as they waited.An hour later, a sound outside the cell stirred them to action. Caleb leaped to his feet and charged toward the iron bars as a guard shuffled down the corridor, torch in hand.“You must hurry,” the guard whispered in an urgent voice. “Your men have staged a distraction. Follow me. I’ll show you to the northern gate.”Alan helped Edward to his feet and they hurried from the cell and up the stone staircase to the first level of the castle. The guard rushed down the long corridor, past the great hall, and beyond to the kitchens.They exited the castle through the small door where rubbish was
Satisfying Her Darkest Fantasies CHAPTER 40
“Can you wait just a few more miles?” he asked. “We’ll be on Woods land soon.”She grimaced. “I’m afraid not. The child I carry makes it hard to hold it in.”His smile was fleeting as he called a halt. He eased her down from the saddle, and she nearly went down in a heap. Gannon was there to catch her and she nearly wept in gratitude when he offered her a reassuring smile.To Gannon’s utter shock, she threw her arms around him and hugged him fiercely. His hands went up and he stammered as he tried to ask her what she was about.“Thank you,” she whispered. She pulled away and smiled at him.“For what, my lady?” he asked in confusion.“For coming for me.”She turned then and went in search of a private area to relieve herself.Edward smiled and watched as his wife ducked behind a tree in the distance. She had stunned Gannon with her gratitude. If he had to guess, all his men would be the recipients of her affection before it was over with.A moment later, Mary returned and Edward absorb
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