He was about to make his way to her when he saw Lord Glengarry get to her first, bow before her, taking her hand and pressing a kiss to her knuckles. Dougray’s hands curled into fists. How could Flora consider this cretin? He wanted to rip Glengarry’s eyes out for even looking at her. And his smile…
His feet picked up speed as he made his way to her side, only to see her slip her arm through Glengarry’s and be led to the dance floor. A waltz started up and he had to count to one hundred to stop himself tearing Flora from Glengarry’s arms as they glided by. He would not lose her a second time. Not to this man. Not to any man.
A delicate hand touched his arm pulling his gaze away from the dancing couple. “So there is more to this marriage than appeasing a King. You look as though you want to ring Glengarry’s neck.”
At Tessa’s words his jaw loosened. “He’s not good enough for her.”
“And you are? Please don’t hurt her. She is too good a person to be disappointed again. If you don’t love with her, then set her free. You could have any woman you chose as your wife.”
“I could have any woman, but I choose her. I want her. I love her.” He looked at his best friend’s wife and hoped she understood. “I’m getting closer to five and thirty every day, and I want more in my life, more from my life. I want what you and Angus share. The closeness. I watch you. If he looked at you now from where he stands on the other side of the room you’d know what he was thinking.”
“That’s because he loves me. We complete each other.”
“I love Flora and I hope one day she will forgive me and love me too.”
Tessa studied him for a moment before nodding. “I believe that you think you need something that is missing in your life, but you had your chance eight years ago. You broke her heart when you let her marry Iain. You’ve also had your chance the three years she has been a widow. It makes me wonder why you are so fixated on marrying Flora now, just as the King is arriving on Scottish soil.”
He did not flinch or look away under her calculating stare. “You don’t think she is right for me? Or is it you don’t think I love her?”
She gave a wistful sigh. “I think you are not being honest with yourself. You say having a son is not important to you, in fact Flora told me it scares you to think of a woman carrying your babe. I can sympathize with your fear. But life is long. What happens if suddenly you crave a child? You’d destroy Flora if she found that out. She had five years of disappointing a husband, and she didn’t even love him. She would wither and die if she found you felt the same.”
“I won’t change my mind. Flora means too much to me.”
Tessa’s mouth curled down. “Because you are an honorable man I will take you at your word.”
“Thank you.”
“But if you break her heart I’ll…Well, I’ll get Angus to beat you senseless.” She pushed him toward the floor. “Now go and break in and claim the woman you are about to marry before this crowd forms the wrong idea.”
He pressed a kiss to Tessa’s cheek and did as she suggested. As he strode determinedly through the dancing couples he could see tongues wagging.
When he tapped on Glengarry’s shoulder the man’s face looked like thunder but he handed Flora over graciously, too concerned at making a scene. If someone had tried to step in while he was dancing with Flora he would have punched the rotter out.
No sooner had they begun to twirl about the floor, than a sea of decorated fans started to flutter and heads turned.
“That was rude and uncalled for,” Flora held herself stiffly in his arms. “Is this what I can expect when I become your duchess.”
He swore his feet left the floor at her words ‘
“You will not regret this,” he whispered in her ear. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
He almost tripped over his feet. It was the first time she’d said that to him in eight long years. He didn’t care that the whole of society was watching, he turned and almost dragged her from the ballroom. He didn’t stop until he reached the bedchamber he had been given in the Palace.
The minute he pushed the door closed with his foot, he swept her into his arms and carried her to the bed. As he laid her down, he whispered, “I’ve been waiting what seems a lifetime to have you in my bed.” He lay down beside her so that they were facing each other, the rampant desire still there and heightened by the knowledge he could make love to her the way a woman should be loved.
Her smile faded, and he saw the emotion pass over her face. She must be remembering too.
“I hope you can forgive me for letting you go. But I swear I’m never letting you go again.”
“While I will always regret out lost years, I can understand your reasoning, although I don’t agree with it. My marriage was not horrid but I found little joy in it.”
