Chapter Seven
The combination of candlelight, wine, and delectable company made a lasting mark on Marion. She could see why ladies like Cora would become competitive over a man like Alexander Campbell. What would the woman think now that they had shared a meal together? Marion could only imagine.
“You appear lost in your thoughts, Lady Marion,” he said in a quiet tone. It appeared he had become quiet as well as he sat back and watched her.
“I believe I am as full as an egg, my lord. I assure you my thoughts are pleasantly engaged.”
The earl’s eyes widened for a moment before narrowing. Had she said something wrong? Why did his brow knit?
“Will you sit with me by the window, my lady?”
The servants had situated a long padded bench by the largest of the windows so as to enjoy the view of the loch.
“I would like that very much, my lord.”
“And would you like more wine?” he asked.
She’d had more than enough and feared her innermost private thoughts would be set free should she imbibe more.
“Nay, my lord. I have had my fill,” she said and made her way to the bench.
He sat beside her with mere inches between them, so close that she looked around to discover their chaperones all purposefully looking the other way. When she turned back to him, he was staring at her with a peculiar look on his face. His eyes seemed even deeper in color and his lips were parted.
“You are an enchanting woman, Lady Marion. How many men have told you that?”
“How many? My lord, I am not in the habit of being in such proximity with men to tell me such things.” What kind of question was that?
He shook his head. “Forgive me, I forget myself,” he said and shifted slightly away from her.
What was wrong with him? “Are you unwell, my lord? Is your head causing you trouble?”
His jaw dropped a little and then he started to laugh, a deep low rumble that ended with him raking his hand through his hair.
“You are a surprise at every turn, Lady Marion. Do you know that?”
“I confess, my lord, I do not know your meaning. Have I said something amusing?”
“Not intentionally, I believe,” he said. “Tell me about your family. Your interests. Tell me everything about you,” he said as he leaned back, folded his arms across his chest, and stretched his long legs out as if settling in for a long conversation.
She hoped she wouldn’t disappoint him. There really was not over much to tell of her sheltered life of seventeen summers.
“I have three younger siblings, my lord. My sister, Alice, is fifteen summers and thankfully not yet out into society, and I have twin brothers who are twelve summers.”
“Twins? And why do you say your sister should not yet be out?”
“My sister has a very different temperament than me, my lord. She is very bold and confident.”
“I would consider you to be bold and confident, considering you have dined alone with me this evening. You do not appear to be suffering from nerves.”
If he only knew the half of it.
“I mean to say that she is more confident in what to say in certain situations.”
“Like what?”
Why was he so interested in Marion’s sister all of a sudden? Maybe he was looking for a confident wife. Marion didn’t consider herself that at all and grew a little wary of his questions.
“My sister would not have waited to be asked to a dinner with a fine gentleman. She would ask him.” Marion hoped that was a sufficient example for him.
“And you think me a fine gentleman?” he asked with a seemingly genuine smile.
“Aye, I have told you that others have referred to you as honorable.” She paused and made a choice to be bold for once. “Are you trying to tell me that you are not?”
He unfolded his arm and leaned closer to her. “Are you aware that everything you say has a double meaning to it?” he asked. “I cannot tell if you know of the effect your words have on me.”
Effect? What in the world was he talking about?
“My lord, I believe you should maybe retire, for I think your mind has become more muddled than you realized earlier. My words are not meant to be taken in any way other than how delivered. What else could I possibly mean by them?”
She truly did not know what he meant.
“Are you telling me you don’t want me to kiss you?” he whispered mere inches from her face.
Marion’s breath caught in her throat. How could he decipher that from her comments? She thought for a moment and then realized what he was saying. Did she want him to kiss her? Of course she did, but as a lady, she was not about to invite him.
“I—never said—”
A heartbeat later, his hand cupped the back of her head, and his lips closed over hers.
Warm and sweet like the mead and ale he’d recently finished, his lips played with hers, making her blood pound in her ears and her nipples harden.
He shifted closer and deepened the kiss, coaxing her mouth open to accept him.
In that moment, as he tasted her, she knew what it was to connect with someone on a level she never knew existed.
His tongue touched hers, causing her woman’s core to tighten and release in the most delicious sensation.
Marion reached for him, placing her hands on the back of his neck and pulled him closer.
She wanted to taste more of him, and when she circled her tongue around his, he groaned deep in his throat, sending shivers through her.
Her entire body was so finely in tune with his, she was sure they were now one body.
Marion let one hand slide down from his neck to his chest, adoring the curve and thickness of the muscle beneath his tunic. He broke the kiss then and stared hard into her eyes.
“You do not kiss like a maiden,” he whispered.
The comment was like cold water doused over her. She sat back abruptly, her fingers touching her lips as if he had burned her.
“I am a maiden, my lord. And you have taken advantage of me,” she whispered and stood so she could place the bench between them. “You have worked some kind of magic on me, and now you want to blame me for it.”
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. He was the one reading into her words to serve his lust. Well, he would work no more of his sorcery on her. Marion turned on her heel and made for the door.
“Lady Marion, do not leave, please,” he said, his voice nearly hoarse. “I did not mean to offend you.
But it was too late. She was offended by his comment and mortified by the wanton behavior she had displayed despite promising herself she would not act on her own growing desires.
She turned to see him with his head down in his hands, his arms leaning on his knees. A moment of something close to empathy washed over her, but her anger won out.
“I thank you for your company this evening, my lord, and I bid thee good night.”
She didn’t wait for his answer, but rather left the solar and made her way to the chamber that had been made up for her.
Once inside, she tugged at the ties attaching all her gown’s pieces together.
She’d dismissed the maids, not wanting them to see her upset, so she was left to struggle out of the damned thing herself.
After an age, she had managed to remove all the baubles and ornaments from her body and pulled a light silk shift over her head and crawled into bed.
The material was cool against her heated skin from the wine and the gown and the company.
Marion rolled to her side and shoved her arm under the pillow to help shape it under her head.
Damned man.
Why did he have to be so wonderful in one minute and so coarse in the next?
Well, he could fall off as many horses as he pleased from now on.
Marion would give him no more thought or attention.
She would return to the manor house as early as possible at daybreak, even if she had to walk there herself.
Marion flicked the covers off and lay flat on her back, staring at the canopy above.
She could still smell him on her, still taste him.
Flipping herself to her other side, she tried to find a position that would allow her to find slumber and escape from the torment he’d caused.
For many hours, she was quite unsuccessful.
*
How long he sat there with his head in his hands, he was not sure, but eventually, Alain cleared his throat.
“Can I get you aught, my lord?”
Alexander didn’t trust himself to speak. He could hardly process what he was feeling, let alone what he might want. He stood and reached for the window ledge to steady himself then shook his head at Alain as he passed and headed to his own chamber.
Once inside, he sat on the edge of the bed with his hands cupping his knees.
He was an utter fool. What prompted him to question her after she so willingly opened to him, he didn’t know.
But he’d likely lost her in the process.
Every part of him wanted her and he was convinced she wanted him as well.
So why did he misread her words to think there was intentional double meaning? But if that was the case and she hadn’t been inviting him in, why did she not push him away when he kissed her?
There could be only one answer, and it was unlikely now he would have an opportunity to be sure.
Nay, he needed to separate himself from this place.
He couldn’t think near her, and shy of being able to ride his horse himself, he would have Alain secure a carriage.
They would leave straight away; even then it would take them two days to arrive home. But he could stay there no longer.
Alexander opened the chamber door to find Alain just outside.
“I decided to wait in case you changed your mind and needed something.”
“Aye, I do. Speak with the king’s steward and secure a carriage for us to leave straight away. We will need to take some of his men to assist us and one to ride my horse. I do not wish to delay.”
“Will you send word to the king?”
“I will go to him now as I know where he spends his evenings.”
Alain agreed and went to do as he was bid.