Page 94 of Wed By Proxy

As soon as the tent flap closed Guy was upon her, a desperate look of entreaty on his face.

“How dare you leave me?“ His harsh words were counter-balanced by the fact he sank onto his knees before her, wrapping his arms around her pressing his face against her skirts. “Mathilde.” She barely heard him speak her name, but his voice sounded anguished.

Mathilde felt her frozen heart stutter and then start to pound again. “I did not expect you to discover I was gone so soon,” she lied. What was she saying? It seemed pride was dictating her speech. “You must not have stayed at Allworthy for very long.”

“I did not even stay one night,” he responded grimly. “And my homecoming was to discover you gone and the house in chaos.”

Mathilde placed her hand on his thick black hair. “I did not leave you, Guy,” she said softly, but he wasn’t listening.

“I did nothing with Julia Allworthy, save listen to her histrionics until I was sick to my stomach. I swear it. You have to believe me, Mathilde.”

He looked up at her and his expression was so earnest, that it took her breath away. Swiftly he came to his feet, gazing down at her, and Mathilde was so caught up in savoring his nearness that his words took a moment to register with her. He took her hands in his.

“Even when I did imagine I cared for her,” he continued doggedly. “It was all very shallow. It was never real. Not like you and I. I could never touch her now. I don’t even like her hand on my arm.”

“Oh, I know that,” Mathilde assured him. “I knew you would not look twice at Julia. Not after my send off.”

He blinked. “Your send-off?” he repeated uncomprehendingly. Then, apparently he recalled their frenzied coupling the night he left, and reddened. “Then… Why? Why did you leave me?” he demanded in bewilderment.

“I didn’t,” Mathilde sighed. “Please Guy, let us take a seat.”

She gestured to where two cushioned seats were set out. Guy hesitated for only a split second before walking toward them, still holding her hand. With some reluctance, he released her and sat down. Instead of taking the seat next to his, Mathilde settled herself on his lap. Automatically his arms closed around her, though his gaze was wary. She looped her arms loosely around his shoulders and gazed at him a moment, biting her lip.

“There is something I must tell you. It is very terrible, and I want you to—”

“I already know about that bastard Kerslake,” he interrupted her.

Mathilde’s eyes widened. “Y-you do?” she stammered. He nodded tersely, and she felt the tension running through his whole body. “I’m so sorry Guy,” she began. “If I could only—”

“Sorry?” he burst out incredulously. “If he was still alive, I’d kill him with my own hands!”

Mathilde’s jaw dropped. “But… what of Julia?” she forced herself to say. “Now, she’s lost not only her husband, but her brother too. You know I don’t like her, but—”

“I don’t want to talk about Julia or Tristan Kerslake,” Guy interrupted her in a growl. “Miles was the only decent one of the whole bunch and he’s dead. I don’t care if I never set eyes on a Kerslake again. In fact, I’d prefer it.”

Mathilde tried to push down the ignoble elation that rose up in her at his words. “I shouldn’t be glad about that,” she admitted. “But I am, because I don’t like her!” His lips crooked a little at that, but he turned serious again almost at once. “I’m also wildly jealous of her,” she admitted in a small voice, and felt him relax the tiniest bit.

“You’ve got no cause to be, Mathilde” he told her shakily. “She can’t hold a candle to you. Since I’ve known you, I’ve barely spared her a glance. Every word she speaks grates on me. I had no time for her as soon as she showed up at Acton March. I never should have let her stay, but gods forgive me, I’ve been punished for that stupidity, ten-fold. I’ll never do anything to upset you ever again.”

A dimple appeared in Mathilde’s cheek. “I expect you will,” she said frankly, and when he went to argue, she leaned forward and lightly kissed his lips.

“What if I make you a vow?” he asked her with steady determination. “A blood vow. To swear I was never untrue to you and never will be.”

Mathilde shuddered. “No, thank you. I’ve gone off blood and knives recently.” At the haunted look in Guy’s eye, she decided to try and lighten the mood. “Willard told me you can swear an oath with spit and it’s almost as good.”

“Spit?”

She nodded. “We did a disgusting spit handshake.” Again, the faintest glimmer of a smile and then it was gone. “But perhaps we could kiss? In any case, I don’t need you to swear a vow, for I believe you.”

Again, his hold on her tightened before loosening off again. “I want to kiss you very badly, right now,” he said uneasily. “But I know I won’t be able to think straight once I do, and I have so many things I need to say to you.” He took a deep breath. “Will you introduce me to these friends of yours? Willard, Gordon. What was the name of the other one?” he asked gruffly.

“Piers. And yes, of course I will.”

He gazed at her intently. “I know they’re important to you, which means they’re also now important to me.”

“They’re the ones who are here dressed in the same colors as me. It was Queen Armenal’s idea. I think she reads too many romances.”

“Mathilde…” he said gruffly interrupting her.