Page 64 of Lady Tempts a Rogue

I vow you the first cut of my meat, the first sip of my wine,

from this day it shall only be your name I cry out in the night

and into your eyes that I smile each morning;

I shall be a shield for your back as you are for mine.

Nor shall a grievous word be spoken about us,

for our marriage is sacred between us,

and no stranger shall hear my grievance.

Above and beyond this,

I shall cherish and honor you through this life

and into the next.

~Traditional Celtic Wedding Vow

Still in Trinity’s chamber

I shan’t cry in front of him. I shan’t.

Why did Devin have to say he loved her?

And Lord, help her. Fool. Fool. Fool. Trinity believed him.

Men did not fake emotion the way some women did. That this strong, confident man had been brought to tears by declaring his love for her eviscerated Trinity.

She could’ve resisted anything else. Her heart resonated with answering love, and the three little words were right there—on the tip of her tongue, eager to spring forth. Regardless, she could not say them.

He had shattered her trust.

In him. In herself. In them.

She set Stormy aside, tucking the puppy beneath the coverings.

“You just accused me of adultery, Devin.”

Her words sounded hollow even to her ears.

“I was a stupid, jealous fool, and I give you my word that it shan’t happen again.” Devin kissed her fingertips. “I have made a mess of things, but I want to make it right. Nothing is as important now, or will ever be, as you are. Tell me what I must do to make it right.”

“I do not know, Devin.”

Trinity closed her eyes.

She was so tired.

Tired of weeping. Tired of glancing at the window, hoping to see him—dreading that she might. Tired of listening, always listening, for him to come home. And then, when he did, the first thing he did was accuse her of adultery.

“On the ship, everything seemed so right between us.” Slowly, she lifted her lashes. “I did not expect a fairytale. I knew we'd have difficult times because we’d married hastily. I was prepared to deal with that. To try, really try to make our marriage work.”

“We can make it work,” he vowed.

Devin seemed so earnest—so sincere.