Betrayal (Book 2: Time Enough to Love) by Jenna Jaxon Read Free Book Online Page A

be my wife, you will deprive me of naught, save a lonely bachelorhood.”
    She cupped his face and smiled. “Not very lonely, I would wager, my lord. Your reputation gives the lie to that.”
    “Mere gossip at the court, lady.” His lazy smile lit his face. “You should know the truth from the lies by now.”
    “I should like to believe you, Thomas.” She barely whispered the words, her heart beating too fast. Could she do this? Did she have a choice?
    He drew her into his arms. “Then believe, Alyse. Though I am not your beloved, I promise to keep you and protect you for all of our lives.” He bent his head and whispered in her ear, “I would not abandon you to the care of one chosen by your father, with no regard for you at all.”
    Her head ached with the swirl of emotions plaguing her. Love for Geoffrey, hatred for his father who had betrayed them, thankfulness for Thomas’s care of her. And despair at the life she must now live.
    Before she could voice an objection, he sat back and hurried on, forestalling any protest. “I have conferred with the king today, and he has granted my petition to marry you. He will send to your father, offering my suit in lieu of the one he broke.”
    Outrage bubbled within her, making her mouth purse as she worked up to an eruption of invective. He had contrived the whole thing before ever asking her. What good were his pretty word and sentiments if it was already a fait accompli ?
    Thomas looked steadily into her eyes, mayhap anticipating her response. “’Tis not required that you agree, however. I told His Majesty I would not wed you against your wishes. Therefore, I await your answer.”
    Somewhat mollified, Alyse stared into his expectant face, reason warring with the ache in her heart. She frowned as a thought occurred. “If you do not force me to your bed, Thomas, how will we live together if not as man and wife? How is that to be arranged?”
    He chuckled and squeezed her hand. “Until you agree to share my bed, my lady, we will live as brother and sister, in mutual regard and affection only. Or, if after some years, we are not content together, the marriage can be annulled, having never been consummated.”
    He cupped her face in his hand and looked deeply into her eyes. “I have hope, my sweet, that such will not come to pass. As time heals the wounds of the flesh, so too will it heal the wounds of the spirit. Day by day, I pray your hurt will lessen, until you can come to esteem me as your true husband. It need not be what there was between you and Geoffrey, but something of our own.”
    More tears appeared at the warmth and compassion in his voice. Despite the foreboding in her heart, this way likely held less pain than any other. Trembling, she took his hand from her face and kissed its palm.
    “Aye, then, Thomas, I will marry you.” She managed to speak without a single tremor in her voice. “And I will pray to God every day to let my regard for you ripen into the deeper feelings a wife should accord a husband. You honor me greatly with your unselfish offer of your hand and protection. I would honor you as well with my trust and devotion.”
    “My lady.” He grasped her hands and raised them to his lips, bestowing soft, sensual kisses on each finger. “Today you have made me a happy man. I promise to make you a happy woman ere long.”
    Despite her trepidation at his caresses, the sensation of his warm lips and hot breath on her skin soothed her sore spirits.
    She had agreed to be his wife. It was right to accept his attentions.
    There was no instant bolt of the brilliant heat that had thrilled her at Geoffrey’s touch, but the softness of his lips, moving to her upturned palm, sent a little shiver up her arm.
    He continued to caress her, tracing the curve of her elbow with silky lips. She closed her eyes, willing herself to submit to this bombardment of her senses. Best to feel rather than think. Thinking could do naught but lead to disaster.
    When Thomas