The Temptation (The Medieval Knights Series) by Claudia Dain Read Free Book Online Page A

her.
    Aye, he smiled to soothe her; it was a gentle and simple thing to give a woman the soft security of a smile. He gave her his smiles with an open and liberal hand. She was his wife. He would take care of her.
    "You are generous, Elsbeth," he said. "I am a skittish groom. Perhaps all men are so upon their first marriage. I will, it is hoped, get better at this with time."
    "You expect to say the vows and sign the contracts again, with another bride?" she asked, lifting her goblet for a small sip of wine.
    "I do not know what to expect. The Lord of Hosts will direct my steps along my lifepath. But I do know that it is rare beyond pearls for a man, or a woman, to live long with one spouse. The world is too hard a place and buffets human souls too often for long life, even when that life is shared as ours now are."
    "What you say is true," Elsbeth said, setting down her cup. "We cannot know what tomorrow brings. You may well find yourself with another bride."
    Did he hear hope in her voice? Aye, she could well hope for it. She had no great eagerness for this marriage, yet she had come into it well enough.
    Her hands were as small as a child's, white and slender. The ring he had given her to mark her as his wife stood out upon her hand, a heavy weight of gold and sapphire that shone like darkest night and brightest day—the colors of Jerusalem. The colors of his pledge.
    "But is it not odd to speak of next wives when your newest and first sits at your side? And at her bridal feast? she asked. "Perhaps it is only that you speak your wish."
    There was a light in her black eyes, a hidden and smallish light of devilment. He grinned to see it. Elsbeth was too much solemn and too seldom smiling. He wanted an unblemished and holy wife, as did any man, but he wanted her joyous. Flashes of unexpected joy were all that made life bearable until the gleaming glory of eternal reward.
    "Again you see how little experience I have at marriage and bridal feasts," he said, taking her hand in his. "You must be gentle with me, Elsbeth. I have no hunger for another wife. You meet all my desires and every hunger well enough."
    She gasped at the contact, and he lowered his head to hide his smile. She amused him. She was so innocent and so wary, so unaccustomed to the ways of a man, even the gentle ways of chivalry. Her education had been somewhat lacking in those matters, though her religious instruction was above the mark. Well, and he was more adept at chivalry than religion; he would instruct her.
    "It must be odd for a husband to ask for gentleness in a wife. I cannot hurt you, my lord. I have neither the skill nor the means for it," she said, resting her hand in his.
    "You are wrong in that, little wife," he said, lifting her hand to his mouth. "A beautiful woman has many weapons with which to wound a man."
    He kissed the inside of her wrist, a light meeting of lips and blue-veined skin. Her skin was as soft as silken velvet, and his hunger for her leapt up like pulsing flame, scorching them both in its sudden heat.
    Her eyes, black as a moonless night over the darkest sea, stared at his mouth upon her wrist. Her sigh was soft. Her pulse raced.
    "I am not... I will not wound you," she said, slipping her wrist away from him.
    "Nay? You wound me even now," he said, looking deep into her eyes, "Can you not see the blood you spill, Elsbeth?"
    "Nay, I have not."
    "Then give me your hand again and let me feast upon the silk of your skin. I ask no more of you."
    "It is too much," she whispered, her gaze sliding to where Emma sat giggling beside Gautier.
    "Then I will not ask it of you," he said. "Give me only what you will, and I will learn to live with wounding."
    "Stop," she said, lowering her eyes. "I am not able to jest in this fashion."
    " 'Tis no jest," he said. " 'Tis only a husband speaking to his wife. A first husband to a first wife."
    She looked up at him then, and he could see the smile that hovered near her expressive eyes.
    "Only smile