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not ready for such an honor. I need time to—to prepare myself, to learn the proper lessons to become a wife! I am unworthy, I would surely disgrace the earl if married now!”
    There was a pause as her father blinked down at her incredulously, as if seeing her for the very first time.
    Redmond spoke softly in his velvet voice, but had overtaken her hand again. He pressed against it heavily. “Is that a threat, Solange?”
    “No.” She shook her head at him, trying futilely to escape his grip. “Not a threat, sir, a fact!”
    Henry scowled. “Enough, child! You have had a full sixteen years to learn the ways to become a properwife. Your maidenly
modesty
”—his emphasis on the word said clearly he doubted it was such—“is becoming, but this course has been planned and laid for many months now. You will become the wife of Redmond. He is a nobleman of excellent stock, equal to our own. His lands march along with mine for a good long border before splitting off. Our families will be united, as will our armies.” Her father considered her thoughtfully for a moment, then shook his head.
    “You should be grateful I have done so well for you, daughter. You will be the mistress of your own castle, and several smaller manors. Your sons will inherit a great combined estate.”
    A tight band of pressure across her chest was making it difficult for her to breathe, impossible to think. She had to leave, she had to find Damon. He would right things for her. He always did. She could not outwit the two of them by herself.
    “I must go—” She began to rise from the table.
    The earl pulled her back down beside him with a grip of steel at her elbow. He was smiling at her gently as he crushed the flesh at the tender crease of her arm. Haltingly she obeyed him, furious at his show of force, more furious at her inability to stop him.
    “Solange,” he said softly. “Look at me.”
    He waited, then took his other hand to physically turn her face to his. He was careful not to bruise her cheeks.
    Solange met his eyes reluctantly, keeping her chin tucked down. The curious sense of light-headedness enveloped her again, the haze of him now surroundingthem both. The earl gave her a wide, attractive smile. He had large teeth.
    “An angel so lovely should not spoil her looks with disagreeable tempers. It is neither becoming, nor wise. You are a true beauty, Solange. You may depend upon me to see to it that you are always thus.” The grip on her cheeks became a caress. “You will see me tomorrow morning bright and fair, as a blushing bride is always eager to meet her husband.”
    Once more it seemed to her that his eyes had no color, no life of their own, yet they held her spellbound, drew her into their bottomless depths.
    “You will be there, Solange. I promise it.”
    His thumb traced the outline of her lower lip in a terrible parody of the loving stroke Damon had given her earlier. Redmond leaned down toward her, his fingers now framing her mouth.
    She pulled away, shaking her head. “You go too fast, my lord.” Her cheeks flared bright red, not with embarrassment, but anger. She gestured mutely to the attentive crowd below them.
    The earl followed the wave of her hand, then sighed. “Perhaps you are right. We will save the fastness, then, for another time.”
    She stood quickly, before either man could think of something else to stay her. “I would retire early, Father.”
    Henry stared at her, then at the earl. His face was inscrutable. “Go, then. Tomorrow will be busy enough.”
    She dipped a careless curtsy in the general direction of them both, then fled the great hall. The earlwatched her slender form silently, noting the naturally graceful sway of her hips, the proud set of her shoulders.
    “She will be there,” he said again quietly.
    “Aye,” said her father.

Chapter Two

    S he could not get warm. The fire had died in her chambers while she was gone, leaving only smoldering embers in the bed of the fireplace.