Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 97127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
“Magnus did a splendid job of hiding you.”
“Then suddenly he discovered my whereabouts after eleven long years?” She shook her head. “It does not make sense.”
“He has men who he sends out in search of people.”
“No one knew of my real identity except Magnus. The man and woman he left me with were told that I was orphaned and needed a home. Magnus offered them money to take me in and they gladly did. My presence made their life easier. Coins would cease if I was gone.”
“Or perhaps they were more richly compensated for providing Decimus with information.”
Mary shook her head again. “They grew to care for me. They would never want to see me harmed.”
“Coins can loosen the tongue.”
“I do not think that Decimus would pay for information. Torture is more his way, gaining him whatever information he seeks. His discovery of me does not make sense.”
Michael reached out to lay his glove-covered hand on her arm. “Do not hunt for things that could be harmful to you.”
“Do you actually expect me to wed him and do nothing but submit?”
“For your safety? Aye, I do.”
“My fate is sealed once I exchange vows with him. I will not spend my life in fear, nor be imprisoned by his ignorance. I will do what I must to survive and to find a way to make my time with him productive.”
“Productive?”
“I wish to help you—”
He attempted to protest but she silenced him with a quick raising of her hand.
“Do not waste your breath on me. I will do what I can to help those I can.”
“And find yourself suffering,” he said exasperated.
“I cannot completely surrender my will. I would rather die.”
“You would place yourself in danger helping the innocent?”
“I am in danger now.”
“Free yourself of that danger,” he said. “When you wed Decimus obey him until another way can be found to free you.”
She shook her head adamantly. “And how long do I obey? Weeks? Months? Years? Until I lose myself completely to him? I cannot.”
“You are stubborn.”
“A trait we share.” She laughed.
He grabbed her chin. “How can you find humor in all this?”
“That is easy,” she said softly. “I find humor in it all because you loved me. I shared true love with you and because of you I know its joys and pleasures, and no one, not even Decimus with all his power, can take that from me.”
Michael knew not how to respond.
She reached beneath his mask to touch his face. “Do you know when I touch you that I ache for us to make love?”
“Mary, listen to me—”
“Only if you tell me you will make love to me.”
“You are willful—”
“Aye, which does not make me a docile wife, though I can convince Decimus otherwise.”
He released her chin and pointed a finger at her. “You will—”
Love me,” she said and nipped at his finger.
“Mary it is important that we—”
“Make love,” she finished, and laughing, jumped at him toppling him to the ground.
He grabbed hold of her. “We will talk.”
“Later,” she said and wiggled her body against his.
“You are—”
“Hungry for your kisses.”
Before Mary knew what happened he had her off the ground, in his arms, and was walking to the willow tree. He spread the thick weeping branches with his shoulder, and without removing one stitch of clothing, he made love to her beneath the willow tree.
Chapter 19
It seemed as if the heavens obliged them that night. A cloud drifted over the half moon, blocking out what light there was and leaving their sleeping nook in total darkness. They were like shadows in the night, barely visible to the eye.
Time was closing in on them, the hours slipping by until it would be morning and their time together done. They had made love often and Mary burned every second of it into memory.
Now snuggled in his arms, her leg over his, her hand on his chest, she felt content. In a few short hours that would change, and how she would say goodbye to him she did not know. She did not want to think about it, for it caused her heart to ache and her stomach to churn.
“I love you more than I ever thought possible, Mary.”
His soft declaration brought a tear to her eye. “Something we have in common, for I never thought I would love someone as strongly as I love you, Michael.”
“How do I let you go?”
“I thought the same of you, but we have no choice.” Her tear dropped on his chest.
“Damn,” he whispered, then eased her off him, leaned over and kissed her tears away. “I will find a way for us, Mary, I promise.” He kissed another falling tear.
“I know, Michael, I know, but for now just love me.”
They loved slowly and gently, savoring every touch and kiss, lingering as if they wished the moment would last forever. When it was done, their bodies misted with their lovemaking, they wrapped around each other tightly and slept.