to the demand of his questing tongue and it was her voice crying out her pleasure that brought his own release.
Edward watched her silently, a pale, still figure outlined against the wine-colored tapestry. His memory dimmed before the flesh-and-blood woman. She was here and so much more than any memory he could possibly evoke. He would not give her up again.
“You will hear me out,” he demanded, breaking the tension in the overheated room.
“Will I then have a choice?” she countered, turning to look at him.
“Aye.” He nodded. “I would not spoil what we had by taking you against your will.”
“Very well. Explain.” It was a mistake. Mairi knew it the moment she said it. She should never have agreed to hear him. He stood before her, just as he had in the beginning, in the courtyard of Traquair House, proud and vulnerable, the golden hawk-like ferocity of his gaze melting her anger. Firelight touched the planes of his cheeks and the silvery crown of his head. His eyes were bluer than she remembered and filled with troubled uncertainty. It was strange to think that the king of England had once told her that he loved her. Stranger still to realize that she had the power to refuse him. Mairi chewed the inside of her cheek and waited.
“My men and I were set upon by border reivers. I was wounded,” he began. “It would have been the height of foolishness to reveal my identity to anyone.” His voice was low and humble, the words haltingly forced from his lips. “Later, I was afraid.”
“Afraid? The mighty Hammer of the Scots afraid of a woman?”
He winced at the scorn in her words. How could he make her understand? Wetting his lips, he crossed the room to stand before her. “’Twas not fear for my person, Mairi. I was afraid you would deny me.”
“It was you who denied me,” she reminded him. “Aye, more than once.”
“I did it for you,” he burst out in frustration.
“I don’t believe you.”
“’Tis true.” His voice gentled. “God knows I am no monk. I will not lie, Mairi. You are not the only woman I’ve bedded outside of my marriage, but I swear, you are the only one I have loved.”
She didn’t speak, but she was listening. Her mouth had softened, and her arms were at her sides. She was so lovely. Edward ached to touch her.
“Why did you not tell me later?” she whispered.
The blood rushed to his cheeks, turning the sun-darkened skin even darker. “I am the king,” he said gruffly. “Sometimes a king forgets what it is to be a man.”
She stared at him for a long time, judging his words, weighing the truth in his soul. Then she smiled, the brilliant wide-toothed smile immortalized by the bards. “No one could ever doubt that you are a man, Your Grace.”
Stunned and speechless, he stared at her. Had he imagined her words? Could she possibly be so generous, so quick to forgive? “Mairi,” he asked in wonder, “can you trust me?”
She held out her hand, and he took it in both his own. “I made a scene tonight,” she said. “I’m dreadfully sorry.”
He grinned, lighthearted as a boy. “No matter. ’Tis a small price to pay to have you here with me.”
Her eyes widened. “But I am not with you, Edward. I came with David to ask the king’s”—she corrected herself—“your permission to marry. David Murray has waited an ungodly length of time for my answer. I can put him off no longer, nor would I even if it were possible. I am two and twenty, nearly past the age for childbearing. I want children of my own.”
“I’ll give you children.” He had not intended to say it, but there it was, out in the open between them. He would not take it back.
She stared at him in amazement. “Is that how you think of me?”
“’Tis not such a bad life, to be mistress to the king. I will take care of you, Mairi. You’ll have gold and jewels beyond your wildest dreams.”
“Our children would be bastards, tainted by our deed, condemned by holy church.”
“A royal bastard is not the same. I shall bestow titles and lands—”
“Stop.” She pressed her hand against his chest. “You say that you love me. ’Tis a poor sort of love you offer, Your Grace.”
“Once you didn’t think so.” His voice was low and intimate, evoking the memory of a night filled with warmth and magic.
Mairi closed her eyes against the