Borderland Beauty Read online

Oh God.

  Her father had Dominic pinned to the wall, his meaty fist grasping the cloth of his tunic as he glowered at him, his heavy jaw clenched with rage. Her mother stood beside them, feebly trying to persuade her husband to release Dominic.

  “Father, cease!” Lucy scurried over and placed herself on the other side of the pair.

  Dominic did not struggle and she suspected he could probably be free from her father’s grip with one swing if he wanted to.

  “I warned you, Thornewall,” her father roared. “I warned you not to play false.”

  “Father, pray stop,” Lucy begged, pulling on his arm. “I was as much to blame as he. I should not have even considered being alone with him.”

  Dominic’s brother must have heard the disturbance as he came bounding up the stairs. He watched them, his fists flexing. From what little she knew of him, he did not give the impression of being the violent type but he was a giant of a man. She did not wish to see her father hurt because of her folly.

  Dominic shook his head. “‘Twas my fault, my lord. I followed Lucy up.”

  Her father growled and drew back his fist. Her mother stepped sharply back, her eyes pleading with Lucy to do the same.

  “Nay!” Lucy shouted. “You will not harm him, he is our host. You would not assault a lord in his own home.”

  Her father flicked his eyes to her and they softened a fraction. She expelled a breath as he released Dominic with a dismissive shove. Dominic tugged his tunic back into place and offered her an apologetic look. She ignored it, instead reaching for her father’s hand and coaxing him away. She needed to put as much distance between the two men as possible. And, in truth, between her and Dominic.

  Her body still trembled with the after-effects of the kiss -- a kiss that should never have happened. Why she allowed it, why she pursued it, she knew not, but she could not let it happen again, no matter how divine it was.

  Lucy’s father eyed Dominic and she could feel the tension in his arm. Her father was as soft as they come with her, but she knew he had a reputation for being a fearsome warrior in his younger days. One wrong word and he would be back on Dominic in no time.

  “I will be taking my daughter home on the morrow,” her father ground out.

  Dominic straightened at this. “Nay! You cannot.”

  “You would presume to tell me what to do with my own daughter?”

  Lucy frowned as she observed the oddest expression come over Dominic’s face. A combination of desperation and uncertainty. Nay, surely she was mistaken, Lord Dominic had likely never been uncertain of a thing in his life.

  “Nay, I—”

  “Good. Then we shall leave after dawn.” Her father wrapped his arm around her shoulder and started to lead her away.

  “My lord,” Dominic called after them. “I wish to marry her.”

  Both Lucy and her father froze. He turned before she did. Had she heard him right? Her heart hammered in her ears. She faced him slowly, clasping her arms around herself as she studied his face. He drew his chin up, a quietly confident smile playing on his lips. Was he serious? There was nothing in his expression to make her doubt his words.

  “What did you just say?” she whispered.

  “What did you say, Thornewall?” her father bellowed.

  “I said I wish to marry her.”

  Her father tilted his head back and studied him. “Is that so?”

  “Aye, my lord.”

  “And you, Daughter, do you wish to marry him?”

  “I—” She glanced at her mother, who shrugged and then looked to the two men who were discussing her fate. She scowled. “Nay, of course not!”

  Giving Dominic a bitter smile, her father drew her back into his hold. “Well, there you have it, Thornewall, she will not have you. I warned you that I would not go through with this if you could not gain her good opinion.”

  Lucy held up a hand. “Wait. Go through with what?”

  “At least give me a chance to change your daughter’s mind. You owe me that much, Montgomery.”

  Stepping forward, her mother tugged her away from the two men but Lucy shrugged off her comforting hands. She would not stand idly by while two men discussed her future - a future that apparently they had previously deliberated.

  “I owe you naught,” Montgomery hissed. “Upon my return, I shall burn the contract and it will be as if it never existed.”

  Lucy stared at her father, bewildered. “Contract?”

  “So you would forget my mother’s wishes? And throw away the chance of an alliance between our two lands?” Dominic asked.

  Her mother curled her hands around her husband’s arms. “Come, dear, let’s at least sleep on this. Lucy and Dominic have spent little time with one another. I think it not a bad thing for them to pass some time together.”

  “Together?” her father spluttered. “You wish to leave our daughter with him?”

  Lucy barely resisted the urge to stamp her foot. “Do I not get a say in this? What is this talk of contracts and marriage? ‘Twas a kiss, Father, naught more. I should never have done it and I will pray heartily at church on the morrow to be forgiven for my ill behaviour, but it takes more than a kiss to make a marriage. Why do you talk as if you have already discussed the idea of joining our lands through marriage?”

  His face reddened and he cast his eyes down. “Forgive me, Lucy, I had not intended for you to find out this way.”

  “Find out what?”

  He sighed. “Many years ago we signed a contract for your betrothal to Lord Dominic.”

  “My b-betrothal?”

  “Aye. I hoped to see if there was a chance of fulfilling it by bringing you here.”

  Lucy looked to Dominic, her face heating. “Did you know of this?”

  Dominic nodded slowly. “Aye.”

  She stared at the two men, fisting her hands by her side until her knuckles hurt. Whirling back to her father, she fixed her father with a glare. “I expected this of him,” She flung her arm towards Dominic, “but not of you, Father.”

  Tears of humiliation stung her eyes and she spun on her heel, pushing past Jake and dashing down the stairs, out into the bitter night. She heard someone shout her name but she kept running until she reached the stone of the curtain wall. Pressing herself against the cold rock, she gathered her breath. How could they? Both of them plotting her future without her! Her stomach churned just thinking about it.

  Why had she never heard of this contract before? Sweet Mary, to think her future may have been planned out for her for years, even as she nurtured her hate of the arrogant lord.

  And now he wanted to marry her? What sort of twisted game was he playing? Mayhap it was for her dowry…but surely he was rich enough? Or for her father’s allegiance? Nay, Thornewall was powerful enough on its own. She tipped her head back and watched as her breath clouded across the stars. Of all the women he could choose, why would he possibly want her?

  ~* * *~

  Dominic dashed forward, calling her name but Jake stepped forward as Lucy’s father released a growl.

  “Let her be. You have apologies to make first.” Jake jerked his head towards Montgomery.

  Darting a look at Montgomery, he sighed and stepped back. “Aye, of course.”

  Moving around his brother, he fixed Montgomery with a sincere expression. The man glowered at him, his jaw clenched, and Dominic dragged a hand through his hair. Damn, he’d be lucky if he was ever allowed near his daughter again.

  But he had to see her. He needed her.

  He had not really intended to declare any intention of marrying Lucy - not yet at least. Aye, she was beautiful - breathtakingly beautiful - and she was quick-witted and intelligent, but he wanted to get to know her first. However, when Montgomery had threatened to take her, everything changed and wild desperation had gripped him. He could not let him take her away.

  “Montgomery, I need to see Lucy.”

  Montgomery’s nostrils flared and he opened his mouth to speak b
ut Lady Eleanor stepped gracefully forward. “Lord Dominic, I know my daughter and she will not take kindly to you while she is still angry. Give her time to gather herself, and then you may speak with her.”

  “Eleanor…” Montgomery growled.

  Ignoring her husband, she continued, “I will speak with her this night and help her understand the nature of this betrothal. I will try to persuade her not to act in haste but you must understand that Lucy is not like other lasses, she will not be courted easily. If you truly wish for her hand then it will not come effortlessly.”

  “I do,” he told her sincerely.

  And to his surprise, he found he did. More than anything, he wanted to make Lucy Montgomery his wife. He wanted to learn what made her smile, he wanted to discover how to make her laugh, he wanted to delve into that quick mind of hers until he had unlocked her every secret. He would have laughed at himself if it had not been for the three people who were watching him so closely. Who’d have thought it? Dominic of Thornewall bewitched by a lassie he’d known all of one evening. And one that hated him at that.

  But he’d soon change that. That kiss…that kiss gave him hope.

  Eleanor turned to her husband. “Come, Walter, let us away. We will speak more on this on the morrow.”

  The man narrowed his eyes at Dominic. “You had better be sincere in your wish to marry her, Thornewall, or you shall have me to answer to.”

  Eleanor gave a sharp cough. “Walter, come now.”

  He glanced at his wife and his shoulders softened somewhat. “Aye, as you will.”

  Dominic and Jake watched as she led Montgomery away, whispering - most likely - calming words to him.

  “Well this is a fine mess you’ve got yourself into, Brother. What compelled you to kiss her? What compelled you to state your intention to marry her? I thought you wanted to get to know her first.”

  Dominic rubbed at his neck as he looked up at his brother. “Aye, I know. But you’ve seen her, Jake. How could I let a woman like that slip through my fingers?”

  Jake’s expression twisted and he cursed inwardly. Jake had let go of Isabel once and Dominic knew he still regretted ever leaving her.

  Finally, his brother nodded. “She is a fine woman, indeed, but it takes more than a bonny face to run a keep. You know naught of her. And you really believe you could settle down with a woman you barely know? Brother, you rarely bed the same woman twice.”

  “I know ‘tis strange, but I have to have her.”

  Jake studied him for a moment. “You are sure this is not just the thrill of the hunt?”

  It wasn’t, was it? He shook his head firmly. “Nay, of course not, you think me a fool?”

  “Many men become fools around a beautiful lass.”

  “Ack, well, not I. When have I ever lost my head around a lass?”

  “Until now? Never.”

  “I have not lost my head.”

  Jake laughed at his affronted expression. “Ha, fear not, I shall not let it be known that the calm, composed Lord of Thornewall has been brought to his knees by a mere lassie.”

  “You take pleasure in my problems, Jake?”

  “Aye, mayhap a little. Though I do not envy you Montgomery’s wrath. Watch your step, little brother, for as old as he is, he is still a fierce warrior. I would not wish to make an enemy of him.”

  “I will tread carefully, I assure you.”

  Though he suspected he would have to tread most carefully around Lucy. But one step wrong and she would deny him again. Her denial of him already made his heart ache and yet he realised that she was behaving with more sense than he was. Well, he would change that soon enough. He wanted her as mindless with lust as he was.

  Jake clasped a big hand over his shoulder and gave him a pointed look. “See that you do. I shall be returning to Greycroft on the morrow and I’ll not be here to watch your back.”

  “I know you think me incapable of managing Thornewall without you, but I have managed well enough while you have been pandering to your wife.”

  “She is with child!” Jake protested. “Of course I am pandering to her.”

  “Aye, and knowing Izzy, she is glad to have you out from under her feet. I doubt she appreciates you fussing over her.”

  Jake grinned. “Aye, mayhap you are right, but if ever you have need of aid, you know that I will not fail you. I owe you much.”

  “Ack, you owe me naught. You and Izzy would have found a way to be together eventually. Let us hope that Lucy will come around soon and I shall have no more need of your assistance.” He scowled as his brother’s grin widened. Ack, he would show him. He would win Lucy over and he would not make a fool of himself in doing so. He chuckled to himself. No more than he already had, at least.

  ~* * *~

  Flinching as she heard soft footsteps behind her, Lucy clenched her fists by her side and turned to face the intruder. Her stomach dropped when she realised it was her mother invading the solitude of her chambers. But who else did you want it to be? her mind taunted.

  “Lucy,” her mother started tentatively as she stepped around the bed to join her at the window.

  “What do you want, Mother? Have you come to talk me into marriage to that man?”

  “Nay, my love, of course not. But I will ask you to at least sleep on it.”

  Lucy snorted. “That is surely one and the same.”

  “Your father kept the contract a secret because he did not wish to pressure you. Neither he nor I will force you to do aught against your will, surely you must know that?”

  “Aye,” she muttered. “I know that.”

  “Then give Lord Dominic time. This contract has come as a surprise to him as well.”

  Lucy traced the window absently with her finger, following the dark line of iron between each pane. “Why have we not heard of this before?”

  “You know well enough of Lord Dominic’s repute and your father is protective of you.”

  She turned to face her mother and crossed her arms over her chest. “And you, Mother? Do you not fear for your daughter’s virtue at the hands of such a man?”

  Eleanor let out a light laugh. “There are far worse things in the world than a man with notoriety. Exaggerated notoriety, at that.”

  Lucy pursed her lips as she thought on her mother’s words. Exaggerated? From what she had seen, he was wholly capable of seducing every woman in the borderlands…including herself. If a man had the ability to bed a woman with little more than a few words and sweet touches, then surely he would.

  Her mother continued. “I will ask that you remain here for the festivities. Naught will happen while I am here to chaperone you—”

  “Naught? Did you not see him kiss me? You did little to prevent that!”

  Eleanor arched an eyebrow. “Aye, and I did not see you protest overmuch either, my dear.”

  “Well, I…I…” Lucy spluttered.

  Her mother gave her a knowing smile. “Lord Dominic is a virile man and few women could resist. He is quite taken with you and I think, if you allowed yourself, you would find that he has many virtues. Virtues, I’d wager, that far outweigh his faults.”

  “Mother!”

  “There are few faultless men in this world, Lucy, and even fewer with the charm and looks of Lord Dominic. Be civil and keep an open mind. Should you find you still despise him by the end of our stay then we shall speak on it no more.”

  Gritting her jaw, Lucy eyed her mother who returned her stare with a bold one of her own. For all her mother’s gentle manners, her strength of will far exceeded her own. And Lucy considered herself to be as stubborn as they come.

  Lucy huffed. “As you will, then. But I warn you, Mother, do not expect a love match from this. I know not why Lord Dominic has expressed an interest in me, but I would not presume to believe that a man like Dominic of Thornewall is capable of loving one woman, especially one like myself. And I would not wish for that love, for what more could I expect than heartbreak? Nay, loving a man like him is su
rely a dangerous thing indeed.”

  “Mayhap you are right, my love, but not loving at all is surely far worse.”

  Lucy could not resist the twitch of her lips as her mother’s face took on a dreamy haze. “Oh, Mother, would that we were all as romantic as you. The world would surely be a far better place for it.”

  Her mother gave her an indulgent smile. “‘Twould not do you any harm to be more romantic, Lucy. Just be open to possibilities, that is all I ask.”

  “I am staying, am I not?”

  Her mother stepped over and enfolded her into her arms. Lucy bristled initially but eventually relaxed into her mother’s hold and patted affectionately at her back.

  “I’m only doing this for you, Mother,” Lucy mumbled against her shoulder.

  “I know, dear. Will you do me one last favour?”

  Lucy stiffened. “What?”

  She drew back and grinned. “Appease your father. He is ready to take Dominic’s head off.”

  Chapter Four

  Spotting the gentle swing of Lucy's fair hair, Dominic hurried after her as she walked behind her parents towards the stables. He paused for a moment to watch the outline of her hips underneath her mantle. Even under the thick wool, her generous hips were visible. Ack, what was he doing? He should be proving himself a better man.

  For the first time since his brother’s marriage, he wished Jake was here, but he had left in the early hours, hurrying back to be with his wife for Christmas. For all his surly manners, Jake had managed to win over Isabel. Dominic snorted. As if he wanted relationship advice from his big brother.

  Shaking his head, he caught up to Lucy. He didn't miss the stiffening of her shoulders as he came to her side but she refused to acknowledge his presence, keeping her gaze fixed on her mount as the stable hand brought it forward.

  Dominic motioned impatiently to the young lad and he scurried off to get his master’s mount. Dominic didn’t want to give Lucy the chance to ride off without him. She avoided him at the morning meal, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to miss this opportunity.

  “Good morrow,” he greeted her when it was clear she was intent on ignoring him.

  “Good morrow, my lord,” she replied stiffly, not even turning to face him.