Pestilence's Cure, page 22
To her surprise, Jason followed her into the kitchen and poured their tea while she fussed with the plate of scones. Setting jam and cream on the table, she asked, “Did you come to see my humiliation so you could tell your father?”
A flash of hurt darkened his brown eyes. “I followed to make sure you were all right. My father will never trouble you again,” Jason replied. “I think between me and your husband-to-be, we’ve convinced him of the error of his ways.”
She felt horrible for her unkind words. Jason wouldn’t do such a thing. Laying her hand atop his, she said, “I’m sorry I said that. It was an awful thing to say. But what makes you think I should marry Denforth? By his own admission, he—”
“Came back when you needed him most, Lily.” Ignoring the scones and tea, he squeezed her hand. “He’s bought a special license, and left my father in a bleeding heap for you.”
“I rather think you did that.”
“No, I started it. Duke Denforth finished.” Shuddering, he added, “I don’t know that I’d have gone that far, but perhaps my father has learned his lesson.”
Lily split a scone and spread jam on it. Her appetite had fled, despite her earlier hunger. “I’ve already said I’ll marry him. I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see if he stays for the wedding.”
“He’ll be there when you’re ready,” Jason said.
Why was Jason so sure of that? She couldn’t join him in his faith. But perhaps being known as a termagant would be better than being known as a whore. At least this time, she’d have done what people accused her of.
Myrddin wiped the blood from his face. He ignored the shrieking woman in the chair, and grinned. What a magnificent creature his Lily was! Untaught, she’d pulled a thread of his magic away, keeping it for her own to give her enough strength to punch him. And she’d done a bloody fine job of it, to boot.
He held his handkerchief to his face and surreptitiously pushed his broken nose back into place, using a touch of magic to heal the break as Moses and Liam tried to hold back their laughter. Fates, it had been centuries since he’d seen such a powerful familiar. It was no wonder Angeline had wanted her.
“…and I cannot believe my daughter struck you! I swear to you, we brought her up better than that!”
“Do be quiet, Mrs. Archer. I deserve Lily’s wrath, but she’s given me a bit of a headache.”
The older woman scowled, but held her peace. He thanked the heavens for small blessings as he, Moses, and Liam walked outside to wait for his bride to return.
When the door shut behind them, Liam let his laughter burst forth. “I shouldn’t laugh, old friend, but the look on your face when that tiny girl punched you…” He sputtered and snorted, his giggles increasing until he had to lean against the side of the house.
“It was a surprise, to be sure,” he murmured.
“You’re not upset?” Moses asked, looking at him speculatively.
“No, I quite deserved her abuse.” He sniffed and rubbed at his sore nose. “Although it is my hope she will keep her fists to herself after we marry.”
Nodding, Moses said, “She seems a dutiful and obedient girl under normal circumstances.” Wrinkling his nose, he added, “I didn’t expect her to have such a sweet disposition, given her mother’s appalling behavior.”
When he got his laughter under control, Liam said, “I like her. She has pretty manners, and it was a delight to see her give you your comeuppance.”
Myrddin sighed and shook his head. Truly, he’d been shocked at Lily’s obviously uncharacteristic fit of temper. Rather than making him leery of marrying her, it only made him more intent upon having her as his wife. Despite her softness, he saw an iron will under the façade of a pale English rose. “We have something to attend to while we wait for my bride to get ready,” he said.
“Oh?” Moses asked. “We’ll stand with you, and you’ve got a ring for her. What else do we need?”
“We need to investigate her garden,” Myrddin said, gesturing for them to follow as he led the way toward the blackberry bushes. “I found a nasty bit of magic in there last night that seems to siphon its health, and Lily’s, too, I believe.”
“Whose is it?” Liam asked, his eyes intent upon Myrddin’s.
“I think it might be a stray from Angeline. She scattered magic everywhere without considering the consequences, but I didn’t have time to investigate it when I was here last. Regardless,” he said, walking toward the garden, “I need to make sure it’s neutralized so it can’t hurt anyone.”
“If it was Angeline’s, it will fade in good time,” Moses said.
“But what if it isn’t?” Liam asked.
“Once we have Lily safely in our home, I’ll come back and take care of it.” Yet when they reached the wall where the sick plants were, the spell had moved to another section of the garden. The plants had been pruned of blighted leaves, and when he tasted the fruit of the blackberry vine, he found it sweet. Lily’s small footprints went back and forth through the beds, and he could see divots where she’d knelt to care for the injured foliage.
“The spell was here before, but now it’s moved.” As he pointed to the burgeoning blight on a climbing rosebush, he heard conversation from the lane and stood, cutting off his investigation when Lily’s maid approached with the reverend.
He had suspicions about the nature of the foul enchantment that sickened this garden, but it didn’t make sense that one of the dark Sidhe would set a spell in a place inhabited by a young woman, especially one with a small trace of light Sidhe blood. Why would the dark Sidhe bother with Lily Archer, especially when it would likely raise the ire of King Omer? King Teran of the dark Sidhe wouldn’t stand for any risk to the fragile peace existing between them.
“You should ask that dragon you’re carrying about,” Liam whispered as the reverend walked toward the house. “He might know something.”
Once Lily’s maid had escorted the reverend inside, Myrddin turned to Liam. “Drako sleeps, as he has for almost a thousand years. He has no interest in conversation,” Myrddin replied, unwilling to admit that he’d entertained the idea himself. However, it was always the wisest course of action to let sleeping dragons lie, even if the dragon’s massive bulk rested across his shoulders.
A quietly shut door and footsteps on the gravel heralded Jason coming to join them. His lips twitched into a smile as he approached, his large hands tucked behind his back. By the time he got to the small group, he’d erased the expression from his face. But then Liam snorted, his face turning pink as he tried to hold the laughter inside.
Myrddin looked on in disgust mixed with amusement as the younger men collapsed to a marble bench next to a blooming rose bush. Leaning against each other, they laughed helplessly.
“Did you see his face?” Liam asked. “She popped his nose like a tomato!”
“We shouldn’t be laughing at a duke, you know,” Jason whispered.
“You’re laughing, too.”
“I can’t help it,” Jason replied, wiping his eyes with a handkerchief. “Lily is so tiny. I never realized she had it in her!” Sobering, he stood and held his hand out to Myrddin. “I believe that Lily made her displeasure quite clear, Your Grace.”
“Indeed,” Myrddin replied. He’d left the swelling around his nose to avoid raising suspicion. It would fade in a few hours, and he had no interest in explaining why a bloody nose had suddenly repaired itself. “She has a bit of a temper, doesn’t she?”
Jason smiled fondly as he looked toward the house. “Yes,” he replied. “It’s astonishing because it’s so rare, but when she finally explodes, it’s best to get out of the way.”
“I see.”
Turning back to face Myrddin, his expression went flat and sober. “Her fury is nothing compared to what mine will be if I ever learn you’ve hurt her. I will make what we did to my father look like a Sunday stroll, and I don’t give a damn if you’re a duke or the Crown Prince himself.”
“I have no intention of ever hurting her, Mr. Martin.” Leaning closer, Myrddin asked in a soft whisper, “Did you love her that much?”
Jason shook his head. “Yes, but not as a husband should love his wife. Lily has been one of my dearest friends since childhood.” He rubbed his chin and added, “Elizabeth Stratton as well, I suppose. Lily gave us both a place to hide when our parents became unmanageable.”
Myrddin had no fear of the young man, of course. Despite his size, he was no match for a mage. Yet it cost him nothing to reassure Jason, and perhaps it would please his soon-to-be wife. It also gave him some insight into her character, and he wasn’t unhappy with what he found. “She has a very good friend in you. I think she would be happy if you write to her, and it would be my honor to have you visit us after we’re settled.”
“We’ll see, Your Grace.” He smiled and shook his head. “I’m just a simple cooper, and I doubt I’d fit in a duke’s household. But if it will please Lily, I’ll visit.” Glancing back at the house, his eyes lit up when he saw Lily’s maid waving at them. “It looks like it’s time for me to give away the bride.”
Myrddin and his companions followed him back to the house. It was surprising how quickly a confirmed bachelor would jump into the parson’s mousetrap for the right woman. He wondered if the young Countess Shepton would be amused by his choice. More likely, she’d be furious.
Without another word, they walked into the parlor. He stopped, his hand on the doorframe as he stared at his wife-to-be. Her honey blonde hair hung to her waist in loose curls, and was held back with ivory combs. Her blue dress was a perfect match for her spitefully glittering eyes. The capped sleeves and heart shaped bodice revealed several bruises on her pale skin, and he wanted to slit Caine Martin’s throat.
Ignoring the stares and sour expressions from everyone in attendance, save himself, Liam, and Moses, he walked toward her and bowed over her hand. “I’ve never seen a more beautiful bride. I am honored beyond measure to call you my wife.”
Will Lily forgive her handsome duke? Find out in Wicked Truth available FREE wherever ebooks are sold.
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Raisa Greywood, Pestilence's Cure
