He took hold of her finger. “I would wed you as fast as I could and forever keep you mine.”
She locked her fingers with his and held them firm. “Then know this now, this moment, this day, I pledge my love to you. I will give my love to no other, my heart is yours, my soul is yours, and I am yours forever and always.”
“We exchange vows then here and now, I pledge my love to you. My heart and soul are yours now and beyond time. I give them freely to you. I will keep your love safe in my heart and see that no harm comes to it, and I swear by our love that I will see no harm come to you.”
They kissed to seal their vows and Mary felt at peace. It did not matter now what vows she exchanged with Decimus for she had already exchanged vows with Michael. In her heart Michael was her husband forever and always.
“Sleep,” he said and held her tight.
She knew he did not wish to say goodbye again, and he would leave her in sleep as he did the last time. She wanted to ask when she would see him again, but kept silent. She was content at this moment and she would leave it so.
She snuggled against him and fell asleep with a peaceful heart.
Morning dawned with beautiful skies and Reena asked Mary to join her as she walked the woods to draw plants. Old Margaret the healer had asked Reena if she would record the plants and their properties so that she could teach others her skills.
Mary was thrilled to participate in Reena’s project and glad to be away from the keep and Decimus. It would also give her time alone to talk with Reena.
Mary dressed in the plain skirt and blouse Glenda had given her. She felt comfortable in the clothes; they were who she was. The richer materials did not suit her, and she was uncomfortable wearing them.
Her wedding dress held no interest. She was grateful Brigid had the project well in hand.
After she slipped on her soft leather boots and grabbed her brown shawl in case the weather should change, Mary left her room and hurried down the steps to meet Reena at Old Margaret’s cottage.
At the bottom of the steps she turned the corner and ran into Decimus. Their bodies hit, and Decimus reached out to grab her arms and steady them.
She almost recoiled from the sweet scent that permeated the air around him. She could not quite place the scent, though she had smelled it on him before, but not as strongly. The strength in which he held her reminded her of his power and how truly imprisoned she was.
The thought made her want to flee.
“In a hurry?”
Had he sensed her eagerness to be gone from him?
She kept her calm, not wanting to diminish her chance of joining Reena for her outing. “Aye, my lord.”
“Where do you go?”
She should have known he would want to know her whereabouts. Would he question her plans? Not if he did not know them.
“I go to meet Reena.”
“Good, you work on plans for the wedding.”
If he said so that was fine with her.
“I wish to talk with you later.”
“Have I done something to offend?” she asked, not wanting to concern herself with the reason for their talk.
“It is time for you to know exactly what I expect of you as my wife.”
Mary nodded. “As you wish.” It would be better for him to detail her duties, then she would know what to expect and how to behave, and how she could use both to her advantage.
She lowered her head, averting her eyes from his, and waited for him to dismiss her.
To her surprise he slipped his finger under her chin and lifted her head until their eyes met.
“Tell me, Mary, have you ever kissed a man?”
He played with her and she intended to win the game.
“My lord,” she said, spreading her eyes wide. “It would not be proper to kiss a man who is not your husband.”
His nostrils flared; she had won.
“Go, I will speak with you later.”
“Have a good day, my lord,” she said with a slight bow of her head and stepped around him, keeping her pace unhurried, though she wished to run. She did not want him to know she wanted nothing more than to escape his presence.
“Mary!”
His booming voice stopped her cold, shivers running through her. She turned reluctantly and he waited for her to return to his side. She walked over to him.
“My lord?”
“Why do you wear peasant clothes?”
Her hands grabbed at the sides of her plain brown skirt. Her mind thought fast. “Reena and I are foraging the woods for flowers and greenery appropriate for my headdress. I did not wish to soil or ruin my fine garments.”