Johanna Lindsey by Defy Not the Heart

Author:Defy Not the Heart [Heart, Defy Not the]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Romance, Historical, Fiction, General, Love Stories, England
ISBN: 9780727855466
Google: WTGiPwAACAAJ
Amazon: 0380752999
Publisher: Avon
Published: 1989-05-31T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-four

Reina's good spirits had returned somewhat by the time they crossed over Clydon's first drawbridge. Her guests had enjoyed good sport, even if she had not. They were still quite merry. They had returned early enough to refresh themselves ere they sat down to another feast that was awaiting them. And most would be leaving after that, to take advantage of the rest of the afternoon to get back to their own homes. Cly don could then return to normal, at least by the morrow, which would be a welcome relief.

As much as Reina usually enjoyed company, insisting her guests stay as long as they liked, this time she did not. She needed some time alone to acclimate herself to this drastic change in her life. She had even thought of a way to get rid of her husband for a while, if he would only agree.

But she was not to get rid of all the guests, did in fact have a new one, as she saw when she entered the hall with the hunting party. John de Lascelles rose from the bench by the hearth, where Lady Elaine had been having a conversation with him, and crossed the hall to meet Reina halfway.

Her own step had slowed. She felt raw anger at first sight of him, for at the moment she was none too pleased with her choice of husband, and John could have changed all that if he had just arrived one week sooner. One cursed week! Then she felt contrition.

He had his own troubles in taking over his brother's lands. She could not blame hers on him, no matter how much she wanted to blame them on someone. And she was forgetting that Ranulf was her choice, and for all the reasons that were important. It was just her misfortune that she was beginning to dislike him personally.

Aside from those feelings, Reina was glad to see her old friend, for it had been more than a year since he had visited Clydon. He had lost weight in that time he could ill afford to lose, and looked a bit pale, but otherwise the same. His green eyes still revealed a tenderhearted nature, his expression warm with delight to see her. She summoned a warm smile for him, too, and returned his brief embrace of greeting.

"Lady Elaine tells me good wishes are in order, Reina. Was this the urgency implied in your letter, a summons to witness your marriage?"

Reina accepted this excuse gladly. "Indeed. I had so wished you could have attended the wedding."

She immediately regretted the choice of those words and their double meaning, which she had not intended, but which was apparent when she heard her steward smother a snort. She noticed Theo leaning nonchalantly against the wall and saw him roll his eyes. Simon and Guiot turned quickly away to hide their expressions.

But what else could she have said? John might have been thrilled at the idea of having her to wife, especially since the power behind Clydon could have more easily alleviated his present difficulties.

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