Passion's Twins by Dee Brice

Author:Dee Brice
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ellora's Cave Publishing Inc.
Published: 2014-03-05T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Yvonne’s Solar

“They are your brothers, Gareth,” Yvonne muttered. “You deal with them.”

“You are ruler here, Yvonne. ‘Tis your duty to deal with the four of them,” he said quietly.

“Pfft!”

Grinning, Gareth merely quirked a dark brow. But—hidden beneath her full skirts—he gently squeezed her hand.

Sighing, she folded both hands in her lap, studying the two couples standing before her. Gerard and Edgar she caught unawares. They looked as if they wished to be in hell rather than here. At the same time they kept darting apologetic glances at the twins. As well they should!

But Yvonne noticed that—even though the twins wore identical gowns of sky blue silk, had their hair coiled in flaxen braids atop their heads and had never looked so much alike—each man looked at the woman of his heart and ignored the other.

Despite their defiant posture, Yvonne noted the sadness in the twins’ eyes, the downward curl of their lips, the occasional grazing of their hands as if they sought solace in each other’s touch. Their red-rimmed eyes bespoke of countless tears. Which had forced Yvonne to this damnable confrontation.

She had tried to warn them of the consequences of their games—heartbreak being the most painful of all. But how much had she contributed to this dilemma when she warned them to expect more tricks from the men? And how much had Gareth contributed? He must have lectured his brothers or at least counseled them.

Now was not the time to fix blame.

“Ladies. Gentlemen.” The sarcasm in her voice brought their startled gazes to her face. “Although I regret the decision I have reached, I see no other course. You will marry a sennight hence.”

A chorus of “no” followed her proclamation. She noticed, however, that all four miscreants looked relieved. Perhaps they would learn to deal with each other after all. Given their pasts, it would take some hard work on all their parts. But faint hearts never won the war between the sexes. As she had good reason to know.

“I would prefer that you never see each other again. Since the ladies may be carrying your babies, gentlemen, I see no other alternative. You have made your beds, now you must lie in them.

“The delay in your marriage will allow Rowena and Edina’s parents time to return to Marchonland.”

“How…?” Edina heeded Yvonne’s frown.

Rowena did not. “How can you reach them in time? Beaufort lies two days’ hard ride from here and two days’ hard ride to return. And our parents won’t travel without a full retinue. Which will make their journey far longer.”

“It has to do with Marchon’s defenses, which I’ll not discuss with you,” Yvonne said in her most queenly voice.

Gareth raised his voice, saying, “You’d better think of a way to explain this hasty marriage. One that won’t force me to find allies other than the twins’ parents.”

“Before you go,” Yvonne said, her voice cold, “you are not to see each other until the wedding. Any communications between you will be written and routed through Gaspar and Aida.

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