Nora and the Duke of Autumn: A Nora Grayson Adventure (The Nora Grayson Adventures Book 2) by A.J. Maguire

Author:A.J. Maguire [Maguire, A.J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-08-06T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Three

It took relatively little time for Lord Morgasse to draft a small contract for Cade to sign, but Lady Morgasse took full advantage of every second she had. Servants bustled in and out of the room, clearing off the medicine table, making off with the dirty linens, and otherwise tidying the space. A bouquet of vibrant purple and gold flowers arrived and were placed prominently on the table, complete with an ivory porcelain vase.

The economy with which Lady Morgasse worked was impressive. By the time Cade had signed the waiver, she had him in a clean coat – borrowed from his lordship and too large, but the lady insisted it was better than his own soiled coat – and managed to blanket me in a knitted, pale purple shawl. There was some painful jostling as she and the servants propped pillows around my hips and sides, but when they were finished I was sitting mostly upright instead of craned sideways in the chair.

Cade knelt on one knee before me, his expression far more anxious than I would have liked. Perhaps he was doubting his ability, or maybe he realized he was going to be stuck with me for a year and a day. Handfasting was only meant to be temporary, but that was still a long time.

My stomach flipped.

Handfasting.

Marriage.

Temporary it might be, but that didn’t make it a light matter. Fusing magic together for a year would have lasting effects. I knew some couples who claimed they could still feel their first wives or husbands through the bonds made, a sort of phantom relationship shadowing their lives.

Cade smiled at me, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and there was, I thought, a hint of shyness in that smile. “Are you ready?” he asked.

“Are you… sure?” I asked, around another wave of agony.

He grimaced a little, his gaze flicking to the dart still embedded in my skin, but his expression smoothed once my shoulders relaxed. “I would give you warnings about the family you’re marrying into, but you already know the worst of it.”

Surprised, I huffed a laugh.

His smile deepened and he reached to take my left hand. I let him.

With smooth, fluid grace, he bent and lifted my hand, pressing a kiss to my palm. Lord Morgasse was there, leaning over with the dagger to nick the skin at the base of my thumb. There was a sharp sting followed by a burning sensation as blood welled around the injury. Then Morgasse made an identical cut in Cade’s palm, right next to the bandage covering his other injury, and our hands were pressed together.

The ribbon wound over our joined hands and draped over our wrists, its purple satin strangely stark against his pale skin. My own olive tone was less startling against the ribbon, and I stared for a moment at the little golden bells embroidered in its fabric.

Maker help me, I was getting married.

Lord Morgasse lifted his hand and through the aether there was a great pooling of magic.

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