Page 7 of War King's Treasure

“Gavin, your brother said to tell you to meet them in the courtyard. He’ll have your horse saddled and ready to go.” This was from Theo’s wife. If her memory was right, the woman was named Jo and was the sister of Rory’s husband, War King Jamie Drake.

“Sounds like someone is requesting your presence,” Nori muttered. “You should take advantage of that. Not everyone does.”

Gavin laughed, spun her around until she faced him, then lowered his head and kissed her. Not a chaste peck either. He used his thumb on her chin to tug her mouth open then swept in and consumed her. There was no other way to describe it. She wasn’t even sure when he broke away. Her eyes were still closed. Her legs threatening to collapse beneath her. Until she felt the tap of his hand against her buttock. Her eyes flew open and met the devilment in his gaze.

“I’ll be back soon, and we’ll spend the afternoon together,” he promised.

“Take your time,” she told him but doubted it came out the way she intended since she was breathless from his kiss.

“Miss me,” he ordered then turned and walked away, giving her another pat on the butt. Why? So, she’d think about the spanking he’d threatened her with? Good lord, he would drive her insane.

“Are you okay?” Rory asked, rising from the table.

“Sit,” Jo ordered her. “Jamie will kill me if you get up and walk around when you were dizzy this morning.”

“You were dizzy?” Nori asked, finally moving to join them.

“I was bent over, throwing up, and stood too fast,” Rory said. “My husband worries and is driving me crazy. So crazy this might be the only child we have.”

Jo snorted. “Good luck with that.”

“You’re pregnant? How exciting! I’ve always dreamed of having a family,” Nori admitted as she took a seat. A servant immediately placed food and drink before her.

“Gavin will make an amazing father,” Rory told her with a smile. “And the two of you will have beautiful children.”

“Oh.” Nori shook her head. “No.”

Rory and Jo exchanged a look.

“He’s your husband,” Jo reminded her. “Once your marriage is consummated, if he’s anything like his brother, you’ll spend a lot of time working on making a child.”

“I didn’t need to know that about my brother,” Rory muttered.

“Remember that when you talk about Jamie,” Jo fired back.

“We haven’t consummated yet. I’m hoping to talk him out of it.”

They both stared at her.

“I saw the way he looked at you,” Jo said. “He won’t change his mind.”

“You’re his wife, Eleanor,” Rory added.

“And today is your second day,” Jo added.

“Oh, God,” Nori moaned. What was she going to do? She couldn’t be here when Gavin came back inside. She’d have to find her grandfather and see if he could think of any way to free her from the marriage. Gavin hadn’t even been there. How could the vows she’d spoken be held true when the man she’d stood with wasn’t Gavin? Plus, her grandfather had mentioned something about having it annulled if there was no consummation.

“What are you thinking?” Jo asked, and Nori blinked as she glanced up and took them in.

“I can’t let this marriage be consummated.”

“Good luck with that,” Jo said with another snort.

“Jo!” Rory reprimanded. “She’s afraid. Don’t be so callous.”

“I’m not afraid,” Nori said, but even she knew it wasn’t the truth. She was terrified of Gavin and the hold he seemed capable of having over her. She lost all sense of preservation when he was around. “I need to get out of this keep. Clear my head.”

“Do you ride?” Jo asked.

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