Page 129 of Tempted
She talked to the mare ceaselessly, stroking her velvet nose, and craning her neck to watch Ram perform a miracle. He was a naturally strong man, but it took every ounce of that strength to bring forth Indigo’s foal He struggled for another full hour, then finally with a great whoosh the offspring came into the world, encased inside a great membrane. Ram acted quickly to free the foal’s nose and mouth so it could breathe, and Indigo was up on her legs, nuzzling her baby before Ram could remove the rope. He cleaned the little creature with handfuls of straw, and they watched with fascinated delight as it tried to stand up on its long, wobbly legs. “It’s a male!” Ram shouted triumphantly.
“Oh, he’s beautiful!” cried Tina. “What will we call him?”
“How about Hazard?” Ram asked with a laugh.
Tina sat back in the hay to watch the dam and her foal, while Ram washed in the horse trough and dried himself with a Douglas tartan. Valentina’s face was radiant as she lifted it to look up at Ram. “That was a spiritual experience.”
“Rubbish—it was bloody hard work!” he exclaimed. A wicked light came into his dark face as he eyed her appreciatively in the hay. “I’ll give ye a spiritual experience!” He dived into the hay, sending a million dust motes into the air. Before she had been thoroughly kissed, a stranger appeared to stand looking down at them as they cavorted.
“Lord Douglas?” he asked almost hesitantly.
“Aye,” came the impatient reply.
“I’ve a message from the king, my lord.”
Ram sighed and slowly got to his feet. His embarrassed bride tried to sink into the shadows. Ram held out his hand for the message and admonished with a stern face, “Don’t let on tae Lady Douglas I was rolling in the hay wi’ a comely wench.”
“Nay, Lord Douglas,” the messenger assured him.
“I suppose it’s morning. Go tae the hall and break yer fast. I’ll join ye after I’ve bathed and dressed.”
Tina giggled all the way to their chamber, but when Ram read the message recalling him immediately to Edinburgh, she sobered quickly. She sent Ada scurrying for the servants to fetch bathwater and laid out Ram’s new velvet doublet and hose.
He stripped off his chausses and stepped into the water. “Sweetheart, I’m so sorry. We’ve been cheated out of our wedding night.” He held out his hand to her, and she placed hers in his.
“Must you go today?” she asked wistfully.
“Come in wi’ me,” he coaxed. She slipped off the silk nightrail and stepped into the water. As he reached up to draw her down to him, a breathless moan broke low in her throat, and she became caught in the web of passion he wove. Ram sat in the water with his knees bent, and Tina lay between his legs, her lovely round breasts crushed against the solid wall of his chest. She shivered delicately at the mastery of his touch. His sexual energy cried out for release as his mouth moved over her wet, satin skin, arousing her until nothing mattered in the whole world save his magnificent body beneath hers. She couldn’t get enough of him. She pressed her face into his flesh until his heartbeat was beneath her ear. Her tongue came out to delicately trace and tease his diamond-hard masculine nipples. She wanted to be irrevocably a part of him, lie with him forever, endlessly yielding while he endlessly took. She thought her heart would burst with love for him.
Her ripe body between his thighs almost scalded his loins. He set his hands to her tiny waist and lifted her. “Wrap yer legs around me, slowly,” he instructed. Carefully she straddled his lap, impaling herself upon his rampant, pulsing shaft. At first his movements were deliciously slow and fluid, initiating the primitive play of male and female. Then he began to teach her his power, stroking deep, honoring her with his magnificent body. She received him fully, joyously, yielding herself body and soul. Their mouths so close were in a perfect position to kiss and lick and suck. Their needs were so great they almost savaged each other.
Then he slowed his thrusts to a powerful, undulating rhythm, and her golden eyes flew open to stare into his pewter depths as they rode the rising crest of passion, then hurtled down into a molten sea of flame. They clung together, not wanting to separate, for each knew the separation would be endless. Ram had not disclosed the contents of the king’s message other than call him back to Edinburgh. There was no need. She knew.
“Take me with you,” she begged.
“Ye know I cannot,” he said as he dressed with care. “If ye’ll stay up here, I’ll come back tae kiss ye good-bye. Don’t dress—I want ye naked.”
She nodded, unable to speak for the lump in her throat. She knew he hated tears and forced herself to blink them back. She knew it would take the men some time. Each had a war chest with armor and weapons, each had a warhorse with protective armor. Baggage wagons with supplies and fodder, packhorses and oxen teams with their harness and sleds must all be readied before the cavalcade from Douglas could ride out.
A fear gripped her that he wouldn’t come back upstairs as he had promised. Perhaps he had decided this way was easier, but finally she heard his firm step at the chamber door, and she flew into his arms. She caught sight of his badge, the Bleeding Heart of Douglas, and was almost undone. She felt a foreshadowing, as if she were giving him up to Death. In that moment, it all seemed so clear, so inevitable. She choked back a sob as he put her from him.
“Good-bye, Lady Douglas. Be brave, my little vixen.”
Tina flung her sable fur over her nakedness and ran after him. She could not keep up with his long strides. He did not turn back to look at her She ran from the castle out into the bailey where all seemed organized confusion. He did not turn to her until he had one hand on the pommel of Ruffian’s saddle, then he snatched her into his arms. She opened her fur to offer herself naked and a low, savage cry was torn from his throat as he crushed her against his chain mail.
The Boozer stood with ears erect beside Ruffian This time he was determined to accompany Ram. As Lord Douglas vaulted into the saddle and turned to wave, Tina had to fall upon his wolfhound and clasp him about the neck to prevent him from following his master.
Chapter 39
Muster the army!
James Stewart sent out the order to every clan in Scotland. They were told to gather at the Burgh-muir of Edinburgh, a moor above the city that was the traditional mustering place for Scotland’s armies.
Every nook and cranny of Edinburgh Castle was packed with the king’s earls, bishops, and lords, each chief determined to voice his opinion and not be overruled by a rival clan. Rumor was rife over what had prompted James to finally decide upon all-out war with England.
The bishops reported that the pope had threatened to excommunicate James Stewart if he broke his solemn treaties with England. The king was incensed and sent back an immediate protest that England had already broken the treaties and that Henry Tudor was slaying, capturing, and imprisoning his subjects. James was enraged when the protest went unanswered. Bishop Elphinstone urged caution and prudence, but James and his earls could not swallow the insult.
Another envoy arrived in Edinburgh bringing an appeal for help from Louis XII of France. Henry Tudor had taken an army to Flanders in an attempt to conquer and regain Guienne, which had once belonged to England The Auld Alliance between Scotland and France promised that either country would stage an invasion if the other were menaced.
