Page 176 of Historical Hotties
Creed lifted a dark eyebrow. “She belongs to me. I intend to marry her.”
Richard blanched. “Marry her?” he repeated. “What madness is this, Creed? You cannot….”
Creed cut him off with a finger to the face. “You will not deny me,” he countered strongly. “Kerr took my brother and now I am taking his daughter.”
Richard stared at Creed, wide-eyed. “If you feel so strongly about it, I will make her your ward. You do not have to marry her.”
Creed’s stance softened somewhat, averting his gaze from his liege and focusing on Carington. She stared back at him, apprehensively. He realized how antagonistic he sounded and sought to calm himself. This grip on her arm turned gentle and he took her hand in his enormous palm, caressing it.
“Aye, I do,” he muttered. “I love her, my lord. I must marry her.”
Richard just stared at him. “Are you serious?”
“Never more in my life.”
Richard thought on that statement a moment, mulling over the treaty with Kerr, the implication of Creed marrying a Scots hostage. He could tell by the man’s expression that there was no dissuading him and he was, frankly, stunned.
“Creed,” he said slowly. “I would never deny your heart’s desire, but we must look at this logically. Sian Kerr did not have a treaty with Hexham; he is within his rights to support an uprising against an establishment he does not have a treaty with. We hold his daughter as assurance that he will not move against Prudhoe; if you marry her, it could be seen as a breach of our honor.”
Creed shook his head. “Untrue. No Scots would dare attack their kin, which is what Prudhoe will become once I marry Carington. It would further cement the alliance.”
Richard gazed at him a moment longer before shaking his head. “You would complicate your life more than it already is? Good lord, man, think about what you are saying; you have issue enough with the queen and the church. Now you would complicate your life further by taking a hostage bride?”
Creed looked at Carington, noticing for the first time that she wore one of her new surcoats. It was the most pleasing thing he had ever seen and in spite of his grief, his turmoil, he was able to feel a measure of peace and comfort at the sight of her. She eased his heart in so many ways. It was something he desperately needed.
“I would marry her under any circumstances,” he murmured. “I want her, my lord. I need her.”
Richard knew a man in love when he saw one. It was more than a surprise; he would have never suspected it, especially from Creed. Richard had been honored enough to have seen service from all three de Reyne brothers. His association with then went back to the time before he was married to Anne when Ryton first came to Prudhoe as a newly ordained knight. Creed had followed shortly thereafter because the brothers had wished to serve together. Lenox had followed five years later and, for a short while, the three de Reyne brothers made the most powerful trio of knights on the border. But then Lenox fell away and now Ryton had followed. Creed was left alone, clearly the most physically powerful of the three but also strangely the most vulnerable.
Richard gazed at the man, knowing he was innocent in all things and glad, when he thought on it, that the man had actually found love. It was a rare thing. Moreover, considering he had just lost his one remaining brother, Richard was not about to deny him an affair of the heart. He could not.
“Very well,” Richard finally conceded, his expression one of resignation. “Marry her if you must. But at some point, I am going to have to tell the lady’s father.”
“You may announce a strong new alliance with Prudhoe,” Creed responded.
Richard cocked an eyebrow. “Somehow, I do not think he will see it that way.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Ihave ahusband.
It was all Carington could think of as she sat in the great hall, watching Creed give several coins to Massimo in payment for having performed the wedding mass. The priest had been initially reluctant to perform the ceremony but had proceeded with a good deal of convincing from both Creed and Lord Richard. Therefore, at dusk before Matins and in front of Lord and Lady d’Umfraville, Kristina and a devastated Julia, Galen, Burle, Stanton and Jory, the Lady Carington Kerr became the Lady Carington Kerr de Reyne in the lovely little chapel at Prudhoe. She still could not believe it.
Creed could hardly believe it, either, but he had never been so certain of anything in his life. In a day that had seen the pinnacle of highs and lows, it gave him comfort to find some joy in it. His grief for his brother was consuming but his delight in his new wife was overwhelming. He was struggling to keep a rein on his emotions, struggling to stay on an even keel. As he finished paying Massimo a goodly sum, he actually began to feel some relief in this most affecting day of days.
As a wedding gift, Lady Anne had given Carington a thin gold band that had belonged to her mother. Creed had placed it on his wife’s left hand, a lovely slender band for her lovely slender finger. Carington kept staring at it as she stood with Kristina and Lady Anne while Creed finished with the priest. The women made small talk but Carington’s attention was on her husband. He finally turned away from the priest, leaving him standing with Richard as he made his way over to his new wife. Shesmiled timidly when their eyes met, wondering if he was feeling as disoriented as she was.
“It seems that everything is in order,” he told her, then looked to Lady Anne. “I would again thank you for your graciousness in allowing us to be wed in your chapel. And your gift of the ring is priceless. We are deeply touched.”
Anne smiled, putting her hand on Creed’s enormous arm. “Having no daughters, there was no one to pass the ring on to,” she looked fondly at Carington. “I am sure she will take excellent care of it.”
Carington looked at her lovely ring again. “It is beautiful, m’lady,” she said. “I will always treasure it.”
“Of course you will,” she reached out and took her hand, giving it a warm squeeze. Then she turned back to Creed. “I am putting you and Carington in the smaller chamber on the fourth floor; you know the one. I will not allow your wife to sleep in the knight’s quarters. She belongs in the keep.”
Creed scratched his weary head. “Although I appreciate your kindness, my lady, may I point out that Burle and Stanton have their own homes in the outer bailey and that the arrangement has served them quite well. I do not intend that my wife and I should be a burden on your household.”
“Nonsense,” Anne shushed him. “Lady Carington is an honored guest and you are now commander of my husband’s army. ’Tis only right that you should be housed in the keep.”
