Page 26 of Dishonor Among Thieves
Finally, the meal concluded, and Flynn clapped his hands and rubbed them together loudly. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he said dramatically, pushing his chair back from the table, “I had no idea when Rain invited me to this feast that we would be celebrating young love!”
Neo’s hands clenched into fists on the table, while Flynn pulled a wooden flute from a pocket. “Now, if I may,” the boy said, “some of you may know that I’ve carried for many years a flame of devotion for a performer, a brilliant, beautiful bard whose words and voice and body—”
“Flynn.” The single word from Neo had the boy hurrying through his monologue.
“Yes, well, she inspired me to learn many things. Poetry. Dance. Music! Allow me to play a few notes on this happy and so very unexpected occasion.”
Flynn began playing a light tune that had Dale clapping his hands and Rain tapping his foot. I smiled, the drinks loosening my nerves. After the first song had completed, I immediately burst into applause.
“Flynn! That was wonderful!”
Every eye in the room was on me, as I realized these were the first words I’d spoken since we’d sat down to dinner.
Flynn looked elated, his cheeks so red and his eyes so bright, I thought he’d nearly burst with pride. “Allow me to play another, milady.”
The second song he played was softer, slower. A romantic melody that fit the mood of a celebration of marriage. Rain rook Gia’s hand and led her by the fire, where together they clasped hands and danced.
“Neo!” Odile waved a hand toward the man at the head of the table. “Dance with your bride!”
He lifted a single thick brow and leaned back in his chair. I was certain he would refuse. After all, I was hardly his bride. I was his partner, the keeper of secrets. As I worried over his reaction to the suggestion, he rose from his chair, walked past his brother and sister-in-law, and stopped beside me. He said nothing. Just extended his hand with the most vulnerable, uncertain look on his face. As if I might refuse my husband our first dance.
I swallowed, a nervous thrill making me uncertain that my knees could lift me from the chair. I rested my hand in his, and he held it firmly, holding back my chair. Then he took both hands and pulled me close to his chest, moving his enormous frame in light, easy steps. Together we danced to Flynn’s sweet, gentle tune. As we whirled through the dining room, the firelight cast shadows on Neo’s face. His thick stubble moved as he smiled at me.Smiled.His eyes softened and the edge of anger that seemed to sharpen his every mood blunted a bit. Maybe it was the meal or the wine, but he moved a hand to guide my waist, and I thought I felt him touch the ends of my curls where they fell against the back of the dress.
All too soon, the song ended. He released his hold on my waist and hand but stood in place, scant inches away. My heart raced, my chest lifting with uncomfortable breaths at his closeness. The warmth of the fire mixed with the heat of Neo’s broad chest, so close I’d have to look up to see his face. I cleared my throat nervously and clapped again, mostly so I had something to do with my hands.
Flynn was about to play again, when a knock at the door interrupted the festivities. The dancing disrupted, Gia and Rain fell into quiet conversation while Neo and I stood, locked in an intensely charged silence. I stroked the charm around my neck, worrying over the interest my husband seemed to have in staring at me. Thankfully, Antonia returned a few moments later to share that Odile had been called back to the village to attend a child with a bellyache.
“My thanks to you all,” Flynn said with a dramatic bow. “I must be off for home. I have a mother and many siblings who will hunt me down with torches if I’m not tucked into bed before the vengersax hour. Odile, I’ll be happy to ride with you into the village, if you’d like.”
Flynn and Odile left as they had the night before when I first arrived. While Antonia and Dale cleared the table, Rain and Gia bid the rest of us goodnight.
Neo was sitting at the head of the table, his long legs outstretched as he stared into the fire. I did the same, having no idea what else I should be doing. How a woman should act on her wedding night. Where I would go, what I would wear. With Odile gone, I had no way of giving her back this dress. I hoped that Antonia would assist me, but then I reminded myself I was lady of this manor now. Of course she would help me, wouldn’t she? I assumed I only had to ask.
“If you’ll excuse me,” I said, avoiding Neo’s gaze, “I’d like to find Antonia. See if she’ll help ready me for bed.”
“Don’t you think that’s your husband’s duty?” The question hung heavy on the air, so much implied by the sensual curl of his lips as he asked.
“If you wish to take the rags out of these shoes, I’ll not stop you,” I fired back, more out of fear than anything else.
“Come,” he said, standing and stalking toward the stairs. “I’ll take you to our room.”
“Our room,” I echoed, the words feeling like wood in my mouth.
Those full, scarred lips twisted into a grimace. “We’ve only so many rooms, Brex. If you prefer to sleep in the sitting room, I suppose we can discuss that. But not until your part of the bargain has been fulfilled. You vowed to tell me your secrets on our wedding night. And I intend to hear them.”
I followed him up the winding stone staircase that led to the second floor of the manor. At the far end of the hallway, he pushed open an ornately carved door.
“I’ll have a key made for you,” he said, holding the door open for me. As I passed by him, he planted a hand on my shoulder and stopped me. “Brexia, this is very important. In this house, we lock our doors. Every night. No exceptions.”
So I had been locked in the sitting room last night… “Why?” I asked.
“I’ll explain when the time is right,” he said dismissively. “For now, you must swear to me. Keep this door locked if you’re inside. Especially if you plan to sleep. No exceptions. Do you understand?”
I nodded, not understanding at all, and walked into the large room. There was no fire lit, so the room was dark and very cold. Just a few candles burned within iron lamps, illuminating a very large, luxurious-looking bed. On the bed I could see some clothes neatly laid out. I stopped just inside the doorway and froze.
“You’ll need to change out of that dress.”
It wasn’t a question. I nodded and walked toward the bed, hoping that the items there were bedclothes of some sort that Gia or Odile had left. What I found was puzzling.
