Looking confused, Lyam said, “I wish you would.”
Tully looked first at Laurie, then at Carline. “Am I to understand, Highness, that you wish to wed this man?”
“Yes!”
“And you, sir?”
Carline began to say something, but Lyam cut her off. “Let him speak!”
Laurie stood blinking at the sudden silence. He shrugged as if to say he didn’t understand the commotion. “Of course I do, father.”
Lyam looked close to the end of his patience. “Then what is the difficulty?” He said to Tully, “Post bans, oh, next week sometime. After the last few days we should wait a bit. We’ll have the wedding after . things settle a bit. If you have no objections, Carline?” She shook her head, her eyes moist. Lyam continued, “Someday, when you’re an old married lady with dozens of grandchildren, you’ll have to explain this all to me. “ To Laurie he said, “You’re a braver man than most,” then, with a glance at his sister, added, “and luckier than most.” He kissed her on the cheek. “Now, if there’s nothing else, I’ll retire. “
Carline threw her arms around his neck and gave him a fierce hug. “Thank you.”
Still shaking his head, Lyam left the room. Tully said, “There must be a reason for this urgent need of betrothal at this late hour.” He held his hands palms out and quickly added, “But I’ll wait to hear it some other time. Now, if you’ll excuse me—” He gave Carline no opportunity to say anything as he almost dashed from the room. The guards followed after, closing the door behind them. Carline smiled at Laurie after they were alone. “Well, it is done. Finally!”
Laurie grinned down at her and as he put his arms about her waist. “Yes, and with little pain.”
“Little pain!” she said, punching him in the stomach with not inconsiderable effect. Laurie doubled over, the wind knocked out of him. He fell backward, landing upon his bed. Carline came to the edge of the bed and knelt next to him. As he tried to sit up, she pushed him back on the bed with her hand on his chest. “What am I, some dowdy drudge you must endure for the sake of political ambitions?” She playfully pulled at the leather thongs of his tunic. “I should have you thrown in the dungeon. Little pain, you monster.”
Gripping a handful of her dress, he yanked her forward, bringing her face close enough to be kissed. With a grin, he said, “Hello, my love.” Then they were in each other’s arms.
Later, Carline roused from a half-doze to say, “Happy?”
Laurie laughed, causing her head to jiggle on his chest where it lay. “Of course.” Stroking her hair, he said, “What was all that about with your brother and Tully?”
She chuckled. “After almost a year of trying to get you to marry me, I wasn’t about to let you forget you proposed. For all I knew, you were simply trying to get rid of me so you could sneak away to Sarth. “
“Sweet good night!” said Laurie, jumping out of bed. “Arutha!”
Carline turned and settled back into the just-vacated pillow. “So you and my brother are both sneaking off.”
“Yes—no, I mean—oh hell.” Laurie pulled on his trousers and stood looking about. “Where is my other boot? I’m at least an hour overdue.” When he was dressed, he came to sit next to her on the bed. “I must go. Arutha won’t let anything stop him. You knew that.”
She held tightly to his arm. “I knew you’d both go. How do you plan to get out of the palace?”
“Jimmy.”
She nodded. “There’s an exit he forgot to mention to the royal architect, I expect.”
“Something like that. I must go.”
She clung to his arm for a moment. “You didn’t take your vows lightly, did you?”
“Never.” He bent over to kiss her. “Without you, I am nothing.”
Silently she cried, feeling at once filled and empty, knowing for certain she had found her life’s mate and fearing to lose him. As if reading her thoughts, he said, “I’ll be back, Carline; nothing could keep me from you.”
“If you don’t, I’ll come after you.”
With a quick kiss he was gone, the door closing quietly behind him. Carline burrowed deeply into the bed, holding on to the last remaining warmth of him as long as she could.