Page 216

“Since it is so important to Josephine,” she said stiffly, “I will marry you.”

“You are, indeed, wise, Lady Justine,” Andrew said as he finally stepped forward. “Sir Sully will be a fine husband.”

Sully chuckled ironically and turned away. Josephine watched him a moment, hoping the man didn’t hate her overly, before turning to her sister.

“I expect the king within the next day or two,” she said. “He is very close. Therefore, our marriages must take place right away. I will make the arrangements for the ceremony to take place at noon in the great hall. Sully?”

He swung around to face her at the sound of her voice. He’d spent his entire life jumping when she called to him, and would continue to do so.

“My lady?”

“Send someone to fetch the priest in Ayr,” she ordered. “Father Delmo at St. John’s. He will do.”

“Aye, my lady.”

“And, Sully?”

“My lady?”

“After you marry my sister, you may call me Josephine or Joey, as you used to when I was younger,” she said with a twinkle in her eye. “I realize that when James and Father died, your address became formal with me, as was proper, but soon you will be my brother. There is no place for titles.”

Sully couldn’t help the grin. “Aye, my lady.”

So far, Andrew had remained mostly silent throughout the entire exchange. But now that the situation was starting to ease, at least as far as the decisions that had been made, Andrew suspected the two sisters had much to discuss and he would give them their privacy.

“I will accompany Sully and assist him in his duties,” he said. “Good eve to you, Lady Justine. Good eve, Joey. See you on the morrow.”

Justine looked at her sister curiously as Andrew followed Sully from the room. She waited until both men had left before speaking.

“Joey?” she whispered. “You told him Father’s nickname for you?”

Josephine tore her eyes away from the closed door and looked a little guiltily at her sister. “It came up in conversation,” she said. “I told him he may call me by the name if he wishes.”

Justine eyed her sister for a moment longer before going in search of a chair. She sat heavily, much calmer and quieter than she had been earlier. Josephine sat in a chair opposite her sister, also lost in her thoughts. So very much had happened this day that she was still trying to absorb it all.

“I cannot believe that tomorrow at this time I will be Sully’s wife,” Justine finally said.

“Nor can I believe that tomorrow at this time I will be married to The Red Fury,” Josephine said. “It does not seem possible.”

Justine looked at her sister. “My poor darling,” she said as compassionately as she could muster. “Married to a man you hardly know, and a mercenary at that.”

Josephine fought off a smile as she turned away. “He is not all bad,” she said, remembering the tale he told her earlier and even the heated kiss they’d shared in the midst of the gypsy’s camp. “He can be rather… pleasant.”

Justine simply cocked an eyebrow in disagreement. “Although I haven’t noticed personally, the women around here swear he’s somewhat of a god,” she said. “It seems he has taken a couple of our servants to his bed. When I think of…”

Josephine cut her off, her eyes wide with shock. “What do you mean by that? He has been bedding our servants?”

“The man is a pig, Josephine,” Justine insisted. “Surely you have realized that.”

Josephine flamed. “How dare you speak of him like that!” she said.

“He is nothing of the sort. But then again, you were always a terrible judge of character. Listen to me, Justine– I suggest you reform your opinion of Andrew d’Vant, or at least keep your stupid opinions to yourself.

He is to be your brother-in-law, whether or not you like it. ”

Justine cocked her head, her eyes narrowing at her sister as if something had just occurred to her. “I understand now,” she said. “You like this… this man, don’t you? You are pleased at this marital agreement!”

“Still your tongue, woman!” Josephine waved her hand irritably. “I do not even know the man. And as for the marital arrangement, I would rather marry a stranger than Colin Dalmellington.”

Justine simply eyed her sister, disbelieving everything she was telling her. With a shrug, she finally turned away, but not before the damage was done.

Josephine was angry– angry at her sister’s wild claims and angry at Andrew’s hot blood. Why on earth should his liaisons bother her? She didn’t know. She felt a distinct sense of betrayal and he wasn’t even her husband yet.

Hurt, even.

“And what about you, Justine?” she countered, wanting off the subject of Andrew and the rumors of his bed partners. “You seemed not to protest too much when I told you of your future marriage. Is it possible that you might like Sully even though you have sworn off marriage?”

Justine felt the barb right in her heart. “I’m only marrying Sully for the good of Torridon,” she insisted. “I have no emotions towards him one way or the other.”

“Ha!” Josephine scoffed as she turned away from her sister. “He is a kind and gentle man and far better than you deserve. Hear me, Sister. Treat him well or feel my wrath. Do you understand?”

“Now who has feelings for Sully?” Justine taunted.

Josephine shot her sister a look of pure disdain.

She had no time or patience to argue with Justine.

She was more concerned with seeking out Andrew and discovering the truth about his indiscretions.

If they were to marry, then that would have to stop immediately.

She couldn’t have him married to the Lady of Torridon and bedding his wife’s servants.

“Sully is my captain and my friend,” Josephine said as she headed for the door. Once she reached it, she turned to her sister. “And I wish to God that our mother had made me her last child!”

Dramatically yanking open the door, she fled from the chamber.

Justine stared at the empty doorway for a few seconds, feeling the force of her sister’s words.

But she was also feeling the force of the entire conversation, wondering why her cards never said anything about the king’s visit or the dual marriages.

Surely her cards should have said something about these drastic events in their lives.

Pushing way her feelings of regret for her words tonight, and the hurt her sister’s own words had inflicted on her, she headed for her room.

She would see what her cards had to say.