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I t was early evening and the castle was lit spectacularly in honor of the earl’s visit. The warmth of the day still lingered and every window of the castle was open, allowing the sweet fragrances of nature to waft in on the evening breeze.

A huge feast had been prepared for the hundreds of people that would be dining this evening. Servants flowed throughout the structure, assisting, dressing, serving, and bathing the revered occupants. The air about was alive with the importance of the event and the enormity of the situation.

This night had to be perfect.

Josephine was high in her rooms, waiting patiently as Madelaine finished dressing her hair.

She was clad in the most exquisite silk gown, white in color, that had been part of the wedding gifts from the earl.

He had sent a message along with the dress, specifically asking that she wear it to the feast tonight.

The message had the tone of a direct order and she angrily obeyed, hating herself for complying.

As Josephine sat thinking about the message from the earl, the angrier she became.

How dare he order her about! And how dare she cave in like a weak, spineless woman!

She was Lady Josephine de Carron, cousin of the king and heiress to the Earldom of Ayr.

At least, she had been. Still… she would not take orders; she would give them.

Abruptly, she stood up, knocking the brush from Madelaine’s hand.

“I will not wear this dress tonight,” she said firmly and turned to the massive wardrobe that lined one wall. “I will find something else.”

Madelaine was aghast. “My lady, why not? ’Tis a lovely gown!”

Josephine swung to the maid and the woman visibly cowered.

Her jaw muscles flexed and her lips pressed into a thin smile.

“It was a lovely gown,” she said as she deliberately stepped on the hem of the dress and stood up, ripping a large portion of the skirt from the bodice.

“But alas, a terrible accident occurred as I was dressing and the dress was ruined. I am sure that that earl will understand.”

Madelaine looked at her in shock. Then, she suppressed a grin. “My lady, yer bravery astounds me,” she said softly. “His request was a bit demanding.”

Josephine’s eyebrows lifted “A bit? Make no mistake; it was a command. And I will not do it.”

Madelaine’s expression was one of approval. “I can see that ye relent to no man, my lady. Ye have my respect and admiration.”

For the first time, Josephine felt Madelaine was on her side. Even so, she remembered what she’d been told; that the woman was a sometime mistress of the king. Still, she really didn’t care if this made it back to the king.

“Then help me select a new garment,” she said.

Madelaine helped her remove the dress first, handing it over to a pair of hovering servants. Josephine, in her shift, then stood alongside Madelaine as the two scrutinized the other dresses in the wardrobe.

“What of the red garment?” Josephine asked, as she pulled out a red silk surcote, studying it. “This will make me look entirely wicked.”

Madelaine was looking at the collection of dresses as if hypnotized. “Or the black?” she breathed. “Black for mourning. Black for the loss of innocence.”

Josephine looked at Madelaine, hearing something in her tone.

There was sorrow there as she spoke, and Josephine was affected by the depth of her words.

Something in her expression suggested that Madelaine knew exactly what the loss of innocence meant.

If she was the mistress of the king, then it was probably something she’d experienced firsthand.

Josephine had only spent a short amount of time around the king, enough to know that he was lascivious at best. Perhaps he’d stolen poor Madelaine’s innocence. She tossed the red dress aside.

“Then black it is,” she said quietly.

Josephine was dressed in the exquisite black silk, a surcote with a massive skirt to it, elaborately embroidered, and Madelaine went back to dressing her hair.

She pulled the front portion of Josephine’s hair back and secured it at the crown of her head with a jewel-encrusted clip.

Then, she gathered up the whole wonderful mane and secured it at the nape of her neck with a black silk ribbon embroidered with tiny crystal beads.

The last step was the rose fragrance, daubed over her entire neck, back, and wrists.

Josephine gazed back at herself in the polished mirror, noting the long, graceful neck, the creamy shoulders, and the swell of her breasts.

She had to admit that she looked rather beautiful.

Madelaine finished by swabbing red-tinted salve on her lips, making them seem all the more tempting and full. The entire picture was startling.

There was a knock on the door and Madelaine rushed to open it. Josephine turned defiantly to the door, certain that it was the earl, and braced herself for a fight. Much to her surprise, it was not the earl.

It was the king.

Alexander entered the room, his eyes falling appreciatively on his young cousin. In fact, he had that lascivious look that Josephine had seen before.

“Josephine,” he said, as he reached out and took her hand. His eyes raked all over her. “You are incredibly lovely. But why black? I was told that the earl requested you to wear the white dress he sent you.”

Josephine curtsied formally. “My lord,” she greeted. “The white dress was accidentally torn. It will not be repaired in time for the feast.”

She didn’t seem upset by it and that piqued Alexander’s curiosity. “Then why black? There are many other colors in your wardrobe.”

“Black is the color of sadness, and I am sad.”

He looked at her with a pout. “My sweet little cousin,” he said. “Have I made your life so miserable? You will be a very rich and very powerful woman. Certainly, that is some cause for happiness.”

Josephine could tell that he truly did not understand her plight and she felt a certain amount of pity for a man who was so narrow-minded.

But she also felt a great deal of resentment.

He had no idea of the hell he was condemning her to and if he did, he didn’t care.

Either way, it was an appalling prospect.

“Nay, my lord, it is not,” she said frankly. “I know you believe this to be a great honor, but it is not to me. I want to go home to Torridon and marry Andrew.”

Alexander hardened at what he perceived to be an ungracious attitude. “But I am giving you the opportunity to start a new and prestigious life as a countess,” he said, leaving no room for discussion. “Now, close your eyes. I have brought you a wedding gift.”

Reluctantly, Josephine obeyed. She didn’t like the idea of closing her eyes with this man in close proximity, and her body was taut with uncertainty. She felt something very cold go around her neck.

“Open your eyes,” he commanded gaily, directing her towards the mirror.

Josephine opened her eyes and her hands flew to her neck, touching the necklace as she stared at her reflection. A bejeweled necklace clung to her skin, its incredible brilliance sparkling like a million stars. It was an expensive and outrageous gift, and she did not feel comfortable accepting it.

“My king,” she breathed, her eyes glued to the bejeweled strand. “This is the most beautiful necklace I have ever seen.” Suddenly, she stepped back from the mirror and faced him. “But I cannot accept it. This is far too generous.”

He looked confused at her refusal. “It is a gift, Josephine. My wife selected it herself,” he said. “You will accept it.”

He was giving her an order. To defy an earl was one thing, but to defy the king was another thing. And since the queen had a hand in selecting the gift, Josephine felt as if she truly could not refuse. With a deep breath for resolve, she forced herself to curtsy again.

“I thank you, my lord.”

Although she uttered words of thanks, still, she was wary.

The necklace was a gift to be given from a husband to a wife, or from one lover to another.

She began to suspect that the necklace came with strings attached when she noticed the lustful gleam in the king’s eyes.

Instinctively, she moved away and put distance between them.

Alexander noticed. One would have been blind not to see that Josephine didn’t want to be near him. In fact, she’d been standoffish since they’d first met, and he suspected why. At least, he thought he did.

“You fear me, Cousin?” he asked softly. “Why? Have I frightened you somehow?”

Josephine turned to him. She felt braver with several feet between them. “I do not fear you, my lord,” she said. “I respect and admire you.”

If he believed her, he didn’t give any indication.

He simply continued to stare at Josephine until her skin literally crawled from his cloying gaze.

There was something so dirty about the way he looked at her.

Eventually, he closed the distance between them.

He came to within inches of Josephine and she saw his hand come up to her face.

It was a struggle for her not to pull away as he gently grasped her chin and looked her in the eye.

Josephine stood her ground, but she was terrified.

She could not refuse him if he wanted to seduce her.

And physically, she was no match to fight him.

Strangely, she felt a great deal of anger at his boldness, but she also felt a great deal of disgust at herself for allowing him to have power over her.

But he was the king, and she was his subject. She prayed she wasn’t going to go the way of Madelaine, claimed by a man she could not refuse. Alexander’s breath was hot on her face.

“You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, Josephine,” he whispered. “I should like to get to know you better.”