The Defiant Bride by Leslie Hachtel Page A

Dariana could see that Leah felt his absence.
    Finally, it was Leah who broke the silence. “William, there are matters to be discussed regarding your marriage. We must prepare a letter to the king requesting an audience and we must decide what to tell others, such as Melissa, so she will not run to Henry before you have your say to him. Also, there is the mater of Dariana’s father to consider. It will be quite a shock for him to discover she is both alive and newly wed.”
    At the mention of her father, Dariana grew pensive. “I’d very much like to return to my home and see my father, William. If the wrath of the king is to befall him, he should have fair warning. I can never make this up to him and if his wrath toward me is terrible, I deserve nothing less. I have served my own selfish wants and put him at unforgivable risk. I must face whatever he has in store when he discovers my lie.”
    “We shall depart as soon as you can prepare. But as for the wrath of the king, you should know that this Henry is naughtlike his father. This Henry will appreciate your courage and strength. His father would indeed have labeled you rebel and doled out some terrible punishment, while his son will certainly enjoy exacting a fine, which I can well afford to pay. However, our timing is crucial. The king cannot be caught unawares. He must hear about this mater from my lips rather than through court gossip. We cannot afford to offend him. So we must conceal all until the king has been told. Especially from Melissa, who would delight in ruining our chances for leniency as a means to settle the affront to her.”
    “Who is this Melissa?” Dariana asked.
    “Why, my betrothed, of course,” William declared, laughter evident in his voice.
    “Your what?” Dariana choked.
    “The papers were never actually signed,” William soothed.
    Fury rose like a wild animal and Dariana’s breathing came in short, hard gasps. It took her a moment to regain control. “My ears deceive me, surely. Either that or I am still in the forest, asleep and enmeshed in some outrageous dream. After all, it is not possible that a knight kidnapped me, forced me into an unwanted marriage against my will and the king’s, only to then inform me he is betrothed to another. It is not possible.” Dariana’s voice was tight, but her eyes flashed dangerously. She stood and turned to run from the room, tears stinging behind her eyes, but William had her by the waist before she could go more than a few feet. He looked over his shoulder to his sister and spoke quietly.
    “Leah, dear, could you leave us to our privacy? There are things I need explain to my wife.”
    “Yes, there are.” Leah moved from the room, shaking her head.
    Once Leah left, William spun Dariana around to face him, still grasping her waist so she could not flee.
    “You are despicable,” she spat.
    “I am madly in love with you.”
    “As you love Melissa?”
    “I could only love you. And I never loved Melissa. If truth be told, I never even liked her.”
    “Of course, that is why you suggested marriage to her? Do you take me for a complete fool, lacking in all reason?”
    “Dariana—I have never loved another. The betrothal to Melissa was a convenience. She possesses some land I desire andI was feeling the need to produce an heir. It was as simple as that. I never could bring myself to execute the betrothal contracts. It was as if I somehow knew I was waiting for you to come into my life. Now have I satisfied your curiosity? Or would you care to continue exhibiting your jealous rage?”
    “Jealous rage? My lord, you do flatter yourself. I am merely concerned with inviting more of the king’s wrath by being the one responsible for breaking your betrothal contract. I have trouble enough and I want no more.”
    “So you see, love, your jealousy is for naught. There is no written contract to break and you are my one and only love—”
    At that she swung at his head and he deftly avoided the