“I do,” said Morag. “The lassie who catches it is the next one to marry.”
“Who wants to marry? Not me,” Maira complained.
“Hazel, look up,” Willow called out to the girl. “I am going to toss the flowers to you, so be sure to catch them.”
“Me?” Hazel looked up in surprise, and her eyes lit up.
“Forget the flowers, just kiss again,” yelled Toby, standing right behind Hazel.
Willow turned around and threw the bouquet of flowers over her shoulder. Conrad, as well as the crowd started laughing.
“What’s so funny?” she asked, turning around to see that Toby had caught the bouquet. She started laughing as well.
“Ugh, get these away from me.” Toby tossed the flowers to Maira. Maira, being the warrior she was, raised her hand to block her face. The flowers ricocheted off of her and went right into Hazel’s hands.
“I caught them. I got the flowers,” cried Hazel, hugging the bouquet to her chest.
“Nay, I wanted them.” Morag put her hands on her hips. “Maira, why didna ye toss them to me?”
“Enough about the flowers,” called out Willow’s brother, Blaise. “When do we eat?”
“Everyone to the great hall for the celebration.” Lord Beaufort led the way. At his request, Earl Alnwick had stayed for the celebration as well.
Conrad could barely take his eyes off Willow during the meal. The celebration was grander than he could have ever imagined. Lord Beaufort wanted only the best for his ward. And of course, Rook liked to spoil his only daughter. Therefore, the meal consisted of three types of cheeses, both white and brown bread, stuffed swan, venison in a creamy sauce, pickled beets, watercress, frumenty pudding, and a spice cake and to finish it off, Conrad requested his favorite bilberry tarts.
“I am so full, I couldn’t eat another bite.” Conrad stood up with a cup of wine in his hand. “I want to propose another toast. This time, I am toasting to the two women who mean the most to me in life.”
“Two?” came Rook’s concerned reply.
“Let me explain.” Conrad looked down the long table to Hazel who sat next to Willow. “My wife, and my sister. May they both live long, prosperous lives.”
The crowd clapped and raised their goblets high.
“I’ll drink to that,” called out Rook. “And your life will be longer, Lochwood, now that you clarified what you meant.”
“Father,” said Willow. “My husband only has eyes for me.”
“That’s right,” said Conrad. “Now, let the celebration continue.”
The wedding festivities were coming to an end, and Conrad decided he would wait no longer.
“Come with me, Wife,” he said, pulling her away from a conversation she was having with her cousins.
“Conrad, that was rude,” she scolded him.
“Then this is going to be even ruder.” He swept her up into his arms and carried her quickly toward the bedchamber.
“Oh, I see what’s so important,” she answered with a giggle.
Conrad got to the room and kicked open the door, kissing her and never breaking the connection as he closed the door with his foot.
“It’s beautiful in here,” said Willow, looking around the room.
“Your cousins insisted on preparing the room for the wedding night. You have them to thank.”
Willow clung to the neck of her new husband, feeling lucky and also aroused. The room was decorated with rose petals sprinkled across the floor and even up on the bed. A fire burned in the hearth, lighting the room in a soft glow. A dozen beeswax candles that were scented with cinnamon gave the place a spicy, exotic aroma.
“Everything is so beautiful and romantic,” said Willow, feeling nervous since she and Conrad hadn’t had any more intimate moments since the night they’d almost made love in Imanie’s cottage.
“I don’t see anything more beautiful than my new wife in my arms.”
Willow wanted more than anything to make love to her new husband, but she couldn’t do it before she talked with him first.
“Please, put me down, Conrad. I have something I’d like to tell you before we consummate the marriage.”
“Not now, Willow. Whatever it is, it can wait until later.” He kissed her behind her ear, sending a delightful shiver of anticipation up her spine. His hot breath caressed her skin as he removed her crown and placed it on the table and started to unbraid her hair. Willow’s eyes closed and her head fell back as his kisses trailed down her neck and to her chest.
“Conrad, please. I need to talk to you,” she said, breathing heavily as he nipped at her breasts right through her clothes. If he kept this up, she was never going to be able to tell him about being a member of the late queen’s secret group. “I don’t want to have any secrets from you now that I’m your wife.”
“Secrets?” He pulled back and looked at her curiously. “Willow, what kind of secrets do you mean?”
“I’ve been trying to tell you. See this heart brooch?”
“Aye,” he said, tracing the heart with his finger. Then his finger trailed over to one breast, and he circled her nipple through her clothes, causing her to go taut.
“Conrad, I am trying to tell you I belong to a secret group.”
“I know all about it,” he said, unbuttoning the back of her gown, rubbing his cheek against the top of her head. “You are a Follower of the Queen’s Secrets.”
“Secret Hearts, and how did you know?”
“Branton told me when I first came to Rothbury.” He nibbled at her earlobe as he slid the gown from her shoulders and dropped it to the ground.
“He has a big mouth,” she said.
“Well, someone had to tell me.”
“You’re not upset about it?”
“I don’t believe it is anything to worry about.” His hands caressed her shoulders and slid down her arms. “You are wearing a shift?” He stepped backward and looked at her in surprise. Reaching out with two fingers he picked up the hem of her undergarment. “And you have hose on as well?”
“I am a lady, Conrad. I have changed my ways.”
“Aye, but did you have to do it on our wedding night?”
“I want you to know that I won’t flirt with any man but you from now on.”
“I like it when you flirt with me.” He reached under her shift and untied her hose.
“I’m being serious, Conrad. I want you to know that now that I am your wife, I am going to start acting more reserved. Especially around the men.”
“Not too reserved. Around me, I mean.” He lifted her shift over her head, leaving her naked.
“So you believe me? I thought you wanted me to prove it to you and I am not sure I have.”
He spoke as he removed his weapon belt and then his clothes. “Willow, darling, I do believe that you’ve changed. You already proved it to me when you stopped thinking about yourself to help my sister.”
“That kiss in Bedivere’s chamber – that was him, not me. I was going to slap him right when you walked in.”
“That, I believe,” he said holding his cheek, reminding her that she had slapped him more than once.
“I am also sorry that I called you Conrad the Cur. I see now that you have changed as well.”
“If you mean in regards to my sister, then yes, I believe I have changed. I told her once a week she and I will go on an outing – just the two of us.”
“Oh, I’ll bet she liked that.”
“She did, but I don’t think she liked it as much as Imanie’s bracelet and ring you gave her. Sister Adeline told me she won’t remove them, even to bathe.”
“I thought Imanie would want her to have them. I don’t need them anymore and thanks to you, I realize I never did.”
“That was nice of you to give them to her, Willow. You have a big heart.” Naked, he pulled her up against his body, picking her up to carry her to the bed.
“There’s one more thing,” she said.
He sighed and put
her down. “You couldn’t have told me all of this earlier?”
“I’m sorry. These are private things that I didn’t want anyone else to hear, and we have been surrounded by people all day long.”
“I can think of some private things I’d like to do right now.” He reached around and grabbed her bottom, giving it a light squeeze.
She giggled but then continued. “Sister Adeline is a member of the queen’s secret group, too,” she told him.
“What?” He released her and stepped back. “A nun?”
“Didn’t you see her heart brooch? I hope you don’t mind since she’ll be living with us in Scarborough.”
“Willow, the last thing on my mind right now is a nun.”
“So, you are not upset about the Followers of the Secret Heart? My cousin’s husband, Alastair, made her promise not to have anything to do with the group again.”
“Is it dangerous?” he asked.
“Nay. I don’t think so.”
“And are you planning on leaving me to follow some unknown path?”
“Nay! I would never leave you, Conrad. You are my husband. I love you.”
“I love you, too.” He kissed her on the lips and continued. “Will you be honest with me and tell me everything that is going on from now on, regarding this secret group?”
“Aye, of course, I will. However, now that Imanie is dead, I don’t think much will be happening at all.”
“All right. Then I don’t mind, Willow. You can be part of a secret group of women, even though I know about it now and it’s not a secret anymore.”
“Thank you,” she said, throwing her arms around him and kissing him hard.
“Is that all, or is there something else you’d like to discuss, such as the color of new bed curtains at the manor house or what we’ll eat for dinner as soon as we return?”
“Now you are making a mockery of me, Conrad the . . .”
“The what?” he asked, looking at her with hooded eyes.
“Conrad the Lusty,” she said, running her hands over his shoulders. “Conrad the Handsome.” Next, she felt his biceps and ran her hands slowly down his chest. “Conrad the Sexy.” Her fingers traveled down his waist.
He took her hand and closed her fingers over his hardened length. “How about Conrad the Ready?” he asked with a chuckle.
In one motion, he swept her off her feet, depositing her atop the bed.
He caressed her breasts as he kissed her first on the lips and then covered her nipple with his mouth, using his lips and tongue to arouse her. She squirmed beneath him as he spread her legs and ever so gently entered her until she took in his full length.
He was sure to please her any way possible, and before she knew it, they had both reached their peaks and found release.
“I love you, Conrad,” she cried out, pulling him close and never wanting to let go.
“I love you, Willow.” He lay down next to her and pulled her into his arms. “You are my wife now in every way.”
“Thank you for not being angry that I had secrets.”
“The only secrets I want you to have between us from now on, are how we are going to make love next and where we are going to do it.”
“But shouldn’t you decide that?” she asked. “After all, you are the man.”
“I think I’d like to let you decide.” He kissed her again and ran a finger down her nose. “I don’t mind secrets as long as they only involve the two of us and making love.”
“I am afraid I might not be able to please you, Conrad.”
“Oh, but how wrong you are. You have already pleased me and also have a skill like no other. I don’t want you ever to lose your talent when it comes to our Seductive Secrets.”
From the Author
I hope you enjoyed Willow and Conrad’s story. I must say, Willow was a handful and not the easiest character to write. Her beauty and charm were her strengths, although sometimes they can be associated with negative connotations. We all have strengths as well as weaknesses, but all that matters, in the end, is how we choose to use them.
If you enjoyed Seductive Secrets, I would love for you to leave a review for me. Watch for Maira’s story, coming next in Rebellious Secrets. Maira is the warrior of the bunch, good with weapons and not afraid to use them if need be.
Elizabeth Rose
Secrets of the Heart Series:
Highland Secrets – Book 1
Seductive Secrets – Book 2
Rebellious Secrets – Book 3
Forgotten Secrets – Book 4
Excerpt from Ruthless Knight
Ruthless Knight
(Legendary Bastards of the Crown Series - Book 2)
While the catacombs were dark, morbid, and filled with death, this room looked to be light, warm, and full of life. That confused her because when she’d heard from Everad that the Demon Thief lived in the crypts, she pictured him as some monster that thrived on flesh and blood and would shrivel up and die if he ever came into the light.
Ignoring her common sense that warned her to retreat, her desire to know more about this mysterious, dangerous man gave her the courage to move forward.
The raven shrieked from behind her, almost as if it were warning her about walking right toward her imminent death.
Reaching the humongous stone that had been moved aside, she realized there was a wooden door hidden behind it. Opened a little, she could see furnishings inside the chamber. With her dagger clutched in one hand, she leaned forward and pressed one eye up to the crack to get a better look. Oddly enough, it seemed more like the chamber of a noble than the abode of a killer. Silently and cautiously, she reached out her shaking hand, her fingers skimming the gnarled wood of the door. It felt thick and dense and took more than just a slight movement of her wrist to push it open further.
Just one better glimpse of the room and she’d be on her way, she told herself. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears, and her mind scolded her for being so stupid. Still, she did not retreat. Bravely stepping one foot over the threshold, she took shallow breaths as she pushed the door open a little more.
She should have called out and made her presence known since it could be Everad inside. But once she got a better look at the furnishings, she decided to stay silent. Everad may have gone down the wrong path when he teamed up with the Demon Thief but, needless to say, he was still a monk. No monk would be living like this. It would be best to take a quick look and leave without making her presence known.
Three stairs led to a large four-poster bed with ornate designs carved into the wood. It perched atop a small dais in the center of the room. Long, purple velvet curtains hung from black iron rods around it, dressing the bed as if it wore a cloak of protection. Next, her gaze was captivated by a scene painted on a whitewashed wall just beyond the bed. She pushed the door open just a little wider, stopping in mid-motion and holding her breath as the rusty hinges of the door squeaked loud enough to raise the dead. When she was sure no one heard her, she stepped inside the room with both feet to inspect her surroundings. Her eyes scanned the area quickly to make sure no one was there. She released a breath of relief. The room was vacant.
The difference in the warm, dry atmosphere of this chamber compared to the wet and dank passageways of the catacombs was amazing. One lantern and also a candle lit up the spacious area in a warm glow, enabling her to get a better look.
Colorful woven tapestries lined the walls, giving a royal air to the surroundings. Thick wooden beams overhead opened to what looked like vents leading upward in small stone tunnels. She could feel fresh air brushing past her face. A little light from the sky came through the vents as well. The floor was made of wood and felt warm beneath her feet. So unlike the damp earth floors of the village huts.
Candlelight flickered, causing shadows on the walls. When she smelled cinnamon and cloves, she realized it wasn’t a tallow candle made of animal fat that was commonly used. Instead, it was of the highest quality, made from scented beeswax. Beeswa
x candles were expensive and usually only used by nobles or the high clergy.
She glanced back over her shoulder to the darkness of the crypt from which she’d just come. The bird had stopped making noise and she wondered where it went. Holding her dagger in front of her for protection, she padded across the floor toward the whitewashed wall with the mural on it. Calliope marveled at the fact that it looked like the painting was outlined in places by gold leaf.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered, reaching out and slowly dragging her fingers across a colorful depiction of two knights jousting at a tournament. In the background of the scene was the castle. In the lists sat a few nobles and some men of the clergy. Oddly enough, she didn’t see the king in this painting anywhere. In front of the painting sat a wooden table and two chairs that were carved with intricate patterns and swirls, just like the posts on the bed. Most commoners sat on benches or stools, but these were chairs with backs on them. Her fingers ran over the intricate design, tracing the swirls up and down.
Then she spotted a warrior’s chain mail tunic and weapons on another chair. This had to be the abode of a warrior. The Demon Thief! Calliope’s eyes darted back in the opposite direction where she saw a basin of water atop a table near the door. She had been so mesmerized by the beauty of the chamber that she hadn’t noticed it when she’d first entered. Even from where she stood, she could see the water was red with blood. A shiver ran up her spine and she realized she’d made a mistake. She should never have entered. A sudden need filled her to get out of the room and back to the castle immediately where she would be safe.
Hurrying back toward the open door, the toe of her mud-soaked shoe kicked something across the floor. Her gaze flashed downward to see the pieces of a chess game scattered across the floor.
Curiosity gnawed at her insides and was the only thing that kept her from running. She hurriedly scooped up a piece with a pointed top, realizing it symbolized a bishop. It was made of a beautiful swirled marble of the finest quality. Her thumb trailed over the top of the jagged, broken stone that had chipped when it hit the floor.
Seductive Secrets (Secrets of the Heart Series Book 2) Page 19
