Her Muse, Her David (Muses Book 3)

by Jane Charles

  “Please, wait,” Anna called after him. “We need your help.”

  He slowly turned. “I don’t know what this about, but I’m certain I cannot help you.”

  Anna was not about to be put off. She stepped forward, moving just slightly into the house. At least on this side of the door, it couldn’t be slammed in her face. “We need a priest,” she whispered.

  The man stilled and narrowed his eyes on her. “Then find one.”

  “We were told you were one,” David said, coming up beside her.

  The man’s eyes hardened. “Who?” he demanded.

  “We will not say,” Lord Wolverly answered. None of them wished to get the father and son in trouble.

  “We need your help. Please, hear us out.” Anna practically begged.

  Mr. Peters looked them over again, then sighed. “Very well, come back into my library.”

  Anna blew out a sigh as the four of them followed Mr. Peters to the back of the house. Once they were in the library he shut the door. “Quickly tell me so that you can be on your way.”

  No one spoke. It seemed none of them knew quite where to begin.

  “Well?” he demanded.

  Straightening her spine, Anna rushed to tell him what had happened and what Brighid had told her about the ring. David filled in the details about Lord Quentin being thrown against the wall and burning his fingers.

  Mr. Peter’s angry expression changed to disbelief and then fear.

  “This was at Marisdùn?” he asked when they were finished.

  “Yes, sir,” Lord Wolverly answered. “You have heard of it?”

  “Aye, I have.” He shook his head and glanced at Anna. “And Brighid told you about the ring?”

  He said the name as if he was familiar with her, and Anna nodded.

  “Is this Brighid the daughter of Rowena Glace?”

  The four of them straightened. “You knew Mrs. Glace?” Anna asked with wariness.

  A kind smile formed on Mr. Peters’ lips. “There was a, um, situation, some years back, that, required the, shall we say, talents of Mrs. Glace.”

  “You needed a witch?” Wolf asked.

  “Wolf!” Daphne warned under her breath and Anna couldn’t blame her. One did not go about naming witches to Catholic priests because it usually did not end well for the witch in question. Though Mrs. Glace had passed away, so there was little harm that could be done now.

  Mr. Peters chuckled. “There are many things in this world that are no’ easy to understand. I’ve never believed that because something is unexplained it is necessarily evil.”

  The tension finally began to leave Anna’s body.

  “Mrs. Glace was a generous and kind woman,” he assured them. “As it appears her daughter has inherited her talents, and I know of no Druid priest either, I cannot in good conscience turn you away.”

  “You will help?” Anna needed his agreement that he’d come with them, and not just tell them what to do.

  He nodded. “I need to gather a few things. Something of this importance cannot be approached without proper preparation.”

  “How long?” David asked.

  “It should not take me more than a few hours.” Mr. Peters looked around as he if was already mentally preparing a list of what he needed.

  “Why don’t you return to the coaching inn, have something to eat and rest, and I’ll be along shortly.”

  Anna looked to her companions. She was not at all comfortable leaving to wait. What if he changed his mind, or left? They’d have to start their search all over.

  “I’ll remain and help you,” Lord Wolverly announced.

  “It is not necessary,” Mr. Peters assured him.

  “I’ll feel better if I stay,” Lord Wolverly insisted. “I’ll just get my chainmail and sword from the carriage.”

  Anna choked back a laugh. Did Lord Wolverly plan to intimidate the man with his costume if Mr. Peters changed his mind or threaten him with his sword?

  “I’ll stay with my husband,” Daphne said.

  Well, there really was no reason to leave. “It’s settled. We’re happy to wait,” Anna announced.

  “I’m not,” David said quietly.

  “He does need to prepare,” Anna pointed out.

  “Yes, and that will take a few hours.”

  “It is quicker than I had hoped,” she said. And it was. Her fear was that they’d be traveling through Scotland until they found someone. “We really should give Mr. Peters time if this is to be done properly.”

  “Yes, and the timing is not what I have a problem with,” he said with a smile.

  “Then why are you concerned?”

  David turned toward her fully and took her hands in his. “I’d rather not sit here waiting for Mr. Peters when we could be standing in front of an anvil.”

  She gasped. Did he mean…?

  “This is Gretna. You did agree to be my wife.”

  Anna bit her lip, trying to keep the smile from her face. Was it right to marry without the blessing of her uncle?

  Then again, if Mr. Peters was unsuccessful, she might not ever get his blessing. Further, if they did get her uncle back, David most assuredly would not get his blessing.

  “Go,” Mr. Peters said. “Be married and be happy. We won’t be long and many blessings to you.”

  Chapter 22

  His mother was going to kill him. Not that she didn’t want David to get married. The woman had been harping about that very issue for the past five years. No, she was going to be upset that it took place in Scotland and that she wasn’t present. He’d smooth things over for her once they returned to London. But, right now, he was standing with Anna, before a blacksmith, about to become man and wife.

  As they had to wait for the priest, they had but three options. Stay at the house while the man packed, go to the coaching inn for a warm meal, or get married. There really was only one option as far as David was concerned.

  Besides, Anna had agreed to marry him and he wanted to take care of matters quickly, before she had a chance to change her mind.

  He chuckled to himself when he looked down at her. Not that he had ever pictured what his bride would one day wear, he was just as certain that if he had pictured it, it wouldn’t have been a black and red Venetian gown from the Middle Ages. Yet, he wouldn’t have it any other way.

  Anna was his and she was beautiful and as soon as the issues with her uncle were dealt with, he was going to take her away where nobody could disturb them so he could make her his in every way possible. It was practically all he’d thought about for a year and it was about to become a reality.

  An older woman, whom David learned was the smithy’s wife handed Anna a bouquet of heather and smiled broadly before nodding to her husband to begin.

  He cleared his throat. “Do ye, Mr. David Michael Thorn, take Miss Anna Elizabeth Southward ta be yer wife?”

  “I do.”

  “Do ye, Miss Anna Elizabeth Southward take Mr. David Michael Thorn ta be yer husband?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do ye both wish ta be married for as long as ye both shall live?”

  “Yes,” they answered in unison.

  “Do ye have a ring?”

  David stilled. He hadn’t even thought about a ring. “I promise to get you the most beautiful ring as soon as we return to London.”

  She looked up at him, her smile brilliant. “It isn’t necessary.”

  “Take one of these,” the Smithy’s wife opened a box containing various sizes of gold bands. They must not have been the only couple to forget this detail.

  David sifted through them and selected a thin, gold band, then held it up to Anna for her approval.

  She gave a quick nod and stuck out her hand.

  “We’ll pu’ it on,” the smithy told him as if David should have figured this out already. It wasn’t like he’d done this before.

  The gold slipped over her delicate finger. A perfect fit.

  At that moment, the blacksmith
struck the anvil. “Under the ancient rights and laws of Scotland ye are now man and wife.”

  And with that, they were married. What David had feared most of his adult life, turned out to be the happiest moment of all. Anna was now his. Forever.

  “Well, are ye gonna kiss her?”

  * * *

  Anna couldn’t believe she and David were married. She smiled up into his warm, brown eyes, so full of love it made her heart ache.

  “I love you, Anna,” he said.

  “I love you too, David.” Just saying the words were freeing.

  “Well?” the blacksmith barked and David grinned, right before taking her lips with his. She could have spent weeks or months planning her wedding, but it would never have been as perfect as this moment.

  “Finally!” the blacksmith grumbled when David pulled back.

  In retrospect, in comparison to the other kisses he had given her, this one was very tame. Then again, there were two strangers watching and it wouldn’t do to be carried away with passion at a time like this.

  “Thank you,” David said as he pulled his purse from the inside of his pocket and counted out the fee for the wedding and the ring.

  “Many blessings to ye,” the man’s wife called as they stepped into the bright sunshine.

  “Now where to?” Anna asked. They were to wait here for Lord and Lady Wolverly and the priest.

  David glanced across the street to the coaching inn, then up at the windows. “We could take a room, to, um, rest.”

  Her face heated. She doubted very much if David was thinking of resting. Not that she knew what to expect, but they would now share a bedchamber and she wasn’t sure that was something she was ready for.

  “I doubt we’ll have time,” she finally said. “We’ve been gone an hour, and Mr. Peters said he only needed a few hours to prepare.” She would put off her wedding night for as long as possible. Or, at least until she had a chance to speak to one of her married friends so she could ask what to expect. Nobody ever told her what occurred between a husband and a wife, but she was certain more than just kissing happened.

  “Maidenly nerves?” David teased.

  Her face grew hotter. “I’m hungry,” she blurted out, not willing to have such a discussion with him.

  “Then I shall feed you, my love.” He laughed. “But, if the priest takes much longer, we’ll be resting.” He winked at her before leading her across the street and her heartbeat increased as nerves overtook her body. Goodness, what had she just gotten herself into by becoming his wife?

  Chapter 23

  David was just about to drag his lovely bride upstairs to a vacant chamber when Wolf walked in the door with Daphne and the priest. They’d been in the tap room for two hours waiting and in that time, David could have gotten to know his wife much better and more intimately, instead of enjoying a meal and quiet conversation.

  “Is it done?” Wolf asked with a grin.

  “It is,” David answered, holding up Anna’s hand with the gold ring.

  Daphne pulled Anna into a hug. “I’m so happy for you and so glad something good came from this situation.”

  The smile slipped from Wolf’s face and he leaned in. “Then why are you down here and not up there?” he asked quietly so Anna couldn’t hear, nodding to the stairs that lead to the chambers above.

  David shook his head. He wasn’t about to tell Wolf that Anna became practically terrified at the idea as soon as he mentioned it.

  “We’ll ride with Mr. Peters,” he said as he straightened. “You and Mrs. Thorn can have the use of my carriage.”

  “Thank you, but that isn’t necessary,” Anna said a little too quickly for David’s liking.

  “Oh, yes it is,” Daphne said as she linked her hand into Wolf’s arm. “We’ll see you back at Marisdùn,” she called out as they left.

  David glanced up the stairs once again. They could spend the night and catch up to the rest of them later. They were just married today and certain things were supposed to happen.

  “I’m so glad we can finally head back,” Anna said, breaking into this thoughts. “I’ve been worried that something has happened in our absence,” she was saying as she made her way to the door. “What if my uncle got free? What if he hurt someone?”

  David looked back one last time before he stepped outside.

  Wolf was handing Daphne up into a carriage that must have belonged to Mr. Peters.

  “Make sure you get as much rest as you can,” the priest called out. “We don’t know how long it’s going to take once we get there, or what might be asked of us.”

  * * *

  Anna settled into the seat beside David and looked down at the gold encircling her finger. She had really married David Thorn today. “I can’t believe we are married.”

  David put an arm around her, pulling her close. “You aren’t having any regrets are you?”

  He sounded a bit worried and Anna glanced up at him in surprise. “Of course not.”

  “Good.” He grinned and pulled her onto his lap.

  “David!”

  Anything else was cut off when his lips touched hers and Anna melted on the spot. Oh, she so enjoyed kissing David and now she’d be able to do so for a lifetime.

  He broke the kiss and leaned his head back against the squabs groaning.

  Anna scrambled off his lap. “Are you in distress?”

  He chuckled and shook his head. “Get some rest, Anna.” He pulled her head down onto his chest before draping his arm around her shoulders. “Once we reach Marisdùn, you won’t sleep again for a very long time.”

  When she next woke, it was dark outside and David was asleep. Somehow they had moved and were both lying along the seat. Well, he was on the seat and she was on top of him. Anna tried to move off of him but David’s arm tightened around her back.

  “Stay where you are and go back to sleep.”

  Grinning against his chest, she did just that and closed her eyes. For one so strong and muscular, her husband did make a very nice bed.

  He was also a better sleeping potion than Brighid had ever concocted for her because the next time Anna opened her eyes, the carriage was pulling up before Marisdùn castle. David was sitting up straight now, and her head was rested on his leg. She didn’t even remember moving off of him, but she must have in her sleep.

  Stretching, she glanced out the window. Everything appeared to be fine, but she also knew, looks could be deceiving.

  Chapter 24

  Bendle opened the door before they had a chance to knock. “We’ve been most anxiously awaiting your return,” he said as he led them to the blue parlor. Quent, Braden and his wife joined them almost immediately and David made the quick introductions.

  “This is the room, is no’?” Father Matthew asked and began walking the perimeter of the parlor. “I’ll be sure to bless each of the rooms before I leave, my lord, this one in particular.”

  Quent glanced at David, and he could read the concern in his friend’s eyes. “Father Matthew has experience in exorcisms,” he assured Quent.

  “It is a specialty of yours?” Garrick asked, as if he were a bit surprised.

  They had gone for a priest for this very purpose, who did Garrick think he’d bring back?

  Thorn shook the thoughts from his head. He was tired and married, without any of the benefits a husband would have enjoyed by now.

  “Aye,” Father Matthew turned back to them. “I’ve participated in a number of them, my son.”

  “We were told that a Druid priest was needed,” Garrick reminded them.

  “If a demon has taken possession of a host body, ye willna find a better man than me to help, sir,” Father Matthew assured him.

  “The vicar is in the dungeons,” Quent said, as if he was anxious to be done with this. David couldn’t really blame him. He was ready for the exorcism as well, though he wasn’t sure what to expect. Only then would he be able to rest. Rest with his wife. Though, once the vicar was himself, he wouldn�
��t be very happy about the marriage, but there was little he could do about it now.

  “We weren’t sure where else to put him where he wouldn’t harm himself or someone else,” Quent explained. “A footman is sitting with him now.

  “Aye, that’ll work just fine.” Father Matthew looked to the door. “The ladies should remain here, but if ye gentlemen will show me the way.”

  “This way, Father,” Quent said, pulling away from Lila.

  Thorn squeezed Anna’s hand, reluctant to let it go, and then followed his friends and the priest to the dungeon. Thorn would be quite happy if he never had cause to return to this room again.

  “When I get free, I will kill each and every one of you invaders!” Vicar Southward yelled when they came down the steps.

  Thorn simply stared at him. Vicar Southward’s appearance had changed quite a bit in just two days. His eyes were as black as sin, his lips cracked and his face was cut or scratched. Were those lesions? And was that blood coming from his eye?

  Quent glanced at the footman who’d been sitting with Vicar Southward. “You can go now.”

  A look of relief flashed on the young man’s face and he nearly ran up the stairs. Thorn wasn’t sure if the man was happy to be away from the possessed vicar or if he simply desired warmth. Thorn rubbed his arms. It was bloody freezing down here.

  “What’s this?” A haunting laugh emanated from the vicar, sending chills down Thorn’s spine that had nothing to do with the cold. Vicar Southward pulled against his chains as if trying to break his hold and Thorn prayed he couldn’t pull them from the wall. “You’ve brought me a man who has to hide his belief every day? Surely you can find a better champion, one who doesn’t hide in shame.”

  “Doona speak directly to the demon,” Father Matthew instructed them in a calm voice. “It can sense your secrets and fears and will try to manipulate you.”

  Thorn’s only fear right now was the man on the other side of the bars getting free.

  “I am not a demon. I am a warrior!” he roared, pulling on the chains once again.