Alanna put down her shuttle. She could feel her heart drumming, and it took an effort to say lightly, “I was sort of hoping you’d come before this.”
He sat beside her, examining the cloth on the loom. “I’d hoped to come before this, too,” he admitted. “Truth to tell, givin’ up the Rogue and turnin’ respectable—it takes gettin’ used to. Some days I get out of bed not knowin’ who I am. Jonathan kept me busy, like I wrote you. Too, the castle down at old Pirate’s Swoop had to be fixed up proper before I brought—” He stopped. “Jon’s announced he’s to marry Thayet,” he said abruptly. “The Bazhir will have told you.”
“It’s one of the advantages to having a king who’s also the Voice.” His face would be easier to read if his back wasn’t to the light!
“Thayet says you gave your blessin’.”
“I did.” She curled her hands around her elbows to hide their trembling.
“You’re not sorry for it? Had you wanted, you’d be queen.”
“I didn’t want it.”
He reached out to toy with the ember-stone. “What do you want, Alanna?”
She caught his hand and met his eyes, smiling. “I want to be yours. If you’re still interested.”
His fingers tightened on hers. “Why?”
Alanna looked down. “I love you.”
He made her look up at him. “Enough to wed with me? Enough to give up roamin’ and settle down and be the lady of Pirate’s Swoop?” She looked at him quizzically, and he blushed. “Well, to roam with me along.” Alanna nodded. George took a breath. “Enough to bear my—our—little ones?”
She blushed. “I’d like to have you to myself for a year or two. After that, we’ll have all the children we want.” Her voice cracked as she added, “I’ll be proud to.”
Rising, George pulled Alanna into his arms. “So I finally tamed myself a Lioness,” he whispered when they broke their kiss.
Alanna laughed. “I wouldn’t call it tamed, laddy-me-love. The lady of Pirate’s Swoop shouldn’t be tame.”
George grinned. “Particularly not when she’s King’s Champion, to boot. That’s all right, then.” He picked her up for another kiss. When he finally put her down, he took her hand and drew her out of the tent. “Come on, Lioness. We can tell your tribe we’re betrothed.”
Lioness Rampant (Song of the Lioness) Page 23
