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helping her father get her out of Merrick

and out of her husband's godless clutches

in secret."Yo ur father had hit upon the

perfect revenge: since ourmarria ge had

alreadybee n consumma ted before the fact, an

annulment would have been out of thequestio

n for me. So of course would divorce

havebeen. Without the opportunit y

toremarry, I couldn't sire a legitimate heir, and

so all of this Claymore and all I have

would have reverted to the king on my

death.""I I don't believe you," Jenny said

atly, and thenwith heartbreak ing fairness,sh

e amended, "I believe you

believe this. But thesimple truth is that my

fatherwoul d never have locked me away for

the rest of mylife without at least giving me

achoice rst.""He would, and he intende

d to."She shook her head, shook it so hard

and soemphati cally that Royce suddenlyre

alized she couldn't bear to believe it. "My

fatherlo ves me. He wouldn't do

that.Not even to avenge himself on you."

Royce winced, feeling like the Barbarian

he'd beencalled for trying to shatter herillusion

s. "You're quite right. Iit was a mistake."S he nodded.

"A mistake." She smiled at him, a soft,sweet

smile that made hisheart pick up its tempo

because it was not like anyother smile

she'd given him. Itwas lled with trust

and approval and something elsehe

couldn't quite identify.Tu rning, Jenny

walked over to the window, staring outat the

starlit night.Torc hes were lit on the battlement

s and the silhouetteo f a guard patrolling the

wallwas clearly outlined against the orange

light. Her mind, however, was not on starsor

guards, or even her father; it was on the tall, black-

haired man standing behindher. He had

wanted to marry her, and the knowledge lled her

with an emotion sopoignant , so consuming

that she could scarcely containit. It was so

overpower ingthat feelings like patriotism

and revenge became paltry.She reached

out, idly following the handsome tracingson

the cold glass with a

ngertip, rememberi ng all those sleepless

nights atMerrick keep when she couldnot

tear him out of her mind, when her body felt

emptyand overheated and criedout for his.

Behind her, she heard him start toward

her,and she knew what wasgoing to happen

between them as surely as she knewshe

loved him. God forgive her,she loved her

family's enemy. She had known it atHardin,

but she had beenstrong er then and afraid.

Afraid of what woul dhappen to her if she let

herself lovea man who seemed to regard

her as nothing more thana temporary

amusemen t.But as surely as Jenny knew she

loved him, she knewhe loved her, too. It

explainede verything his anger, his laughter,

his patience hisspeech in the bailey.She

felt his presence like a tangible thing even

beforehe slowly slid his armaround her from

behind, drawing her back against hisbody.

In the windowpa netheir eyes met, and Jenny

gazed into his as she askedhim for the

one promi se that

helping her father get her out of Merrickand out of her husband's godless clutchesin secret."Your father had hit upon the perfect revenge: since ourmarriage had alreadybeen consummated before the fact, an annulmentwould have been out of thequestion for me. So of course would divorce havebeen. Without the opportunity toremarry, I couldn't sire a legitimate heir, and so all of this Claymore and all I havewould have reverted to the king on my death.""II don't believe you," Jenny said atly, and thenwith heartbreaking fairness,she amended, "I believe you believe this. But thesimple truth is that my fatherwould never have locked me away for the rest of mylife without at least giving me achoice rst.""He would, and he intended to."She shook her head, shook it so hard and soemphatically that Royce suddenlyrealized she couldn't bear to believe it. "My fatherloves me. He wouldn't do that.Not even to avenge himself on you."

Royce winced, feeling like the Barbarian he'd beencalled for trying to shatter herillusions. "You're quite right. Iit was a mistake."She nodded. "A mistake." She smiled at him, a soft,sweet smile that made hisheart pick up its tempo because it was not like anyother smile she'd given him. Itwas lled with trust and approval and something elsehe couldn't quite identify.Turning, Jenny walked over to the window, staring outat the starlit night.Torches were lit on the battlements and the silhouetteof a guard patrolling the wallwas clearly outlined against the orange light. Her mind,however, was not on starsor guards, or even her father; it was on the tall, black-haired man standing behindher. He had wanted to marry her, and the knowledgelled her with an emotion sopoignant, so consuming that she could scarcely containit. It was so overpoweringthat feelings like patriotism and revenge became paltry.She reached out, idly following the handsome tracingson the cold glass with a

ngertip, remembering all those sleepless nights atMerrick keep when she couldnot tear him out of her mind, when her body felt emptyand overheated and criedout for his. Behind her, she heard him start toward her,and she knew what wasgoing to happen between them as surely as she knewshe loved him. God forgive her,she loved her family's enemy. She had known it atHardin, but she had beenstronger thenand afraid. Afraid of what wouldhappen to her if she let herself lovea man who seemed to regard her as nothing more thana temporary amusement.But as surely as Jenny knew she loved him, she knewhe loved her, too. It explainedeverythinghis anger, his laughter, his patience hisspeech in the bailey.She felt his presence like a tangible thing even beforehe slowly slid his armaround her from behind, drawing her back against hisbody. In the windowpanetheir eyes met, and Jenny gazed into his as she askedhim for the one promise that