The Velvet Promise Read online

  But there was one person who was not happy. Alice Valence sat beside the fat, dozing figure of her husband-to-be, Edmund Chatworth, and stared at the bride with all the hatred in her soul. Gavin had made a fool of himself! Even the serfs had laughed at him when he bounded down the stairs after that woman like a boy running toward his first horse.

  How could anyone think that red-haired bitch was beautiful? Alice knew that freckles always accompanied red hair.

  She looked away from Judith to Gavin. Gavin was the one who made her angry. Alice knew him better than he knew himself. For all that a pretty face could send him somersaulting like a clown, she knew that his emotions ran deep. When he said he loved her, he did. And she would remind him of that as soon as possible. She would not allow him to forget her when he was bedded with that red-haired devil.

  Alice looked at her hands and smiled. There was a ring…Yes, she had it with her. She felt a little more secure as she looked back at the bride and groom, a plan forming in her mind.

  She saw Gavin take Judith’s hand and kiss it, ignoring Raine who reminded him that they were in church. Alice shook her head. The silly woman didn’t even know how to react. She should have lowered her lashes and blushed; Alice’s blush was quite becoming. But Judith Revedoune merely stared at her husband, watching his every move as he pressed his lips to the back of her hand. Most unfeminine, Alice thought.

  At that moment Alice was not unobserved. Raine glanced down from the choir loft at Alice and saw the scowl that creased her perfect brow. He was sure she had no idea she was doing so; Alice was so careful to show only what she wanted to be seen.

  Fire and ice, he thought. Judith’s beauty was like fire to Alice’s icy blondeness. He smiled as he thought how easily fire melted ice, but then remembered that it all depended on the heat of the fire and the greatness of the block of ice. His brother was a sane and sensible man, rational in every aspect except one—Alice Valence. Gavin adored her; he was insane when anyone even hinted at her flaws. His new wife held an attraction for him, but for how long? Could she overcome the fact that Alice held his heart? Raine hoped so. As he looked from one woman to the other, he realized that Alice might be a woman to worship, but Judith was a woman to love.

  Chapter Five

  AT THE END OF THE LONG WEDDING MASS, GAVIN TOOK Judith’s hand and led her down the steps to the altar where they knelt before the priest as he blessed them. The holy man gave Gavin the kiss of peace, which he then transmitted to his wife. It should have been a kiss of duty; but though it was over quickly, Gavin’s lips were lingering, causing Judith to gaze at him, her golden eyes mirroring her pleasure as well as surprise.

  Gavin grinned widely with pure joy, took her hand in his and led her at a half-run from the church. Once outside, the crowd threw a shower of grains that by sheer volume was almost lethal. He lifted Judith onto her horse, her waist tiny even when swathed in layers of fabric. He would have liked to put her onto his mount with him, but he’d committed enough of a faux pas when he’d first seen her. He started to take the reins of her horse, but Judith led her own animal and he was pleased; his wife would need to be a good horsewoman.

  The bride and groom led the procession back to the Revedoune manor house, Gavin holding her hand tightly as they entered the freshly cleaned great hall. Judith looked at the rose petals and lilies spread on the floor. Only a few hours ago, these flowers had seemed an omen of the dreadful thing that was about to happen to her. Now, looking at Gavin, his gray eyes smiling into hers, the idea of being his wife did not seem so dreadful at all.

  “I would give a great deal to know your thoughts,” Gavin said, his lips close to her ear.

  “I was thinking that this marriage does not seem nearly as bad as I once thought.”

  Gavin was stunned for a moment then he threw back his head and bellowed with laughter. Judith had no idea that she had insulted him and complimented him in one sentence. A well-trained young lady should never have admitted to disliking the idea of marriage to any man chosen for her. “Well, my wife,” Gavin said, his eyes sparkling, “I am more than pleased.”

  Their first words to each other had been spoken—and then there was time for no more. The bride and groom must stand in line and greet the hundreds of guests who congratulated them.

  Judith stood quietly beside her husband and smiled at one guest after another. She knew very few of them since her life had been so secluded. Robert Revedoune stood to one side, watching his daughter, making sure that she did nothing wrong. He would not be certain he had her off his hands until the marriage was consummated.

  Judith had been concerned that her clothes would be overly rich but as she watched the guests, murmuring “thank yous,” she knew her attire was conservative. The guests were dressed in peacock colors; several of them, all on one body. The women wore reds, purples and greens. There were checks, stripes, brocades, appliqués, and lush embroidery. Judith’s gold and green stood out through its understatement.

  Raine suddenly grabbed Judith’s waist, lifted her high above his head, then planted a sound kiss on each cheek.

  “Welcome to the Montgomery clan, little sister,” he said sweetly, deep dimples in his cheeks.

  Judith liked his honesty and openness. Miles came next. She had met him when he came as proxy for Gavin. He had stared at her like one of the hawks in the mews.

  Miles still stared at her in that odd, piercing way, and she stole a glance at her husband, who seemed to be badgering Raine about some jest about an ugly woman. Raine, shorter than Gavin, wore a black velvet jacket trimmed with silver. He was a handsome man with his deep dimples and his laughing blue eyes. Miles was as tall as Gavin, but of slighter build. Of the three brothers, Miles’s clothes were the brightest. He wore a dark green wool doublet and a brilliant green jacket, lined with dark sable. About his slim hips was a wide leather belt set with emeralds.

  They were all strong, handsome men; but as she saw them together, Gavin seemed to outshine the others. At least, it seemed so to Judith. Gavin felt her eyes on him and turned toward her. He took her hand from her side and kissed her fingers. Judith felt her heart race as he put the tip of one finger in his mouth, touching it to his tongue.

  “I think you should wait a while, brother, although I can see the reason for your impatience,” Raine laughed. “Tell me again about fat, overbred heiresses.”

  Gavin released his wife’s hand reluctantly. “You can laugh at me all you like—but it is I who has her, so I have the last laugh. Or maybe ‘laugh’ is not the right word.”

  Raine gave a throaty sound and nudged Miles. “Come on, let’s see if we can find any more golden-eyed goddesses in this place. Give your new sister-in-law a kiss of welcome and let’s go.”

  Miles lifted Judith’s hand and kissed it lingeringly, his eyes on hers all the while. “I think I shall save the kiss for a more private time,” he said before following his brother.

  Gavin put his arm around Judith’s shoulders possessively. “Don’t let them upset you. They’re only teasing.”

  “I rather like their teasing.”

  Gavin smiled down at her, then abruptly released her. Touching her had nearly set him on fire. The bedding was many hours away. If he was to live through the day, he knew he must keep his hands off her.

  Later, as Judith accepted a kiss from a withered woman, countess of someplace, wearing a shimmering gown of purple satin, she felt Gavin stiffen beside her. She followed his eyes down the line to a woman so exquisite that several men did little but gape at her. When she came to stand before the bride, Judith was taken aback at the hatred that smoldered in those blue eyes. She was almost tempted to cross herself in protection. Titters drew Judith’s attention and she saw that several people were greatly enjoying the sight of the two women, both beautiful, but so different, face to face.

  The blonde woman moved quickly past Gavin, refusing to meet his eyes and Judith noticed an expression of pain on her husband’s face. It was a puzzling and disconcerting en