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Maira sounded as if she thought he were worthless, when it was the furthest thing from the truth. Or was it? Perhaps she was right in saying he let his father down. His father wouldn’t have waited three years to make matters right. Nay, he would have turned right around and had his revenge with the High Sheriff on the spot if this situation had happened to him. This whole thing made Jacob feel ill. But Maira’s next question made him feel even worse.
“So, were you in love with Lady Catherine?” Maira bent down and picked a daisy as they walked.
“What?” He stalled since he didn’t know how to reply.
“It couldn’t have been easy to lose her to the High Sheriff.”
“Nay, it wasn’t.” Jacob’s throat went dry and he shook his head. It was an extremely warm day for being so late in the year.
The sun shone down on Maira’s strawberry-blond hair, making it glow like an angel. She wore that crown wherever she went, and the gemstones winked in the light, almost taunting him, making him remember all that he once almost had and then lost.
“I heard from the cook that the jeweled dagger was once your mother’s and you gave it to Catherine.”
“I did.” His eyes went to her waist belt but the jeweled dagger was no longer there. “Where is my dagger, Maira?”
She sniffed the daisy and looked up at him with wide, blue eyes. Then she twirled the flower between her fingers as she spoke.
“I don’t have it. The High Sheriff stole it from me right after our sword fight.”
“You fought with him, Maira?” asked Jacob with concern.
“He ordered me to, right after he told me that I wasn’t allowed to wear my weapons anymore.”
“Then why do you still have them?”
“I used the name of my father and uncles to force him to let me keep them. After all, no one wants the wrath of the Legendary Bastard Triplets on their head.”
“Nay, I suppose not. Your father and uncles are legends and also still feared by most in the land.”
“Sometimes, that works in my favor,” she said with a smile that lit up her whole face.
“Sir Gregory didn’t hurt you, did he?” asked Jacob, feeling his blood boil at the thought of the man.
“He didn’t, but he almost forced himself on me. Thank goodness a page came to the door and interrupted.”
“He – he almost . . . raped you?” asked Jacob, barely able to even say the words.
Maira’s smile turned to a frown and she threw the daisy to the ground. “It doesn’t matter because it won’t happen again.” She turned to walk away but he reached out and took her by the shoulders to stop her.
“It does matter, Maira. No man will treat you that way and get away with it. I’ll make sure of it.”
She glanced back over her shoulder at him and then her gaze fell to the ground. If he wasn’t mistaken, she was holding back her tears. “I only hope my father will get here before the High Sheriff returns to marry me.”
“Marry you?” Jacob turned her around to look in her eyes. “What are you talking about? No wedding banns have been posted and you told me you’d never marry the man.”
“Sir Gregory said he doesn’t care that I have the power to agree to a marriage or not. It sounded as if he were going to get King Richard to renege my privilege from me. That’s why he left to fetch the bishop. He said when he returns, the bishop is going to marry us right away.”
“The wretched cur,” spat Jacob, pulling her closer. He had thought the High Sheriff went to get the bishop for the celebration of St. Catherine’s Day. But now, it seemed as if there would be a celebration that was a marriage instead. He hugged Maira and looked over her head, devising a plan to beat the High Sheriff at his own game. “There is a way we can keep that from happening, even if your father doesn’t show up in time.”
“How can we do that?” Maira looked up in question, her glassy eyes reflecting the sky above them. “We have no power to stop him, or the wedding.”
“Then let the church do it instead,” he said.
“I don’t understand what you mean.”
“My brother is a priest, Maira. His church is only two hours’ ride from here. We can beat the High Sheriff at his own game.”
“Jacob, what are you suggesting?”
“If you’re already married when the High Sheriff returns, there is nothing he can do about it.”
“Already married?” she gasped.
Jacob nodded. “It can be done tomorrow morning, before the High Sheriff returns to Durham Castle.” He bent down on one knee, holding Maira’s hands in his. This was a risk, but one worth taking. “Lady Maira, will you marry me and become my wife?”
