Passion's Twins (9 page)

“Oh.”

“Well? What duties keep you busy?”

“Riding, Rowena.”

Huffing, she prompted, “And?”

“Practicing, Rowena.”

“With what?”

Covering a grin, he scratched his chin. “Singing, Rowena.”

“Don’t you train with your men?”

“Oh,” he said as if she’d put the idea in his mind. “Aye,
Rowena.”

“What else?”

“Huh?”

As if talking to a dunce, obviously frustrated, she inched
closer. “Do you hear tenants’ grievances, settle their disputes, plan which
fields to plant and which to leave fallow? Collect taxes?”

“Aye, Rowena.” Sensing she hovered at the edge of giving him
a vicious tongue-lashing, he looked up at the mother tree’s canopy. “Not
taxes.”

“Why not? Does Gareth think you’d steal from him?”

“No, Rowena.”

“Then why don’t you collect taxes?”

“’Tis Gareth’s steward’s responsibly, Rowena.”

“More than two words! At last!”

He slanted a look from beneath his lashes. She seemed
disgusted by his repeatedly calling her by her sister’s name.

“I thought you and Row—that is you and I have more to talk
about,
Edgar
.” Sarcasm laced his name. Or maybe she wished he would
swallow hemlock.

Good!
Let her grow to hate her sister’s name. He grew
tired of saying it—to
this
Rowena, at least.

“We do talk, Rowena.”

“About what, Edgar? I seem unable to recall a conversation
when you offered more than a few words at a time.”

“Well,” he began then stopped. He scooted toward her. She
scooted away then seemed to will herself to go no farther.

“Well?” she said, her teeth clenched. “What do you—
we
—talk
about? Pray remind me.”

Looking soulfully into her eyes, stroking her cheek, he
said, “Swiving, Rowena. Surely you remember talking about swiving.”

As if he’d poured scalding oil over her head, she sprang to
her feet. “I remember no such thing!”

“I’ll wager you don’t.
Rowena
,” he called to her back
as she fled.

* * * * *

Kerrie laughed, rousing Alexandre.

“What plot are you hatching now, my love?”

“Plot?”

“
Oui.
I know you cannot resist meddling, Kerrie. How
much more torture have you planned for our young lovers?”

“Only a tiny bit more.” Seeing his doubting look, she kissed
him. “Shall I awaken you when I’m finished?”

“
Non.
I shall watch with you. Since you are so
amused, surely something will make me laugh as well.”

Not liking this decision, she kissed him again. “I can think
of more pleasant ways to pass the time.”

“Later, my love. After all, we have eternity.”

* * * * *

Aida’s Tower Guest Quarters

Praying for an hour’s solitude, Edina burst through the
solar door. Finding Rowena ensconced on the window seat, Ariel on her lap,
Edina slammed the door then flung herself into a chair. Fuming silently, she
tore the amisse from her throat and tossed it to the floor.

“You look cool,
Rowena
,” she growled.

Not pretending to misunderstand Edina’s anger, Rowena
glanced at her sister, saying, “What did Edgar say that has made you so angry?”

“Angry? I am beyond anger. I am—”

“Furious? Wishing you were brave enough to geld him?”

Edina closed her gaping mouth and heard her teeth click.
Drawing a calming breath, she pulled open her gown to fan her flushed chest and
face with her hands.

“Before we air our grievances,” Rowena soothed, “let me help
you disrobe. Trust me, you’ll feel cooler once you’ve removed your clothes.”

Huffing out a sigh, Edina turned her back. Moments later,
she expelled a full and grateful breath. “Did Gerard help you undress? Did he
help you don your chemise before he left you?”

“Something more than Gerard’s bedding me—which he did not—is
stuck in your throat. Not that he lacked trying to seduce me.
You
,” she
said quietly, noting her sister’s renewed fury. “Did Edgar try to seduce you?”

“He seemed as if he wanted to,” Edina reluctantly admitted.
Her sister’s feelings for Edgar mattered to her. “Did Gerard…seem as if he
wished to seduce you?”

“Only by innuendo.” Rowena retreated to the window seat,
retrieving Ariel before she sat.

“Then why do you want to geld him?” Edina slipped her chemise
over her head, anxiously peering at Rowena’s profile.

“Gelding is not precisely what I meant.”

Groaning, dismayed at the thought of pulling hens’ teeth yet
again, Edina sank into her chair. “What
did
you mean then?”

“I wanted to cut out his tongue! I swear, Edina, if Gerard
had said your name one more time…I would have used his own dagger and sliced
his tongue in half!”

Surprising herself, Edina giggled. “I wish I had thought of
that. Edgar finished every sentence with your name. If you could call two words
haltingly strung together a sentence,” she added, remembering Edgar’s slow
responses.

“What did you talk about?” Rowena asked nonchalantly.

“His responsibilities. Such as they are. He rides. When
prodded, he remembers he trains with his men, has a hand in Puttupon’s
agriculture. Oh…he also
sings
. But he does not collect taxes.
Not
taxes
were the only words he volunteered.”

“Does Gareth mistrust him?”

“No! It seems tax collection falls as usual to Gareth’s
steward.”

“Gerard said nothing about taxes,” Rowena murmured.

“What then does he do?” She leaned toward Rowena, eager to
learn how Gerard spent his days.

Rowena listed Gerard’s duties, finishing with, “In short, he
is a king in training. While Edgar seems to place more importance on singing. I
have given my heart to an endlessly cheerful ne’er-do-well!”

Going to Rowena’s side, Edina patted her sister’s shoulder.
Sitting beside her, Edina said succinctly, “I have never felt so stupid in my
entire life! The minute I saw Edgar, I gave in to the need to test him yet
again. On your behalf, of course.”

“Of course,” Rowena drawled. Sighing, she leaned her elbows
on her knees. “I felt the same when I encountered Gerard. When he invited me to
join him in the punt… Not wanting to be with him, I felt compelled to pretend
to be you. Which makes no sense at all. ‘Twas the perfect opportunity to
introduce myself as myself, but I didn’t.”

“The game is almost like…drinking mead. Knowing you’ll
awaken with a head that feels thrice its size but unable to stop drinking it.”

“Exactly like that.”

“On the rare occasions we are not together, I don’t pretend
I am you,” Edina said.

“Neither do I when you’re away. Mother keeps me busy
counting sheets.” Her laugh made Edina frown. “’Twas something I said to Gerard
while pretending to be you.”

Edina sat. Looking at her sister’s glum face, she sighed. “I
truly want to stop, Rowena. But if, after we marry, we continue to live
together… I fear the temptation may prove too great.”

“As do I.”

“Perhaps…perhaps I can persuade Mother to let Gerard and me
live on her dower estate.”

“You assume Gerard has no land or castle of his own.”

“Aye. I don’t know if he has land or not. We’ve never talked
about our future. I just assumed…that he wants us to be together.” Swiping at
sudden tears, she sobbed.

“I believe he does want that, Edina. I also believe Edgar
wants a future with me. To think otherwise…’tis entirely too painful.”

* * * * *

Kerrie clapped her hands. At last the twins recognized what
had importance!

Gareth’s Encampment

Gaspar belched and scratched his belly. Gerard and Edgar
braced for yet another lecture. As if everyone capable of speech hadn’t already
given them one or more already!

“You know, a man could get fat doing nothing but eating and
drinking.” Gaspar speared another sausage from the fire, blew on it then tested
its warmth with his tongue. “Too hot yet.

“Now,” he went on, “if a man had a pretty girl to chase all
over his own property, he’d stand a chance of staying in condition.”

Edgar quirked a brow at Gerard, saying, “Aye.
If
a man
had his own property
and
his own woman. ‘Twould be heaven.”

“Princes we are, but we lack land to call our own,” Gerard
added. His resentful tone surprised him as much as it surprised his companions.
“Our father saw no need to split his lands between his sons. He felt it would
lead to our trying to kill one another.”

“Your father raised his legitimate sons to respect their
king.”

“And instilled greed in his bastard,” Edgar muttered.

“Hanging was too easy a death for William. Gareth should
have had him drawn and quartered before he hanged him.”

“Perhaps,” Gaspar said mildly. “Yvonne suggested she use the
bastard for target practice.”

“She would,” Gerard said, and they all laughed.

“Speaking of Yvonne… She’s had a letter from Willa. She and
Vinn spent a week with the twins’ parents. The newlyweds were impressed with
the way Beaufort is maintained. They wrote that the twins have had a hand in
Beaufort’s management since they were old enough to recognize their duty.”

“And?” Gerard prompted when Gaspar filled his mouth with
sausage.

“Aye. What’s that got to do with us?” Edgar questioned.

“Nothing much. Except there’s no male heir. Seems the
knights and men-at-arms dislike the idea of women ordering them about—once
their present king dies, of course.”

“Willa should suggest Yvonne set them straight.”

“You’re missing the point, lads.”

“Then get to it!” Gerard snapped.

“Easy, brother. I think Gaspar believes we should marry the
twins and rule Beaufort together.”

“Not exactly,” Gaspar said slyly.

“Will we grow long beards before you get to the point?”

“Beaufort is very near Serenity—no more than two days’
steady travel. With The Eyrie needing her full attention, Willa won’t have time
to deal with Serenity for quite some time. She proposes that you two put
Serenity to rights. When the twins’ sire passes, one of you will govern
Beaufort.”

“Willa assumes the twins will agree. Knowing them, they will
dislike leaving their home. Then—with their father’s death to mourn—they shan’t
want to leave each other.”

Nodding, Gaspar suggested, “Or by that time they may be sick
of each other’s company.” He finished his sausage then said, “According to
Willa’s letter, their father may be willing to abdicate and live with his wife
on her dower estate. Which, by the way, is three days’
hard
ride from
Beaufort and a sennight from Serenity.”

Gaspar stood then dusted his breeches. “Something to think
about,” he said, ignoring two of Marchon’s pages as they ran to the princes.
“Good day.” He stalked off.

“Prince Gerard?” When Edgar nodded at his brother, the page
handed Gerard a sealed parchment.

“This one’s for Prince Edgar,” the other said, handing Edgar
another sealed packet.

They raced away.

Sighing, each brother broke his seal.

“Meet me at our willow
,” Gerard read aloud. “Edina
has a fine hand.”

“Rowena’s message is the same. A hasty scrawl is hers. Both
can write,” Edgar added, his voice betraying his surprise.

“I’m going.”

“So am I, but…perhaps we should arm ourselves.”

“Whatever hell they intend to put us through, I doubt they
mean to kill us,” Gerard observed, his eyes reflecting a brief worry.

Edgar nodded. “Aye. ‘Twould be too quick a death.” But he
glanced back longingly toward his tent. Wishing for his sword, he checked to
see that his dagger rode in its usual place on his belt.

* * * * *

The Willows

Edina, pacing under the canopy of the weeping willow where
she and Gerard had first made love, wished for a mirror. Not to check her face
or hair, but to ensure her velvet patches were staying in place. She had
painted a small spot on Rowena’s right shoulder and had painted a butterfly on
her left. Since Rowena could paint neither dot nor butterfly, Edina had covered
her own birthmark with a velvet patch. And had placed another—shaped like a
butterfly—on her right.

So long as Edgar kept Rowena on dry land, Rowena was safe in
her disguise as Edina. On the other hand, Edina herself found the idea of her
patches falling away almost frightening. Only the thought of tricking both
Gerard and Edgar one last time kept her from running all the way to Beaufort.

Hearing a muffled curse, she went utterly still. Yet she
felt as if her heart would jump out of her chest, fall at Gerard’s feet and
announce today was a yet another game. One final taste of it before she and
Rowena gave up deception forever.

Gerard brushed back the overhanging branches then knelt at
her feet. His bowed head made her choked back a hysterical laugh. Humility was
the last thing she had expected. Which only added to her feelings of guilt.

“I cannot tell you,” he began, taking her hands.

“If you have come to apologize, I accept.”

“I haven’t. I have nothing to apologize for. You and your
sister started the games. Edgar and I merely played along.”

Ignoring his rationale, she jerked away. “
Played along
,
aye. When you could so easily have told us you knew we are twins. For that at
least, you both owe Rowena and me an apology.” Seeing his mulish expression,
she whirled away. “You cannot even say the word, can you?”

“Marriage? I can more than say it, Edina. I want it. I want
you to marry me.”

Evening knowing her anger was unreasonable, she shouted,
“No! If you cannot say
I’m sorry
, I’ll not have you. Not now. Not ever!”

“I told you, I have nothing to apologize for. Nothing
happened yesterday. I’m certain Rowena told you—”

Screeching in frustration, she pounded his chest.

Gerard caught her fists, spread her arms then stepped
between them. She screamed, pounding his back. Not knowing what else to do, he
kissed her. She bit his lip. Yelping, he tripped her and took her to the
ground.

* * * * *

When Edgar stepped through the low-hanging branches of their
willow, Rowena felt perfectly calm. Since she’d sent the message to Edgar,
she’d had ample time to think. To mourn Edgar’s loss. To anticipate what could
be the last time they would ever make love. This plan was hers. She would live
with its consequences, no matter how painful.

Staring at her, concern in his eyes, he said, “You look
well, Rowena.”

A grimace twitched her lips. Should she pretend yesterday had
never happened? “I suppose you think yesterday was yet another attempt to
deceive you and Gerard.”

“The thought crossed my mind.”

“Would you believe it was an accident? That when I
encountered Gerard, even wanting to see you, I simply fell into playing Edina?”
He glanced at her, but quickly looked away. His silent answer made her heart
ache.

“You planned it, didn’t you? Decided if we switched places
again, Gerard would call me Edina, knowing full well I was Rowena. As you
called my sister by my name.”

“It seemed a harmless trick. Unlike those you played on us.”

“Never mind that it hurt me? Will you at least apologize for
that?”

His bowed head jerked up as if she had slapped him.
“Apologize? For what? For giving you back a bit of your own? When you and Edina
had done everything you could to make fools of us? ‘Tis you and your sister who
should apologize to us.”

“Men!” she muttered, clearly disgusted with his avowal.
“When you and Gerard knew all along we are twins?” Temper got the better of
her. Springing to her feet, she kicked at his shins.

He caught her legs and pulled her down on top of him.

“When we were doing our damnedest to tell the difference
between you.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear then rolled her to her
back. His gold-flecked gaze tender, he smiled down at her. “I’ve no desire to swive
Edina.”

“Why not? We are the same in every way.”

“First, she doesn’t like my kisses. And second—as I’ve told
you before—she doesn’t look at me the way you do.”

“And in the dark?”

“Your waist is more slender than hers, your breasts
rounder.”

Rowena pinched his earlobes. “You have been that intimate
with my sister?”

“I’ve held you both in my arms, aye.” He kissed her. “Third,
my chest—”

Rowena boxed his ears. “If you have shown Edina your chest—”

He kissed her again, his lips soft and warm on hers.

She stilled and gave back everything his kiss promised.
Somehow their caresses eased away their clothes. Naked now, they lay against
each other. Touched. Kissed. Devoured each other with eyes both hot and tender.

“Open for me, Rowena.”

She spread her legs. Guided his cock to her wet opening.
Shuddered when he eased its head inside. Slowly—inch by inch—he slid deeper.

“Ahh. I could stay like this forever,” he whispered against
her lips.

She slid her hands down his back then cupped his buttocks.
His cock twitched and seemed to grow thicker. Longer. Her queynte muscles
milked him until need drove them both to move.

Wrapping her legs around his waist, she took him deeper
still. She moaned. Frantic to reach a fulfillment she had never known before,
she writhed. Her fingers dug into his driving ass.

“Yessss! Edgar, I…ahh…I love you.”

Laughing—a sound intended to be joyful—he took them to the
edge. He looked down into her nearly black blue eyes, ignored the deceptive
paint on her left shoulder and said, “Of course you love me. Edina.”

* * * * *

Edina glared up at Gerard. His bright blue eyes twinkled
down at her and a small smile curved his lips. Her heart softened and she
returned his smile.

“I’ll allow you have a right to anger, Edina. If you’ll
grant me the same right.”

Expelling a sigh, she said, “I suppose I must.”

“Good.” He sat then pulled her into his lap.

Unable to meet his eyes, she shifted, resting her back
against his chest.

“Tell me why you continued the game, Edina. After we made
love the first time, why did you and Rowena keep changing places?”

“I honestly don’t know, Gerard. Except… All our lives no one
has been able to tell us apart. At first—once we learned even our parents were
uncertain which was which—it was a lark to dress alike, laugh alike, mimic each
other’s mannerisms.

“But when we reached maturity—”

“Ha!”

She shot him a quelling glance then looked down at her
hands. “We realized the game could not go on forever. That in our heart of
hearts we each wanted a man who
could
distinguish one from the other.
One man for each of us who—even in the dark—would know who we are. ‘Tis not so
much to ask. Is it, Gerard?”

“Nay, sweeting.”

“Can you? Even in the dark?”

He chuckled. “This sounds like yet another test, Edina,
but—yes—I can tell the difference. In the dark it would required some
touching.”

“Oh?” Her heart plummeted. “How much touching?”

“A kiss at least. Rowena dislikes my kisses.”

“Suppose she could bear one or two. Pretend I am she
pretending to be me.”

Tipping her chin, he brushed a kiss across her lips.
Returned. Lingered. Teased them open then slid his tongue inside her mouth.
Tasted her.

“You cannot tell, can you?” Her voice contained the threat
of tears.

“I doubt Rowena could pretend that well. But—if she could—I
would touch her body.”

“Show me.”

He ran his hands down her torso, spanned her waist, glided
up to cup her breasts. Her nipples pearled against his palms.

She moaned softly. Shifted restlessly against his swelling shaft.

He groaned, but managed to say, “I would know these if
nothing else. Your breasts are the perfect handfuls.”

“You have touched Rowena’s breasts?” Edina struggled against
his hands, tried to pry them from her breasts. Gave up. Gave in to the magic his
fingers wrought on her sensitive nipples.

“Believing she was you, I did touch her breasts. She
disliked my touch more than she disliked my kisses.”

Gerard kissed Edina’s neck, her ear, her lips. He lingered
at the freckles dotting her nose. Had he noticed them before? “One,” he counted
as he kissed her. “Two.” He gave her another kiss, stroking her nipples. They
rose to even harder peaks. She turned in his arms, wreathed her own around his
neck then pressed him backward until they lay against each other. He lost count
and all desire to continue counting.

Frantic, they tore away their clothing. Suddenly calm, they touched
each other in the places and ways they’d learned brought the most pleasure.

Gerard eased a finger inside her wet core and pressed his hand
over her mound. She maoned, her fingers tightened around his shaft, stroking it
until he thought he would erupt all over her lush body.

“Gerard.” Her voice contained a plea her eyes reflected.

“Tell me,” he murmured against her lips.

“I want you…in me.”

Needing no more encouragement, he drove into her.

As if their argument had fueled their need, they ravaged
each other. Their joined bodies writhed, parted, slammed together until madness
opened its arms and took them in.

Gasping, sweat dripping from his forehead and chest, he
looked down into her smiling face. She opened her eyes then—in a breathless
voice—said, “I love you, Gerard.”