Seduced (Thrice Blessed Book 3) Read online

  Charles simply nodded. He knew there was no point arguing with her.

  Chapter Four

  When Marina was back in Christiana’s bedchamber with her sisters, she quickly told them what she’d seen Jarrett do. “I knew all along he was the wrong man for me, but I didn’t think he’d kill someone that way.” She shuddered, clinging to her eldest sister. “Charles wouldn’t let me help her.”

  Eva frowned. “Why wouldn’t he let you help her?”

  “There was so much blood. I think he worried that I would weaken myself too much trying to heal her, and he didn’t want me doing that with Jarrett so close.”

  Christiana nodded. “I’m sure that’s what he was thinking, Marina. He was watching out for you as he always does. I wonder if Jarrett was sent by the master…”

  Marina pulled away and stared at her sister in shock. “Do you think he may have been?”

  “He’s sent at least two other men to us. Give me a moment. I’m going to tell Roland my thoughts.” Christiana closed her eyes, opening them a minute later. “Roland tried to intercept him before he left, and Jarrett attacked him. He has a minor injury you’ll need to heal, but Jarrett is dead.”

  Marina shook her head. “So much death! It follows us everywhere!”

  “Death never followed us before the master started to try to get his hands on us. I’m sure it’s not us.” Christiana sighed. “There’s no doubt in my mind now that Jarrett was sent by our enemy.”

  The door opened and Hugh helped Roland to the healing chair. “Where are you injured?” Marina asked, immediately going to her brother-in-law, her hand going to his shoulder as her eyes searched his body for injury.

  Roland pulled his mantle from his side, and Marina saw it was covered with blood. She looked back at her sisters. “I could do it alone, but it would drain me completely. Eva, may I have some power?”

  Christiana hurried to her husband’s side, kneeling at his feet. She took his free hand in hers. “Let Marina help you, love.”

  Roland looked down into his wife’s eyes. “I’m injured, but I’m not addled. I trust Marina completely.”

  While Christiana continued to distract her husband, Eva put her hand on Marina’s shoulder, and Marina poured her power into the wound. “It has scraped your kidney, Roland. After I heal you, you’re going to need to rest for a couple of days.” This was more than she could heal, and she was uncertain why, but she could sense it. Even with both of her sisters helping her.

  “I can’t rest! We’re building a castle, and I need to train my men!”

  Marina shook her head. “No, you’ll rest. Charles can train the men. Or Hugh. Or anyone else you choose, but you won’t do it. I won’t let you leave my sister a widow.” She finished and stepped back. “This wasn’t as easy as the arrow that nicked your thigh. This is a real injury. You will rest.” When he’d first come to take the manor, Christiana had shot him, and Marina had healed him at Christiana’s command. Even then Christiana couldn’t bear the idea of Roland being in pain.

  “No, I’m getting back to work.” Roland got to his feet, and Christiana immediately put her arm around him, afraid he’d fall.

  “Roland, you know Marina usually sends your men straight back out onto the training field. If she’s not sending you out, there’s a reason you must rest.” She carefully led him to their bed. “We’ll wait with Marina’s wedding until you can be there.”

  Roland grimaced. “I don’t want to rest. And I don’t want to delay your wedding,” he said looking at Marina.

  Marina shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. If you don’t want to wait, we’ll get married right here in your chamber. That won’t hurt anything.”

  Roland shook his head. “Ask Charles. I have a feeling he’d prefer to be married in here immediately, rather than waiting. Has he asked your father for your hand yet?”

  “I have no idea. I guess he probably should, shouldn’t he?” Marina asked, watching as he was settled with a pillow under his head.

  “I think he should.” Roland grimaced as he moved slightly, trying to ease the pain.

  “I will accept this opportunity to go speak with him,” Marina said, smiling a little. Even with all the death surrounding them, she had to be a little bit happy. She was marrying the man she loved, after all. Stepping out into the hall, she stopped in front of Charles.

  “How’s Roland? Did you heal him?”

  “Mostly. He’ll need to be in bed for a couple of days. I told him if you didn’t want to delay the wedding, we’d marry in his chamber so he wouldn’t miss it.” Marina stepped close to him, resting her forehead against his shoulder. She needed his strength with the day they were having.

  Charles wrapped his arms around her. “Would that bother you? Being married in their bedchamber?”

  Marina shook her head. “Not if it meant I was married to you.” She put the palm of her hand flat to his chest. “Am I dreaming? Are you going to tell me you’re only joking in a few hours?”

  “You’re not dreaming.” He stroked her back. “We’re getting married. We’ll wait until the morrow to give Roland a chance to feel better for it, but if you’re willing, it will happen in his bedchamber.”

  She smiled, liking that he didn’t want to wait an instant longer than absolutely necessary. “That sounds good to me.” She pressed a kiss to his chin. “Roland thinks you should ask Father for my hand.”

  Charles shrugged. “I can do that. Your father told me yestereve that I was the only man who would make you happy. I don’t think I need to ask, but I will.”

  “Thank you. It will make Father happy. He wasn’t asked for Christiana or Eva’s hands. Well, he was asked for Christiana’s, but not by the man she married.” She considered briefly telling him of Christiana’s theory of the master’s identity, but she decided to wait. She didn’t want to be a widow before she was even a bride, and she knew that he would insist on riding out. And Roland didn’t have the luxury of even thinking about leaving. She’d done most of the healing, but she knew he needed a bit of time yet.

  Robert, the sisters’ father, stepped out into the hall then, looking between the two of them. “Well don’t you two look happy. I thought you were all ready to marry Jarrett, Marina?”

  Marina frowned. “No, sir. Jarrett’s dead. He attacked Roland.”

  “Is Roland all right?” Robert had never enjoyed commanding armies, and it was obvious that he was worried he’d be required to do so again if Roland died.

  “Yes, I healed him, but the blade nicked his kidney. He’ll need to remain in bed for a couple of days.” She didn’t mention her theory that there was magic involved in Roland’s injury, not wanting anyone to worry too much.

  Charles cleared his throat. “I wondered if I might have a word with you.”

  “Of course. What can I do for you?” The look on Robert’s face made it clear he knew what was coming, but he was going to enjoy the moment.

  “I would like to formally ask for Marina’s hand in marriage. Roland has said she may marry whomever she pleases, and I’ve asked her, and she’s agreed to marry me, if you are willing.” The nervousness in his voice as Charles asked for her hand made Marina love him all the more. This mattered to him, just as it should.

  “Do you promise to be good to her?” Robert asked, his voice soft, but his eyes penetrating.

  “Yes, sir. I’ll do everything I can to make her happy.”

  “Then you may marry her. I’m ready for grandchildren. Why don’t I have grandchildren yet?” Robert walked away, mumbling under his breath that old men deserved grandchildren.

  “Tomorrow then?” Marina asked, thinking of which of her dresses she would wear for the ceremony. Even if it was done in a bedchamber instead of a church as was proper, she would make the most of it. She wanted nothing more than to marry this man, except maybe to fulfill her destiny, but for the next day or two, she would push that from her head. Even a woman of power deserved to celebrate her marriage with a single-mind pursuit of happiness
.

  “Tomorrow.” Charles stroked her cheek with the backs of his fingers, and they both jerked when the door to Roland’s bedchamber opened.

  Eva waved a hand at the affianced couple. “Carry on. I just thought Christiana should have a private moment with Roland.”

  Marina blushed, shaking her head. “Should we heal the peasants without her?”

  Charles shook his head. “Not today. We’ve turned the peasants away, and told them not tomorrow either. If someone will die without your touch, they may come, but they need to give you some time. The deaths today are weighing heavy on all of us.”

  Eva looked between them. “You are going to wait until Roland is up and about to marry, aren’t you?”

  Marina felt her face grow even hotter. She knew they were being silly to rush things as they were, but she also knew it was what Charles wanted…and she wanted to get it done. Once they were married, he couldn’t change his mind again and reject her. “We’re going to marry in their bedchamber tomorrow.”

  Charles met his future sister-in-law’s gaze. “I’m not waiting. We decided this morning that we were marrying, and by all that’s holy, we’re doing it. I’m not waiting a minute longer than I have to.”

  “Then let me take my sister, and we’ll find her something appropriate to wear, though what sort of dress would be appropriate to wear for a wedding in a bedchamber is something I’ll never know!” Eva linked her arm through her sister’s and pulled her toward Marina’s bedchamber. “She’ll be back to you soon. Maybe you could actually try and guard us for a while.”

  Marina let out a giggle as soon as the two sisters were alone in her bedchamber with the door closed tightly. “That was mean!”

  Eva shrugged. “Maybe, but he was just standing there. Someone had to say something!”

  “You don’t like Charles, do you?” Marina asked, surprised. Eva rarely disliked anyone. She was too affable for that.

  Eva frowned. “I don’t dislike him, exactly. I just don’t trust him around you. He’s hurt you too much in the past.”

  Marina sat on the edge of her bed, patting the spot beside her. “I seem to remember not a month ago that you were feeling the same way about Hugh.”

  “But Hugh was just worried he wasn’t good enough for me. I know that’s not Charles’s problem.”

  “Are you sure? He’s worried that I won’t be satisfied living in my sister’s home, so he was going to go join the king’s army, hoping to become a landholder. He didn’t want me to feel like I was less than my sister.”

  Eva sighed. “Our men love us so much that they want to do things for us they shouldn’t.”

  Marina shrugged. “Charles hasn’t said he loves me. I’m just pleased he wants to marry me. I want children, and I don’t want them with anyone else.” She eyed her sister. “Are you ready to tell me where babies come from yet? I know it has something to do with the marriage bed.”

  “I think Christiana should be the one to tell you. She’s the eldest.”

  “She’s off with her husband. You tell me.”

  Eva knelt down on the floor in front of Marina’s trunk and opened it. “You had a dress made for Christiana’s wedding to Walter, before the Normans came. How would you feel about wearing that?”

  Marina tilted her head to one side, considering whether to push the topic with her sister, but she knew Eva would never give in. “I’d forgotten about that dress. Yes, I think that would be perfect.”

  Eva kept digging, pulling out the dress, and holding it up in front of her sister. “I think you’ll look lovely in it. I’ll lay it out so it can air.” She sighed. “Now, how are we going to do a wedding feast? Roland can’t leave his room.”

  “Is it really that important? I’ll be married to Charles either way, and that’s what matters to me. Being his wife.”

  “Mother would have wanted all three of us to have beautiful weddings with grand feasts afterward. I wonder if she’d be disappointed with the way I wed Hugh.” Eva frowned, obviously lost in thought.

  The sisters missed their mother every day of their lives, but most importantly when special occasions came along. “I only wish she could be there.” Marina looked at Eve. “I think she would have liked Charles.”

  “If he makes you happy, then she would love him. Mother cared about nothing more than us being happy and fulfilling our destiny.”

  “Do you think our grandmother knows that two of us have passed the test? And only one of us needs to keep going?” Marina worried about her portion of the test which would allow them to conquer evil, but she was proud of the part her sisters had already played.

  “I think she does. Mother said Grandmother had the power of seeing the future. I do wish we could have met her.” Eva sat down beside her sister at the foot of the bed. “I’m glad you’re my sister.”

  Marina smiled. “Even with as much as we’ve fought through the years, I am too. It’s just so much harder to communicate with you. I have to open my mouth and everything.”

  “I agree! Conversations with Christiana are always fun, because you don’t have to work at them. You just think and she knows about it.” Eva eyed her sister for a moment. “Are you really not going to have a wedding feast?”

  “Why don’t we marry tomorrow but have the feast after Roland is on his feet again? I should go check on him. See if he’s healing properly. I just worry if he moves wrong that kidney will bleed again, and then where will he be? I’m not sure how many times I can heal the same injury.” Marina frowned, worried that this was something too advanced for her to heal.

  “You’ve never worried about that before. Why are you so worried now?”

  “I can’t explain it,” Marina said. “It just didn’t feel like it healed right.”

  “Then let’s go check on him. We can’t let him be hurt.” Eva led the way, nodding at Charles as they passed him. She knocked on Christiana’s door.

  Marina stopped for a moment in front of Charles, running her hand down his chest. “I’ve decided to delay our wedding feast until Roland can attend. Is that all right with you?”

  Charles shrugged. “I’m more concerned with the wedding night than the feast. Do whatever you want.”

  Marina blushed, following Eva into the room. She walked to the bed and saw that Roland was sleeping, but he seemed to be grimacing. “He’s in pain even in his sleep. I’m going to try to heal him a little more.” She held her hand over his side, and felt the pain radiating from him. “I’m not sure why it’s not working better than it is.” Eva and Christiana both put a hand on Marina’s shoulders and she attempted to heal him again. “I feel like something is blocking my healing, and I don’t know what it is. It’s as if there’s magic working inside him.”

  Christiana gasped. “Do you think Jarrett could have been sent by W—the enemy? I hate to bring it up again, but I believe he must have had something on his sword that’s causing this.”

  Marina and Eva exchanged a glance. Eva nodded. “That’s what I’m thinking. He was here to get Marina away and force her to marry the master.”

  Marina pulled away from her sisters, stalking across the room. She felt incompetent and lacking. “And I fell for him. Well, I wanted to.”

  Christiana hurried across the room and grasped Marina’s hand in hers. “I know you didn’t fall for him. You told him you were finished with him, remember?”

  “I would have married him. If only to upset Charles, and that would have ruined all of our lives. What is wrong with me that I was so desperate for love?” Marina turned to the wall, blinking away her tears. What have I done?

  “Do you think that you are healing Roland at all? Even if he needs to be healed bit by bit, I want to know that he is improving. At least some!”

  Marina nodded. “Oh yes!” She spun back to face her sister, not wanting her to worry needlessly. “I know I healed him the first time, and I almost finished before I felt some sort of block against the healing. I think I healed him a little more this time. He might be
in bed for more than two days, though, and I think you’ll have a bear on your hands if that’s the case.”

  Christiana nodded, her face strained. “Probably not as bad as the bear Charles had on his hands yesterday.” She tried to smile, but it was a feeble attempt, barely curving the corners of her mouth.

  “I’ll work on him every few hours, Christiana. We won’t let him die.” Not like we let Mother die. Marina knew now she’d made the right decision when she had let her mother die, but it still hurt. She still felt like she was responsible for the death of the woman who had given her life. How could there not be guilt involved with that?

  “I know you won’t. Thank you for working so tirelessly for him and all the people here. I hope you know how appreciated you are.”

  Marina threw herself into her eldest sister’s arms. “We’re going to get him better. I promise, Christiana!”

  Christiana clung to Marina. “I’m happy you’ve helped him as much as you have. If he has to stay in bed for six months, then he’ll stay there. You’ve saved him.”

  Marina nodded, brushing a tear from her eye. “I still sometimes feel like Mother’s death was my fault. If only I’d been stronger and more skilled at using my power.”

  Eva hurried over to join her sisters. “We all exhausted ourselves to the point of almost dying trying to save her and the babe. You cannot blame yourself. You know that.”

  “I know that, and I don’t know that. I know that in my head, but my heart is telling me I should have done more. She gave us life, and I just let her die.”

  Christiana shook her head. “If you have guilt for it, then all three of us do. We worked on her until we couldn’t. She told Joan that we had to be saved.” Joan was the servant who had been their nurse through childhood, and even now, worked with them daily.

  “No, I’m the healer. I should have been able to do it myself. I shouldn’t have to constantly use your powers.” Marina sighed. “I wish I knew what to do to make my powers work like yours.”

  “I think it’s just years and years of practice,” Christiana said. “You always had to wait until someone was injured or sick. Eva and I have been able to practice our powers every day, without waiting for anything to happen. That made it so we were able to grow stronger faster.”