The Knight(45)

Joanna could no longer stay quiet. Her hand went to James’s arm imploringly. “You cannot refuse. You have to go. You do not need to do this to prove anything to me.”

The stubborn glint in his eye suggested differently. “I will not leave until things are settled between us, and I will not force a decision upon you until you are ready.”

Joanna could feel Sir Thomas’s gaze moving back and forth between them. Suddenly, he burst into laughter. “My God, she refused you!” He took her hand and lifted it to his mouth. “Brains as well as beauty. My lady, you are a true prize. I wondered at the woman who could make a man refuse a royal bride, but now I understand. You are a lady of rare taste and discernment. I may just have to fight Douglas for you after all.” He shot a laughing glance at James, who appeared to be struggling to keep his temper in check. “She refused you,” Sir Thomas repeated again. “Just wait until Hawk hears about this.”

Joanna might have wondered at this man named Hawk, but she was too stunned by what Sir Thomas had said. She turned to James in utter disbelief. “A royal bride?”

The temper he’d been fighting to keep in check turned to embarrassment when he met her gaze. “It’s nothing.”

She glanced inquiringly at Sir Thomas, who was only too eager to explain. “My uncle offered him a betrothal to my aunt Margery. Douglas here refused and said there was only one woman he would marry.”

Joanna felt the blood drain from her face. She couldn’t believe it. She alone knew how much an alliance like that would mean to James. It was everything he’d wanted. And he’d refused?

She couldn’t tear her eyes from his face. “Is this true, James?”

He shot an annoyed glare at Sir Thomas. “Aye, but he left out one part. I said, ‘if she’ll have me.’”

“Why did you not tell me?”

He shrugged, genuinely confused. “I did not think it important. It has nothing to do with us.”

Tears of happiness blurred her eyes. If she had any doubts left about his sincerity, they were gone. Bruce’s sister. She couldn’t believe he’d given up that kind of alliance for her. He did love her. He did really want to marry her.

And she wanted to marry him. Her heart swelled as the first tears slid down her cheeks. But they were tears of joy, and it was with a smile that she whispered, “She’ll have you.”

He took her hand, his eyes locking on hers. She could see the intensity of the emotions he was fighting hard to contain. “Do you mean it? I’ll not have you forced by anything he says.” He gestured with his head toward Sir Thomas.

Blinking back tears, she laughed and nodded. “I’m sure.”

He let out a whoop of joy mingled with undeniable relief and gave her a fierce hug before dropping to his knee.

And there, before the entire Hall and the rival who would stand at his side three weeks later after the banns were read as he married her, James Douglas, Lord of Douglas, asked Joanna to marry him for the second time.

This time she said yes.