Adhemar left Andrews study having discussed the best course of action to take. He wasn't all that sure that it was necessary to go to such lengths. He asked for the night to think it over. After spending some time wandering around the stables checking on his horse, he found himself nearing a small garden behind the house. He heard Claire's voice clearly. "How dare you speak to me like that in front of Count Adhemar!" Claire began to pace back in forth in front of Caelyn. "You embarrassed me in front of him. Do you have any idea what a man like Count Adhemar is like? No..." she leaned down and grinned in Caelyn's face. "How could you know? If you father had listened to me, you'd be off at the convent. But he would never listen to me where you were concerned." "Thank God for that." Claire struck out with the fan and hit Caelyn on the arm. Adhemar swore under his breath as he watched from his shadowy hiding place. "You insolent little bitch." Claire spat. "You've always thought that you were better than me didn't you? What do you think that your father would make a match between you and Count Adhemar? Do you think he'd want a little bit of nothing like you?" "I think my father would like to see me happy and if a match with Adhemar was it than he would see too it." Caelyn couldn't stop herself from saying that even though she knew that Adhemar could hear every word. Claire towered over Caelyn when she stepped closer. "On such casual terms with the Count are we now?" Claire walked around her stepdaughter; "Is that the reason for your private visits with him? I've heard that no one has been present when you've gone in to CARE for him." Adhemar was seething as he listened to the implications that Lady Claire was making. "Nothing inappropriate has gone on between Adhemar and myself." "Considering that you find it appropriate to wear boys clothes and joust, I'd say your meaning of appropriate and mine are quite different." Lady Claire stopped in front of Caelyn and placed the tip of her fan under Caelyn's chin tipping it up to look at her. "Maybe we need to find out if your virtue is still intact? Do I need to have the old woman come and see you?" she smiled evilly. Caelyn felt a shudder of fear run down her spine remembering what the woman had done to her before when she was in London and Claire suspected her of having a dalliance with a guest who was visiting." "Yes I think that I'll arrange for that. Let's just see how innocent your visits with Adhemar were." "Lady Claire, I don't think that will be needed." Adhemar stepped out from his hiding place causing Claire to jump at the sound of his voice. Adhemar stepped over to where the two women were standing and watched Claire's eyes turn from one to the other. "I see the little witch has worked her spell on you." She seethed. "Lady Claire, I think you should be very careful of the words that you choose. Lady Caelyn's virtue is quite safe. It has been and will continue to be where I am concerned." Caelyn looked quickly at Adhemar not understanding the meaning of his words. "How dare you speak to me as such? I am the.." "How DARE you speak to me in such a manner." Caelyn jumped at the anger in his voice. "So you were discussing a marriage contract with my husband earlier." Claire questioned with suspicion growing in her eyes. Adhemar knew that he had to tread carefully now. "We were actually discussing a marriage contract. One that was made when I was young." He began. Caelyn's eyes began to grow wide knowing where this was headed and started to say something. Adhemar took Caelyn's hand and look her in the eyes trying to get her to go along with him. "For you see Lady Claire." He continued as he brought Caelyn's hand to his mouth and kissed it gently. "My father and Lord Andrew deemed that Caelyn and I would join our families together when Caelyn was of age." "She has been of age for over a year now...what took you so long to come claim your bride?" she said mockingly. "Ah, for that I owe an apology to my bride to be." He turned to face Caelyn giving her another warning look. "For I was busy protecting the King's holdings. I was on my way to see her when my jousting got the better of me. Lucky for both of us, her father was at the tournament and brought me here." Caelyn knew that she must say or do something now to convince Claire that this was legitimate. She smiled at Adhemar and brought his hand to her mouth repeating the kiss he gave her. "I am so glad that you and my father have worked the arrangements out." She told Adhemar. "When will we be wed?" she asked thinking two can play this game. "You will be wed in one weeks time. When Adhemar is fully healed." Adhemar, Caelyn and Claire turned to see Andrew walking down the pathway from the house. "I take it you find my dowry to your liking Adhemar?" Andrew stepped in front of him and asked. "I find it to my liking." Adhemar answered with a short nod. "Do I get any say in this?" Caelyn asked believing this was not a play being put on for her stepmothers benefit. "You are going to marry Caelyn to Adhemar?" Lady Claire asked surprised. Andrew turned to his wife. "Yes I am. I will give them Norfolk to use and I will return to live in London full time with you." Claire's eyes widened with shock that she tried to suppress. "You will give them Norfolk? You love it here. You hate the city." Andrew laced his wife's hand through his arm. "Nay wife, I have been neglect in my city home and with you." he explained as he started to lead her back into the house. When they were safely out of site Caelyn forcibly dropped Adhemar's hand and stepped up to him with her hands fisted on her hips and eyes on fire. "If you think I will marry you. You must have hit your head harder than I thought when you fell." she told him. Adhemar watched how Caelyn's eyes lit up when she was angry. He found himself wondering if they lit up when she was passionate. He could smell the fragrance of lilacs that she must have used in her hair. He fought the urge to reach down and taste her full mouth. He had no intention of accepting Lord Andrew's offer. Now he was bound to not only help Andrew out, but to marry his daughter. "No answer from the Mighty Count?" she mocked. "Nothing of any consequence." He turned and sat down on a stone bench. He watched her chest flush with anger as he picked up a fallen leave and twirl it between his thumb and forefinger. "You plan on going through with this don't you?" she seethed. "Aye, we will be married in a weeks time and I will escort you to my home. After that I have some business to take care of while you settle yourself in my country estate." "You are going to abandon me there?" she asked incredulously. "Your father has agreed to let me hire your maid Gwen. She will be leaving shortly after the wedding ceremony and will meet us at my home after we have a brief honeymoon." Caelyn snorted. "How kind of you. Will I be allowed to take my horse with me?" "Yes. Sephora is a fine mare and will mate fine with my stud." "You plan on turning her into a brood mare?" Adhemar stood up and towered over Caelyn. He moved closer. She could see the glint of his eyes, she could feel the intensity of his gave and found herself helpless to step away. "No wife of mine will be allowed to joust and wear men's clothing. You will not need your horse to ride then so yes I will breed Sephora with my horse. They will make a fine champion." "Do you plan on treating me the same way that you treat my horse?" Adhemar noticed that Caelyn's breathing had become faster. He traced the side of her face with his finger. Caelyn thought it was the coldness of the ground that had shot through her body and made her nipples tighten and her body begin to shiver. "No Caelyn." he whispered as he tipped his head down closer to hers. "I will treat you much better than that. You will find out mating to be very pleasurable." his hand cupped her chin. The gentle warmth of his touch turned her protests to naught. Caelyn was shocked and at the same time excited by his words, which were dark and seductive. He eased her back against the tree and she found her breasts against his chest, his thumb moving across her chin in a touch that threatened to melt her very bones. Something she had never felt before rose through her body when Adhemar's mouth closed over hers. His free arm pulled her body close into his, his lips cajoling her, his grip firm but not rough. Caelyn felt her hands slide up the wool of his jacket and settle just below the curls on the back of his neck. His hand moved from her chin to her nape, tangling in the curls, as he seemed determined to deepen their kiss. Caelyn parted her lips to him without intending to do so. His tongue slipped between her teeth as he made a low growl of satisfaction. She felt the thunder of his pulse when her hand moved to his neck and his hardness pressed into him. She thrilled at the response that she could elicit from him. Adhemar pulled back from the kiss and stepped away. He looked at her kiss-swollen lips and dazed eyes. If he did not stop now, he would have to marry her on the morrow and that was not his intention. "Good night my bride to be." he kissed her quickly and left Caelyn standing there against the tree confused and excited.