Chapter Forty-Two

SEVENTEEN MONTHS LATER.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

Arianna tugged at the neckline of the gown Jean-Claude insisted on having made for tonight’s grand celebration. A beautiful, rich green velvet with a tight-fitting bodice, full skirts, puffy sleeves and shiny green ribbons from nape to waist, but it revealed too much cleavage. A matching velvet ribbon studded with gemstones covered the brand upon her neck.

She looked into the sea of faces, recognizing few. Arianna was relieved to see Danhoul, the magical Druid. He and the searcher, Tristan, had been helping Arianna learn to control her powers, preparing her for the necessary upcoming journey to the future. Danhoul was a time-traveling guardian to Alainn, Arianna’s ancestor. He was patient, gifted and handsome. With honey-blond hair, grey-blue eyes, tall with broad shoulders, Danhoul was also talented at playing music and could sing exceptionally well.

“Penny for your thoughts,” Danhoul said as he approached.

She only shook her head and managed a smile.

“You’re thinking of your husband,” Danhoul said.

“He’s no longer my husband,” Arianna replied.

“Not because you don’t love him.”

“I’m admittedly unsettled, for Jean-Claude said Darius might attend tonight. We haven’t seen one another in a long time. I’ve corresponded with several people at the settlement, yet Darius and I haven’t even spoken. But why aren’t you singing now?”

“I’m taking a break, thought you looked lonely.”

She nodded.

“Jean-Claude appreciated you decorating his home. The jack-o’-lanterns look amazing!” Danhoul said.

“Thank you for suggesting pumpkins. They were much easier to carve than turnips we used in Ireland.”

“That’s what Alainn says, too.”

“When will I finally meet her?”

“The gods think it’s best we wait.”

“Do they think we wouldn’t get on?” Arianna asked.

“I believe they don’t know how powerful your combined magic will be.”

Arianna nodded.

“If Tristan wasn’t in the future just now, he’d surely have something highly inappropriate to say about that gown,” Danhoul said. “As your friend, I’ll just say you look beautiful.”

“I know you’re in love with Alainn, which must be difficult when she’s married to another.”

“I’m not the only guardian in love with their witch. Jean-Claude’s obviously in love with you.”

“I’ve tried to steer him toward many women.”

“After living with him for some time, I think it’s safe to say Jean-Claude has many women,” Danhoul said.

Arianna only smiled, but thought her heart might stop when Darius stepped through the door. Her attraction to him clearly hadn’t dimmed. Taller than most, he was hard to miss and difficult to turn from with his stunning good looks. Attired in a formal long grey overcoat, waistcoat and breeches and a white shirt, with his hair tied back, his tanned face made his eyes seem even bluer. He was undeniably appealing.

“That’s him?” Danhoul asked.

Arianna nodded but looked away.

“I’ll get back to my music so that very tall, unusually strong-looking guardian doesn’t get the wrong idea about the two of us.”

“I don’t think that would matter,” Arianna said. Her breath caught seeing the beautiful woman on Darius’s arm. She had lovely reddish-blonde hair, a bright smile, eyes as blue as her exquisite gown.

“Do you want me to stay?” Danhoul asked.

“No, as Tristan says, I’ll have to put on my big girl panties.”

“Which would be a bit difficult since those actual garments won’t be worn for about two hundred years. But here, Jean-Claude’s on his way,” Danhoul said as he left.

She was admittedly relieved when Jean-Claude took her arm.

“I could kiss you, mon Sullie, when he draws near.”

“That’s hardly necessary,” Arianna said.

As Darius and the woman approached, Arianna’s knees were weak, her heart pounded and she prayed her trembling wasn’t noticeable. If she could remain seemingly unaffected till Jean-Claude greeted them, she’d leave straightaway.

“Welcome Darius,” Jean-Claude said.

Darius very obviously wouldn’t make eye contact with Arianna. She looked away, too. “Jean-Claude, Arianna, meet Amelia-Aileen O’Rorke.”

Arianna attempted a smile, though Darius still awkwardly avoided looking at her. Arianna tried to ignore how lovely the woman was. An O’Rorke…perhaps Kathleen’s cousin.

“Darius has told me much about you,” the woman said.

“Nothing favorable, I’m certain.” Arianna attempted humor.

“Mostly favorable,” she said through a strained smile.

“I’d like to have a word with you, Arianna; if you’d spare me the time?” Darius said with an unmistakable edge to his voice. He finally looked at her and she saw the fury in his eyes.

“Whenever you’d like,” Arianna replied.

“Now?” he asked and she nodded her assent.

“If you’d stay with Jean-Claude, this won’t take long,” Darius said to the woman.

“Aye,” she agreed.

Taking Arianna’s elbow, Darius guided her to a quiet corner. When he stared at her, she could see he struggled to calm his ire. He looked away, then ran his fingers through his curls. She had to fight the memory of doing that when they made love.

“I suppose you couldn’t deny my request to see you tonight without causing a stir.”

“I wasn’t ready to see you at first. But it was you who chose to stay away when I asked to meet with you.”

“I never heard you wished to meet with me,” Darius said.

“I sent a letter. When you didn’t respond, I presumed you didn’t wish to see me. As time passed, I thought it was better not to see each other.”

“Was it better for you?” His eyes blazed. “I’ll tell you plain it’s been bloody torture for me. Have you no notion how much I loved you?”

Loved, he said loved, not love. Clearly that was so, for he was with an alluring woman now.

“It was tormenting enough knowing you planned to go back in time so we’d never meet, that I’d lose all memory of you.”

“I never wanted to hurt you.”

“How did you think it would be for me without you?”

“You’re alive, Darius.”

“It wasn’t bad enough the bloody Celtic gods absurdly determined our fate in keeping us apart for months?”

“Wasn’t half that time spent searching for your sister?” Arianna asked. “Kathleen told me in her letters.”

“Aye. Yet when the gods finally granted us time together, I couldn’t wait to see you, to hold you and be with you, and you refused with no explanation. Then you dissolved our marriage without even permitting me to speak to you.”

“I would have discussed it with you, if you’d come to meet me when I requested. How could I know you hadn’t received the message? I presumed you no longer wanted to see me…that you’d found someone else.”

She could see that his entire magnificently formed body shook with emotion.

“Surely there must be some relief in not having to contend with me or my magic? I wanted you to live a normal life.”

“I would’ve done anything to have a life with you,” he said.

“Aye, I well remember, you walked through fire to save me, and I’m grateful. We did have a life together, Darius, and mostly it was wonderful. I’ll always treasure what we had. It was more perfect than I dared to imagine, but we ended up dreadfully unhappy, bickering constantly and…you nearly bedded Elizabeth.”

“Is that what this is really about? I wasn’t with her, Arianna! The infernal gods interfered with their lust potion and beguilement spell, trying to make me bed her so in your temper, you’d reveal your powers and kill a bloody demon, but still…I wasn’t with her!” he said, his voice rising.

“Aye, but nearly as close as you could be without actually doing so,” she said. “All the loathsome visions in that barn, even those I didn’t witness myself, came to me for months whenever I’d think of that night or Elizabeth. Her grinding herself against you and you wanting her. That’s why I couldn’t see you at first. I’m just now learning to more consistently control my powers.”

“I was not with her! Then because of a miscommunication or a lost letter, you went ahead and impulsively ended our marriage?”

“Being married in the first place was impulsive and I truly thought you didn’t want to be with me.”

“That should have been discussed face-to-face. I’m not even certain how you ended our marriage.”

“My father visited Reverend Smythe.”

“Your father, the Celtic god?”

“Apparently Cythrawl severely frightened Smythe, made him tear up the marriage decree and admit it was a forced marriage.”

“I regret forcing you into such a disagreeable marriage!” he said in a wounded tone.

“Darius, you must know that’s not how I feel.”

Their eyes met and she wearily sighed, trying to hold back tears.

“How was this alleged message sent to me?” Darius asked.

“Jean-Claude delivered it to your sister.”

“Aye, well it’s doubtful either of them would be eager to see us paired. He wants you for himself and she knew you hurt me so likely wouldn’t want us to reconcile. You might have sent a more reliable source before making our parting permanent.”

“It’s done now,” she whispered.

“Apparently easily done,” Darius said.

She shook her head, again attempting not to weep.

“I’ve wanted to speak to you since I learned you ended the marriage, but thought I’d better wait till I wasn’t so angry. Sure you’ll agree, I should’ve waited longer.”

The silence grew increasingly awkward.

“Keep well and be happy, Darius,” she finally said trying to prevent meeting his eyes as she turned to walk away.

“Are you with him?” he called and she looked back.

“With him?”

“You’re evidently living with Jean-Claude in this enormous castle he had built for you. Do you share his bed or are you with the Druid guardian?”

Arianna stepped closer again. “I don’t live in this castle, but in a simple stone cottage nearby. I don’t share Jean-Claude’s bed; we’ll always only be friends and Danhoul simply assists with my magic. I’m paired with no one. I’ve been with no one, nor do I intend to be.”

She turned, hurried across the room and out the door, for she knew she couldn’t quell her tears.