Emerald's Rogue (Part 3)

The others helped move the boy as Rogue swung Emerald up into his arms the moment he realized she could not walk.

Lily and Isabel were in great shock to see their children as such, but breathed easier when they found out none of the wounds were fatal.

Justin was not so happy to find out his quarry had gotten away, both of them. He smashed his mug against the face of the huge brute, not fearing the giant man at all.

"Damn you. You could not simply steal one tiny girl. And you, you idiot, let a tiny little girl slice your face up." He growled at the other man that had tried to grab Emerald.

"I must have that girl wedded and bedded before she marries my cousin." He paced back and forth as the large man held a rag to his nose.

"What about when she is at school. It would easy enough to sneak in just before dawn and steal her away. Not even her guards will awake then, with a little wine that is." Grinning then stopping for the pain in his face.

"That has some merit my large friend." Justin’s mind went to work then and he left the men to grumble away as he planned and plotted.

Chapter Six

On the journey home Emerald realized that in less than five months she would be sixteen and the marriage could be consummated. Her birthday was August 12th. She hoped that Justin would be able to save her from this fate, but her hope was not very strong since she did not even know where he was.

Rogue also realized that only two months after they were married he could consummate the marriage and felt a bit of relief and triumph over his bastard cousin, but not so much so because he knew the man was capable of anything. Murdering his own father was proof of that.

Emerald dove into her lessons and kept very busy with extra activities dealing with being a wife and hostess, but she chided away from learning to be a better mother. She devoted the greatest amount of time to the medicine and herbal lessons. She would be a good wife on the surface as she said but that was all.

She wanted to be a good mistress to her people and all those that worked for her and her husband to be. She wanted them to love her and think she could do no wrong. Maybe they would even understand when she took Justin as her lover. The common folk did it all the time, but then they also got to marry those they loved.

Having wealth and power had it prices and this was the worst price to pay she thought. Never having the one you truly love. She knew she would not eventually grow to love him, maybe care a tiny bit but never love. How can you love a man like Rogue Hawkington?

While the children where finishing school, their parents were making all ready for the wedding. Lily decided the dress would be the last thing made so Emerald could have a say in it. After all this would be her only wedding, the God’s willing.

Lily did however make a whole new set of clothes for her daughter and bedclothes and she had a special nightgown made for the wedding night. That would actually happen two months after the children were married.

Lily chided herself. They are not children anymore. Emerald is almost 16 and Rogue is 21. They are adults and soon to have their own family. Lily was actually looking forward to the day her daughter told her she was with child, her last born daughter becoming a mother. She smiled softly as she remembered the day Emerald was born.