Time Travel Romances Boxed Set (125 page)

Viviane blushed.

“
Aye, it fair looks
impossible.” Niall inverted the book again, the twinkle in his eyes
when he suddenly looked up catching Viviane off-guard. “Shall we
try this manner? Indeed, these illustrations seem designed to make
a man feel…persuasive.”

Oh, there wasn’t going to be any persuading
done around here soon! Especially not when Niall refused to give
her the slightest hint of any emotional ties.

How could he
not
love her?

“
You’re impossible!”
Viviane retorted, snatching the book and headed out of the
shop.

“
You have but to call me,”
Niall shouted after her.

“
I have work to do,”
Viviane retorted with a toss of her hair. “You said so
yourself.”

Niall shook a finger at her. “Aye, Viviane,
I am much interested in the ending of this tale. Write
hastily!”

It wasn’t much consolation that he seemed to
forget even his persuasiveness after that. In fact, he bent over
the market guide with a frown, as though Viviane wasn’t there at
all.

She turned and stomped out of the shop in
her new rubbers, quite certain that this wasn’t the way her love
story was supposed to work out. If
she
had been writing this
story, well, it would have been a lot different.

But all she could do - and incidentally the
best way to regain Niall’s attention - was to finish her book. It
was as good an excuse as any to get back to work.

She wouldn’t so much as think about feeling
a little persuasive herself.

*

It didn’t help that her argument made
sense.

Niall scowled at the market listings, not
truly seeing any of them. How could he fault Viviane for not
wanting to return to the site where she was condemned to be
executed?

Worse, how could he persuade her to do
it?

Aye, her argument was reasonable, for the
archbishop
had
failed to keep his promise. Though that had
been before a man pledged to the archbishop’s own service argued
Viviane’s case. Niall was certain that no man of good character -
as he knew the archbishop to be - could condemn an innocent woman
to die. Nay, ’twould be wrong.

When they returned to Cantlecroft, all could
be set aright.

If
they returned to Cantlecroft.
Niall tapped the book with one heavy fingertip. For truly, Viviane
had no good reason to return. Her mother was dead, as she had
already confessed, and apparently she had no other ties. She
certainly showed no inclination to return.

Should Niall tell her of his obligation to
his sister? Would that sway her decision?

There was an idea! Aye, he knew that women
could be tender about the welfare of children and certainly naught
good was likely to occur for his nieces and nephews in Niall’s
absence.

Save the addition to their numbers.

He drummed his fingers, wondering how he
would make this argument. Ideally, ’twould be phrased so that
Viviane could not refuse, though he sorely disliked even the
thought of deceiving his lady. And he certainly was not a man quick
with the sweet words that women found so appealing.

Niall was still pondering the matter when
Barb returned to the shop, her keys jingling as she unlocked the
door. “Helpful book?” she asked, nodding at the volume in Niall’s
lap.

“
Aye. ’Tis most
informative.”

To Niall’s surprise, Barb crossed the floor
and pushed her hands into her pockets as she halted beside him. Her
gaze was probing. “Viviane’s book is good?”

Niall smiled, recognizing protectiveness
when he saw it. “Aye, she has a gift, ’tis clear.”

Barb pulled out a chair and sat down beside
him. “Look, I want you to be straight with me. I know that you and
Viviane have got some kind of thing going here, and that every guy
alive would want to tell his woman that she was brilliant at
everything she did, if only to make sure she didn’t hold out on
him, but you can tell me the truth. Is it
really
good?”

Niall held her gaze. “I believe so,” he said
firmly. “But you would know better than I.”

Barb shook her head and got to her feet. “I
can’t read it unless she asks me to. Writers are sensitive about
stuff like that.” She pursed her lips and considered Niall. “I just
don’t want you leading her on.” She looked at him hard one more
time. “Don’t hurt her.”

Niall’s softened heart twisted a little at
the lie of his presence here, but he managed to hold this stern
woman’s gaze. “I will not.”

Barb nodded. “Because this is really
important to Viviane.”

“
Aye. I see that now. ’Tis
why I intend to aid her in seeking this publication.” Though he had
not even thought of doing such a thing, as soon as Niall uttered
the words, he knew they were true.

He knew her tale of Gawain was important to
Viviane, for her eyes shone when she spoke of it, and doubly so
when she spoke of finding a publisher.

Aye, he would aid his lady in her own quest.
’Twas only fitting.

Barb looked surprised. “Really?”

“
Aye. She needs to know
that I am a man she can rely upon, a man who will attend to her
concerns, see her safe and see her fed. ’Tis this role that an
honorable man takes in marriage, though Viviane is dubious that I
shall do it well.” Niall nodded, his mind made up. “I shall aid her
in this, to prove to her that her will is of import to
me.”

And then, somehow, he would persuade her to
consider the import of
his
will, perhaps by confessing the
tale of Majella. Somehow, he would convince his lady to return to
Cantlecroft, that he might both clear the shadow of conviction from
her name and fulfill his own pledges.

First, the book manuscript.

Niall fired a glance at Barb. “Have you
objections to a change over these ensuing days? I would have
Viviane work on her tale while she so desires.”

“
I need her in the
shop.”

“
Aye, ’tis that I would
address.” Niall tried his best smile, but Barb’s frown did not
waver. “I know full well that I am a poor substitute for my lady’s
abilities, but perhaps there is some labor I can do for you in her
stead.”

While Niall watched, a curious glimmer
dawned in Barb’s eyes. Had he not known her as well as he already
did, he might have guessed that this stern woman was softening
toward him.

“
Is this fitting to you?”
he prompted when she said naught.

“
Yeah.” Barb nodded and
looked away, folding her arms across her chest. “Yeah, I could use
some help with those new shelves and there are a couple of cartons
out back to heft in here for stocking. You up for heavy
work?”

“
Aye, I am capable of this
and much more.” Niall pushed to his feet and offered his hand.
“Shall we make an agreement?”

Barb regarded him skeptically. “You’re going
to do this, just to give her the chance to work on her book?”

“
Aye. ’Tis a simple enough
exchange.”

Barb stared at him for a long moment, then
shook her head. “You are something else, aren’t you?” she asked
softly as she took his hand. Her grip was surprisingly strong.

Mercifully, Niall was spared the obligation
of a reply, for he knew not what he would have said. Barb turned
and walked quickly out the back of her shop, flicking out the
lights on her way.

Niall stood in the dark for only a moment
before he decided ’twas time he returned to Viviane’s chamber
anyway. He lifted a book that had rested beside that illustrated
volume of hers and smiled to himself as he fanned through the
pages.

Aye, this wench was as slender as Viviane,
though she had not the perfect breasts of his lady. Niall paused to
consider a particularly appealing illustration, his desire to be
persuasive rising to the fore.

’
Twas time, he resolved,
for his lady to cease her labor this day.

*

Viviane couldn’t believe it when Niall came
back to her room and told her what he had done. He wanted to help
her get her book published! His was such a touching gesture that
she had a hard time quibbling over his insistence that it was for
duty alone, that a man must support the wishes of his lady.

In fact, her resistance to him was
sufficiently weakened that when he showed her the book he carried
and suggested a little research, Viviane didn’t even mind the
wicked glint in his eye.

Neither did she mind what happened after
that.

And Niall seemed to take the challenge in
stride when Viviane insisted on keeping her rubbers on.

*

It took Viviane the rest of the week to get
the book into shape, to make the changes Niall suggested and to
sufficiently research her love scenes. Barb typed up the manuscript
on her computer when the shop was slow - as it increasingly was -
and printed it out on that lovely white paper Viviane found so
appealing. It almost looked like a book already when it was finally
done.

And Niall had chosen three publishers who
might be interested in the work. Barb showed Viviane how to write a
cover letter, then on Saturday afternoon, Viviane and Niall took
the whole thing down to the little copy shop in town.

Viviane’s heart nearly stopped an hour later
when the clerk at the postal wicket in the drugstore took the three
parcels from her hands and dumped them into the bin behind the
counter.

“
Tuesday delivery in New
York,” the clerk chirped, then looked over Viviane’s shoulder.
“Next!”

Her labor of love was gone, out of Viviane’s
hands, as simply as that.

Suddenly, she wanted the parcels back. She
wanted to go over the story one more time, make Gawain just a
little bit more noble, perhaps change one last thing. She knew she
could make it better, given just a few more moments. Viviane
actually stepped closer to the counter and opened her mouth to ask
for them back.

But Niall caught her around the waist.
“There is naught to be done about it now,” he murmured in her ear,
as though he had read her thoughts. “You have done your best and
now your tale must fend for itself.”

“
But oh, Niall, I need to
know whether they’ll like it! How can I possibly wait?”

“
The book declares ’twill
be two to three months before you might have a response and Barb is
skeptical of even that timing.” Niall shook his head and laced
their fingers together. “We shall have to find other things to
occupy us.”

He looked so smug that Viviane could guess
what some of those things might be.

She grinned and matched her step to his,
more than ready to tease him a bit. “Like what?” They stepped out
into a surprisingly balmy evening. Ganges was quiet, the sky was
dark dark blue smeared with the glorious shades of a sunset.

Niall slanted a green glance her way. “We
could be wed.”

“
Because you love
me?”

He snorted in a very unflattering way.
“Viviane, we have spoken much of love and its over-rated charms. I
would wed you because we are well-suited, each to the other, and
the match would be most sensible.”

“
I’ll only marry a man who
loves me and you know it.”

Niall growled something in his throat that
Viviane was glad she couldn’t quite hear. Then he pivoted, clamped
his hands on her shoulders and stared into her eyes. He looked more
than a little bit determined.

“
Would you have me lie to
you?” he demanded. “Is this what you wish? Viviane, ’tis not my way
to speak a falsehood, but you tempt a man overmuch when you refuse
to see sense.”

“
I would know if you were
lying anyway,” she replied, then tapped his nose with one
fingertip. “It would show in your eyes.” She smiled and stretched
to kiss him, but Niall stepped away.

“
Viviane! You muddy the
issue!” He shoved a hand through his hair and flicked a hot glance
toward her. “Wed me.”

“
No. Not until you admit
you love me.”

Niall shook his head and strode down the
street, Viviane hot on his heels. “You are a cursedly stubborn
woman,” he muttered darkly, which only made Viviane laugh.

“
While you aren’t stubborn
at all,” she retorted with a smile. She linked her arm through his,
knowing that he couldn’t be so annoyed with her if he didn’t have
some feelings for her.

It was a matter of principle, though - she
would have his sweet confession before she gave her pledge.

They had made a wager. And Barb had reminded
her that a man should be judged by his deeds. Niall certainly had
done the deeds of a man interested in supporting Viviane’s
desires.

He’d come around to confessing, she just
knew it.

Viviane was content to let him take his time
mustering up the L-word. Her destined knight was here and she was
pretty happy with the way things were working out.

“
We should do something to
celebrate, though,” she suggested cheerfully. “After all, we’ve
both worked hard to see this book on its way.” She pressed a
grateful kiss to Niall’s cheek. “Thank you for your help, by the
way. It was very sweet of you to take an interest.”

“
Sweet,” he muttered, a
dull glow rising on the back of his neck. “’Tis the first time I
have been called that.”

“
Well, you
are
sweet.”

“
Would you wed a man for
his sweetness?”

“
No. Only for love.” He
shook his head and turned away, but seemed content to let Viviane
keep her hand in the warm crook of his elbow.

“
Now, what shall we do?”
Viviane was very aware that she was wearing her green rubbers,
mainly because they had seemed a sensible choice of footwear in the
bit of misty rain they’d had all day. Those boots clomped
inelegantly on the damp sidewalk now, the sound making Viviane sure
that she knew what Niall was thinking. She even started to blush,
imagining that everyone else on the street could guess what they
were thinking.