by Ruth Kaufman
“Maybe we’ll appreciate each other more.”
He took her in his arms and smoothed her windblown hair from her face. And kissed her. Aline rejoiced when he deepened the kiss. Would she ever have her fill of him, his taste, his hard body against hers? The way he touched her, arousing all of her senses?
She took his hand to lead him to their bed, eager for more, but he stopped her.
“Aline, my lovely wife, I have an idea. What if we get a second home, in England? Wherever you choose.”
She clapped her hands in joy. His generosity and willingness to make her wishes come true made her care for him all the more. Now that she had him and their home, maybe she wouldn’t need to retreat into her mind as often, or at all, to feel happy. “That would be wonderful.”
“We could compromise, and live six months in each country.”
“Yes! Like Persephone. After Hades kidnapped her because he loved her, her mother Demeter was so upset that she prevented crops from growing, resulting in famine. Since Hades had convinced Persephone to eat pomegranate seeds, she had to stay with him. So Rhea, Hades’ and Demeter’s mother, proposed that Persephone live six months in the Underworld and six at home—”
Apollo laughed. “Yes, that’s one version. Though their plan had much greater impact on the world than ours will. When Persephone returned to Olympus, Demeter restored spring and summer, and thus the Earth’s ability to provide crops, plants and trees.”
He had given, now she would. “You’ve mentioned your favorite regions in your country.” She paused. “I want to visit them. Together.”
“When we can amidst our new duties, I’d like that.” He smiled again.
She was in deep. Apparently she’d do or say almost anything to make him smile. Even speak more Norman French. Because her children could never know how much she’d once hated their homeland or their language. “But before we do, I want to explore my favorite regions. Right here.”
“I’d like that even more.” Apollo took her in his arms and kissed her again.
Aline sighed with joy as she kissed him back. Her enemy had become her love.
She was home.
Epilogue
Six months later
“I have some news. I’ve suspected for weeks, but I didn’t want to share it until I was certain.” Aline’s sweet and now beloved face glowed with joy as they sat in their solar. “I’m with child.”
Apollo rejoiced and jumped to his feet. He’d never realized how much he wanted a family until he met the woman he wanted to have it with. His wife would soon be a mother and make him a father.
When she stood, he kissed her. Pride was a sin, but he couldn’t contain it. “You’ve made me the happiest man in the land. Both lands. France and England. Nay, the world.”
“I confess, I’m happy, too. I never thought I could be grateful for being in the ravine, but it brought me you,” Aline said with a laugh. “I’ll always pray for those whom fate was not so kind, and for the end to war.”
“I fear war will always exist in some part of the world.”
“Well, I hope we can stay far away from it for the rest of our lives.” She rested her hands on her stomach, which he couldn’t wait to watch expand. “And for our children’s. We’ll do our best to raise them to be more understanding than we were when first we met, but that won’t make it easier with others who aren’t.
“We should follow your parents’ naming tradition. If we have a son, we’ll name him Paris, after your father. Maybe that will be one way to encourage him to like me more.”
Apollo just never knew in what ways she’d please him. He hugged her. “What a wonderful idea. My mother would love that, too. And if we have a daughter, to represent our agreement to live half the year in France and the other half in England, perhaps we’ll name her Persephone.”
Other books by Ruth Kaufman:
Wars of the Roses Brides Trilogy
AT HIS COMMAND Book 1
What’s a lady to do when the king commands her to marry a lord, but she’s falling for the knight sent to protect her from undesirable suitors and is a scribe for the king’s rival for the throne?
http://amzn.com/B00QPG52A6
“A wonderful debut sure to please lovers of romance!”
— NYT & USA Today bestselling author Madeline Hunter
“With a bold knight and a strong-willed lady, Kaufman’s story is positively medieval.”
— NYT & USA Today bestselling author Tracy Anne Warren
“If a book lingers in my mind for more than two weeks, then I say the author has certainly deserved to be put on my keeper shelf.”
— Bookworm2bookworm
FOLLOW YOUR HEART Book 2
She’s a glass-painter making her way in a man’s world. He’s on a quest to redeem his family name and estate. When unforeseen passion makes their marriage of convenience inconvenient, will his dangerous secrets keep them from following their hearts?
http://amzn.com/B00TYM7XBE
Must-read romance: “Kaufman can certainly write an entertaining suspenseful romance and brings us a happy sigh-worthy story in Follow Your Heart.”
— USATODAY.com
“Kaufman’s strong second romance…appealing protagonists…maintaining suspense and building the reader’s hope that Joanna and Adrian’s mutual respect will grow into love.”
— Publishers Weekly BookLife
“As the story unfolds, it will suck you in…fantastic!!!”
— 5-Star Amazon Review
THE BRIDE TOURNAMENT Book 3
The Gone with the Wind love triangle meets The Bachelor. The king wants her to marry the new earl, but she wants to marry her betrothed. So she holds a bride tournament to find the earl a better, more willing bride. Who will win his hand in marriage…and his love?
http://amzn.com/B016YZEW0I
“Kaufman writes well-developed and sympathetic characters with clear motivations. The Bride Tournament is a page-turner of a historical romance that will have readers rooting for a happy ending.”
— RT Book Reviews
“Appealing protagonists, a satisfying pace, engaging supporting characters, and numerous obstacles to overcome combine in this emotionally satisfying romance.”
— Publishers Weekly BookLife
“Do you like historical romances that are full of twists and turns? This is the book for you if you do.”
— 5-Star Amazon Review
MY ONCE & FUTURE LOVE (Unsung Knights of the Round Table #1)
When a lady on the run from her scheming uncle aids a wounded Knight of the Round Table, peril thwarts the power of love.
http://amzn.com/B01DC8XXNM
“A fantastic blend of romance and Arthurian legend.”
— RT Book Reviews
Kaufman “created a magical world that kept me glued to the pages.”
— Night Owl Reviews
Author’s Note
Dear Reader,
Thank you for taking the time to read My Enemy, My Love. I want to thank Kathryn Le Veque for inviting me into her The World of de Wolfe Pack Kindle World and assigning me to tell Sir Paris de Norville’s parents’ story. I hope you enjoyed reading about Aline and Apollo as much I as enjoyed writing about how they met and fell in love. If you’re so inclined, I’d really appreciate a review.
Aline’s story is loosely based on an actual event: a seven-month siege led by King Philip II at Château Gaillard that ended in March, 1204. Hundreds of people were actually trapped between the chateau and the French camp and were called “useless mouths to feed.” Many did die. I don’t know if anyone was rescued in the way I’ve described.
I took some literary liberties to further the story. For example, the real chateau commander was too young to be Aline’s father. And I shortened the timeline of the siege and battles, and left out some gruesome details. If you’re interested, more information about the real siege is on my blog post dated 9/6/16. And I chose to modernize the language a bit and use word
s that probably weren’t in use in 1204 to make the novella easier to read. I hope you’ll accept the slightly more modern flavor.
If you’d like to be notified about future books, important news and any contests or giveaways, please sign up for my newsletter at www.ruthkaufman.com, where you can also learn more about me and my books. Additional information is on my Amazon author page and Goodreads page. And if you’d like to join me online, I’m on Facebook at Ruth Kaufman Author & Actress and Twitter @RuthKaufman.
About the Author
Ruth Kaufman is also an on-camera and voiceover talent and freelance editor and storyteller with a J.D. and a Master’s in Radio/TV. She loves living in Chicago and going to the theatre.
Her other books include My Once and Future Love and her Wars of the Roses Brides trilogy, which can be read in order or as standalones (At His Command, Follow Your Heart, The Bride Tournament). Accolades include 2016 Booksellers’ Best Award winner for Best First Book and Best Historical for At His Command and Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® winner.
She’s appeared in independent feature films, short films, web series and national and local TV commercials, and has voiced hundreds of projects from e-learning courses to commercials.
Learn more at www.ruthkaufman.com and www.ruthtalks.com. Follow her on Twitter: @RuthKaufman or Facebook: Ruth Kaufman Author & Actress.
Cover Art by Sylvia Frost, S. Frost Designs
Contact: www.ruthkaufman.com
