by Speer, Flora
“And I am still alive, thanks to Sir Desmond,” Gilbert added.
“Ah, but I still hold Manoir Sainte Inge in fief to King Louis,” Erland reminded him.
“Yes,” the king said, his tone hardening as he continued. “You had yourself made heir to your nephew so that after you had starved him to death you would inherit his lands and title. I do wonder, Count Erland, whether success would have sated your ambition or whether, having achieved your initial goals, you would have decided that you wanted still more lands and wealth, and even higher rank in the world.”
“I believe you are poorly informed by your spies,” Erland said, seeming unfazed by the accusations.
“I won’t reveal my future plans to you,” King Henry said. “Knowing them would only madden you since, imprisoned here as you are, you have no way to sell any secret information, or to earn a reward for your treachery. Good day to you, Count Erland.” He and Royce left Erland's chamber.
“By the way, Count Erland,” Braedon said, flashing a devastating smile at the Frenchman, “I thought you’d like to know that the last time we saw your man, Norbard, he was seriously wounded in both arms. He won’t be fighting again for a long time.” With that, Braedon departed, taking Desmond and Gilbert with him.
“Contemptible man!” Lilianne declared, facing her uncle. “You are where you ought to be, and I trust King Henry will keep you here for decades. I hope I never have to speak to you again, and I pray Gilbert never has to see or deal with you again.” Turning her back on him, she stalked out of the room, Magnus by her side. The two heavily armed men who guarded Erland’s door stepped in front of it as soon as it closed.
“I didn't tell Erland what I wanted to say,” Magnus remarked as they went down the stairs. “Just in case he ever is released, I didn't want him to know who is really responsible for his imprisonment.”
“You are,” Lilianne said. “But I know you, Magnus. You aren't afraid of Erland. You just don't care for boasting.”
“Oh, no, Lilianne.” As they emerged into the bailey, Magnus's large hand came down on her shoulder, halting her progress toward the keep and turning her around to face him. “You are the person most responsible for putting Erland where he is today. Have you forgotten that without your help, we could never have gotten him out of the manor and onto the Daisy to bring him here? Without you, William and Braedon and I would most likely be dead, killed while trying to fight our way out of the manor's main gate.”
“At the time, it wasn't a matter of helping you,” she said, ever truthful. “I was thinking that you would force Erland to tell me how to find Gilbert.”
“I know.” Magnus's beautiful, sweet smile softened his harsh features. “Only consider where your love for your brother has led you.
“Lilianne,” he said again, with a quick glance at the men-at-arms and squires moving about the bailey, “I am no longer a landless knight, though I cannot imagine what I will find when I reach Brixton Manor.”
“I know what I will find there,” she said, her smile matching his. “I will find my brother, safe and well. Better yet, I will find the man I love.”
Magnus stared into her eyes for a time, and the banked fire she saw there warmed her through and through. It was daring of her to declare her love so boldly, yet she had known he would not disappoint her.
“Gilbert will grow up and be knighted and, eventually, he will go elsewhere to live,” Magnus said.
“When he does, I will still have the company of the man I love.”
“Only if you consent to become my chatelaine.” Magnus's happy grin far surpassed any smile of Braedon's. “Lilianne, will you marry me? I am not the great lord you deserve, and our life will most likely be hard, at least for the first few years, but I can promise to love you as no man has ever loved a woman before.”
“I think Alice and William would dispute your claim,” she teased gently.
“Will you marry me?” He stretched out one hand to her.
“Of course, I will.” On this matter she needed no time for thought; her heart could rule. She placed her hand in his. “Oh, Magnus, I love you beyond all reckoning.”
He caught her in his arms, lifting her off her feet, making her feel small and fragile as only Magnus could do. Laughing joyously, he whirled her around and around, while the men in the bailey looked on in unconcealed amusement.
“We will establish a happy, loving family,” Lilianne declared when he had set her down and she could speak again.
“I'm not sure I know how,” Magnus said, doubt creeping into his voice.
“I'll teach you. Oh, my love, I have just had the most wonderful idea,” she exclaimed.
“Indeed, you have,” he said. “The wonderful idea of marrying me.”
“This idea is almost as wonderful as that. King Henry said that Brixton Manor is in sad repair, which means you are going to need assistance in restoring it. Desmond needs a quiet place to stay until he's completely well again.”
“Oh, no!” Magnus objected. “I will not have our hard-won happiness spoiled by his criticism and continual sarcasm.”
“It will only be for two months, until he's recalled to duty by Royce,” she coaxed. “While you are busy with your new domain, Desmond can teach Gilbert how to use weapons.”
“What Desmond is likely to teach Gilbert, you don't want Gilbert to know,” Magnus warned her.
“They are friends who have been through similar experiences. They can help each other to recover, and while they are practicing with sword and lance, you and I can steal time alone.”
“A man shouldn't have to steal time alone with his wife,” Magnus proclaimed with an irritated growl.
“You say so because you have no idea how many details are involved in managing a manor,” she informed him. “Please, my dearest love, say you'll consider asking Desmond?”
“How can I refuse you anything?” He caught her around the waist to kiss her again. And then again.
“Magnus,” she said some time later, “I fear we are shocking the men-at-arms.”
“I don't believe it's possible to shock a man-at-arms,” he told her, “though it is possible that we are distracting them from their duties. Come along, my lady. Let’s find my disreputable brother and issue our invitation.”
* * * * *
“You want me to live with you?” Desmond clearly found Magnus's suggestion difficult to believe. “Why?”
“Because you are Magnus's brother,” Lilianne said, “and you will soon be my brother, too.”
“We could use your help,” Magnus said. “It won't be for long and you will be free to leave whenever Royce needs you again.”
“You will also be free to return to Brixton Manor when you need to rest between your missions for Royce,” Lilianne hastened to assure him. “We want you to think of our home as your home, too. And you know Gilbert will always be glad to see you.”
Desmond regarded her out of grey eyes that were suspiciously bright.
“Magnus,” he said at last, “are you certain about this?”
“I wasn't at first,” Magnus admitted. “But the more I think on it, the more sure I am that Lilianne is right.”
“Then, I'll come,” Desmond said. “I was wondering where to go next. Until this moment, I had nowhere to call home.”
Chapter 20
“I scarcely know which way to turn,” Lilianne said to Alice. “Last night and this morning I thought Magnus and I were fated to part with little hope of ever seeing each other again, and I didn’t know what would happen to Gilbert. And now…”
“Now you are to have a home and a husband and a place for Gilbert, too,” Alice said. “Will you mind very much that William and I are to be married at the same ceremony?” she asked.
“I won’t mind a bit. I’m so happy for you, and for myself. But it’s all to be done so quickly. Tomorrow morning! Magnus told me the king convinced the castle priest to forego the banns so we need not wait.”
“King Henry did say t
hat he wants everything settled before he returns to Normandy,” Alice reminded her, “and he cannot be absent from his own court for much longer. What shall we do with these new clothes that Royce ordered for us from Dover? I’ve never seen so many lovely gowns before.”
“We will divide them equally,” Lilianne decided. “First, we’ll choose our wedding gowns.”
The dress she chose was plainly made, of a deep wine-red silk, with just a bit of blue and green embroidery at the rounded neck. Alice decided on a bright blue silk. Both of them would wear their hair loose and flowing, as was seemly for a new bride.
* * * * *
The wedding ceremony the next morning was brief. It involved only the reading of their respective marriage contracts, followed by a blessing offered by the castle priest. Lacking a ring for his bride, Magnus used the amethyst ring that had once belonged to Lilianne's mother. It fit Lilianne's finger as if made for it.
By contrast with the simplicity of the formal ceremony, the bridal feast was long, and as lavish as the castle cook could provide on such short notice. When King Henry finally departed from Richton Castle in late afternoon, Braedon went with him. William took advantage of the interruption in the festivities to declare himself exhausted. He hastened off to his room with Alice clinging to his arm.
“There goes a wise man,” Magnus whispered to Lilianne. “I cannot think we will be missed if we leave, too.”
Lilianne glanced around the great hall. Gilbert was engaged in a laughing conversation with a group of squires who were all about his age. At the high table, Royce and Desmond were involved in a more serious discussion. The remaining men-at-arms looked as if they were settling down for a long evening of eating and drinking.
When Lilianne met Magnus’s warm gaze and smiled her consent, he took her hand and they slipped out of the hall, up the steps to the solar, and then to the guest rooms beyond.
The chamber that Lilianne and Alice had once shared was prepared for the bridal night with fresh linen on the bed and sweet-smelling herbs and flowers scattered on the floor. A warm summer breeze blew through the window.
Magnus kissed both of Lilianne's hands, lingering over her fingers. When his lips claimed hers, she tasted wine and love.
“So much love,” she murmured.
“I will love you forever,” he whispered.
For a moment Lilianne couldn't speak. Tears of happiness filled her eyes and her throat constricted. She swallowed hard.
“What's wrong?” Magnus asked.
“I'm too happy. I told Alice everything has changed so quickly that I hardly know where I am. Two days ago, this moment seemed impossible.”
“I know,” he said. “I'm still trying to believe that I've been granted my heart's desire.”
“I love you, Magnus.”
She leaned against him while he unfastened the laces at either side of her gown and pulled the heavy silk over her head. When he was finished and she stood in only her linen shift, he kissed her tenderly. After a moment the kiss deepened, his lips and tongue exploring her mouth until Lilianne felt her bones turn to water. As her knees gave way Magnus lifted her off her feet, holding her high in his arms as if she were no heavier than a feather, and once again she experienced the fragile, feminine sensation only he had the power to show her.
With infinite care he placed her on the bed and came down on top of her, cupping her face between his hands while he kissed her again in a passionate claiming. Lilianne curled her fingers into his hair, holding him close, prolonging the kiss. When Magnus finally raised his head she looked into his eyes and saw only love.
His hands slid downward, covering her breasts, warming her skin. With his hands and mouth he caressed her until Lilianne writhed helplessly, so tormented by desire that she could not speak. Only then, when she was whimpering in passionate need, did Magnus take her, slowly, with his gaze locked on hers as he filled her with his love.
“You are mine at last,” he said. “Truly, my wife and my very heart.”
Then neither of them could speak as desire and love and passion seized them, bearing them to a bliss far sweeter than any they had previously experienced, for this time they knew their happiness would not end.
* * * * *
In the morning they bid farewell to Alice, William, and Royce, and set out for Kent. Gilbert and Desmond rode with them, along with six men-at-arms sent by Royce to protect them and the three heavily loaded carts of household goods provided by King Henry as Lilianne's dowry.
“I now hold more property than I ever dared to dream of owning,” Magnus said to Lilianne. “Yet, not all those goods in the carts, nor the manor awaiting us, nor even my new title would matter a bit to me, if not for your love. You have given your heart into my keeping, and given me a family to cherish, where before I had no family at all. Those are the greatest treasures any man could want.”
To his own surprise Magnus's vision blurred a little from the depth of his emotion. He was forced to blink hard to stop the unmanly moisture from running down his cheeks. Even so, he experienced no difficulty at all in seeing with perfect clarity the tall, gloriously feminine woman who leaned from her saddle to clasp his hand. They traveled hand in hand for a long time, riding westward, toward home.
About the Author
Flora Speer is the traditionally published author of twenty full-length novels and two novellas. She writes historical, futuristic and time-travel romances. Born in southern New Jersey, she now lives in Connecticut. Among her favorite activities are doing research for the next book, which is always fun because history suggests so many possibilities for plots, gardening (especially herbs and flowers used in medieval gardens) and amateur astronomy. She firmly believes in space travel and wishes the U.S. would restart its manned space program, which provided some great ideas for her futuristic romances.
Flora is currently writing a series of medieval romances, soon to be published on Smashwords, in which a group of young men who have no prospects in life at all, still manage to achieve remarkable results by valor and intelligence. Since these are romances, never doubt that they will also find true love with ladies who are every bit as dauntless and determined as their heroes.
Connect with this author:
Web site: www.floraspeer.com
E-mail: [email protected]
Other books by Flora Speer, all now available at Smashwords:
HISTORICAL ROMANCES;
By Honor Bound
Much Ado About Love
The Viking Passion
For Love And Honor
Rose Red
Castle of Dreams
Castle of the Heart
Two Turtledoves (Christmas novella)
TIME-TRAVEL:
Twelfth Night (Christmas novella)
Christmas Carol
A Time to Love Again
A Love Beyond Time
Timestruck
Love Just In Time
Love Once and Forever (also paranormal)
PARANORMAL – Medieval Magic
Heart’s Magic
The Magician’s Lover
A Passionate Magic
Love Once and Forever (also time-travel)
FUTURISTIC ROMANCES:
Venus Rising
Destiny’s Lovers
No Other Love
Lady Lure
ORIGINAL E-BOOKS, coming in 2014
Lord Royce’s Knights series:
So Great A Love
Cast Love Aside
True Love
Where Love Has Gone
Love Everlasting
MORE ORIGINAL E-BOOKS, coming in 2015-2016
Love Above All, a prequel to Lord Royce’s Knights
And a ROMANCE FANTASY SERIES;
The Secret Heart
The Fire of the Soul
The Anvil of the Mind
