Without breaking their connection, the man lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it softly. Her heartrate quickened at the touch, and she quickly shook it off and turned her attention back to the other.
She curtsied. “Ye must be Sir De Wolfe.”
“Yes, I am,” he informed her. “We were just extending our condolences to your father about Henry’s passing.”
She swallowed the lump was rising in her throat and asked, “I see. Is that the only reason fer yer journey?”
The handsome knight with golden hair smiled, “No, my lady. We’re also here to answer the marriage proposal your father sent.”
Rebekah nodded nervously. “Does that mean…are ye him?”
The knight with dark-hair laughed. “No, my lady, I am not. My name is Caius De Wolfe. I’ve been sent to collect you for my brother.”
“I see…then we are honored to have ye as our guest. Please, bring yer men inside and make yerselves comfortable.”
Caius and the golden-haired knight glanced at one another and then chuckled slightly. The De Wolfe looked as if he were about to speak, when the other cut him off, saying, “Of course, Lady Maxwell. We are grateful to accept your hospitality.”
She gazed at them, confused by the exchange, and his eyes twinkled with amusement. The De Wolfe soldiers listening in to the conversation glanced at one another and shrugged while climbing off their horses. “We’re very glad ye’ve come,” Rebekah told them.
He shook his head. “You’re mistaken, my lady, it is I who am glad to be here. After the death of your brother, coming to pay our respects was the least that we could do.”
“And what should I call ye, brave knight? Do ye have a name?”
“Forgive my rudeness, Lady Maxwell. The name my family gave me is Leonidus, but everyone calls me Leo.”
“Leo,” she repeated with a smile. “I rather like that.”
“My mother had a custom of naming her children after Romans,” he explained. “And my helm is also designed in the Roman style.”
Rebekah nodded. “That’s a lovely custom. I think it’s marvelous to be able to pass on a tradition like that to one’s children.” Glancing back at the rest of his men while they dismounted from their horses, Rebekah added, “Ye must be tired and hungry from the ride from Rule Water Castle. I’ll have the cook prepare something to eat and have fresh beds made. Please, make yerselves comfortable in the great hall and the servants will be out to tell ye when the food is ready.”
Leo smiled at her as she gestured toward the keep.
Rebekah’s chest tightened in response. He had green eyes that seemed to bore into her very soul.
“You are most generous, Lady Maxwell.”
Rebekah forced herself to look away from him.
What are ye doing? she scolded herself. Her cheeks felt hot as she waved for Lottie to come attend her.
The maid rushed over and curtsied. “Ma’am?”
“Tell the cook to prepare food and drink fer our visitors. Then have some of the servants prepare beds and light the fires in the spare rooms. I will not have them sleeping in drafty quarters. They are to have every luxury the castle can provide.”
“Aye, m’lady.”
There were six knights, all of them wearing the crest of House De Wolfe, but the only one who had interested her was the captain-of-the-guard. At least, she assumed he was their captain, Leonidus.
The groomsmen were already tending to the horses and leading them over to the stables. Leo and Caius smiled approvingly at the show of hospitality and turned back to her.
“Perhaps we should discuss the content of your letter in more detail,” Leonidus suggested.
Rebekah’s smile faded as she listened to them speak.
Laird Maxwell murmured in agreement and led them all in the direction of the solar. “Aye, that would be prudent.”
“I’m coming with ye,” Rebekah said firmly. “Seeing as the discussion affects me, too, I would very much like to be present.”
Laird Maxwell shrugged and continued on his path toward a narrow stairwell. To her surprise, it was not just Caius from House De Wolfe that followed after, but also the handsome Leonidus, and another warrior. She had no idea why they’d be privy to the conversation, but quickly picked up her skirts and followed them up into the chamber. The heavy door shut behind her, and her stomach twisted into knots, wondering what the other men would have to say.
Rebekah took her place beside Laird Maxwell and gathered courage from deep inside. Now that they were able to speak freely, her father gestured for the De Wolfe to speak, “All right, lad. I’m listening. What has yer father to say?”
Caius glanced toward Leonidus, and a flicker of a smile crossed his face. “Putting the issue of marriage aside for now, my father is more concerned about the quarrel with the Johnstones.”
Laird Maxwell scoffed. “Quarrel? Is that what he called it?”
“No, sir. Those are my words,” Caius said. “Lord De Wolfe is very concerned and wants you to know he would come to your aid regardless of whether your daughter joins their son in marriage. You are the rightful Warden of the Marches. He will not let the Johnstones take that away from you. As a member of his family, I can attest to that. We will come when needed.”
Laird Maxwell visibly relaxed and exhaled an enormous sigh of relief, glancing back toward Rebekah. “God be praised… Lord Atticus is even a better man than I expected.”
Rebekah pursed her lips as she gazed back at the man defiantly. “That’s kind of Lord De Wolfe to offer, but the words of support ring hollow. They do nae create the same bond between our families that a marriage would provide.”
Leonidus smiled. “Indeed, you are correct. That is why Lord De Wolfe thought it best to have us come and respond to the letter in person. The support of your claim to the marches and the marriage to his son, are two separate issues that need to be addressed individually.”
“Then what is his response to my proposal?” Laird Maxwell asked.
As she spoke, Leo’s eyes met Rebekah’s, and a warm feeling grew inside her. The same feeling that made her stomach flutter before. She could sense some kind of deep emotion stirring within him as he met her gaze but wasn’t sure that was a good thing. The way he looked at her was more intense than she expected, and Rebekah found it difficult to look away.
“Lord Atticus accepts your proposal for his son,” Leonidus told them. “However, since time is of the essence, we will have to move fast. You need to be married as soon as possible, before Clan Johnstone becomes emboldened.”
Laird Maxwell clapped his hands. “Huzzah!”
Her heart beat faster as Caius and the other warrior nodded in Leo’s direction.
“It’s seems a celebration is in order,” Caius said.
Rebekah and Leonidus couldn’t look away from each other.
“Which one,” she asked suddenly.
Caius frowned. “Excuse me?”
“There are two other sons besides yerself, Titus and…The Viper. Which one am I marrying?”
It was a reasonable question, and the warrior who had been silent spoke up for the first time. “Sir Titus is not of marriable age,” he told her calmly.
“So…The Viper?”
Leonidus’s grin widened. “Yes, lady. You’ll be given the night to pack, and we can set off first thing in the morning.”
Rebekah gasped and reached for her father’s hand. “So soon? Wouldn’t I need more time to prepare fer travel?”
Leo raised an eyebrow. “Can you give me a reason why not? You asked Lord De Wolfe to defend your lands. If he is to do that, then we need to get started right away. I agree that a marriage will bind your families together, and if the ceremony is to happen, we must return to the Wolfe’s Lair.”
She nodded and made her way over to the door. “I understand. If ye’ll excuse me though, I clearly have several things I need to do before we depart.”
Rebekah left without another word and fled to her room as fast as
her feet would carry her.
Chapter Six
Rebekah left the solar reeling from the exchange.
She didn’t know what to think about the De Wolfes accepting her proposal, about leaving her family home, or about the charming knight. He was the most confusing thing of all.
Well, her reaction to him was.
Rebekah was not one to swoon over a handsome face, but she’d never experienced anything like it before. The way he looked at her, the way he spoke, was causing her distraction.
She shook her head, trying to chase the gorgeous knight from her thoughts as she readied herself for their journey. The only thing left to do was pack her chest and say goodbye to the castle which had been her home since she was born. Rebekah spent the afternoon sorting through her clothes and collecting items of sentimental value. In the end, her dresses and few belongings didn’t amount to much, and would fit comfortably in the back of the wagon.
Every so often, her gaze would wander toward the doorway, thinking about the odd exchange between her and Leonidus. Why had he been the one to speak on behalf of House De Wolfe? Why would Caius let him?
She shrugged it off after a while, deciding it didn’t matter so long as the union was agreed to.
Lottie stayed in the room beside her, helping fold clothes and collect anything she needed. The maid had packed a small parcel of belongings for herself as well.
“This is quite exciting!” the woman gushed from across the room. “And he’s sure to be handsome. If yer husband looks anything like the men he sent from Questing, ye’ll be a lucky lass, indeed.”
Rebekah smiled as she sat on the bed next to her travelling case. “Lottie! Ye shouldn’t say such things,” she scolded. “Besides, there’s far more to marriage than physical attraction.”
“I ken, but shouldn’t we count our blessings when they present themselves? Surely, God is smiling down on us in sending the De Wolfes.” The maid’s smile faded as she glanced over at Rebekah. “Child, whatever is the matter? Ye should be happy!”
“I am,” she told her. “It’s just I’m a wee bit frightened. I’ve never met The Viper, and everything is happening so fast. I’m also terrified of meeting Lord De Wolfe. I’m sure they dinnae call him a lion fer nothing.”
“Oh, sweet lass,” Lottie crooned, taking a seat on the bed beside her. “What are ye frightened of? I’m sure once ye meet him, Lord Atticus will be more than happy to welcome ye into their family.”
Rebekah shook her head. “It’s nae just that. It feels…wrong…to be getting married and moving on with my life so soon after Henry died. I want to be happy, but I just…cannae.”
Lottie patted her hand. “If ye dinnae mind me saying, I knew yer brother Henry, and he would want ye to be happy. There’s nae reason to withhold yerself from something good, especially when it is what Henry would have wanted fer ye anyway. The best thing ye can do fer yerself and to honor Henry, is to experience joy and embrace the life that God has presented ye.”
She smiled at the maid and wiped the tears from her eyes. “Ye’re right. Thank ye, Lottie. It is a little disappointing I was not able to meet my future husband. Fer some reason, I had thought he would come with the De Wolfes if they were going to accept my hand. The knight said I would need to marry as soon as possible, which leads me to believe I’ll be going straight to the church when we get to Rule Water Castle. If that’s true, then the first time my future husband and I will see each other is on our wedding day.”
Lottie sighed at the tone in her voice and stood up from the bed. “Aye, that is a shame. Ye would nae be the first bride to meet her intended that way though.”
She pursed her lips. “I hope ye’re right. I hope he likes me. That’s my greatest fear, that I’ll show up at their castle and he’ll take one look at me and send me back.”
Lottie scoffed. “Impossible. The young sir will take one look at ye and fall hopelessly in love, ye’ll see. There is nothing to be afraid of.”
Just then, there was a knock at the door, and Rebekah turned to it, saying, “Come in.”
When the door opened, a servant bowed to them. “My lady, dinner is prepared, and the men are waiting fer ye to come down and join them.”
She looked over at Lottie and sighed. “Very well. There is nothing left to do here anyway, so I will go down.”
Rebekah and Lottie both followed the servant down into the great hall.
Laird Maxwell met her at the door outside and smiled. “My sweet lass, I’m very glad to see ye.”
“Aye, Da.”
As she gazed up at her father, his eyes misted with tears. “I am overjoyed that ye will be taken into the De Wolfe’s family, but I admit, I will miss ye terribly.”
“I’ll miss ye, too, Da.”
“Come, let’s go inside and have a meal.”
She nodded graciously and took him by the arm as he led her into the hall. The De Wolfe warriors were already inside, chatting happily among themselves. Leo and Caius both stood up instantly once they saw her and bowed.
“Lady Maxwell, I am glad to see you again,” Leonidus told her.
She smiled at him and gave an appreciative nod. “Thank ye. I’ve been packing fer the journey.”
“I am glad to hear it.”
The laird took his seat at the head of the table and the food was carried in.
The servants brought in ale and salted meats that filled the entire hall with delicious smells.
As the drinks flowed freely and the conversation surrounding her became rowdier with the celebration, Rebekah wished she could escape the growing noise. She ate her meal and played the role of hostess graciously while conversing with some of her guests. The De Wolfe warriors were introduced, but she was too overwhelmed to remember all of them. After they finished eating, she glanced around to see if she could find Leonidus, but he was nowhere to be found. Realizing he must have left the hall at some point, Rebekah grew uncomfortable.
Caius was the life of the party, telling stories and making people laugh. He seemed to thrive as the center of attention, enjoying every moment. Caius was what Rebekah expected a De Wolfe to be, powerful, intense, and well suited for lavish parties. He seemed completely at ease surrounded by so many people, but to her, it was just the opposite.
Rebekah found loud parties and crowds to be exhausting.
As the lady of their castle, she learned to smile and deal with the formalities of court because that’s what was expected of her, but it didn’t change the way she felt. Given the choice, she would have preferred the company of one.
When the strain of listening to everyone talk became too much, she leaned over to whisper in her father’s ear, “I’m stepping outside a moment.”
He nodded, and Rebekah kissed him on the forehead before excusing herself from the table. She quickly left out the side door and made it to the courtyard without being intercepted.
Rebekah wrapped the wool tartan tightly around her shoulders and exhaled a heavy sigh.
Finally, she could be at peace.
It was her last night in the castle, the last time she could wander the halls of her family home. She gazed up at the twin towers by the entrance, wanting to take in every tiny detail she could. Carefully, she started toward the stairwell when she heard a melody coming from somewhere by the stables. Her brow furrowed with confusion as she paused before turning to see what it was. In the shadows at the edge of the stable door, Leonidus sat in the hay.
He lowered the instrument in surprise when he saw Rebekah in the courtyard and said, “Good evening, Lady Maxwell. I did not expect to see you here.”
“Nor I,” she responded with a smile. “Why are ye nae inside with all the others?”
He glanced down sheepishly. “I needed to get some air. Caius and the others can be exhausting after a while.”
When Leonidus spoke, Rebekah felt a powerful sense of validation she did not expect. It was a quiet recognition that they were the same. He desired the same thing she did. Her laugh turned
into a gentle sob.
“Aye,” she told him breathlessly. “I agree completely.”
A moment of silence passed between them, but it was heavy with emotion as they gazed at one another. “Would you like to join me?” he asked her pleasantly. “I was just playing for the horses. I’ve found that it soothes them much the same way that it does me.”
Rebekah picked up her skirts and walked over to the place where he was sitting. “You play beautifully.”
“Thank you, but I don’t think any of my companions would agree with you.”
“They’re just jealous because they dinnae have the same talent. How did ye learn to play?”
“My mother takes comfort in her music and enjoys writing songs. I learned to play them so it would please her.”
“Does it?” she inquired hopefully.
“It depends on the song.”
Rebekah nodded, glancing up the at stallion in the stall beside them. “Well, yer talents seem to have worked.”
He followed her gaze and smiled, looking up with bright green eyes. “So, it would seem.”
She settled in closer to him and sat down on a pile of hay. “He’s a beautiful horse. What’s his name?”
“Shadow,” he responded. “My father gifted him to me several years ago.”
She reached up to brush her hand along the horse’s mane and said, “Hello, Shadow. My name is Rebekah.”
The horse snorted quietly but didn’t move. Rebekah pet him once again and then pulled her hand back to let the animal rest. Leonidus watched her for a moment, then after she sat back down on the steps, he brought the flute up to his lips. He played another tune. Rebekah was enraptured by his talent, resting her head against the wall.
Something calm and warm began to spread across her body, and she was completely at peace. She forgot all about the noise in the great hall and her fears about leaving home. It was just the two of them.
When he finished, they spoke about their families, and about his sister, Morgana. She told him stories about Henry and how devastated she was when he did not return. He was kind and listened, then expressed deep sympathy for her loss. There was something remarkable about being able to speak freely with him. She didn’t feel judged, didn’t feel the need to conceal herself.
De Wolfe in Disguise: De Wolfe Pack Connected World Page 4
