A Moonlit Knight_A Knights Through Time Romance

by Cynthia Luhrs

  * * *

  The meal had been a huge success. Everyone loved the food, and there’d been a surprise. Richard had her cut into a pie using her spoon, and when she did, live birds flew out of it. Chloe screamed while Richard and the men all laughed. She didn’t think she’d look at a pie the same way for a long time.

  Tristan and his brother sang while one of the Irish stonemasons played the lute. They sang love songs and sad songs about unrequited love and, of course, battle songs.

  When the tables and benches were pushed against the walls, Richard claimed the first dance. Chloe and the other women danced until their feet were ready to fall off, casting shadows on the walls in the torchlight.

  “Come, walk on the battlements with me.” He pulled her cloak around her and offered his arm.

  The frigid air felt so good after all the dancing. The moon was full tonight, turning everything silver. She couldn’t have asked for a more perfect night.

  Chloe turned to point out a shooting star, only to find him watching her. She froze as he took a step closer, and then another. And then she was in his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck, standing on her tiptoes.

  His lips were firm against hers. She could taste the spiced wine, smell the snow in the air as she melted against him.

  Chloe had kissed her fair share of guys, but none of them kissed like Richard. If he hadn’t been holding her against him, her knees would have given way. A perfect ending to the most perfect night of her life. She wanted it to last forever.

  The hiss of a sword from its sheath made her jerk back so fast that she hit her head against the wall.

  “Let the lass go, Richard.” Garrick and two other guardsmen stood there with disapproving looks on their faces. “’Tis not proper. You are a lord now and she is under your protection.”

  Garrick offered his arm. “Come along, mistress. I will see you to your chamber.”

  Richard rolled his eyes. “I will see each of you in the lists tomorrow.”

  In a daze, she let Garrick lead her to her room. He gently pushed her down on the stool, a grin on his face.

  “Good evening to you, mistress.”

  She couldn’t form a coherent thought; she was too focused on the sensations running through her body.

  When Lilly came in to help her undress, Chloe had recovered, though she kept replaying the kiss over and over. Talk about amazing.

  “You were kissing him and he mussed your hair,” Lilly said while she removed the pins from Chloe’s hair.

  Chloe touched a finger to her swollen lips. “How did you know?”

  The girl’s eyes sparkled and she stepped closer. “His lordship and Garrick were shouting at each other.” She tsk-tsked. “You are to have a chaperone at all times.”

  A giggle escaped and then another as Lilly brushed Chloe’s hair. “What was it like?” She sighed.

  “Magic,” Chloe said with a smile.

  Chapter 28

  Two glorious weeks passed, days full of kisses and avoiding Garrick and the others who had made a game out of trying to catch them. Picnics in the one tower the workers had finished, rides through the snow, and sitting together while she read and Richard went over the accounts for Bainford.

  And then the day she’d thought would never come did.

  “Chloe, my love, your kin have arrived.” Richard kissed her quickly on the lips, took hold of her hand, and practically dragged her down the stairs and out the door into the courtyard.

  “We were visiting Winterforth. Christian and Ashley have adopted a new baby and I couldn’t wait to see them. Your missive found us there. We came as fast as we could. Can you believe how cold it is?”

  The woman was stunning. A little taller than Chloe, with green eyes and gorgeous red hair. The man with her was almost as scary as Richard. He had a wicked-looking scar that ran through his eyebrow and his eye, stopping past his cheekbone. He was lucky not to have lost the eye. He too had green eyes, but black hair and the nose of an athlete. It was crooked from being broken several times.

  “You have to be Chloe. I’m Melinda, and this is my husband, James. To be official, Lord and Lady Falconburg.”

  It was too much: the hint of the Southern accent that made Chloe homesick. Hearing Melinda was like coming home. Chloe burst into tears. Her great-aunt gathered her into her arms, patting her back.

  “Has he treated you badly?” Melinda asked. “James.”

  The man unsheathed his sword. “I’ll take the head of the Beast of Bainford.” He snarled at Richard, who unsheathed his own sword.

  “Try,” Richard said. “Let us see what the infamous Red Knight is made of.”

  Chloe pulled back. “No. Stop.” She looked at Melinda, wiping away the tears. “Richard has been wonderful. It’s… I never thought… Nutella on toast.”

  A look passed between Melinda and James. He lowered his sword and said a bit sheepishly, “To the lists? I’ve been sorely lacking in skilled swordsmen.”

  Richard nodded. “Aye. Let us leave them to womanly matters.”

  Sniffing, Chloe took a deep breath. Seeing Melinda after wanting it for so long filled her with so many emotions that they kept bubbling up and out of her, totally out of her control. “I’m so sorry. You don’t understand.”

  “I think I understand quite well.” Melinda had kind eyes. They reminded Chloe of Gram.

  “Where are my manners? Gram would shoot me. Let’s go inside and talk.” Chloe led Melinda to the solar, excited and nervous at the same time. She called for bread, cheese, and wine. When they were alone, she took a deep breath.

  “You’re the oldest, right?”

  Melinda regarded her with an assessing gaze. “I am. But I’m afraid I’m at a loss as to your identity.”

  She couldn’t help it: the soft vowels, the lilt, the eyes like Gram’s—Chloe burst into tears again. It was a while before she pulled herself together enough to talk.

  “I’m so sorry. It’s been a little over a month and a half.” Chloe sat on the rug, rolling the goblet back and forth in her hands. “Where to start? I’m Chloe Penelope Merriweather. From Holden Beach.”

  “Pittypat.” Melinda’s eyes widened. “Can it be? But how?”

  “I’m not a Merriweather by blood. Gram—that is, Mildred—and Drake adopted my mom and I.”

  “Drake? Who is Drake?” Melinda scooted closer. “Oh, I love a good story.”

  “Drake is my adopted grandfather. He’s married to Mildred… Let me get to them in a bit, ’cuz it’s a really good story.” Chloe couldn’t wait to tell that big ole secret.

  “Granda knew some bigwig from New York who dealt in antiquities. There was a document. It was like a menu and guest list documenting a Yule celebration at Falconburg. The king was there. You were all there—it said the Lady of Falconburg joined by her sisters and their husbands.”

  “The king has not come to Falconburg.” Melinda nodded. “When?”

  “Next year.” Chloe refilled their goblets. She had a feeling they were both going to need it.

  “Ah. That’s what brought you back? But why didn’t you go to Winterforth or Highworth? They’re so much closer.”

  “Only Falconburg was mentioned by name.”

  Melinda tapped her lip. “So I need to make sure there’s a menu and guest list next Christmas so you can find me.” She arched a brow. “But I better not list my sisters’ homes, in case you go there and miss Bainford.”

  “Exactly.” Chloe couldn’t believe she was sitting here talking to one of her great-aunts. She was so happy and excited that she was practically vibrating off the floor.

  “Now, tell me how you and your mom met cranky Aunt Mildred.” Melinda nibbled on a piece of cheese, her legs tucked under her.

  “Gram met my mom in the parking lot of the Dollar Store. She was all alone and pregnant with me, and Gram took her in. We lived with her even after she and Drake found each other again. When my mom met Arthur and they got married, we moved to a house a few rows back. Gram l
ives in Gull Cottage now. Her sister wanted her to have it.”

  Melinda tore off a piece of bread. “I cannot believe Aunt Mildred married.”

  “That’s just it. She’s been married to Drake since she was eighteen.” Chloe grinned at the look of shock on Melinda’s face.

  “Shut the front door. Spill it. I have to know everything. Oh, wait until Lucy and Charlotte find out.”

  Chloe busted out laughing. “It’s so good to hear another voice from home.” She crossed her legs and got comfortable, settling in to tell the tale. “Gram told my mom that losing her sisters and nieces made her look at life differently. She vowed to be kind.” Chloe paused, seeing Melinda wipe her eyes. “And then there was the whole Drake thing.” Chloe launched into the story, giving Melinda the short version. The rest could come later.

  “When Gram was eighteen, she went to Vegas the summer before college, much like me coming to England. That’s where she met Drake. After a whirlwind romance, they got married, but then something awful happened. She thought he’d left her, but he hit his head and lost his memory and she couldn’t find him.

  “Fast forward a million years and he was shot during a robbery at the casino where he worked, regained his memory, and came looking for Gram.” It was one of Chloe’s favorite stories.

  “My mom told me the story so many times. How he had to win her over again, how they’d been married all that time and she never told anyone—she’d kept the ring hidden away, had never gotten rid of it.” Chloe leaned in. “Here’s the best part.” She rubbed her hands together.

  “Tell me. You’re killing me.” Melinda’s eyes sparkled, and she took Chloe’s hands in hers.

  “Drake Gregory vanished in 1335 and ended up in Las Vegas, Nevada.”

  “Oh my stars!” Melinda yelped.

  They spent the morning talking, Chloe telling her the entire story.

  “Can you believe Granda bought the police station a helicopter when gram turned seventy-five?”

  Melinda laughed. “Aunt Pittypat always made a big yearly donation so she never got in trouble for speeding. I can’t believe Aunt Mildred carried on the tradition.”

  Chloe nodded, tucking a loose curl behind her ear. “I learned to drive in her MG.”

  “I loved that car.” Melinda sighed. “I miss Aunt Pittypat so much. It was awful—we lost her when Lucy traveled through time.” She sniffed. “I feel so bad I wasn’t nicer to Aunt Mildred. She was so stuffy and cranky all the time. Now I know why. It just goes to show, you never know what someone is going through. Imagine losing your soul mate, thinking he didn’t want her, and then not telling anyone? Living with that hurt all your life. No wonder she was cranky. I’m so glad she found her happiness.”

  Melinda grinned. “Wait until I tell my sisters. They are gonna be so mad they missed meeting you and hearing the story.” Melinda took Chloe’s hand. “Oh, honey, I’m so happy you’re here and part of the family.”

  They ate dinner in the solar so they could keep talking and catching up. Melinda’s husband popped in to check on them. He looked at her the way Chloe sometimes caught Richard looking at her.

  When he was gone, Chloe told Melinda the rest. “So when I was almost two, we went to the cemetery. Granda said I went straight to Penelope’s headstone and knew she was my ‘other grammy.’ Here’s the crazy part: granda said I told them, ‘Soon I go home like them.’ That I touched each of your headstones.”

  Melinda gasped. “I’ve got goosebumps.”

  “My mom flipped out until Granda asked me more questions. I told him, no, I wasn’t going home like Grammy Penelope and Alice—I was going ‘where they are.’ And I touched all three of your headstones again.” Chloe finished her stew. “They said I whispered away to y’all every time we visited.”

  It was so nice to be able to talk to someone who understood. Chloe had kept the secret of when she was from ever since she’d arrived.

  “When I was growing up, I tried all kinds of crazy experiments to travel through time. Until the year I turned ten, fell off the balcony, and broke my arm. After that, I’d try a few times a year, but nothing ever worked.

  “Then I came to England this summer. I sat in the stone circle. I’d given up, and then it happened. I traveled through time, though it was winter when I arrived.”

  “Isn’t that the way?” Melinda said. “You let go of something and then it happens. Charlotte said when I vanished, she knew Lucy and I had traveled through time, so she actually prepped for going back. She was so sure she could do it.” Melinda touched her hand. “I’m so happy you’re here. I know how much it hurts to know you’ve left loved ones behind.”

  “Do you think I can travel through time again?” Chloe asked. “Go home?”

  Chapter 29

  Richard leaned against the wall, unable to grasp what he heard. When he took a step toward the door, his legs gave way and he found himself breathing heavily, sitting on the stone floor.

  He had come to fetch the women, heard them talking, and listened at the door like a servant hungry for gossip after he had scolded Chloe for doing the same.

  What he heard astounded him. His Chloe, the woman he was in love with, had traveled through time.

  ’Twas as if he could now believe faeries would arrive at his gates. She was from the future and so was Melinda. By the saints.

  The many things Chloe said and did, things he thought odd, were because she was from another time. Almost seven hundred years. He could not fathom the things she had seen. He heard them telling tales of fantastical metal beasts much swifter than horses, flying birds, and endless hot water that was like rain in a bathing chamber.

  Fury filled him that she would keep such a secret, betray him after all he had told her about himself. Why would she wish to stay with him when she had such wonders in her own time? She would leave him. He had heard her ask her kin how she could go home. Would she tell him, or would he wake one morn to find her gone?

  She had family in her own time who would miss her, and family here. Powerful family to care for her. She had no need of him. James Rivers could arrange a match for her with a proper lord, not a beastly bastard.

  All this time, she had not cared for him, only stayed until her family could fetch her. Had made him believe she cared for him. With mere words, she had destroyed him, no sword required. Panic rose in his gorge at the thought of losing her. What it had cost him to risk his heart and love her only to have her rend him in twain. His heart wrenched inside his chest.

  * * *

  There had been so much to tell Melinda, and so many stories to hear, that Chloe hadn’t seen Richard since her family had arrived yesterday.

  James joined them in the solar for supper. They had decided to take their meal alone so they could keep talking without fear of being overheard. Melinda told her it was a serious thing to be accused of being a witch.

  Superstitions ran deep, and Chloe had to be careful of what she did and said, especially with the Hundred Years War beginning and the plague coming. Difficult times made people take actions they might not during times of peace.

  When she’d gone looking for Richard to talk to him, to come clean and tell him who she really was, one of the boys said he had gone to see to the men. She was disappointed he hadn’t kissed her good night but planned to remedy it this morning. There was so much news to tell him.

  “Did you find Richard?” Melinda asked.

  Chloe was spitting mad. “He won’t tell me what’s wrong. All day long he’s been stomping about, grumbling and being mean.” She refilled the goblet again, blinking at the brightness in the hall. A hiccup escaped. “I finally get to meet you and James, and this is how he acts?”

  Melinda covered her hand. “James said he went through the men in the lists and then about wore James out as well.” She winked. “But don’t tell him I told you. Men are full of pride and he would be embarrassed.” She touched Chloe on the shoulder. “Do you think he’s worried you’ll leave? It’s obvious he’s in
love with you.”

  “Why would I leave? Bainford is my home. I only asked you if I could go home because I was curious, not because I want to.” Chloe blinked blearily. “Do you really think he loves me?”

  “Hasn’t he told you?”

  Chloe shook her head, which sent the room spinning. She gripped the table and took a few deep breaths to make it stop. “No. But he’s kissed me. Oh my, that man can kiss.”

  Melinda grinned. “I remember those days.” She helped Chloe up. “Let’s go for a walk on the battlements and get some fresh air. I’ll tell you all about how I met James.”

  The cold air had done Chloe a great deal of good. But holy cow, she’d had way too much to drink. Melinda and James had gone to their chamber, as they had to leave in the morning. Chloe’s great-aunt had invited her to come with them. Her daughter, Emma, was three, and they’d dared not bring her. A nanny was watching over her, along with a dozen ferocious guards, but Melinda missed her terribly and wanted to be home before Christmas.

  Christmas. It was less than two weeks away. Wait until Richard saw his gift.

  Then she scowled. If he got over whatever was bothering him and talked to her. Otherwise, he was getting rocks.

  * * *

  Unable to sleep, Chloe wrapped her cloak tighter and paced the battlements. No way was she ever drinking that much again. Merry had given her a disgusting concoction to drink, but between the potion, the fresh air, and movement, she felt a lot better. Bet she’d have a terrible headache in the morning. Lost in thought, she turned and ran into a wall. A warm wall.

  “Sorry.” She looked up. “Oh, it’s you. Why are you mad at me?” She hiccupped.

  Richard looked like he’d been running his hands through his hair. He was rigid, the tension rolling off him.