by Julia Mills
Her father spoke, waking her from her daydream. “Did you tell your mother of your adventure, sweetling?”
“What adventure?” He mother questioned, her brows slightly furrowed.
“Well, I was kind of thrown from the wagon…”
Her mother’s gasp cut in but her father quickly picked up, hurrying to explain before Marion got any more upset. “But all is well, my love. She was saved from harm by a knight, Lord Manus O’Brien, a man of great stature and favor with the King.”
“A man with an ego the size of the Earth and the manners of an oaf.” The words were out of her mouth before Abigail’s brain engaged.
“Abigail Elizabeth Donovan!’ Her mother scolded. “Watch your mouth. We know better than to speak ill of anyone, especially one of King Arthur’s knights.”
Knowing when to hold her tongue, Abbie simply answered, “Yes ma’am.”
“It’s okay, darling. I’m sure you’re just tired from your adventure.” Whatever her mother was about to say was interrupted when Maggie came in carrying a tray of her favorite apricot cookies and a steeping pot of ginger tea.
While they enjoyed their treats, her father told the story of the stampeding horses and her rescue in painstaking detail. It was while he spoke of the valiant way Lord Manus had galloped to her rescue that Abbie wondered when the knight had come back to the marketplace. She knew he had ridden through the gates leading his garrison away and was sure she hadn’t seen him return. The only thing that made sense was that he had come back while she and her papa were watching the play.
When her father paused long enough for her to speak, Abbie interjected, “May I please be excused. I’m really tired and would like to wash off the dust from the road.”
“Of course, sweetheart. I’m sure Camille has your water warmed by now.”
Rising and kissing both of her parents, Abbie made her way to her room where her bath was already drawn and waiting. She soaked until the water cooled and then read until she fell asleep. She dreamt of the rogue whose voice still echoed through her mind.
The next six days flew by. Abbie did everything she could think of and some things she should have never tried to stay busy and keep her thoughts from the rakish Manus O’Brien. She wondered if Maggie would ever let her live down the incident that left the kitchen and all its occupants covered in flour. At least they had laughed, though it took hours to clean up.
Several times she had caught her parents talking about the knight, but their conversations abruptly ended when she entered the room. Abbie had asked her mother about it and Marion had simply smiled saying, “I don’t remember talking about anything in particular.”
But Abbie saw mischief in her mother’s eyes of which nothing good could come. Deciding to get to the bottom of it once and for all, she headed out to the fields where her father looked over their flocks and the men that tended them. She was surprised to find him sitting under a tree talking to the shepherd. Their neighbors often accused her parents of being ‘too friendly’ with the servants, but Abbie loved the fact that they were benevolent lords of their manor.
Seeing her coming, her father rose and helped her from her mount. “What are you doing so far from the house, little one?”
“Needed a ride and decided to see what you were doing.”
Turning, she yelled to the shepherd and his sons, “Hi Abe…Samuel… Daniel.”
Their combined call of, “Hello, Lady Abigail,” made her smile.
She and her father walked the meadow, petting sheep and talking about nothing in particular. Somewhere between her ride and their walk, Abbie had lost her nerve but her very perceptive papa honed in on her discomfort and asked, “What is it daughter? Why have you really come out here?”
Before she could answer, a yell from the stable boy had them all looking towards the manor. When the cloud of dust settled, her father shouted, “Thank goodness, the wagon is as good as new.”
Overjoyed, he grabbed Abbie’s hand pulling her towards their horses and all but threw her into the saddle. Making his way to his horse, he chuckled, “And it looks as if Lord Manus has returned it to us. Tonight we shall celebrate!”
“Yeah! A celebration!” She pretended, when all she wanted to do was head the other direction.
How was she supposed to be in the same room with the man that made her want to simultaneously kiss him and kill him?
Manus
He had never wanted anything as much as he wanted Abigail Donovan. From the moment he had seen her in the marketplace, his life had taken an irreversible turn. She had watched as he led his men through the Square, her eyes never straying. He sat higher and rode prouder just knowing her eyes never left him.
As soon as the men were settled in camp, Manus made up an excuse to return to the castle, hoping to catch a glimpse of the auburn-haired maiden. What he found made his blood run cold. The stampeding horses were headed right for the girl. All thoughts of anything but her safety faded as his boots dug into the flank of his horse. Galloping into the fray, he prayed to save her from certain death. God was with him as he snatched her out of the air mere seconds before she would have crashed to the ground. He had signaled to her father, Bryan Donovan that he would see to his daughter’s safety.
From the moment their eyes met, he knew she didn’t remember him. Not that he was surprised. He had barely been thirteen at the time and she had been only five. There was no way Abigail could have associated the knight that stood before her with the scrawny boy from all those years ago.
God and the Universe knew had it not been for her father nearby, Manus would have never recognized her. She had grown into the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. The front of her auburn curls were clipped at her crown perfectly highlighting her porcelain skin while cascading past her waist. As he had ridden by, trying to look but not be seen looking, he had almost fallen from his mount at the sparkle in her deep brown eyes. It had taken all his will to continue moving.
Then when he’d had the chance to actually gaze into them…up close and personally… his knees had become weak. Only because of his extensive training was he able to mask the feelings Abigail Donovan stirred within him. He knew she was a strong, independent, young woman that did not adhere to modern conventions. It was one of the many things he admired about her.
Even though he had spent much time at battle, so very far from home, he had always found a way to keep tabs on Abbie. He felt they were destined to one day be together and that day in the marketplace, Fate had once again stepped in.
Just the feel of her draped across his lap, as they sped through the gate, made him adjust in his seat to hide his excitement. She was untouched and he was unsure what she knew of relationships, there was no way he could risk scaring her.
But as it turns out, scaring Abigail Donovan was the last thing he had to worry about. She was even more fearless than he had imagined. The lass even slugged him in the stomach for his trouble. Any other time in his life, Manus would have taken great offense, but coming from the woman he admired and loved, it had filled him with the need to take her in his arms. Thankfully, her father had shown up and they had returned to their home.
Manus had returned to the blacksmith, giving the craftsman extra coins to make sure the wagon was done at least a day before it had been promised. The knight planned to personally deliver the wagon to win favor with Lord Donovan and then make his intentions known towards the beautiful Abigail.
The blacksmith had delivered right on time and after a brief inspection, Manus hitched his stallion, as well as another from the knights’ camp, to the repaired wagon and headed towards the Donovan farm. He felt like a youngster making his first appearance at court.
His father had been the Ambassador from Scotland. His position meant that the senior Lord O’Brien was often called to dine with the King and enjoy the entertainment. His parents had done everything to give him a normal childhood, including shielding him from the extravagance of court. On his sixteenth birthday, the Ki
ng no longer accepted their excuses and Manus made his first court appearance. Because of his station and heritage, Manus was named Lord O’Brien, a title he kept even when made a knight in the service of the king.
The then tall, thin young man had been so nervous he feared everyone in attendance could hear the pounding of his heart. Watching the landscape change from the city to the country and counting the minutes until he would see Abbie’s face was even worse than that day so long ago. He had led the line against more foes than he could remember, been wounded a time or two, but nothing made him quake like the thought of spending time with ‘his lady’.
He came over the ridge, heard the call of the stable boy and took a long deep breath before turning down the manor’s gravel lane. Out of the corner of his eye, Manus caught sight of Abbie on horseback. She was a sight to behold. Her hair flew out behind her accentuating the grace of her movement, her cheeks were flushed from the wind and sun and she smiled as if she didn’t have a care in the world. If he had it his way, she would never worry or want for anything.
Bryan Donovan arrived just seconds before his daughter. “Lord Manus. I had planned to get my wagon tomorrow. You didn’t need to take time from your busy schedule to worry with this.”
“Wasn’t a problem at all, Lord Donovan.” And turning to look at Abigail continued, “It is my pleasure.”
The object of his affection blushed at his attention. It made him want to grab her up and run away so they could be alone…where he could tell her how he truly felt. But Abbie quickly turned, walking directly into the house and out of his sight.
“How was your trip, Lord Manus?” Bryan asked with a grin the knight didn’t understand.
“It was quite enjoyable, thank you, Lord Bryan. And please call me, Manus. There’s no need for formalities when we are away from court.”
“Quite right,” Bryan readily agreed with a slap to Manus’ back. “Would you like to see the grounds? We have several sheep ready to lamb and the wheat is ahead of schedule.”
“Well, lead away,” the knight answered, although all he truly wanted to do was follow Abbie into the house and never be far from her side.
After several hours on horseback looking at sheep and wheat and all form of things Manus had no desire to see, Bryan finally headed towards the manor. They had barely gone a quarter mile when Bryan asked, “What are your intentions regarding my Abigail?”
Manus was so taken off guard that he almost fell from his saddle. Stumbling to find the right words, he finally spoke from his heart and said the only thing he could. “I intend to make her mine.”
Bryan Donovan laughed long and hard, making Manus unsure if the man was happy at the prospect or thought the knight was a loon. The longer the man laughed the angrier Manus became. Holding firm to all his father had taught him about delicate negotiations, the knight held his tongue.
There was no way he would speak first. If Abigail’s father thought Manus was unfit to be her husband, the man would need to say it to his face. The knight knew he was of good breeding and noble blood, that his reputation was sterling. He had no dalliances. He was a highly decorated Knight of the Round Table. If Bryan Donovan had the nerve to impugn his reputation or deny him the opportunity to woo his daughter, Manus would take the matter to the King.
They made it all the way to the pasture beside the barn when Brian finally had his amusement under control. Stopping, the elder man turned in his saddle, removed his hat and looked right into Manus’ eyes. “There have only been two things in my life that have made me happier than the words you just spoke. One was the day Marion became my wife and the other was the day Abigail entered the world. I know by all that I am, you are the right man for my girl.”
Bryan’s words were so unexpected. It took several minutes for Manus to respond. Never once did Bryan's gaze wander from his eyes, as if the older man could read the thoughts in his mind. When he did speak, the knight had to clear his throat not once but twice to get the words to come. “Thank you, Lord Bryan,” he replied, using the man’s title to show the importance of the situation. “I think I have loved your daughter from the first time I saw her. We were young. I had no clue what love was, but over the years she has never left my heart. I know with all that I am, I can make her happy.”
The lord chuckled, “I believe so too, son. Now all you have to do is convince my daughter.”
The rest of their short ride and then walk into the house happened in complete silence. One man smiling…the other sweating.
Stopping in the kitchen to wash up, not wanting to ask the most important question of his life with dirt on his face, he heard Abbie before he saw her. The sound of her laughter so light and free, he wanted to join in. When he rounded the corner, his heart skipped a beat. If possible, she had grown even lovelier in just six days. He was so captivated that he barely caught what her mother was saying.
“How have you been, Lord Manus? It has been years since you visited.” Marion sweetly smiled but if he wasn’t mistaken, there was mischief in her eyes.
“It has. I believe the last time I saw you was before I was knighted over fifteen years ago. And just Manus please, Lady Marion.”
“As you wish and you must call me Marion.”
Manus watched the elder Donovans look at one another, noting their silent communication and longing for the day he and his beloved would share the same. Abbie’s mother continued as if there had been no pause. “Fifteen years is way too long. You must stay for dinner. Maggie has made enough for an army. I insist.”
“As do I," Bryan added and again there was a glance between them that Manus knew meant so much more.
“Abigail, are you not going to greet, Manus?” Marion asked, the twinkle in her eye increasingly evident. The knight truly wanted to be let in on the joke.
With her spine so straight he feared she would hurt herself, Abigail Donovan stood and curtsied with more grace than any he had witnessed at court. “Hello, Lord Manus. Welcome to our home.” Her smoky contralto voice skittered down his spine, working its way into his very blood. His heart pounded and he prayed they could not see him sweat. His cock jumped in his hose. He shifted slightly to ensure no one, especially Abbie, knew the effect she had on him.
“Please call me Manus. Thank you, I am pleased to be here.” He responded.
“Where are my manners? Sit down, my boy,” Bryan pointed to the chair closest to the spot Abigail occupied on the couch.
She visibly stiffened. Manus knew how to negotiate peace between land owners, nations and even Kings but when it came to knowing the right words to ease the woman he wanted to spend his life with, he was completely lost.
The evening progressed much the same way, Lord and Lady Donovan started the conversation and did well to keep things running smoothly. Manus kept up his end after a few cups of wine but was worried what would happen if he were to get drunk, so he drank sparingly. Several times throughout the night he thought about what his men would say if they could see their Commander brought to heel by a wee bit of a lass and then decided he just didn’t care.
After dinner, dessert and tea, the elder Donovans excused themselves. Manus and Abigail sat staring in opposite directions, not saying a word until the knight feared the silence would swallow them up. Deciding it was a ‘now or never’ situation. He stood, walked the few steps to stand in front of the object of his affections and said, “Would you take a walk with me, please, Abigail?
She looked at his outstretched hand then to his eyes. For several tense seconds he could actually feel her gaze, deep inside the pit of chest, where his heart rapidly beat, caressing him…reassuring him. The sensation was unlike any he had ever experienced. Just when he was sure she would laugh in his face or worse yet…slug him again, she placed her delicate hand into his and smiled. Standing without losing eye contact, she grinned and gently said, “It would be a pleasure.”
Walking out through a part of the manor he didn’t remember seeing, Abigail led him to a set of French doors
through which he could see the glow of the full moon. Once outside, they were in a beautifully manicured garden. Abbie, let their hands fall apart and walked towards a magenta bougainvillea plant heavy with blossoms. Pulling a flower close to her face, Manus watched as she inhaled the succulent fragrance. The motion raised her abundant breasts that had threatened to overflow the corset of her gown all evening, making his mouth water.
Shaking his head, searching for a calm he didn’t feel, Manus took a mental picture, sure he’s never seen anything so magnificent. Abigail slowly turned, smiling a lazy smile, then asked, “Do you like flowers, Lord Manus?”
His feet moved towards her of their own volition as he answered, “Abigail, please call me Manus…” Her blush stole the words from his mouth. Only after swallowing several times did he continue, taking her hand in his at the same time, “I don’t believe I’ve ever truly appreciated flowers before tonight.”
He stepped closer, noticing the flutter of the pulse in her neck. His heart and soul leapt for joy. She was just as affected by his presence as he was by hers. Never one to let an opportunity go to waste, Manus took the one step that brought their bodies together. Abigail gasped low in her throat and jerked her eyes to his. In that look, he saw hope, he saw attraction, but most of all…he saw their future.
Before he could act on his feelings, Abbie shivered. That simple action seemed to break the spell their mutual attraction had woven. Her eyes grew wide and she stepped back, his body weeping at the loss. She took a quick breath, diverting her eyes before speaking. “I’m sorry, Lo…Manus,” he grinned at her quick correction. “The night air, the flowers, and…” She shook her head as if to push away her feelings…something Manus simply could not allow. Before he could speak, she mumbled almost to herself, “I don’t even like you.”
Laughing despite himself, the knight replied, “Now, we both know that’s not true. If nothing else, let us be honest with one another.” Closing the distance between them with a quick step, Manus once again looked into her eyes. “I can feel what is between us and I will have no secrets.”
