And little Alec slept through it all.
Peering into the basket, Jordan could see that the child had hardly stirred. His nose was moving around a little but other than that, he was sleeping most peacefully. From what she could see, Will had everything else in hand.
She plucked the infant out of the basket.
“I’ll take him back upstairs,” she said. “Will, it sounds as if we owe everything tae Lady Adria. Make sure ye tend tae her properly.”
With that, she scurried out of the smaller hall, heading for the stairs. As she began to carefully mount them, Will found himself gazing into Adria’s pale eyes.
She was gazing back.
“How do you feel?” he managed to ask.
Adria was a little more lucid, certainly lucid enough to see that Will was having a difficult time with his composure. She could feel him trembling as he held her.
“I will be fine,” she said. “Give me an hour, and I shall be quite fine. Truly, Will, it is nothing to worry over.”
He nodded. Then, his face crumpled and tears popped from his eyes. Quickly, Adria wiped them away.
“Why the tears?” she asked gently. “No harm has been done that cannot heal.”
He shook his head, feeling like a fool. “I do not know,” he said honestly. “All I know is that I have never been so terrified in my entire life. Not ever. I’ve faced dozens of battles in my life and never felt anything close to what I just felt when I watched your father toy with you. I was frightened for Alec, of course, but you… you tried to exchange yourself for a baby that is not even of your blood, but you did it because it was the right thing to do.”
She continued to softly wipe at his wet face. “I did it for Alec, for Lily, for Marcellus, and for you,” she murmured. “You have already suffered so much loss, Will. I could not let you suffer through something like that.”
He sniffled, kissing her hand when it came close. “But don’t you see? I would have lost you. As I heard you offer yourself up in exchange for the infant, I realized that I could have lost you and it occurred to me that losing my chance at happiness with you would destroy me. You’ve given me such hope, Adria, such joy and hope that my brightest days are in front of me as long as you are by my side. I… I just couldn’t stomach losing you.”
Adria smiled faintly. “You told me once that you wanted a wife who would love you,” she said. “I feel as if I am well on my way. You will never lose me, Will de Wolfe. Come what may, I will be by your side for the rest of your life and forever after.”
Will grinned; he couldn’t help it. “I think I’ve been waiting all my life to hear those words but I simply didn’t know it.”
“You know it now.”
“Indeed, I do. And I think Lily would be very happy for us.”
Adria wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him close. “I know she would.”
The kiss that followed, however gentle because of Adria’s bruised mouth, was the most precious kiss either one of them had ever experienced.
For the rest of your life and forever after.
She meant it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Four days later
The de Lohr contingent was ready to return to Lioncross Abbey.
It was a gloomy morning after days of rain, but the de Lohr army was assembled and ready to depart. The delay in departure had been due to a coffin having been built for Lily, a simple box made from strong Scottish pine and filled with fresh rushes, rosemary, lavender, and other aromatics for the journey home.
Carefully dressed by Adria and Jordan, with help from the wet nurse, Lily was placed in a woolen gown the color of bluebells, her blonde hair washed and braided, with a circlet of flowers on her head made by Adria from flowers that Atticus and his gang had picked at Hermes’ direction. Wrapped in her burial shroud, she was gently placed in the coffin by her brothers, father, husband, and Marcellus. When no one was looking, Will gave Marcellus a dagger with which to cut a few locks of Lily’s hair because the man had desperately wanted a keepsake.
Yet one more act of generosity from Will.
With Lily secure in her new coffin, Will had produced a wagon for them to put the coffin on, with Hermes and Marcellus making sure it was tethered securely to the wagon bed. Given the weather, they also covered it with a large piece of oiled canvas to protect it. It was as safe and secure as they could make it.
Will, Scott, Jordan, Adria, and Atticus had turned out to bid the de Lohr group a farewell. Jordan had spent a good deal of time with Chris, comforting the man and sending him home with some of Lily’s possessions so her mother could have them. Atticus had spent the morning screaming because Uncle Becket and Uncle Morgen were taking great delight in harassing a child who both loved and hated to be teased. Given the procession had a somber purpose, it did everyone good to watch Atticus and his antics.
It gave them comfort in a child who still found joy in life.
When everything was finally set and Jordan was bidding her farewells to Chris, Becket came to say his goodbyes to Will. They smiled at one another as they joined hands, reaffirming both friendship and family bonds, something hysterical fathers could never break.
“I will send you word when we return home,” Becket said. “My father has not sent word to my mother about this, as he prefers to tell her in person.”
Will nodded. “Understandable,” he said. “I wish I could come with you.”
Becket waved him off. “No need,” he said. “My mother never much liked you, anyway.”
They both burst into soft laughter. “Lady Kaedia is a fine and loyal woman,” he said. “Tell her I love her and that I miss her.”
“I will not.”
More laughter. Kaedia had never thought any man was good enough for her daughter, so there was some truth to what Becket had said. As they smiled over a moment of levity, Becket caught sight of Marcellus. The man was in full protection, his baggage stashed on Lily’s wagon. He was returning home with her, as Will had given him permission to do so, and he seemed both pleased and relieved about it.
Becket’s gaze lingered on him.
“My father finally told us about Marcellus,” he said quietly. “I must say that I wasn’t surprised to hear it. He wanted to marry my sister very badly.”
“And she wanted to marry him.”
Becket looked at him. “I am sorry, Will,” he said quietly. “Sorry my father forced you to marry Lily. I never acknowledged what he did, but I am now. He should not have done it. He knows that now.”
Will patted Becket on the shoulder. “It is of no matter,” he said. “I have four enviable children, so there are no regrets.”
“Even if two of those children belong to Marcellus?”
Will shrugged. “Marcellus was cheated out of marrying the woman he loved,” he said. “He and I have spoken. He would be honored to have them raised as a de Wolfe, with their other siblings, and I will not deny him. But do me a favor.”
“What?”
“See if you can find Marcellus a good woman. He deserves that.”
Becket shook his head. “You are too forgiving for words,” he said. “And what about you? What happiness will you find?”
Will’s gaze trailed over to Adria, standing by herself and watching the farewells between the de Lohrs and the de Wolfes.
“I think I’ve already found it,” he said, his focus lingering on her. “I did not tell your father that Lily’s dying wish was to have me marry her lady-in-waiting. She wanted her family taken care of by someone she knew, a woman she loved, and Adria and I have agreed to wed.”
Becket, too, was looking at the lovely woman with the long, lustrous hair and doll-like features. “I’ve always thought she was a beauty,” he agreed. “And I am not surprised Lily made that request. No matter what you think of her, Will, I know she cared for you in her own way.”
“I know,” he said. “We both did. Ours was not a love match, but that did not mean we did not like one another. She had he
r love and it wasn’t me. Now, I am going to have mine – and it is not her.”
Becket smiled. “I hope so,” he said. “I truly do. I am sure my father will hope so, too.”
Will squeezed his hand and released it as Becket headed over to where the de Lohr men were gathering, shouting at everyone to mount up or prepare to march out. Half of the men were mounted, the other half were on foot, and the great gates of Carlisle’s outer gatehouse began to swing open.
For a moment, Will watched his father and Chris speak before embracing. Whatever trouble had erupted between them was clearly gone and the rock-solid alliance of de Wolfe and de Lohr was once again intact.
The world was right again.
Turning away, he was heading over to where Adria was standing, now holding Atticus by the hand, but he was stopped by a mounted knight. He looked up to see Marcellus beside him, looking as if he were about to go to war.
“Well?” he said to the man. “Do you have everything?”
Marcellus nodded. “I think so,” he said. “If you find I have left something behind, either take it for yourself or give it to someone who can use it. I’m fairly certain I have everything that I need.”
Will nodded. “Then if I come across anything, I’ll do with it as I please.” He paused a moment, studying Marcellus. “In spite of everything, I will miss you. I wish you the best in your return to Lioncross. I hope the memories there are those of comfort.”
Marcellus smiled faintly. “It is where I met Lily and where she will always be,” he said, reaching into a purse on his belt and pulling forth the strands of her hair, all carefully tied up in a piece of blue cloth. “This is the most valuable thing I own. Thank you for everything, Will. I will never forget your kindness, in all things. If you ever have need of me, send word. I will come.”
Will smiled, waving the man off. As Marcellus charged back towards the de Lohr group, Will caught movement out of the corners of his eyes.
“Papa,” Atticus said. “I must find Bradford now. Can I go, please?”
Will looked up to see Adria standing a few feet behind Atticus, a smile playing on her lips. “What does Adie say?”
Atticus stomped his foot. “She says I must ask you!”
“Then you have my permission.”
As Atticus tore off, Adria came to stand next to Will. She wasn’t close enough so he took a step to ensure that he was standing right up against her, feeling her body next to his.
She took a step away.
“Restrain yourself,” she said warningly. “We have already decided that being obvious about courting so soon after Lily’s death is not the right thing to do. We must wait.”
He sighed heavily. “I know,” he muttered. “But I cannot stand not being near you.”
“You must show some self-control.”
“How long do we have to wait?”
She looked at him. “I would say at least six months before the men can know that we are courting.”
“What about marriage?”
“At least a year.”
He scowled. “A year?” he repeated. “That is ridiculous. I will not wait that long.”
“Aye, you will and you will like it.”
“I will not like it.”
Adria fought off a grin. “Stop sounding so petulant,” she said. “Out of respect for Lily, we must do this. Do you agree?”
He rolled his eyes. “Aye,” he said begrudgingly. “Can I at least tell my father?”
“I suppose so.”
Will could see his father, waving as Chris and the others began to ride out. But thoughts of his father turned to thoughts of Adria’s father. He looked at her.
“And how are you feeling after everything?” he asked quietly. “I am sorry I have not asked you yet today.”
She looked at him, her gaze soft on him. “You have asked me every day since that terrible moment and I love you for it,” she said. “But, truly, my answer has not changed. I am well. I feel relieved. More relieved than I have felt in my entire life. Gar was my father, but in name only. He killed any affection I had for him long ago. What happened to him was nothing less than he deserved, so please do not worry that I will resent you for it. That will never happen.”
His gaze was soft on her, too. “Say it again.”
“Say what again?”
“That you love me.”
She flushed to the roots of her hair. “In time, my lord,” she said, moving past him. “I think I hear Atticus calling me.”
He turned to watch her walk past him. “You do not hear Atticus calling to you,” he said. “Come back here. I demand it.”
She simply looked over her shoulder, grinned at him, and kept walking.
Will just stood there and laughed.
As it so happened, he told his father of his intention to marry Adria later that day, when the sun was setting and they were in the great hall with cups of fine wine in their hands. He told both Scott and Jordan of Lily’s request and how, in the end, Will couldn’t have been happier about it. Somehow, Lily must have known what he needed and the joy he felt in Adria was something he’d never experienced before.
Mayhap I’ll finally have a love like you have, he told his father.
Truly, it was all Scott could do to contain his happiness. He remembered wondering if he and his son were cursed with their first wives, perhaps made to suffer in the end. But much like his father, Will was finding love in his second marriage.
Most definitely, a love like his father had.
A love for this life… and forever after.
EPILOGUE
MY MOON AND STARS FOREVER
Year of Our Lord 1294
Castle Questing
July
“There once was a lady fair,
With silver bells in her hair.
I knew her to have,
A luscious kiss… it drove me mad!
But she denied me… and I was so terribly sad.
Lily, my girl,
Your flower, I will unfurl
With my cock and a bit of good luck!
Your kiss divine,
I’ll make you mine,
And keep you a-bed for a fuck!”
The naughty wedding song.
Everyone knew about the naughty wedding song. It was legendary in all the de Wolfe weddings and even some ally weddings. Somehow, it was always sung, like some terrible tradition. Currently, it was being sung by Ronan’s father, Blayth, and Apollo de Norville, the groom’s uncle. Blayth could sing, Apollo could not, so there was a good deal of laughing and cheering and, ultimately, food throwing going on.
It was one of the most boisterous weddings yet.
Unfortunately, those singing the song had the groom in a bind. His uncles on the de Wolfe side – Troy, Patrick, Blayth, Edward, and Thomas – had Will surrounded, feeding him cup after cup of the very good Scottish ale that their mother had sent down from her Scottish relatives. In fact, some of those relatives were present in the great hall of Castle Questing, singing their own drunken wedding songs, as Adria sat with a sleeping Alec in her arms and watched it all in the company of the women on the dais.
It was wedding chaos at its finest.
“How in the world the bairn can sleep through this noise is a mystery,” Jordan said, peering at Alec, who had his first birthday a couple of months prior. “Is the lad drunk like the rest of them?”
Adria grinned, looking down at Alec as he drooled all over her arm. “He is exhausted,” she said. “You saw how hard he played today.”
“And how much he screamed through the wedding mass.”
Adria laughed softly. “So you understand how he would sleep through anything,” she said. “Atticus is already fast asleep upstairs, but Alec is at that age where he cannot be separated from me. I’m sure you remember what that was like.”
“I do,” Jordan said. “I remember it well. It seems that Scott and Troy and Atty all went through that age at the same time, so I had tae carry three little
boys around or they’d all scream.”
Atty was the nickname the family had for Patrick, the largest and most fearsome de Wolfe brother. Adria grinned.
“They are close in age?” she asked.
Jordan nodded. “Scott and Troy are twins, as ye know, and Atty was born when they were a little over a year old, so they were all mostly of the same age,” she said. Then, she puffed her cheeks out wearily. “At least, it sure seemed like it at the time.”
Adria smiled as the woman relived her exhausting memories. “But it was fun, wasn’t it?”
Jordan looked at her, smiling. “I’d give the world for my sons tae be small again.”
Adria could well understand that. As she gazed down at the sleeping baby, a big and healthy boy these days, massive hands suddenly reached over her and scooped him out of her arms. She looked up to see the Earl of Warenton himself collecting his great-grandchild with the gentleness of a mother.
“I shall put him to bed alongside his brother,” William said quietly. “He does not need to be here and neither do I.”
Adria smiled up at the enormous knight, the Wolfe of the Border, who had a surprising soft touch with children. Even though he knew all about Atticus and Alec, and the fact that they weren’t of true de Wolfe blood, it didn’t matter to him. It hadn’t from the start. He had loved them as if they were his own blood, now wandering off with one of them.
Adria let him go.
“I’ll go with him,” Jordan said, rising. “He’ll be fine until the lad soils himself and then he’ll beg for help.”
Adria laughed softly as Jordan and William headed off, carrying Alec from the great hall. That left her with Scott’s wife, Avrielle, and an array of Will’s aunts in Evelyn de Wolfe de Norville, Katheryn de Wolfe Hage, and Will’s step-grandmother, Lady Jemma Hage de Norville. Given the marriages within the de Wolfe – Hage – de Norville families, it seemed like everyone was married to someone in those families, so there was a good deal of overlap in relations. Jemma had married Will’s grandfather, Paris, back in the summer, though she was also the matriarch of the Hage clan. In fact, it was Jemma who took Jordan’s seat.
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