He laughed. “Of course you can. That dog is your devoted protector. As for the books, we will start our own collection. We can read the stories to our children.”
Her heart soared. “I would like that.” Remembering the tomes from his youth that his sire had ruined, she said, “Mayhap in London we can find a craftsman to repair your books, so they can become part of our collection.”
“Agreed.” Still down on one knee, he asked, “So, my love, is that an ‘aye’?”
Tears in her eyes, she nodded. “Most definitely an ‘aye.’”
He slid the ring onto her finger. When he stood, she threw her arms around his neck and soundly kissed him.
Cornelia squealed.
Honoria’s mother sniffled and wiped her eyes. “Oh, Honoria, your father would be so thrilled for you.”
“Many congratulations, you two.” Radley said. “Now, if I may, I have something to ask Cornelia.” He dropped down on one knee on the rushes in front of the younger woman and presented her with a gold ring set with a blue gem the color of her eyes.
“Radley?” the younger woman whispered.
“Will you be my wife?” he asked solemnly. “I have loved you since we were children, although it took the danger on Christmas Eve for me to realize just how much. We can have a fine life together, if you are willing.”
“I am.”
Radley put the ring on her finger and stood. They kissed.
“Three betrothals in just a few days,” Honoria’s mother said. “Who would have guessed?”
With a contented sigh, Honoria gazed up at her husband-to be. “This has been a remarkable holiday.”
“It has indeed.” He kissed her, so tenderly. “You might like to know that when we were riding to London, I threw the pouch with Odelia’s hair into a river. There was no sense holding onto it any longer. The vow I had made to myself was pointless, because my destiny is to be with you.”
“Oh, Tristan, I love you.” Those words didn’t come close to conveying how much she treasured him or how truly happy she was.
“I love you, too.” He winked. “In the coming weeks and months, we will fill our book with incredible stories. We might start with our first meeting in the market and how the mischief of this year’s kissing bough ended up with us getting betrothed.”
Honoria smiled. “What a good idea. ’Tis quite an extraordinary tale, indeed.”
About Catherine Kean
Catherine Kean is an award-winning, Kindle Unlimited All-Star author of medieval romances whose creative muse has coaxed her to also write in other romance genres. Her love of history began with visits to England during summer vacations, when her British father took her to crumbling medieval castles, dusty museums filled with fascinating artifacts, and historic churches. Her love of the awe-inspiring past stuck with her as she completed a B.A. (Double Major, First Class) in English and History. She completed a year-long Post Graduate course with Sotheby’s auctioneers in London, England, and worked for several years in Canada as an antiques and fine art appraiser.
After she moved to Florida, she started writing novels, her lifelong dream. She wrote her first medieval romance, A Knight’s Vengeance, while her baby daughter was napping. Catherine’s books were originally published in paperback and several were released in Czech, German, and Thai foreign editions. She has won numerous awards for her stories, including the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Her novels also finaled in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the International Digital Awards, and the National Readers’ Choice Awards.
In 2019, she co-founded CPC Publishing with author Wynter Daniels and is busy writing books for the Cat’s Paw Cove Romance series.
When not working on her next book, Catherine enjoys cooking, baking, browsing antique shops, shopping with her daughter, and gardening. She lives in Central Florida with two spoiled rescue cats.
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Books by Catherine Kean
A Knight and His Rose (Novella)
A Knight to Remember (Novella)
A Knight’s Desire
A Legendary Love (Novella)
A Witch in Time (Novella)
Bound by His Kiss (Novella)
Dance of Desire
Her Gallant Knight (Novella)
My Lady’s Treasure
One Knight in the Forest (Novella)
One Knight Under the Mistletoe (Novella)
One Knight’s Kiss (Novella)
That Knight by the Sea (Novella)
Knight’s Series Novels
A Knight’s Vengeance (Knight’s Series Book 1)
A Knight’s Reward (Knight’s Series Book 2)
A Knight’s Temptation (Knight’s Series Book 3)
A Knight’s Persuasion (Knight’s Series Book 4)
A Knight’s Seduction (Knight’s Series Book 5)
A Knight’s Redemption (Knight’s Series Book 6)
Boxed Sets
The Knight’s Series: Books 1-5
Timeless Christmas Romance: Historical Romance Holiday Collection Page 64
