Peter was so swept up in Liora’s warm gaze that he almost forgot to answer. “Most emphatically, I will,” he said.
William put his hands over their heads in a gesture of blessing. “Father, you have made the union of husband and wife so holy as it symbolizes the marriage of this man and this woman through Christ to God,” he said. “Bless this union from this day forward. Amen.”
He made the sign of the cross over them as Christopher, Dustin, Christin, Sherry, and Peter crossed themselves in response. Peter looked at his new wife, a smile spreading over his lips as he beheld her. Finally… his wife.
He could hardly believe it.
As he got to his feet, pulling Liora up with him, William went to him and kissed him on the cheek, a traditional kiss of peace from priest to groom, which Peter then passed on to Liora, as his bride.
It was a long, sweet kiss, full of the promise of a new future.
When Peter pulled back to look at Liora, she was laughing and weeping at the same time. The joy in her heart had exploded, coming from her mouth and eyes and body. She was happiness personified. Suddenly, Christopher and Dustin were there, hugging the happy couple as Christin and Alexander joined in. All of them, hugging and kissing, so very happy that the union had finally been made. It was a joyful day in the de Lohr clan, none so much exhibited by the couple themselves.
They were pure delight.
And then, there was Haim.
Peter saw him standing there, alone, as Christopher and Dustin monopolized Liora. Leaving his thrilled family to congratulate the bride, he made his way over to the old man.
Peter knew how much Haim had lost when Liora had become a Christian. Their family heritage, their culture, their roots in the religion had all been sacrificed for her happiness. But Peter wanted the man to know that it was not in vain.
“I know this was not a simple thing for you,” he said. “You have sacrificed a great deal for your daughter’s happiness. And mine. I want you to know that we are family now and I fully intend to keep my promise to you – we will make sure our children are educated in the Jewish tradition. They will understand their mother’s heritage and they will respect and defend it because it is part of them. If, when they come of age, they decide to worship as Jew, I will not stop them. I want you to know that. But they will also understand the perils they may face as a result of that choice. It is not an easy thing being a Jew in a Christian England.”
Haim smiled weakly. “Nay, it is not,” he said. “But I thank you for your consideration and your compassion. I expect no less from you, Saint Peter.”
Peter laughed softly as Haim used Asa’s name for Peter. “It is the truth,” he said. “And I swear to you that I will do my best to make your daughter happy, always.”
Haim patted his big arm. “That is a comfort,” he said. But his expression took on a distant look. “I remember looking at Liora when she was born and something told me that she was meant for greatness. I did not know how, or what, but I am starting to see that mayhap it is through you that she will achieve that greatness. She will make a fine noblewoman and bear you strong, intelligent children. Mayhap that will be her greatest legacy, the wife of the eldest son of the Earl of Hereford and Worcester. Mayhap this is where she was meant to be all along.”
“I hope so,” Peter said sincerely. “When the troubles with the king are over and we return to a sense of normalcy, you must come to Ludlow and bring Asa. I have two younger brothers I want him to meet.”
Haim shook his head. “I will keep Asa as far away from castles and knights as I can,” he said. “He has a restless spirit. He wants to be like you. It is one thing for my daughter to become one of you, but it is entirely another for my son to become one. I will keep him close to me from now on.”
Peter understood, sort of. “Then mayhap someday I will bring my wild brothers to you,” he said. “Mayhap running with the Maccabees and Saul’s Army will teach them something about a culture and religion other than their own. I would like them to grow up tolerant and thoughtful, as you are raising your son. A little understanding is a good thing, don’t you think?”
Haim smiled broadly. “It is,” he said. “It is, indeed.”
“Will you at least come to Lonsdale and feast with us tonight? We will be leaving for the Marches tomorrow.”
Haim’s gaze drifted over to Liora, standing with her new family. He didn’t think he’d ever seen her quite so happy. After a moment, he shook his head.
“Although I thank you for your invitation, I do not think so,” he said. “This is Liora’s new world, but I still have mine. I am happy with mine. But my home is your home, Peter. Remember that.”
“I will.”
With that, he turned and headed to the entry to the church. He was almost to the door when Liora saw him and called after him. As she ran over to her father, Peter went to stand with his family.
“Did you tell him to come to Lonsdale tonight?” Dustin asked. “I will have a feast fit for a newly married couple prepared. Surely he must come.”
“I invited him,” Peter said. “But he declined.”
Dustin looked at him. “Why?”
Peter shrugged. “He said that this was Liora’s world now, not his,” he said. “He’s an old man. He’s not used to our vast halls and loud knights. He’s a quiet, peaceful man.”
As they watched, Liora hugged her father fiercely before the man shuffled out of the church. They could see her wiping at her eyes and Peter broke away from his family.
“I think my wife needs me,” he said quietly. “I’ll see you all back at Lonsdale.”
As he hustled over to Liora, putting his arms around her when he reached her, Dustin and Christopher watched their son and his tender manner. It was clear how much devotion and adoration the pair had for one another.
Dustin sighed faintly.
“And now, Peter is married,” she said, looking to her husband. “That makes two of our children with their own families now.”
He grinned at her. “Eight more to go.”
“Don’t rush me.”
“Papa, Olivia is just an infant,” Christin reminded him. “It will be at least another eighteen years before she will marry.”
“Her name is Charlotte,” Christopher said.
“Olivia,” Christin and Dustin said.
It was a running joke in the de Lohr family with the newborn because Christopher had wanted to name her Charlotte and Dustin had wanted to name her Olivia, so the best they could do now was call her by her full name, Olivia Charlotte, because when one name or the other was used, it caused an argument.
Like it did now.
Rolling her eyes, Dustin took Christin by the arm and headed out of the church, leaving Christopher and Alexander to follow. There was much to do on the horizon and little time to do it. With a newlywed couple and an army that was preparing to head back to the Marches, delayed by Peter and Liora’s crisis, there was no longer anything blockading future plans.
The House of de Lohr had a job to do and nothing would get in the way.
David, Marcus, and the rest of the warlords had already departed London. They were on the move, preparing to engage John’s army, and Christopher’s army was preparing to do the same. Most other warlords were also pulling their armies out of London, knowing that they were needed more desperately in parts of England where the mercenaries were running free. Reports from the north had them overrunning many properties and killing many people. Rochester was under siege and early reports had mentioned that Canterbury was in more danger than originally believed. David had taken a thousand of his brother’s men and was rushing home as fast as he could move them.
All of it taking place as Peter and Liora found a brief moment of solace to begin their lives together. For this evening, that was all Christopher and his family would care about.
It was what they would celebrate in a world going up in flames.
Lady Liora de Lohr rode behind her husband all the way back to L
onsdale where the celebration of their marriage went on all night.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Ludlow Castle
March 1216
The sun was just starting to peek in between the gaps in the oil cloth, one hitting Peter directly in the eyes. Groaning, he rolled over and nearly smashed into his wife, who was curled up at his back. She grunted as his weight came down on her and he pushed himself off, but then thought better of it.
He rather liked being on top of her.
He began nibbling on her earlobe.
“Peter,” she groaned, still half-asleep. “You know what that does to me.”
He grinned as he began kissing her neck. “I know exactly what it does to you,” he whispered. “It does the same thing to me.”
She was in a shift but his hands snaked underneath it, pulling it up to her waist, unable to go any further because she was still groggy and he couldn’t get it over her head.
Yet.
He propped himself up, awkwardly, and lifted her up so that he could get it over her head, but her elbow caught him in the nose and down he went, falling back on the bed with his hands over his face.
Liora gasped.
“Did I hurt you?” she asked, more alert now as she tried to pull his hands away to get a look at the damage. “Let me see what I’ve done.”
He was grunting and groaning, only it was rhythmic in nature. It took Liora a moment to realize that he was laughing and she peeled his hands away from his face.
“You fool,” she said, annoyed. “You use trickery and sympathy to get your way!”
Peter let her pull his hands away but it was a ruse. As soon as his hands were free, he grabbed her and pulled her down on top of him. As she gasped, he rolled onto his side and effectively trapped her between his big body and the bed. His face was very close to hers as he spoke.
“Of course I use trickery and sympathy,” he said, kissing her cheeks as he pinned her wrists. “I returned last night from being away from you for almost two months, so I will use any trick I can to get you into my arms.”
Liora had stopped fighting him. With a smile, she removed her shift and wrapped her arms around his neck. “As if you need to,” she said. “I was in your arms for most of last night. I do not think we’ve had more than just an hour or two of sleep, which is less than your pregnant wife requires, but I do it gladly. Words cannot express how much I have missed you, my angel. I am so glad you have returned.”
He grinned, putting his hand between them, onto her gently rounded belly. “What a joyful surprise I came home to,” he said. “But I am disappointed that my father had to tell me first in the missive he sent me. How is it he knew about it before I did?”
Liora laughed softly. “Because he has been with me constantly,” she said. “Either your mother and sister are here at Ludlow, or he is. And, to be clear, your mother knew first. She is the one who told your father.”
He pressed his lips flat in an irritable display. “You could have at least sent me a missive about it.”
Liora reached up, stroking his face. “I wanted to tell you personally,” she murmured, kissing his lips softly. “I wanted to see your face when I told you that your son would be coming in the autumn.”
He closed his eyes as she kissed his chin. “And what did I look like when you told me?”
“If you recall, we had to throw water on you to revive you.”
He started laughing but she latched on to his mouth and, in an instant, he responded. Liora gave herself over to him completely because a kiss between them was the most powerful of things. It rarely ended at just a kiss. Soon, his tongue was in her mouth, gently lapping at her, tasting her. He was being so very tender with her, making her heart flutter to the point where she couldn’t catch her breath. There was nothing else in the world more important than her husband’s lips on hers, his arms around her holding her close.
Nothing else mattered.
For Peter, it was more than that. He’d just spent two months of hell doing battle against John’s mercenary army and thoughts of Liora had kept him alive. When he’d come home yesterday after being summoned home by his father from the de Lohr army’s position in Leicester, he’d taken her to bed with him and they were still here, still enfolded in the warm, rich miasma that was their love. She had the ability to arouse him like nothing else and as he finally settled between her legs and gently thrust into her, he could feel her soft breasts against his bare chest, taunting him.
Calling to him.
He thrust harder, trying to be careful about her blossoming belly. The last thing he wanted to do was injure the child she carried, so it had taken some practice for him to find the right position where his weight wasn’t smashing her. Her legs were wrapped around his hips, holding him fast to her, but he unwrapped them and raised himself up, holding her legs behind the knees to give him more freedom of movement as he continued to pound into her sweet and yielding body.
This way, he could watch her as he made love to her.
Liora had the most amazing body. Her full breasts were perky, the nipples peaked, and her waist still slender. The rounded hips and slightly rounded belly drew his lust, seeing the result of what he’d put into her.
His son.
He could still hardly believe it.
However, given that he’d had her abed every night since their marriage before he left Ludlow and headed out to join his father’s army, it wasn’t too surprising. He couldn’t get enough of his new wife. Even now, Liora reached up and pulled him down to her, her lips fixing to his. She kissed him fiercely as he braced his arms on either side of her, thrusting hard until he could feel her release around him. Then, and only then, did he join her.
Beneath him, Liora was limp with pleasure but still sensitive to the touch. Peter continued to move in her, touching her, fondling her, and she gasped and twitched until she finally grasped his roving hand and kissed his fingers.
“No more,” she whispered. “I’ve not recovered from the last four times yet.”
He grinned wolfishly. “I hope not,” he said, nuzzling her right breast because it was by his head. “I intend that you should not recover from my touch, ever.”
As Liora lay there, he started sucking her nipple gently and she could feel her loins start to tighten again. “Peter, please,” she begged softly, trying to cover her breast with a hand so he couldn’t stimulate her further. “Your family is coming this morning to greet you and I do not want to be unprepared. We will have all the time in the world tonight, my angel, but right now, I have many duties to attend to.”
He came to a halt, sighing heavily. “I know,” he said. “I am sorry. I have simply missed you so.”
Liora smiled at him, cupping his face. “And I have missed you desperately,” she said. “But I also do not want your family to find us still in bed when they arrive.”
With that, she kissed him, slapped his bare arse, and climbed out of bed, leaving him lying on the bed with a semi-erection as he watched her gorgeous, nubile form collect her shift.
“I do not care if they still find us in bed,” he declared.
She threw a tunic at him, landing on his head.
“Purim will be here soon,” she said, changing the subject so he could focus on less sex and more getting out of bed. “Next week, in fact. I have invited your family to celebrate with us.”
Clearly, she wasn’t interested in spending any more time with him in bed at the moment. Disappointed, he pulled the tunic off his head and sat up.
“What’s Purim again?” he asked, scratching his scalp.
“It’s an event that celebrates the release of Jewish people from a tyrant in Persia,” she said. “We celebrate it in London with great feasts and a festival, but we will not have a festival here. However, I do want to have a feast and I will invite all of the villagers to join us.”
He looked at her, frowning. “We are feeding the entire town?”
She nodded as she washed her face in a bowl of c
old rosewater. “Aye,” she said. “That is tradition. To celebrate Purim, we are to donate to the poor, or feed them, or any number of charitable things. Purim is about blessings and celebration. I would like to invite all of the villagers to a feast.”
He watched her as she washed. “Sweetheart, while that is very noble and kind, we cannot tell them that we are celebrating a Jewish holiday,” he said. “It will only confuse them and, quite possibly, alienate them. Not everyone is as accepting of your traditions as we are. But I know you mean well.”
She dried off her face. “Then we do not tell them it is for Purim,” she said. “We can simply say it is a feast for the coming Easter. The resurrection of Jesus.”
“I know what Easter is. I’m not that much of a heathen.”
She grinned at his reply, drying off her hands. “It is important to me to keep with my traditions, even if we cannot tell people what they really are. Please?”
He lifted a hand, indicating surrender, as he climbed out of bed. “I know,” he said. “And I will not deny you, you know that. Have your feast, but just do not tell them what it is for. Some Christians fear what they do not understand and I do not need trouble from my vassals.”
“I understand,” she said, putting the towel aside. “Thank you, my angel. You are very understanding.”
He simply nodded, kissing her on the forehead as he went in search of his breeches. Meanwhile, Liora dressed in a simple blue garment that clung to her figure and as Peter pulled on his clothing, he had to take a second look at his wife. He’d only seen her briefly last night, clothed, but now he got a good look at her in the morning light. She’d always had an astonishing figure of full breasts and a tiny waist, but now with the pregnancy, her breasts had filled in and her hips and belly had become more rounded, but her waist essentially remained the same.
She looked a goddess.
“God’s bones,” he muttered. “You grow more beautiful by the day, Lady de Lohr.”
Liora looked at him, smiling shyly, as she brushed her hair and began to braid it. “I have missed your sweet words,” she said. “They make me feel much better about the changes I have had.”
The Splendid Hour: The Executioner Knights Book 7 Page 32