by Darcy, Diane
He gazed at her, trying to read her expression, “If you’ll have me, I will spend the rest of my life making you happy. I swear it. You will never have cause to doubt me again.”
“Have him!” Someone called out.
Others took up the chant. “Say you will have him! Marry him! Put him out of his misery! Put him out of ours!”
She smiled. She should make him beg, but it was such a perfect proposal, not just him, but those he loved and cared for, witnessing the events, and wishing them happiness.
She should make him explain himself, but the look in his eyes … oh, the heck with it. “Yes,” she said and then laughed. “Yes, I’ll have you, but there are probably a few things we need to talk about.”
“Do you love me?” he asked, looking suddenly uncertain, and so totally unlike himself, that she smiled.
“I do. I love you,” her eyes filled with tears as a desperate joy rose within her. “So very much.”
He kissed her again, searing her with fire, and when he finished and was gazing into her eyes once more, he said, “Then nothing else matters. We have a lifetime to talk about anything, and everything.”
He kissed her again, as everyone cheered, and she decided it was a good plan. Who she was, and when she was from, was a conversation for another day. One that might be far, far in the future.
For now, she’d concentrate on her future with him. She was exactly where she belonged, where she’d always belonged, and an electrifying happiness rolled through her.
Everyone was clapping, and cheering for the four of them, well-pleased by the Twelfth Night revelations.
She looked around at all the people there, and then back at Thomas, and a bloom of emotion, of happiness and excitement expanded in her chest.
She was home, and she wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
She glanced around to find that Father Cuthbert had gone.
The trickster had no doubt taken advantage of the situation, the very moment that he could.
He should have at least stayed so she could have made a few demands.
Still, with Thomas holding her close, all she really would have said to him was, thanks anyway, but I’m keeping him.
And she did.
Epilogue
A year later
He had been gone for a week.
The travel did not bother him, but he was looking forward to seeing his wife and daughter.
Just the thought of his family made his heart swell with emotion.
When he finally arrived home, he passed his mount off to a servant and hurried inside.
He stood in the doorway of the great hall, and Madison did not see him at first. She was surrounded by others, working on a tapestry with one hand, as she held the babe with the other. He savored the flow of warmth, pulsing through his veins.
As if she sensed him, she glanced up, gave a little shriek, and the sound of it … well, nothing could have made him happier.
She’d completely captured his heart.
She handed their daughter off to his grandmother, and ran to greet him, throwing herself at him, hugging and kissing him as if he’d been gone an eon, a conquering hero returned. “I missed you!”
He chuckled as she pressed her face to his neck. The warmth of her breath was a pleasure, and he kissed the side of her head, holding her closer still, locking her in his arms. “And I you.”
At one time he’d not considered himself an emotional man.
That was long ago, and everything was different now.
Not that his wife was not a challenge.
Despite his concern, her pregnancy had gone well, and everyone had tried to keep her from overtaxing herself.
A fat lot of good that had done any of them.
He’d been with her during the delivery, as she’d insisted.
Somehow, all of them had survived, though he’d fainted near the end and missed the big event.
When he’d awakened, it was to discover his wife and new daughter were doing well.
The very picture of health.
Still, Madison had not let him forget his moment of weakness, and still openly laughed about it upon occasion.
He would do better the next time.
Amused greetings from the ladies had him releasing his wife, and Madison moved to reclaim their daughter.
It had not taken Lady Felicia long to come around to the idea of having Sir Hugh as a son-in-law.
She liked to brag about how wonderful he was, and what a good fit for Juliana.
Thomas tried not to feel slighted when Juliana had thanked Madison for taking Thomas off her hands.
All right, he had been offended, which had made Madison howl with laughter, before her kisses assured him she thought she won the better deal.
His grandmother adored his wife, and was content to follow wherever she led.
Between them, and the other ladies, they’d transformed the keep under Madison’s supervision.
She used the oddest things to decorate.
When she’d placed chain mail, weapons, and dried flowers on one wall, Thomas had barely even protested.
She continued to enlighten every nook and cranny with furnishings and displays, and the results were truly astonishing.
She placed the babe in his arms before leaning against him, and they both gazed at her perfect features, dark hair, and contented expression.
His smile broadened into a grin. “She is a beauty, just like her mother.”
“Aww,” Madison pressed closer still. “You always say that.”
“Only because ’tis true.”
She was vibrant and beautiful, and made their surroundings the same.
She was his heart and soul, and had gifted him a daughter.
His days and nights had once been empty and barren, his accomplishments more duty than pleasure.
Now he had purpose in all that he did.
Madison had not only brightened his life, she’d thoroughly and completely made it worth living.
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Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed the story. If you missed Gillian and Kellen’s romance (She Owns the Knight), or Samantha and Ian’s story (Bewitching the Knight) or Cara and Wallace’s story (A Dark and Stormy Knight) click here.
Next up in this series, The Knight at the Museum. (Rupert’s story)
Have you read She’s Just Right yet? It’s the first of three Fairy Tale Romances. When did Happily Ever After become so complicated?
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