Kneeling in the rushes before the altar, Helena prayed for some time, asking blessings upon those she loved. She asked that God would grant the king wisdom and mercy in dealing with Tancred and added selfishly her desire that He make Tancred her husband soon.
She was startled when someone knelt in the rushes beside her and opened her eyes to find Tancred.
“Tanny?”
He reached out to take her hand and kissed it lightly. “Your prayers have brought me home.”
“In more ways than one this is true,” she replied. “Would you pray with me now?”
“Aye, it would be most fitting.” They bowed their heads, and after several moments of silent communion with God, Tancred pulled Helena to her feet. “Come. We must talk.”
Pausing outside the chapel, Helena casually let her gaze travel the length of Tancred. Disheveled a bit from an obviously fast-paced ride, Tancred’s hair begged her touch and Helena could not resist.
“Do I meet with milady’s approval?” he asked, grinning.
“Aye, very much so. You could stand a bit of grooming, but otherwise I find you perfect.”
“Nay, it will never be so, but I am glad to find you satisfied with me.”
“Pray tell, why?” She looked at him with little-girl innocence.
Tancred’s grin turned roguish. “I could say, but I’d much rather show you.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her lips soundly.
Helena wrapped her arms around his neck, totally forgetting where they were. Her heart pounded from joy and passion, and she sighed a deep, throaty sigh when his lips traveled boldly from her mouth to the side of her face and then just below her ear.
“I most enjoy this talk,” she teased.
“You are a hard vision to put from my mind,” Tancred whispered between kisses.
“No more so than you,” Helena countered. “Remember I held your face for eleven years in my heart.”
“And glad I am that you did.” The spell was broken, and Tancred set her away from him just a bit. “Which reminds me.”
“I know,” Helena grinned. “We must talk.”
“Aye, and quickly.”
Tancred led her out beyond the castle walls. The brilliance of spring grass and wildflowers set a lively mood that infected Helena. Beyond the castle, a calm, blue sea awaited their review, while gulls flew overhead, searching for bits of food.
To Helena, it was as if spring had come all at once. “ ’Tis so beautiful!” she exclaimed and strayed from Tancred’s side to do an animated jig. She hummed a song to herself and laughed when Tancred pulled her back to him and held her fast.
“You have not yet asked what happened with Henry.”
“True.” She sobered a bit. “Mayhaps you will tell me now?”
Tancred reached up and pulled the linen wimple from her head. “Pesky things. I rather fancy the way your hair was spilled out that night in the tower.” He toyed with the wisps of blond hair that had come loose from her braid.
“ ’Tis pesky when a man would undress a maiden’s hair without the right to do so,” Helena said snidely. “If I had a champion, he would be called to defend me just now.”
Tancred chuckled and tossed the wimple aside. “You have a champion in me, Milady.” He bowed low before her, making Helena giggle.
“I would rather have you for a husband,” she stated boldly.
Tancred rose and shook his head. “It would seem that you and Henry agree on the matter.”
“Oh, Tanny! Did the king give us permission to marry?”
“Aye.”
He seemed quite pleased with himself, and Helena couldn’t help laughing. “Tell me all!”
Tancred put his hand about her waist and walked toward the cliff edge with Helena snugly beside him. “Henry listened to all we had to say and made a full record of Maude’s treachery. He was most satisfied that the matter was ended.”
“Did he restore your lands?” Helena asked hesitantly lest she sound greedy.
“Nay,” Tancred said softly in a reflective manner.
Helena frowned and looked up to catch his eyes looking out across the vastness of the sea. She squeezed his hand. “Alas, my love, ’tis of no matter. It will be well with us so long as we have each other. I care naught for the land or the titles, only for you.”
Tancred gazed down upon her with such deeply felt love that Helena had to look away. “He could not restore my lands for they were given to the church and made into a monastery. He did, however, give me lands not far from these. I will not make a beggar’s wife of you, my dear.”
Helena gasped. “Lands here?”
“Aye, within a two-day journey of Gavenshire. We will join Richard’s land on one side, while Devon’s estate joins them on the other.”
“How wonderful!” She hugged him tightly and was not surprised when his arms wrapped around her and held her fast.
“Marry me, Helena,” he whispered.
Helena melted against him. “Aye,” she murmured. It was the culmination of a lifetime of dreaming.
Pulling away, Helena turned her back to Tancred and stared out across the sea. “These waters once separated us, and for many years I cursed them and mourned my loss. But the same waters brought you back again, and I curse them no more.”
Tancred pulled her back against him, nestling his face against her shoulder. “I pledge you that no one shall separate us again. There may come a day when I am summoned to do the king’s work or attend to matters of my own, but here in my heart, we shall ever be one. I love you, Helena. I vow always to love you.”
Helena felt tears upon her cheeks and wiped them away with her hand before turning to face her beloved Tanny. Her heart nearly burst at the sight of him. She opened her mouth to speak, but instead a song came to her lips. Tanny’s song:
If my beloved were a king,
I couldst not love him more.
Were he a jester to make men laugh,
My love I would implore.
But, alas, my love is but a man,
Of heart and soul so free.
And I couldst no more break my vow,
Than break the heart in me.
About the Author
Tracie Peterson, bestselling, award-winning author of over ninety fiction titles and three non-fiction books, lives and writes in Belgrade, Montana. As a Christian, wife, mother, writer, editor and speaker (in that order), Tracie finds her slate quite full.
Voted favorite author for 1995, 1996, and 1997 by the Heartsong Presents’ readership, and awarded Affaire de Coeur’s Inspirational Romance of the Year 1994, Romantic Times 2007 Career Achievement, American Christian Fiction Writers Lifetime Achievement 2011 and other awards, Tracie enjoys the pleasure of spinning stories for readers and thanks God for the imagination He’s given. She desires that the books would Entertain, Educate, and Encourage—Tracie’s three E’s.
Tracie was the managing editor of Heartsong Presents for Barbour Publishing for over three years and helped with acquisitions prior to that. She co-founded the American Christian Fiction Writer’s organization in 2000 and continues to work with new authors, teaching at a variety of conferences, giving workshops on inspirational romance, historical research, and anything else that offers assistance to fellow writers. She often speaks at women’s retreats and church functions. Her website is www.traciepeterson.com
Dedication
To Dr. Doug Iliff, physician extraordinaire and good friend.
With thanks for his time, trouble, and good sense of humor
when I call up with those pesky questions.
on Archive.
Alas My Love Page 17