Magdalen fought a pang of sadness, eased herself down beside the little boy, and smoothed out a crease in the blue wool blanket. A week ago, she’d returned to Glemstow. Edwina had met her in the bailey, and after tearfully hugging each other, they’d retreated to the solar, where Magdalen had told her friend that days ago, she’d received an urgent missive saying Aislinn was very ill—a story she and William had agreed upon during the ride to the keep, for to continue to protect Edwina, she must never know what had really happened. Deeply concerned about Aislinn, Magdalen had ridden off to visit her, only to be caught up in the storm. William, worried about Magdalen, had asked for Cyn’s help to find her, and when Cyn had come upon her in the forest, injured, he’d taken her to his home to treat her wound. In the meantime, Aislinn’s condition had improved, and she was expected to fully recover from her sickness. Thankfully, Edwina had believed the tale.
The night of her return to Glemstow, alone and weeping, Magdalen had drawn a picture of the vial and had written down her recollections of what had happened in the tavern, as Cyn had asked. The following day, with her documents packed in his saddlebag, William had left to meet Cyn and ride with him to London.
She hadn’t heard from Cyn since they’d parted in the tavern. She’d tried not to be despondent, but Edwina had noticed her red-rimmed eyes and insisted on knowing what was wrong. Magdalen had told her dear friend how much she’d grown to love Cyn. Edwina had offered a much-needed shoulder to cry on, but even she couldn’t answer the question that haunted Magdalen: whether she’d ever see Cyn again.
She swept aside a spider ambling across the blanket, wishing, as she did so, that she could so easily deal with her feelings for Cyn. He had kissed her, won her true love, and then had abandoned her, out of a deep-rooted sense of chivalry. She understood his need to atone for his past—and indeed, ’twas gallant of him to want to make things right—but a selfish part of her wished he hadn’t chosen his honor over her. ’Twas all so horribly unfair, that she should find the perfect man only to lose him.
On his back, Timothy kicked his legs and waved his little arms, while gazing up at the shifting branches above. White petals drifted down, drawing Timothy’s gaze, and Magdalen smiled at the wonder in his expression. One day, Magdalen hoped to have a son or daughter of her own, one as sweet-natured as Timothy. For a short while, she’d even imagined what ’twould be like to have a child with Cyn, but now—
A metallic groan carried on the breeze: the sound of the portcullis being raised.
Were the guards at the gatehouse letting William in? Had he finally returned from London? If so, Cyn might be with him.
Excitement washed through her, along with a giddying swell of hope. Could Cyn have come for her? Oh, ’twould be wonderfully romantic, and just as she’d daydreamed in the agonizing days since they’d separated…
Shaking her head at her own foolishness, she stifled the anticipation. She shouldn’t dare to hope. She’d only make herself even more miserable.
Magdalen lay down on her side on the blanket beside Timothy. “Would you like me to tell you a story?” she murmured, as the baby’s hand curled around her finger. “How about a tale about a robin who longs for adventure?” As Timothy warbled and stared up at her, Magdalen began weaving a grand tale about a gallant robin who sets out on a quest to find his beloved lady the ideal spot to build a nest.
As the boughs sighed overhead, she heard voices, coming from the bailey. Men’s voices.
Most likely just some of the guards.
“—and there ’twas,” she said at last, “a magnificent oak, growing in the middle of the forest. Sir Robin soared past its strong branches, barely able to contain his joy, for he knew, at last, he had fulfilled his quest. He’d found a home. In one of the uppermost boughs, he would help build the nest he would share with his beautiful Lady Robin. Here, they would be happy, together—”
“—forever,” a male voice said.
Cyn!
Startled, Magdalen pushed up to sitting. A tingling heat skittered across her skin as she gaped up at him, walking toward her with Edwina beside him.
“I did not mean to interrupt.” Cyn’s gaze, warm with admiration, shifted to Timothy. Fine dust clung to Cyn’s cloak and leather boots, as if he’d been traveling most of the day.
Magdalen’s heartbeat quickened, became a rapid pounding. Had he come for her? She was so very afraid to hope.
“William is back also?” she asked Edwina, proud that her voice remained steady.
“He is. I had just settled for my nap when he strode into the solar. He asked me to bring Cyn to you.”
Magdalen rose, brushing out her gold silk gown with trembling hands. She desperately wanted to know the purpose of Cyn’s visit, but she also needed to protect her fragile heart; he might have come to say goodbye. Smiling, she said, “I did not hear you approach. Usually I hear the creak of the garden gate.”
“You must have been caught up in your storytelling.” Edwina winked at Magdalen before kneeling to pick up Timothy. “Come, my sweet boy. Your father wants to see you. Magdalen, Cyn, please join us in the great hall when you are ready.” She strolled away, talking to Timothy.
Silence settled, marked by the sighing of the wind and shifting of sun-drenched shadows. More white petals fell, floating around her and Cyn before settling on the ground.
“You…are well?” Cyn finally asked.
“Aye, thank you.” He looked tired, with dark circles beneath his eyes, but she also sensed about him a resolve she hadn’t noticed before.
“You are putting your full weight on your leg,” he said.
Nodding, she fingered a stray wisp of hair back behind her ear. “My leg is much improved from…well, the last time you saw me.” Anguish lanced through her at the memory of the tavern, of him telling her to leave.
He glanced across the garden, as though uneasy.
“How was London?”
“All right.”
“What happened? Did you meet with the King?”
“I met first with several of his ministers, and then with the sovereign. William attended my audience with King John and gave his account of what happened. Then I told the sovereign all…” He drew a ragged breath. “He decreed that…what happened that day on Crusade was an unfortunate accident.”
Joy welled within her. “’Tis wondrous news!”
Cyn smiled. “At last, I feel I can put the past behind me.” Reaching out, he pulled a petal from her hair. “Now, I must do what is right by you. If you will let me.”
She quivered inside. She couldn’t tear her gaze away from his. “Cyn—?”
“The days without you have been hell,” he said, shaking his head. “I cannot live without you, Magdalen. I do not want to.”
Tears blurred her vision, and she flung herself into his arms, sobbing as he held her in his strong embrace.
He kissed her brow. “I am sorry for hurting you. I…had to set things right.”
“I know,” she whispered against his neck.
Slowly, he eased her to arm’s length. “Please. I want to do this like the knights in the old tales. I want to do this right.”
“This?” she asked, frowning.
He reached into the leather bag at his waist and then dropped down on one knee on the blanket. Sunlight glinted off the ring in his fingers: a gold band set with a round, polished ruby.
“Oh, mercy—”
“Will you marry me, Magdalen? Will you be my wife? I know I am far from perfect—”
“You are perfect to me,” she said, sniffling.
“Does that mean—?”
“Aye, I will marry you.”
His eyes lit with pleasure, and then he stood, sliding the ring onto her finger. “I visited quite a few jewelers in London before I found the right ring. I wanted a ruby, since your ruby helped to bring us together. I hope you like it.”
“I love it,” she whispered, then leaned into him for another kiss. He pulled her into his arms, kissed h
er, thoroughly, passionately.
Long moments later, Cyn murmured against her ear, “Edwina and William are waiting for us in the great hall.”
Magdalen giggled. “We do have good news to share with them.”
Cyn grinned. “Indeed, we do.”
She picked up the blanket, tucked it under her arm, and slid her hand into his.
Chapter Seventeen
Music and laughter carried to the high beams of Glemstow Keep’s great hall that was lit by flaming reeds set into holders along the wall. At the rows of trestle tables filling the vast room, castle folk chatted and finished their evening meals, many smiling and glancing up at the lord’s table on the dais.
Seated at the massive table on the raised stone platform along with Edwina and William, Magdalen sipped her wine while leaning against Cyn; his arm draped along the back of her chair. Part of her simply couldn’t believe that he was here, and that they were betrothed. Edwina had shrieked with excitement when she’d seen Magdalen’s ruby ring, and William had called for a celebratory toast. Even before the meal had been served, Edwina had offered ideas as to where and when Cyn and Magdalen could be married, and what tailor should make the wedding gown.
“May I ask a favor?” Cyn murmured, nuzzling Magdalen’s cheek.
A delicious shiver trailed through her. “You may. After all, you will soon be my husband.”
“And you, milady, will soon be my wife.”
Heat pooled inside her as, his eyes smoldering, he leaned in and kissed her. Whistles and clapping erupted in the hall.
Cyn laughed, and then said, “Will you fetch your doe and your ruby? There is something I… Well, would you mind getting them?”
She excused herself, retrieved the doe and the stone, and returned to the table. The silver stag was standing beside Cyn’s wine goblet, waiting.
As she sat, he said, “Before I left for London, Perceval was chasing a chestnut around the floor. I had put the stag down on the rug and…” His words trailed off as he took the doe from her hand, turned it to face the stag, and then nudged them together. She gasped in wonder, for the deers’ noses touched perfectly, as though they were about to kiss.
“Now…” Cyn took the ruby, studied it, turned it—
“What are you going to do?”
His mouth ticked up, and then carefully, he set the ruby down into the cradle formed by the stag’s antlers and the doe’s ears. With a faint, metallic clink, the ruby settled. A perfect fit.
“Cyn!” Magdalen laughed in delight. Each of the objects on its own was beautiful, but together, they were exquisite.
“I think your mother was a very wise woman,” he said softly.
“So do I.”
Cyn kissed Magdalen again, a thorough, loving kiss worthy of the noblest lords and ladies of the chansons. Her heart nigh burst with joy, for she knew that she and Cyn—together, forever—had many more grand adventures ahead.
Want to learn more about Magdalen’s friend Aislinn? Read Catherine Kean’s novella A Knight to Remember, available in the Charmed by an Emerald anthology.
About Catherine Kean
Bestselling, award-winning novelist Catherine Kean is a Kindle Unlimited All-Star author of medieval romances. 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 married a tall, handsome, and charming Brit and 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 and the National Readers’ Choice Awards.
When not working on her next book, Catherine enjoys cooking, baking, browsing antique shops, shopping with her daughter, and gardening. She lives in Florida with her husband, daughter, and two spoiled rescue cats.
Connect with Catherine
Website: http://www.catherinekean.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catherine.keanauthor
Love Historicals: http://www.lovehistoricals.com/historical-romance-authors/catherine-kean/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/695820.Catherine_Kean
Also by Catherine Kean
A Knight’s Desire (A Kindle World of de Wolfe Pack Novel)
A Knight to Remember (Novella in the Charmed by an Emerald Anthology)
A Legendary Love (Novella in the Hearts Aflame Anthology)
Bound by His Kiss (Novella)
Dance of Desire
My Lady’s Treasure
One Knight Under the Mistletoe (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)
Boxed Sets
Charmed by a Ruby (includes novella One Knight in the Forest)
Charmed by an Emerald (includes novella A Knight to Remember)
Hearts Aflame (includes novella A Legendary Love)
Medieval Rogues (includes A Knight’s Vengeance, My Lady’s Treasure, and Bound by His Kiss)
The Knight’s Series: Books 1-4
One Knight in the Forest: A Medieval Romance Novella Page 12