“Katrina! Where are you? Katrina!”
“I’m here, Michael.” Katrina stood by the drawing room door wearing a yellow woolen gown and a blue shawl. Her hair was falling out of its pins and her eyes appeared red.
“Beautiful!” He came to her and dragged her back to the room kicking the door closed behind him. He picked her up and kissed her soundly. Her arms wrapped around his neck and she returned the kiss before pushing him away. Her face was flushed and her lips swollen, her eyes filled with confusion.
“I remembered, Katrina.” He pulled out his Bible and opened to the Song of Songs, Solomon. “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” He fell to his knees and placed his hands on her abdomen and kissed her stomach. “Our love made this baby. I’m going to be a father. Katrina, I do not deserve you. Please forgive me. Take me back. I need you as much now as I did when I couldn’t remember my past. I need you to complete my future.”
Katrina hobbled backwards and fell into a chair. Sobs overtook her and she leaned forward covering her face with her hands. Michael was before her, still on his knees, and enfolding her in his strong arms.
“Sweetheart. I adore you. I’m so sorry for the way I’ve treated you. For the way I abandoned you and our child. I can’t blame you if you are not ready to forgive me, but please, give me a chance to earn the right to be your husband again. I missed you.”
Katrina dropped her hands from her face. She dried them on her skirt and brought them up to Michael’s. She gazed into his eyes and he saw the love reflected there. She spoke no words but leaned forward to kiss him gently. She pushed him back on his heels and rose to stand. She held out her hand to him and drew him to his feet. Without speaking a word, she reached into her pocket and drew out a key. She placed it in his hand.
“What?”
“The door that separates us at night. I never kept it locked to keep you out. I kept it locked to keep me from seeking your bed. I love you, Sir Michael Tidley.”
“I don’t deserve you, Mrs. Katrina Tidley, but I’m definitely glad God saw fit to give me a treasure for my bride.”
With that, he swept her up into his arms and headed for the stairs.
~*~
The next morning Michael awoke to find his wife—his wife—snuggled up next to him. He brushed her hair away from her face and placed a kiss on her hair. She stirred and a soft smile played on her lips.
“Morning, beautiful,” he whispered.
She tilted her head up to him with eyes open and a smile. “Good morning, Michael. I’m so glad you are here, where you really belong.”
“Me, too. I was thinking…how about we enjoy a picnic today. There’s a tree in the yard that would be a great spot.”
Katrina smiled. “I’d like that very much. But it is too cold out for that now. How about we picnic inside near where the tree is instead.”
“That’ll work.” He hugged her close. “Thanks for waiting for me to regain my memory.”
“Oh, Michael, I’ve been waiting years for you to figure out that we were meant to be together.”
His lips met hers for a sweet kiss. “I don’t deserve you.”
“I know, but you’re stuck with me anyway.” She winked and kissed him again.
He allowed himself to get lost in the wonder of the love of this woman. A woman who had hid herself from him, rescued him time and again, and gave him a reason to live. God had given him a second chance to have her in his life.
They managed to emerge from their chambers in time for their picnic.
Epilogue
The Black Diamond scanned the book before him. It had disappeared but now it was back. Several of his minions had lost their lives over that. While he’d killed his son’s wife, the Cat continued to elude his grasp. He would read it to discover if the boy’s mother had exposed him.
“My lord, a message has arrived for you.” His valet approached and waited.
He opened the letter.
Your daughter-in-law and grandson departed during the night.
Growling he crumpled it up and tossed it into the fire. His daughter-in-law, Valeria, was gone? With Dartanian, his heir? What was the woman about? Did she think she could escape him?
“We leave in the morning. Pack my bags.”
“Yes, my lord.”
As the servant departed, the Black Diamond paced. Women were the bane of his existence. A necessary evil to be used only to further his cause. This was one woman who would not be so fortunate in her escape from him. He grinned, imagining the screams of terror of Michael’s bride as the fire engulfed her. He’d taken care of her and the baby, snuffing out that line. No. His heir would be legitimate and while his true son had died, the weakling lacked the mettle for this kind of work. He’d do better with his grandson and raise the child to take over his rule when the time came. When he found Valeria—well, she’d regret the day she ever crossed him. She’d denied him a spare and he’d make sure she gave him one—or else.
He grinned as he stared into the dancing flames of the fire. He served a master who allowed him all his heart desired. As for Michael? The boy’s end would come in time.
In the meantime, as future Emperor of England, he would enjoy the delights his power granted him. His daughter-in-law wouldn’t, but she’d have no choice in the matter and was expendable. She would pay for crossing him. He’d find her.
Acknowledgments
It would be impossible to thank everyone who has helped me on my journey, so I apologize in advance for those I will miss. It doesn’t mean you are any less valuable and thankfully, God keeps better track of those things than I do and His “well done, good and faithful servant” has more merit than any thanks written here.
So here it goes. Special thanks to:
Elizabeth Herman – you amaze me. Thanks for all the ways you’ve invested in me.
Doris Pollard Wichern – another early reader and one of my most faithful cheerleaders in this writing adventure. You will be missed.
Lisa Lickel – thanks for being such a wonderful mentor, friend and shoulder to cry on when the publishing process throws me those curve balls. I don’t think I would have ever taken that first step in this journey to publication without your gentle push.
David Mundt and Ken Nabi – for your support and believing in me and the calling God has on my life.
Sally Shupe – my faithful editor. Thank you for finding all those silly errors!
Nicola Martinez – my beloved Editor-in-Chief, who continually supports my writing while allowing me the joy of helping others on their journey to publication. I’m grateful for our partnership and friendship.
Biography
Susan M. Baganz chases after three Hobbits, and is a native of Wisconsin. Susan writes adventurous historical and contemporary romances with a biblical world-view.
This book is the third full-length novel in the Rose Hill Romance series. The Baron’s Blunder, Henrietta’s story, is a novella and prequel. Previous stand-alone novels include: The Virtuous Viscount and Lord Phillip’s Folly. Future novels are: Lord Harrow’s Heart and The Captain’s Conquest.
Susan speaks, teaches, and encourages others to follow God in being all He has created them to be. With her seminary degree in counseling psychology, a background in the field of mental health, and years serving in church ministry, she understands the complexities and pain of life as well as its craziness. She serves behind-the-scenes in various capacities at her church and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and serves on the board of the southeast chapter. Her favorite pastimes are lazy…snuggling with her dog while reading a good book or sitting with a friend chatting over a cup of spiced chai latte.
You can learn more by following her blog www.susanbaganz.com, Twitter feed @susanbaganz or fan page, www.facebook.com/susanmbaganz
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May God’s glory shine through
this inspirational work of fiction.
AMDG
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