Love and Honor (Knights of Honor Book 7)

by Alexa Aston

  Love and Honor

  Knights Of Honor

  Book Seven

  Alexa Aston

  Copyright © 2018 by Alexa Aston

  Kindle Edition

  Published by Dragonblade Publishing, an imprint of Kathryn Le Veque Novels, Inc

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  Books from Dragonblade Publishing

  Knights of Honor Series by Alexa Aston

  Word of Honor

  Marked by Honor

  Code of Honor

  Journey to Honor

  Heart of Honor

  Bold in Honor

  Love and Honor

  Legends of Love Series by Avril Borthiry

  The Wishing Well

  Isolated Hearts

  Sentinel

  The Lost Lords Series by Chasity Bowlin

  The Lost Lord of Castle Black

  The Vanishing of Lord Vale

  The Missing Marquess of Althorn

  By Elizabeth Ellen Carter

  Captive of the Corsairs, Heart of the Corsairs Series

  Revenge of the Corsairs, Heart of the Corsairs Series

  Dark Heart

  Knight Everlasting Series by Cassidy Cayman

  Endearing

  Enchanted

  Evermore

  Midnight Meetings Series by Gina Conkle

  Meet a Rogue at Midnight, book 4

  Second Chance Series by Jessica Jefferson

  Second Chance Marquess

  Imperial Season Series by Mary Lancaster

  Vienna Waltz

  Vienna Woods

  Vienna Dawn

  Blackhaven Brides Series by Mary Lancaster

  The Wicked Baron

  The Wicked Lady

  The Wicked Rebel

  The Wicked Husband

  The Wicked Marquis

  The Wicked Governess

  Highland Loves Series by Melissa Limoges

  My Reckless Love

  My Steadfast Love

  Clash of the Tartans Series by Anna Markland

  Kilty Secrets

  Kilted at the Altar

  Kilty Pleasures

  Queen of Thieves Series by Andy Peloquin

  Child of the Night Guild

  Thief of the Night Guild

  Queen of the Night Guild

  Dark Gardens Series by Meara Platt

  Garden of Shadows

  Garden of Light

  Garden of Dragons

  Garden of Destiny

  Rulers of the Sky Series by Paula Quinn

  Scorched

  Ember

  White Hot

  Highlands Forever Series by Violetta Rand

  Unbreakable

  Viking’s Fury Series by Violetta Rand

  Love’s Fury

  Desire’s Fury

  Passion’s Fury

  Also from Violetta Rand

  Viking Hearts

  The Sons of Scotland Series by Victoria Vane

  Virtue

  Valor

  Dry Bayou Brides Series by Lynn Winchester

  The Shepherd’s Daughter

  The Seamstress

  The Widow

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Books from Dragonblade Publishing

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Epilogue

  Excerpt from Word Of Honor

  About the Author

  Prologue

  Shallowheart Castle—September 1365

  Benedict Bowyar rode through the gates of Shallowheart as the sun dipped below the horizon, a calm descending over him. He was home—for good. Nothing would ever entice him to leave again. He had a job to do.

  And a child to raise.

  Every sight looked familiar to him as they trotted through the outer bailey and then crossed into the inner one. The blacksmith’s hut. The kitchens with their fires lit. The steps leading up to the keep. He had spent the first seven years of his life here, returning each summer from fostering, his brother always by his side. But now Lawrence was dead.

  And so was Lara.

  Benedict pushed that painful thought aside and brought his horse to a halt. Shallowheart’s longtime steward awaited him at the bottom of the stone steps. Benedict climbed from his horse and faced the slender man.

  “Welcome home, my lord. I trust you had a safe journey from the west.”

  He was a true lord now. The Baron of Shallowheart. No longer a second son without a pence to his name, only possessing his armor and horse. The title and estate became his upon Lawrence’s death two weeks ago. His brother had already been buried even as word was sent calling Benedict home to his inheritance.

  Glancing at his wife, he saw Amicia didn’t bother to hide a satisfied smile. He turned back to the steward.

  “Greetings, Gershom. ’Twas a long way to Shallowheart. Lady Amicia is tired and needs to wash away the stains of the road. Have hot water brought to the solar at once. Something to eat, too, since we have missed the evening meal. You and I can speak tomorrow after we break our fast regarding matters of the estate.”

  “Very good, my lord.”

  Benedict helped Amicia from her horse and briefly spoke with the head of their escort party. The soldiers who had accompanied them east would return in the morning to his father-in-law’s estate. He dismissed them and came back to where his wife stood proudly, her eyes taking in everything around her.

  “Come,” he told her. “We will go to our solar.”

  They entered the keep and found Gershom had lined up the entire staff of servants to greet the new baron and baroness. After moving down the row nodding when he saw a few familiar faces, Benedict led Amicia upstairs to the solar.

  “Would you prefer to eat first or bathe?” he asked, not quite sure of her mood. Then again, he had never been comfortable around this wife of his and only spoke to her when absolutely necessary.

  “Food can wait. I wish to remove the clothing I wear and burn it. I hate being on the road, especially for such a long time. ’Tis most inconvenient.”

  She gave him a pretty smile and Benedict knew to remain alert after their time together. Amicia could be pleasant one moment and lash out in rage the next, all without warning. His wife finally had what Benedict thought she wanted—to be known as the Baroness of Shallowheart.

  Even if the wrong baron stood by her side.

  “Mayhap we can go to town tomorrow and select new cloth. I would like to have many new cotehardies made up for me, in as many fabrics and colors that I can find. I want to look every bit the Baroness of Shallowheart.” Amicia cocked her head and studied him a moment. “You, too, my lord. You must dress for the role fate has bestowed upon you. Coin will never again be a problem.”

  “Whatever you wish, my lady.” Benedict was only too happy to
give his wife whatever she asked for since her father had practically made them beg for the very morsels they ate from his table every day. To never worry again about how much food he put in his mouth, much less how much a horse might cost, still seemed foreign to him. Benedict realized it would take time to adjust to his new position. Despite how his heart remained heavy at the loss of his brother, he looked forward to being in control of his life as never before.

  Servants arrived with the bath water and Benedict decided that he would also like to wash away the travel stains from the past week’s journey. Once both he and Amicia were clean, they sat down at the table and partook of the cold chicken and round of sharp cheese that had been brought. Benedict poured wine for them and then refilled the silver goblets several times as they ate in silence. He still found it hard to believe that he was sitting at this table in the solar as the Baron of Shallowheart, just as his father had for many years, and as Lawrence had for a short time.

  “We have had a long day,” he told his wife. “My eyes grow weary. We should retire.”

  They went into the bedchamber and undressed and drew the bed curtains aside. Lying on the soft mattress and wrapped in the even softer bedclothes, he paused a moment before he relaxed. Lawrence had died in this very bed. His brother had taken his last breaths here, his head resting on these pillows. A dull ache filled him, knowing he would never see Lawrence again. Never hear his laugh or break bread with his brother.

  Gradually, Amicia’s breaths evened out and he knew she had fallen asleep. Despite his weariness, Benedict lay awake for a long time. Finally, he slipped from the bed, trying not to disturb her, and returned to the other room with his clothes in hand, carefully redressing.

  But he wasn’t fooling himself. He knew exactly what he wanted to do.

  Go see Rosalyne.

  Leaving the solar, Benedict moved silently down the hall to where he and Lawrence had slept all their lives, from the time they were babes until they both wed. As he suspected, Rosalyne had been placed in the same bedchamber. He entered the room and saw her in the arms of a wet nurse, who lifted the babe from her breast and placed Rosalyne against her shoulder as she burped the child. A loud belch erupted from the babe, bringing a grin to Benedict’s face.

  The nurse glanced up and noticed him. She rose.

  “Lord Benedict. I did not expect to see you here so late.”

  “I wanted to see my brother’s child.”

  Lara’s child.

  The servant turned the babe in her arms so that Benedict could see Rosalyne’s face. The first look broke his heart. The babe had the Bowyar blond hair and deep blue eyes but her nose and mouth were all her mother’s.

  Benedict stepped toward the pair and brushed a finger against the babe’s cheek. “She will be a beauty someday. She’s already lovely to look at.”

  “Aye, my lord,” the nurse readily agreed. “And she is a sunny child. Never seems to cry. I’ve never been around such a happy babe and I’ve cared for my fair share over the years.”

  “Do you stay with her every night?”

  “I do, my lord. Lady Lara insisted. Especially . . . well . . . once she grew ill, that is. Before she and Lord Lawrence fell sick, Lady Rosalyne spent her nights with her parents. But Lady Lara feared the child would catch the fever that caused them both to waste away. As much as she loved Lady Rosalyne, she wouldn’t allow the babe near the solar at the end.”

  Benedict realized how much it would have pained Lara—and Lawrence—to be away from their only child, but they had done the right thing. Their selfless actions had guaranteed that Rosalyne would live.

  “May I?” He reached for the babe and brought her close to his chest. “I would like to spend a few minutes alone with her. You may return in half an hour.”

  “Of course, my lord.” The nurse left and Benedict sat with his warm bundle, a pleasant glow radiating inside him. He studied her face, memorizing it, knowing Rosalyne was the best of both of her parents. She considered him, as well, her eyes gazing at him in curiosity. Her tiny hand reached toward him and Benedict gave her a finger. She grasped it and squeezed, surprisingly strong for one so young. Then she smiled at him and his heart nearly stopped—for ’twas Lara’s smile.

  Benedict had loved Lara Parry from the first time he saw her. They had never been officially betrothed but the understanding between their parents led him to believe that Lara and he were destined for one another. The same was true of Lawrence—and Amicia. From an early age, both couples knew they would one day become man and wife.

  Until everything changed.

  When it came time to wed, Lawrence admitted to Benedict that he only had eyes for Lara. Then Lara told Benedict how strong her feelings were for his brother. Neither of them wanted to hurt Benedict but they couldn’t hide their love for one another anymore. Lawrence had gone to their father and explained the situation. As the older brother, their father had usually given in to every whim that Lawrence had, knowing he would one day succeed him as baron. Benedict could have fought for Lara—but why do so when she didn’t want him? He refused to stand in the way of her happiness.

  Even if it left him miserable.

  By default, Amicia became his wife. The brothers married in a double ceremony that was the most difficult day of Benedict’s life, seeing how Lara glowed every time she looked at her new husband. Lawrence became the baron less than a month after their nuptial mass, gaining the title and land and the woman Benedict loved, while Benedict and Amicia returned to her home. He became a knight in service to her father—and lived with his own private heartache—as well as Amicia’s bitterness for having lost out on wealth and position.

  Benedict pressed a kiss upon the brow of the babe, whose eyes began to droop. He sang to her softly as she fell asleep in his arms. Rosalyne touched a place inside him because of how special her parents had been to Benedict. He looked upon it as an honor to raise her in their stead. He would make sure he shared stories with her about her parents. Even though she would never see them, Rosalyne would know who they were and how much they’d loved her.

  Standing, he placed the beautiful babe in the cradle and leaned over, watching her sleep for a few minutes. The door opened, a slight draft coming in, and he supposed the wet nurse returned to care for her charge. He turned and froze.

  Amicia stood there, a dark scowl on her face.

  “I might have guessed you would come here,” she hissed. “To moon over that whore’s babe.”

  Benedict’s hands balled into fists but he calmly replied, “Lara was no whore. She was my brother’s wife and Baroness of Shallowheart.”

  “She stole him from me!” Amicia cried.

  “Quiet,” he commanded. “You’ll wake Rosalyne.”

  “I don’t care if I wake her. I hate her.” Rage glittered in his wife’s eyes.

  “How can you hate a small babe?” he asked. “She is an innocent. Rosalyne has done nothing to hurt you.”

  “I’ve had the last of hurt in my life, Benedict Bowyar,” Amicia proclaimed. “I was embarrassed and humiliated when Lawrence rejected me. I could have had all of this and he took it from me because that woman crooked her finger and smiled beguilingly at him.” Her eyes narrowed. “And you let it all happen. You could have stood up to him. Demanded that we keep to what our parents intended. Nay, like a coward, you backed down and gave in to your brother, all because you are weak.”

  “I acted honorably and did the only thing I could do,” Benedict said solemnly, ignoring Amicia’s insults. “Just as now the right thing will be to raise Rosalyne as ours, alongside our own children.”

  She burst out in laughter that sounded half-mad. “Nay. I will never do that. I want this babe gone from here.” Amicia walked toward him and placed her hands on his shoulders, her nails sinking into his skin. “I can make your life miserable, Husband. You know I can. If you allow that child to remain at Shallowheart, you will never know a moment’s peace until you are in your grave.”

  Fear struck Bene
dict’s heart. “What do you mean?”

  She shrugged. “Who knows? Babes die every day. Mayhap little Rosalyne simply stops breathing some night and we discover her dead in her cradle the next day.”

  “Are you saying you would murder a child?”

  Amicia sniffed. “I am not saying anything.” A smile played about her lips. “But you cannot watch her every moment, my lord. And if something happened? I supposed we would all be so very sad.”

  Benedict knew Amicia had it in her to carry through her threats. In the two years since they’d wed, he had found a cruel streak grew within her. She had done things to prove to him that she could not be trusted.

  He couldn’t risk anything happening to Rosalyne.

  “What do you suggest?” he asked, keeping his voice neutral.

  Amicia bit her lip and thought a moment. “Didn’t Lara have a brother?”

  “She did. Templeton. But I haven’t a clue where he might be. By the Christ, he was a good dozen years older than Lara. All I know is he took off after their parents’ deaths. She was left in the hands of a cousin until she married Lawrence.”

  “Find him,” she ground out. “The quicker, the better. I want the brat gone from our estate. I refuse to allow her to share a nursery with my future children. She will not take away time nor love from them. She is to be banished from Shallowheart forevermore. Do you understand, my love?” Her nails dug deeper into his flesh.

  Benedict certainly did. Amicia was a vindictive bitch and Rosalyne would never be safe under a roof shared by the two.

  Wearily, he nodded. “I will set about tomorrow finding out Templeton Parry’s whereabouts.”

  Amicia gave him a brilliant smile. “Good.” She ran her hands down his chest. “You can accompany me back to our bed, my lord, and make love to me. Tonight might be the night you finally get me with child.”

  She whirled and left the room without a backward glance.

  Benedict bent and rested his palm atop Rosalyne’s head, then bent and kissed the sleeping babe’s cheek.

  “I love you enough to protect you the only way I know how, sweet Rosalyne.” With that, he returned to the solar and the distasteful task of making love to his vengeful wife.