As they drove through the city, Julia’s thoughts went to Ragnvald. She couldn’t shake the feeling something bothered him. She needed to know what it was. But she knew better than to push someone when they didn’t want to talk. The last thing she wanted was to push him away.
When they reached Aunt Helga and Uncle Erik’s home on the outskirts of the city, exhaustion hit Julia. Her whole body fell limp. She hadn’t been feeling well the last couple of weeks.
“Are you feeling ill?” Mum asked with a worried tone.
Julia shook her head. “Just a bit dizzy and nauseous. Nothing to worry about.”
“Let’s get you upstairs,” Aunt Helga said, hooking her hand around Julia’s arm.
Uncle Erik opened the guest bedroom door. “Here you go, dear. Rest. We’ll get you something to eat.”
Before Julia could utter a protest, her mum, aunt, and uncle walked out of the room.
Alone with her thoughts, Julia missed Ragnvald. Part of her wanted to return to the hospital, but her dizzy head and weak legs wouldn’t let her move. Instead, she lay down on the bed.
“Ragnvald, my love,” she whispered.
Unshed tears stung her eyes. She let them go, but the heaviness in her heart remained. Her head hurt with regret. Because of her, Nigel had harmed the man she loved. Maybe it was for the best that she didn’t seek a future with Ragnvald. She laughed at the thought. She loved him too much to let him go without a fight.
She tried sitting up, but her head spun. Her stomach churned. She closed her eyes, hoping the nausea would subside fast. Slowly, she plumped herself against the pillows. She stilled and inhaled a deep breath and then another.
“What’s the matter, love?” Mum asked, walking into the room with a tray of food and a teapot.
Julia felt her mother’s soothing hands on her forehead and cheeks.
“You’re burning up.”
“I’ll be fine.” She hoped so.
* * * *
“I am here, my love.”
Ragnvald turned and saw Julia walking toward him amongst the corpses on the muddy ground. Had he died and gone to Valhalla? A warm breeze whipped through her long, auburn hair. He stilled, waiting for her to approach. She reached out to him, but he couldn’t touch her. He fell to the ground, no longer able to stand on his legs. A searing pain centered in his gut. Blood seeped through his tunic.
He closed his eyes, focusing on a plan to escape this battlefield. But his mind couldn’t form a complete thought. Fear and anger rose within him. How did he let the enemy soldier pierce his defenses? He could still feel the cold steel penetrating his skin.
“I am here, my love.” Julia’s voice called to him once more.
She kneeled at his side. Her rosy lips curled upward. For a moment, he forgot the pain centering in his gut. He reached out to Julia. A thick fog surrounded them. Then she disappeared.
“No,” he cried.
He closed his eyes. Was this the moment he finally went to Valhalla? He could no longer move his body. And he didn’t care. The love of his life had gone.
“Ragnvald,” a female voice called out. “If you can hear me, please wake up.”
With all the effort he could conjure up, he opened his eyes. Instead of a battlefield, he saw a hospital room. Then, beside him, Julia smiled.
“Hello,” she said.
“Hello.” He reached for her hand and brought her fingers to his lips.
He sensed her distance. She gently pulled her hand away.
“Tell me what’s wrong.”
Julia stepped toward the window and wrapped her hands around her arms. With great care, he sat up.
“Please tell me what bothers you, sweetheart.”
Before facing him, she wiped her cheek. He could tell she wanted to say something. Instead, she approached him and sat beside him on the bed. She took his hand and kissed his fingers. He leaned his brow against hers.
“You can tell me anything, please know that,” he said.
She nodded and blew out a soft breath. “I’m pregnant.”
Were his ears playing tricks on him? Words stuck in his throat. Finally, he managed to say, “Are you certain?”
“Yes. I saw the doctor this morning. He confirmed it.”
He leaned his head against her brow. Never in a million lifetimes had he thought about children of his own. And now the possibility had become a reality thanks to Julia.
“Are you happy about this news?” she asked.
In her eyes, Ragnvald saw anxiety and fear. He reassured her at once. “Of course, sweetheart.” He kissed her forehead. “You have made me the happiest man in the world.” He brought her into his arms. “There’s only one thing that would make this moment more special.”
“What’s that?”
He pointed at the drawer beside him. “There’s something in the pocket of my jeans for you.”
With curiosity on her beautiful face, Julia pulled out a small box from the pocket.
* * * *
Her heart quaked. With a shaky hand, she held the tiny black velvet box.
“Open it,” Ragnvald said.
She looked at him and then slowly lifted the lid. There, in the light overhead, a sterling silver ring with an emerald surrounded by a Celtic design shone for her eyes only. Words stuck in her throat.
“Will you be my wife, Julia?”
Was she dreaming? Would she awake in her bed, alone once more?
He touched her arm. She looked at him and saw a sparkle of anticipation in his eyes. She also saw his love for her. Since the day they’d met, thoughts of marrying him had crossed her mind. But she hadn’t believed that marriage was in the cards for her.
She looked back down at the beautiful ring. Its beauty mesmerized her, and she stared at it for a long while.
“I’ll understand if you prefer waiting.” He brushed away a strand of hair from her cheek.
After a pause, she replied, “I can’t imagine my life without you in it.” She touched his face. “I want to marry you.”
He smiled and took the ring between his forefinger and thumb. He slid the ring on her left hand. It fit perfectly. Tears escaped her eyes. Happiness filled her heart and body.
“Am I dreaming?” she asked, leaning her head against his shoulder.
“If you are, then I’m dreaming too.” He kissed her brow.
Julia looked at him and cupped his unshaven face. “I love you, Ragnvald.”
“And I love you, Julia.”
Their lips connected, sealing their promise to each other. Their souls whispered undying love that would last for eternity.
Epilogue
One Year Later
“Good morning, dear.” Mum wrapped her arms around Julia as she walked into the living room. “Hand over my grandson.”
Carefully, Julia placed Harry in her mother’s embrace.
“He’s gotten so big,” Mum said, kissing the baby’s rosy cheeks. “Did you get any news from your husband?”
Julia shook her head. “I’m sure he’s on his way.” She hoped so as she glanced out the window. Ragnvald had assured her he would join them at the family’s Scottish home before Christmas. Hopefully, he would keep his word.
“Have something to eat, dear.”
Delicious scents of cinnamon reached her nose. Everything felt like home. Julia hoped Ragnvald joined them soon. He was incredibly busy. When the holidays came, people around Copenhagen had put in their orders for handmade swords. Business was booming for him. Everyone wanted a unique piece of art from the best sword master in town. She was happy for him, but her heart and soul ached for him.
“I’ll go make us some more tea,” Julia offered, taking the tray with the teapot on it.
Going into the kitchen, she discovered her dad was there, already making some tea. She’d missed him. Since she and Ragnvald had returned to Denmark almost a year ago, the family had only reunited twice.
“Hello, Dad.”
He turned around and took the tray fro
m her hands. He kissed her brow. “Good morning, love. Did you sleep well?”
She nodded.
“Your husband will be here soon,” he reassured her. “Now, let’s get this tea to the living room.”
Julia placed the cream and honey on the silver tray and followed her father. When they reached Mum and Harry, Julia saw Colin and Fiona with their children decorating the Christmas tree. A nice roaring fire burned in the stone hearth. Julia stood in the doorway, creating a mental picture of her family. A wave of love filled her heart. In silence, she thanked her lucky stars for this moment and for all the happiness she could’ve ever imagined. One person was missing. Would he ever make it home to her and their son?
Eyes widened when they looked her way. No one moved. Mum gently pointed behind her.
“I hope I’m not too late to decorate the tree with you,” a familiar low baritone said behind her.
Julia knew that voice, the one that rumbled through her each time he spoke. Despite her shaky hands, Julia set the tray on the nearby side table. She waited for him to speak again.
“Hello, sweetheart.” Ragnvald placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
She shivered under his touch. Slowly, she turned. Without speaking a word, Julia threw herself into his embrace.
“I’ve missed you,” she managed to say.
“I’ve missed you too.”
He cupped her face as their lips connected in a sweet reunion.
About Jackie M. Smith
Jackie M. Smith was born in the Maritimes of a French-speaking father and English-speaking mother. She has three younger sisters. Jackie always loved reading her mother’s romance books. After moving to Montreal, she worked as a customer service representative. But her love for writing romances has never stopped.
Since 2010, she has been a full-time writer in both the English and French languages. When she’s not writing her next great romance, she enjoys watching movies, listening to music, and sharing her work with the world.
Jackie’s Website:
www.jackiemsmith.weebly.com
Reader eMail:
[email protected]
More Beachwalk Press Titles by Jackie M. Smith
On His Honor
Hidden Desire
Klondike Winter
The Darkest Winter
Hidden Desire
Two friends become lovers, but someone wants one of them dead.
Kristina Scott has something her ex-fiancé wants, and he’s willing to kill to get it. With the help of a friend, she manages to escape and returns to her hometown, praying he won’t find her. Her first night back in town she reunites with her childhood friend Matt Logan—her first crush—and old feelings begin to resurface. But the man’s already broken her heart once, and she can’t go through that again.
After his disastrous marriage, local police constable Matt Logan swore he would never fall in love again. But seeing Kristina after ten years stirs a desire within him unlike any he has ever known.
Matt’s cop instincts tell him something’s wrong, but Kristina refuses to open up to him. Then she’s kidnapped, and he follows her to London, praying he can find her before it’s too late.
Will Matt find Kristina in time, and can love blossom between them despite everything standing in the way?
Content Warning: contains steamy sex, mature language, and some violence
On His Honor
In a time of great turmoil, a beauty meets a beast who changes her life forever.
Emilia Crawford’s father is arrested in the name of King Henry VIII’s new reforms. The king’s men take him to the London Tower to await sentencing. In an attempt to save her father’s life, Emilia travels to London. One kiss from her father’s captor turns her life upside down.
When Jamie Kingsley is sent to arrest members of the Pilgrimage of Grace he never imagined he would meet a woman who would make him lose all reason, along with his heart. But he has a duty to fulfill, or he risks losing his head to King Henry VIII’s henchmen.
Content Warning: contains sensual sex scenes and some strong language
Klondike Winter
In the wintery Rocky Mountains, two strangers find love.
Her family left in financial ruin, Sarah Callaghan travels to the Yukon with her brother in search of gold. When her brother is injured and must return home, she’s determined to continue on herself, and her brother’s friend, Nicholas Ashbury, agrees to assist her. The handsome, kind man makes her tremble with a desire she has never experienced before. But she doesn’t want to risk losing her heart or her fiancé for a man she barely knows.
Nick seeks adventure instead of a life in London’s high society. In order to receive his rightful title and inheritance, he must marry before his twenty-fifth birthday. When he meets Sarah, her beauty and innocence capture his heart. He agrees to help her restore her family’s fortune, but a secret he holds prevents him from making her his.
Love blossoms between the two strangers, but can they find the happiness they seek in the cold, harsh wilderness?
Content Warning: contains sensual sex scenes and some strong language
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