At the festive sight, the fears and worries gnawing at Alyna disappeared. She paused in the doorway to fill her eyes with the delight of it all. Warin came up behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders. She tilted her head to lay her cheek against his fingers.
“Welcome home, my dove,” he whispered.
“And you, my lord husband.”
“My lord husband?” he teased. “Have you no other words for me?”
“For now, no.” She waved at the dear ones gathering in the great hall at news of their homecoming: Muriel, Hilda, Beatrice, Fordwin, Robert, all standing with smiles wreathing their faces. “See, we have an audience.”
“Then I’ll wait for when we’re alone.” He spoke gently, for her ears alone and his voice promised much. She shivered in anticipation.
Warin brushed his fingers along her jaw then stepped up alongside her, pulling her close to him with one strong arm. She couldn’t stop the smile that began from deep within and she glanced up to meet his eyes, bemused at the adoration burning there. Regretfully she tore her gaze away.
One by one, all came up to speak to them and all received a few kind words in return. Then, like a plump whirlwind, Emma burst into the hall and charged over to Alyna.
“Lady Alyna!” She enveloped Alyna in a hug that smelled of roasted goose. “We feared you lost forever!”
“At times, I feared the same,” Alyna replied.
Emma stood back. Tucking her hands under her armpits, she looked Alyna up and down. “You need fattening up,” she announced. “A babe needs sustenance to grow.”
“Aye?” Alyna giggled at the authoritative tone of Emma’s voice.
“I’ve been to see Muriel’s ma,” Emma explained, lifting her chin proudly. “The woman knows much about birthing.”
“If the Lord wills it, when my time comes, we will call her.” Alyna kept her words vague.
“Those are my thought exactly,” Emma nodded, satisfied. “But I want to be there too,” she added quickly.
“Of course you will,” Alyna replied. “But that is long in coming and we will talk on it another time.”
“Oh, aye.” A flush of red covered Emma’s cheeks. “Forgive me, we should not be talking on such things.” She backed away. “We’re busy in the kitchen. Come Beatrice, Hilda.”
“Alyna? Of what did Emma speak?” Warin tugged on her hand to turn her around and quirked an eyebrow.
Alyna peeped up at him and shrugged. “Women’s chatter,” she stammered. She would tell him later.
In the time since her rescue, she hadn’t found the right occasion to tell him about the babe. And in truth, she had wanted to tell him in the privacy of their chamber, without the listening ears of others about. The moment should be shared between husband and wife alone.
They finally made their escape and climbed the stairs to the solar. There too, all waited in readiness for their return – a welcoming fire burning in the grate, a basin of warm water steaming on the hearth and a trencher of food and jug of ale laid on the chest.
Alyna turned to lay her head on Warin’s chest.
“At times I wasn’t sure I would ever return here.” She heaved a sigh. “They set a clever trap and I didn’t know how to warn you.”
She squeezed her eyes tight against the tears beginning to spill. By the Virgin Mary, it seemed tears always filled her eyes these days. Mayhap due to the life she carried? She would ask Muriel’s mother or Hilda.
“It’s over.” He wiped her moisture-spiked lashes with the edge of his sleeve. “We’re safe.”
“I’ve been safe with you since the day we met in France. You are my protector, my savior, my husband.”
Warin tilted his head. “All that?” Pleasure filled his blue eyes, turning them indigo.
“Aye, all that and more.” She reached up to trace the faint scar on his temple then tapped him on his nose. “You’re also my friend, my only love and the father of the child in my womb.”
“A child.”
She almost laughed at the dazed expression on his face.
“Aye, my lord Warin. I carry your babe.” She reached over and took his hand, placing it on her belly. “Our babe.”
“Our child.” He pulled his hand away to hold it up before him as if the babe’s image had become imprinted there.
“It’s what happens when a woman lies with her husband,” she teased.
“A child. So Alan spoke true that day in the forest.” He nodded his head. “I wanted to believe it but you hadn’t mentioned it to me.”
“Because I didn’t know for certain,” she whispered.
“But Emma – she knows?”
Alyna nodded. “I didn’t believe her. But when Philippa suspected it too, well, then I had to believe it.”
“The greatest gift – a child of my loins.”
“Aye.” She smiled at him prettily. “The power that creates new life out of the joining of a man and a woman is truly wondrous.”
Warin looked pleased for a moment and then a shadow drifted across his face, darkening his eyes.
“What is it?” Alyna asked, suddenly alarmed. “You’re ill?”
“Death has followed me.” He forced the sentence out with great difficulty as if every word pained him physically. “Years ago my family perished in a raid but I was away and so was spared.”
“It was not your time,” she whispered. She held her breath, waiting for Warin to continue for it appeared as if finally he was going to bare his soul to her. She held his hands lightly in hers for encouragement.
“And on Crusade, all about me fell, by sword, by disease, by poison. Yet I lived, I stand here still.”
“It was not your time.” She repeated the words to be sure he had heard what she said.
“But to be given the gift of a child.” This time he placed both his hands on her belly. “The gift of new life for one who has taken so many lives….” His voice trailed away and he gazed at her, unseeing.
“Those thoughts plague you still?” She frowned at him. She was at a loss for what to say. Mayhap he didn’t remember she had reassured him once he wasn’t culpable but had only performed his duties as ordered by his superiors. She opened her mouth to remind him but he spoke before she could utter the words.
“Nay, not anymore.” He shook his head and his lips formed a brilliant smile as if that very declaration had set him free. “Sometimes the war of men becomes the war of gods. But still it is only a war of men. Does our God test us? Aye, daily, but He is also a good God, and generous. I didn’t know it then but the Almighty rewarded me for my service to Him by sending you to me that day in France. But I know it now.”
He raised her hands to his lips and kissed first one, “I love you Alyna and,” then the other, “I love the child you carry. Verily, there is only one thing I want more than our babe.”
“And that is?” What more could he want, she wondered. He had it all, did he not, lands, a keep, a wife and a soon to be born heir?
“And that is your love.”
“My love?” Her brow furrowed and she tilted her head. “Remember, I spoke of my love that day in the forest after Baldric died.”
“Aye, but I thought you spoke out of relief.” His voice shook.
“Of course not, and I will gladly tell you again and again – you have my love, my lord husband, you’ve had it since the day we wed.”
This time she lifted his hands to her lips to kiss them. “But pride held my tongue. I wanted my husband to marry me for love, indeed had spurned many for that ideal. But when the king ordered us to marry, it became a union of convenience, the very thing I loathed. What made it worse is to realize on that very day that I loved you but you didn’t feel the same.”
Warin gently pulled his hands free to cup her face with them before he spoke. “Aye, the king bade us wed – I couldn’t refuse him. But it’s also true I harbored thoughts of taking you to wife but how could I offer for your hand? I had nothing.” He kissed her lightly before continuing.
He closed his eyes for a moment and shook his head as if he could clear his thoughts. When he looked at her again, his eyes were reddened. “Then you were taken and I thought I’d lost you. But I had the chance to save you and that’s when I knew the fates smiled on us. That was one task I knew I wouldn’t fail for I wanted to tell you how I felt and nothing would deny me that opportunity.” He blinked several times as if fighting tears before smiling at her, a long, lazy smile that snatched away her breath and set her knees to trembling.
“You are my knight for love.” She dashed away the tears that had run unhindered down her cheeks at his words. “I never thought to hear those words from you. Truly, my heart is full.”
“And mine.”
Just then her stomach rumbled. “But not my stomach,” she said ruefully.
Laughter burst from him at the unladylike sound.
“Excuse me,” she mumbled, mortified that her stomach would interrupt such a tender moment.
He brought her the trencher. “Eat,” he commanded, eyes bright with joy. “You must build up your strength for later.”
“Why, what is to happen later?” Her brows furrowed in puzzlement.
“You will see.”
And later, when he carried her to the bed, she could indeed see what she needed her strength for.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Seven months later
“Two sons,” Emma remarked to no one in particular as she stood in the kitchen a few weeks after the birth. “Twins are indeed a sign of good fortune.”
The past days had been busy, she mused, and most challenging of all had been trying to find a wet nurse. The robust newborns demanded feeding at frequent intervals and as much as Alyna had tried, she couldn’t satisfy them both.
“Aye, good fortune,” Bennet said as he entered.
“Bennet!” Emma dropped what she was doing and turned around to face him, arms akimbo. “You scared me witless!”
“Hmm, ‘twould seem to be a fairly easy thing to do,” he teased.
“Ever the knave,” she scolded him, scowling in mock indignation. But try as she might, she couldn’t keep the frown in place. “It’s wonderful, isn’t it?”
“Aye,” Bennet agreed. “Good fortune smiles on Lord Warin and his lady.”
The two stood there for a moment, grinning at each other. Bennet’s gaze grew bold, however, and Emma turned her face away.
“Enough,” Emma squeaked, flustered at Bennet’s regard. “I must attend to Alyna. She needs to eat.” Her cheeks burned. What was he about, a knight ogling a serving wench.
“Let me help,” he offered, reaching over to take the trencher laden with smoked fish.
“Nay, it’s not seemly for a fine lord to help a kitchen maid.” She slapped at his hand.
“I’m no fine lord.” Bennet quickly denied her words.
“Oho?” Emma slanted her head to look at him. “Lady Alyna tells me Faulkenburg is a fine castle. You’ve done well to be given stewardship over it.”
“And stewardship it is, Emma, for the king granted those lands to Warin. I merely do as he bids.” Bennet remained silent for a moment then the familiar smile lit up his eyes. “It’ll be a fine home for one of the boys one day.”
“Aye,” Emma agreed. “Have you seen them yet?”
“Nay.” Bennet shook his head. “They were above stairs with their mother when I passed through the great hall.”
“The hall has been full of visitors – no wonder Lady Alyna is fatigued.” This time Emma’s frown was genuine. “She needs her rest for the birth wasn’t easy for her.”
“Enough!” Bennet backed away, hands held up in front of him. “Enough women’s talk.”
“What? Oh, aye.” Emma took pity on him. “Speaking of women’s talk, why are you here? The kitchen is for woman’s work.” She waved her hand towards Hilda, scrubbing the table, and Beatrice, mixing dough.
“Lord Warin bade me find you for he worries over his wife.”
“A more doting husband I have yet to see,” Emma replied. “By his concern, one would think Alyna is the only woman to have given birth.”
“He’s determined in whatever he does – and that includes protecting his family.”
“Well, then, it’s best not to keep the lord waiting.” She grabbed the trencher and pointed with her elbow. “If you want to help, bring the jug of goat’s milk from the table.” She started towards the door.
“Emma, wait.”
The earnest tone in Bennet’s voice stopped Emma dead in her tracks. Slowly she turned around. Her cheeks flushed again at Bennet’s admiring appraisal of her and she held the trencher close to her as if a shield.
“Aye?” Her voice quavered. This was not the Bennet she knew, the one who joked easily and always had a smile on his face. This Bennet was serious, with something of great import on his mind.
“Come with me to Faulkenburg,” he blurted. “I’ve spoken to Lord Warin about it and he is in agreement. I need a wife. And Faulkenburg needs a chatelaine.”
“Me?” Emma gaped. The trencher trembled in her hands.
“Aye, Emma, you. Your father’s a free man. I’m not of the noble class and can choose of my own free will. And if you say me aye,” he took the trencher from her and slapped it on a side table before getting down on one knee before her, “I’ll speak to your father.”
“How can I leave Alyna?”
“Gerard and Fordwin have gone to France to fetch Ada. Lady Alyna has no need of two nurse maids.”
Emma looked at the dear face turned up to her, brown eyes earnest. “I say aye, then. Now hand me the trencher. Ada’s not here yet and Lady Alyna is hungry.”
Bennet burst out laughing. “I can only wish you will serve me as well.”
*****
Alyna heard the commotion in the bailey and knew Bennet had arrived. She dressed carefully, donning the silken chemise, ermine trimmed kirtle and peacock blue tunic. Although snug over the breasts, the tunic fit her well enough and she wanted to look her best. Bennet was to be godfather and now that he was here, the christening could proceed without delay.
She picked up her sons and, one in each arm, picked her way downstairs. A cradle stood ready beside her chair beside the fireplace in the great hall and she placed them in it.
Her sons. Warin’s sons. Their sons.
The enormity of it all amazed her still. Tenderly she touched first one downy little head, then the other before leaning over to inhale their baby scent. Then she seated herself and picked up her mending. Without thinking, she stretched her foot over to rock the cradle and in no time the two babes fell fast asleep.
Warin entered the room and made his way over to her.
“Good morrow.” She glanced at him as he sat down. “See, your sons sleep soundly.”
“Our sons,” he corrected her gently, bending over to brush a kiss against her forehead. “And ‘tis good they sleep now, for I swear they lie awake at night to torment us.”
She giggled. “It is only what babies do – soon enough they will sleep through the night and will bother us no more.”
“Aye, not with that but I foresee sleepless nights for other reasons. The two together are bound to be mischievous,” he predicted, gazing at his sons fondly.
Alyna’s heart swelled at the sight. Warin’s face no longer carried that creased and haunted look. Instead, a smile a
lways lurked on the corners of his lips and laughter brightened his eyes.
The arrival of Bennet and Emma interrupted them and Alyna placed her mending back into the basket. She knew immediately Bennet had declared himself for Emma walked as if in a daze, sheer happiness igniting her brilliant blue eyes.
Emma stopped in front of them and curtsied to Warin while Bennet hung back, chest puffed with pride.
“Bennet tells me you have given us approval to wed.” At Warin’s nod, she continued. “I thank you and I vow I will be the best chatelaine Faulkenburg has ever had.”
“Be that as it may,” Warin shrugged, mouth pursed in mock severity. “But I fear it would be better for you to be the best wife Bennet ever had.” He waggled a finger at her.
“The two go hand in hand,” Bennet interjected, grabbing Emma’s hand and pulling her close. A blushing Emma tried to pull away but he wouldn’t let her, instead wrapping his arm around her waist to hold her fast.
Emma rolled her eyes, mouth twisted in a wry moue. “Knave.” She tried to pull away again, gave up, and looked over to Alyna. “Did you know of Bennet’s desire and not tell me?”
“Aye, I knew. I didn’t tell you for I had no wish to spoil Bennet’s moment.” The dear man deserved every happiness and in the capable hands of both him and Emma, Faulkenburg would be well looked after.
“How are they called.” Bennet finally released Emma and peered into the cradle.
“Hugh and Colin, for our fathers,” Alyna replied proudly.
“Is there any word on Philippa?” Warin asked Bennet. “That one has disappeared.”
“I cannot be certain.” Bennet straightened up. “But there is talk of a mad crone who lives by herself in a hovel deep in the forest. I suspect it’s her.”
“I’ve heard the talk too.” Warin nodded. “I thought it might be her but I wanted to hear from you if you suspected the same.”
“What?” Alyna exclaimed. “You had knowledge of Philippa and didn’t tell me?”
“I wasn’t certain it was Philippa.” Warin’s face was grave. “Forgive me, I didn’t want to upset you so close to your time.”
A Knight for Love Page 25