by Ruth Kaufman
He wasn’t surprised to find it was near midnight when he went inside the castle. Real time passed rapidly while meditating. The hall was deserted. He stood in awe of the transformation. All but the ceiling had been cleaned, the pungent soap scent lingering and mingling with that of the fresh rushes scattered on the floor. Someone had found the dogs. The three of them lay sleeping before the hearth. Amberton was a home once again.
He ran up the stone stairs to Annora’s chamber. Not wanting to startle her in case she was asleep, he opened the door slowly.
Her high bed with its half-open velvet drapes was empty, as expected. She sat on a cushioned window seat, looking out the open window. How beautiful she was with her clean, though somewhat shorter hair flowing down her back, shining in the moonlight that highlighted her lovely profile.
How wonderful it would be to have the right to come to this room, climb into her bed and hold her close night after night.
“Annora, sweet. I need to talk to you.”
She turned, clearly taken aback. “What time is it? What’s happened?”
“All is well. I’ve come to a decision and had to share it.”
She made room for him on the window seat.
“I love you, Annora, and I always will,” he began as he sat beside her.
“And for you, always is a very, very long time,” she whispered.
He smiled, remembering when he’d said that. “So it is. ’Tis because I love you more than I ever thought I could love a woman that I must leave.”
She didn’t move a muscle, but tears glinted in her eyes.
“What happened today—”
“What happened today was that you defeated my enemies,” she said. “You saved my life. Twice.”
“—was a hairsbreadth from disaster. I almost killed you and your people. I can’t trust myself where you’re concerned, because my strong emotions wipe out my control over powers. If I stayed, I’d live in constant fear that I might inadvertently harm you while trying to protect you.”
“This is the conclusion all of your thinking brought you to?” She jumped to her feet and balled her fists. He realized fury, not sorrow, had brought on her tears. She looked as though she wanted to slap him. “Your long life has addled your brain.”
“I didn’t make that decision lightly.” Why didn’t she understand? “I’ll admit I want nothing more than to be with you. That I yearn to hold you at night and awake with you each morning. I felt torn in two. So I called upon the wisdom of my ancestors.”
“What? How?”
“I hear them in my mind. After talking with them, I sought peace through an ancient technique called meditation.”
“And all that mystical effort and advice convinced you to leave me?” she sneered. “I don’t believe for a minute that you tried to make a decision true to your heart. Instead, you reinforced centuries of condemning yourself.
“You’ve said no one accepted you, neither immortals nor mortals. The true problem is you. You’ve never accepted who you are and all you have to offer. I know how difficult it is to believe and have faith when others doubt you and make sport, when they look at you askance.” Her voice caught. He wanted to take her in his arms, but resisted. “Though I fought such doubts, they almost got the best of me, too. They made me want to kill myself for the greater good of Amberton. You’re stronger, far older, and should be wiser than I. It’s high time you appreciated your uniqueness instead of always worrying how it might come back to haunt you and those you care for.”
Morgan was at a loss for words. Hers cut to his core, scraping wounds he’d thought scabbed over. He’d never seen such passion, such intensity on her face. How he loved this fiery, beautiful woman.
“I can’t imagine what it must be like to know hundreds of years stretch before you,” she continued. “You spend your life waiting for the future, for King Arthur’s return. Have you ever considered living in the now, one day at a time? Or do you stall and stagnate, instead of embracing happiness, until that unknown, unpredictable time when you’ll serve your liege? Your father was forced to languish in captivity. Yours is of your own making. Don’t you deserve happiness?”
Her tirade stunned him. He’d never received such a tongue lashing. Never had he more deserved one. But then, he’d never faced such a difficult decision, with such high stakes. He felt like tall grass battered about by the wind. First one way, then the next.
Didn’t he control the wind?
Annora was mortal, yet in many ways tougher than he. Her feminine frailty concealed strength of spirit. Her belief in him was more powerful than any of his abilities.
She was right. His lack of faith in himself had made him decide to leave her.
Her heartfelt words broke a dam inside him, flooding him with clarity and insight. Thank the gods his blind trust in all the immortals had drummed into him hadn’t ruined his entire future. Thank the gods Annora had forgiven him for leaving her and wasn’t furious over the destruction he’d brought to her castle, or fearful of him.
Love truly was the most powerful magic of all.
“Can we go to the garden? I think I need to make it rain again,” he said.
“What?” she asked, clearly confused by the abrupt change of subject.
“Remember when we agreed the stream and then rain could wash away the pain of your past? I’m the one who needs a good dousing now. I need to start anew. It’s painful to admit, but you’re right. I let those around me determine my worth and form who I am. I’ve been so focused on the future that I paid little heed to today.” He held out his hand. “Will you come with me? Will you use your powers to help me reconcile my past as I used mine to aid you?”
“Powers? I don’t have any powers.”
“Ah, Annora, but you do. And of the most potent kind—of faith and trust. The power of love. You wield them to fashion enchantment as great as any I’ve known. I’ve met prominent wizards, but only you have the determination and skill to make me want to be better than I am. You make me feel capable of anything.”
Annora hadn’t taken his outstretched hand, though he’d confessed all. He’d never opened his heart so wide. He swallowed. Had his continuous resistance of her love finally pushed her away?
“I’m sorry for any hurt my indecision and inner fears brought you,” he added. “I’ll spend the rest of your life making it up to you, one day at a time. If you’ll have me.”
Had her hand moved an inch toward him, then retreated?
“What of your destined mate?”
“My relatives told me immortals I may never even meet her, because the world is so vast. From the day I met you, I knew. But I refused to accept it. Annora of Amberton, you are my destiny. I feel wonderful. At last I can say the words and believe them.”
“Are you sure, Morgan? Are you sure this is what you most want?”
“I am. Do you want me, too?” Again he held out his hand. “Will you come with me?”
“Yes and yes. I do and I will.” She launched herself into his arms like a stone from a catapult.
Laughing, he held her tight. Then kissed her, long and deep.
Hand in hand, giddy as children with a new toy, they ran down the stairs, through the castle and to their garden. Raising his arms to the sky, Morgan closed his eyes until rain began to fall. The cool drops soaked their clothes in an instant. He smiled, truly happy for the first time in his life.
His hands still in hers, he sank to one knee. The only sound was the susurration of the falling rain. “Annora, my love, will you marry me?”
“I would be honored.” Annora squeezed his fingers. “But first, I need a little more convincing. Tell me you love me.”
“I’ll proclaim it every hour if need be. I love you, Annora of Amberton. I always will.”
Her eyes sparkled as joy filled her. “Now show me again the power of love.”
With a smile, Morgan rose and clasped her close, savoring the rush of joy at holding his soon-to-be wife. As she slid her arms arou
nd him, he kissed her with all the passion in his heart.
Other books by Ruth Kaufman
Wars of the Roses Brides Trilogy
AT HIS COMMAND
Book 1
What’s a lady to do when the king commands her to marry a lord, but she’s falling for the knight sent to protect her from undesirable suitors and is a scribe for the king’s rival for the throne?
http://amzn.com/B00QPG52A6
“A wonderful debut sure to please lovers of romance!”
—NYT & USA Today bestselling author Madeline Hunter
“With a bold knight and a strong-willed lady, Kaufman’s story is positively medieval.”
—NYT & USA Today bestselling author Tracy Anne Warren
“If a book lingers in my mind for more than two weeks, then I say the author has certainly deserved to be put on my keeper shelf.”
—Bookworm2bookworm
FOLLOW YOUR HEART
Book 2
She’s a glass-painter making her way in a man’s world. He’s on a quest to redeem his family name and estate. When unforeseen passion makes their marriage of convenience inconvenient, will his dangerous secrets keep them from following their hearts?
http://amzn.com/B00TYM7XBE
Must-read romance: “Kaufman can certainly write an entertaining suspenseful romance and brings us a happy sigh-worthy story in Follow Your Heart.”
—USATODAY.com
“Kaufman’s strong second romance…appealing protagonists…maintaining suspense and building the reader’s hope that Joanna and Adrian’s mutual respect will grow into love.”
—Publishers Weekly BookLife
“As the story unfolds, it will suck you in…fantastic!!!”
—5-Star Amazon Review
THE BRIDE TOURNAMENT
Book 3
The Gone with the Wind love triangle meets The Bachelor. The king wants her to marry the new earl, but she wants to marry her betrothed. So she holds a bride tournament to find the earl a better, more willing bride. Who will win his hand in marriage…and his love?
http://amzn.com/B016YZEW0I
“Kaufman writes well-developed and sympathetic characters with clear motivations. The Bride Tournament is a page-turner of a historical romance that will have readers rooting for a happy ending.
—RT Book Reviews
“Appealing protagonists, a satisfying pace, engaging supporting characters, and numerous obstacles to overcome combine in this emotionally satisfying romance.”
—Publishers Weekly BookLife
“Do you like historical romances that are full of twists and turns? This is the book for you if you do.”
—5-Star Amazon Review
Author’s Note
Dear Reader,
Thank you for taking the time to read My Once and Future Love. I hope you enjoyed reading Annora’s and Morgan’s story as much I as enjoyed writing it. If you’re so inclined, I’d really appreciate a review.
The combination of late medieval England and reworking beloved Arthurian elements really captured my interest. There are many books and websites about some Knights of the Round Table, but what if there were some we didn’t know about? I hope you’ll look forward to Book 2, Ninian’s journey toward love and more Arthurian adventures, which is coming soon.
I’d also appreciate feedback on what you liked and even what you didn’t. Please contact me at [email protected].
To be notified about future books and important news, please sign up for my newsletter on my home page at www.ruthkaufman.com, where you can also learn more about me and my books. Additional information is on my Amazon author page and my Goodreads page. If you’d like to follow me, I’m on Facebook at Ruth Kaufman Author & Actress and Twitter @RuthKaufman.
About the Author
Ruth Kaufman is an Amazon bestselling author, on-camera and voiceover talent and freelance editor and speaker with a J.D. and a Master’s in Radio/TV. She loves living in Chicago and going to the theatre.
My Once and Future Love is her fourth novel, following her Wars of the Roses Brides trilogy. Her writing accolades include Romance Writers of America® 2011 Golden Heart® winner and runner up in RT Book Reviews’ national American Title II contest.
She’s appeared in indie features, short films, web series and national and local TV commercials, and has voiced hundreds of explainer videos, e-learning courses, commercials and assorted characters.
Learn more at www.ruthkaufman.com and www.ruthtalks.com. Follow her on Twitter: @RuthKaufman or Facebook: Ruth Kaufman Author & Actress.
Copyright © 2016 Ruth Kaufman
All rights reserved. No part or the whole of this book may be used or reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any manner now known or hereafter invented without the prior written permission of Ruth Kaufman, except for brief quotations embodied in articles and reviews.
Names, characters, places and incidents are fictional or are used fictitiously and are solely the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Cover Art by Sylvia Frost, S. Frost Designs
Digital Formatting by Author E.M.S.
Contact: www.ruthkaufman.com
ASIN: B01DC8XXNM
Table of Contents
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
Other Books by Ruth Kaufman
Author’s Note
About the Author
Copyright