by Jody Hedlund
His keen eyes seemed to see right through me. For a long moment, he was silent as though contemplating the truth of my statement.
Then he surprised me by lifting his hand to my hair and brushing a long strand off my cheek and tucking it behind my ear. “How did you become so wise, my lady?”
At his merest touch, I melted. I couldn’t stay frustrated with him. Maybe he had withheld an important part of himself from me, but he hadn’t done so maliciously. Because he’d been bold enough to initiate contact with me, I reached up and let my fingers make a trail across his scratchy unshaven cheek.
At my stroke, his dark blue eyes turned a rich hue that somehow warmed me all the way through to a place deep in my soul.
“Have you brought me to your home, my lord?” I used his proper title, but it was a whisper almost as soft as a caress.
“Yes. We’re at Maidstone.” He lifted his other hand, started to reach for a strand of my hair on the opposite cheek, but then hovered just out of reach.
I nearly quivered with the need for him to touch me again. I wanted to lean in to his hand, but I waited breathless for his next move. “Am I your prisoner again?”
“Were you ever my prisoner?” He finally let his hand brush the strand of my hair. His fingers caressed the length of it before he tucked it behind my other ear.
The gentleness of his every move embodied who he was—a man of both tenderness and strength.
“If anyone has been a prisoner, it’s been me,” he said softly. “From the moment I laid eyes on you, you have held me captive.”
“Is that so?” My voice was winded with expectation, and delicious warmth pooled in my belly.
“You know it, my lady.” His hand slid from my hair to my neck.
I nearly gasped at the touch of his fingers upon my throat, against my wildly beating pulse. His hand spanned around to the back of my neck in an almost possessive manner, one that made my anticipation rise.
“You have my heart now,” he whispered. “And it shall be loyal to you forevermore.”
I couldn’t think to respond. So I said the first thing on my mind. “Then if you are mine, I command you to kiss—”
His lips descended upon mine before I could even finish my sentence. His hand positioned already at the back of my neck brought me against him firmly, letting me know that while I might command his heart, he was still very much in charge.
I lifted on my toes to meet his kiss. The danger of the past days, the knowledge that I’d almost lost him, the delight of being together again—the emotions swirled in a passionate dance as my lips moved against his.
The power of the connection overtook me, and my legs gave way. I broke from him with a gasp and nearly collapsed to the floor. He caught me, his brow furrowing.
“You have the power to weaken me, my lord,” I said in an attempt to make light of my weakness.
But he didn’t share my mirth. He swept me up, cradling me in his arms. Then he stalked back into the bedroom and crossed to the bed. He lowered me to the mattress and placed me upon it carefully like a cherished treasure. Then he straightened and glared down at me. “If you don’t stay in bed, I shall chain you there.”
I was breathless and my lips warm from his kiss. I could only stare up at him and smile. “I love you.”
If my words took him by surprise, he didn’t give it away. Instead, he lowered himself to one knee next to the bed and reached for my hand. “I would carry through with our betrothal, my lady, not out of obligation but out of my desire for you and none other.”
My heart pounded a resounding answer. “I would carry through with our betrothal, my lord, not because anyone has forced me to it but because I willingly desire to spend the rest of my life with you.”
Only then did he smile, a slow and devastating grin that lit his eyes and made him irresistibly handsome. His smile matched the joyous one that started in my heart and spread all throughout my body.
When he lifted my hand to his lips and brushed a soft kiss on my knuckles, I gave him my heart too. My loyal heart.
Chapter
26
We stood at the front of Maidstone’s chapel and recited our vows. I smiled up at the man who was now my husband. And I shuddered to imagine my life without him. I’d almost settled for a loveless marriage because I’d thought it would bring me untold gain.
What I hadn’t realized was that a loveless marriage to Lionel Lacy, the next Marquess of Clearwater, might have given me prestige and power and political advantage, but it would have left me empty in the things that really mattered: love, goodness, and integrity.
I’d gained all that and more in Aldric Windsor.
His fingers intertwined with mine as they had many times during the past week while I’d lain abed and he’d sat in the chair by my side recovering from his wounds. Although I’d desired more of his kisses, he’d kept a chaperone in the room with us at all times.
Lady Sabine had kept me company whenever Aldric was absent. I’d taken an immediate liking to the talkative young woman who surprised me with her wealth of knowledge about everything.
I’d also loved Aldric’s mother. She was as beautiful and fair and elegant as her sons were handsome. I could see that she’d been a doting mother and was thrilled that Aldric was back home and no longer grieving over Giselle. She’d confided in me how hard the past few years had been for Aldric and was immensely grateful he’d found me.
When I’d finally been strong enough to get out of bed, Aldric had taken me on a tour of his home and introduced me to the many ancient relics and the artwork that had found a protective home within the walls of Maidstone. He was proud of the beautiful items entrusted to his family, one of which was the ring he’d given me at our betrothal, an ancient family heirloom he’d always worn on a chain. He’d explained that his father had given it to him long ago when he’d tasked him with the responsibility of caring for Maidstone’s treasures.
Although Aldric had failed to be responsible for a time, he hadn’t let his failures destroy him but had let them make him stronger instead. “You’re my greatest treasure,” he’d whispered to me when he’d explained the significance of the ring. “And though I will likely fail you from time to time, I vow to let my failures only strengthen my love for you.”
I’d vowed to do the same.
I didn’t ask about the Holy Chalice, and I didn’t see it among any of the collections he showed me. Although I longed to try the miracle cup with my brother to see if it would indeed ease his suffering, I’d decided that if I couldn’t gain access to the cup honorably, then I had no desire for it.
Upon learning that my father had succumbed to his injuries from the battle with Lord Pitt and had died, I’d been saddened he’d gone to his grave thinking of me as a traitor. But I was relieved that the threat to Aldric’s life was gone. All of my father’s holdings, titles, and wealth had transferred to Charles.
I’d sent my brother an invitation to attend my wedding. But he hadn’t responded, likely too sick. At least I prayed that was it and that he didn’t blame me for Father’s death. I knew he’d been close with Father and would take his death hard. I consoled myself that Cecil was now with him and would hopefully mentor Charles as well as he had me.
Even without Charles, we had many guests arrive to Maidstone for the wedding. I glanced around the chapel to see the faces I’d recently met. Of course, Sir Bennet and Lady Sabine were there.
Sir Derrick, Lady Rosemarie, and their infant daughter had ridden from Montfort Castle in Ashby. Along with Collin, Sir Derrick was another one of Bennet’s elite knight friends.
Lord Collin wasn’t able to attend since his wife was having a baby. But the Duke of Rivenshire had honored us with his presence and had been in a number of meetings with Lord Pitt and Aldric since arriving.
Lord Pitt stood nearby grinning like a proud father. Lady Glynnis, with her colorful headdress and elaborate jewelry, sat with the other guests, her expression grim, almost sour. As with our
betrothal, she clearly had no desire to be present. She’d already declared that she had no intention of staying at Maidstone any longer than necessary.
As the priest finished the final prayer, I met Aldric’s gaze and squeezed his hand with the thrill of finally saying our vows. His eyes were warm upon mine and filled with a lifetime of promises.
We followed the guests from the chapel and strolled hand in hand along the passageway that led to the great hall where the servants had been working for days to prepare a magnificent feast. We would have a meal of numerous courses along with entertainment and dancing far into the night.
Aldric seemed in no hurry, and I slowed my steps to his. His eyes took on a calculated gleam that I’d learned meant he was planning something. As the last of the wedding party turned a corner, Aldric opened the nearest door and tugged me inside.
He closed the door quietly so that none of the guests would hear him. And then the moment it was shut, he reached for me and pulled me toward him.
I stumbled against him all too willingly.
“I’ve been waiting to do this all week,” he whispered against my hair as he burrowed his face into the thick strands I’d worn loose with ribbons cascading throughout.
“Do what, my lord?” I asked innocently, even as I wrapped my arms around his waist and pressed against him.
“This.” He dipped down and captured my lips in a kiss that was all consuming, one that let me know of his undying love and devotion to me. He took his time, and I relished the sweet meshing of our lips.
When he broke away, he buried his face in my hair again.
“Do we have to go to the feast?” I whispered.
He chuckled and pulled back. His eyes were alight with love and a happiness that I knew I’d put there. I vowed to spend my life keeping the light in his eyes alive.
“I didn’t just bring you in here to kiss you,” he said.
“It would be perfectly fine with me if you did.” I brushed my fingers across his lips, marveling that now as husband and wife we could kiss whenever it suited us.
As he broke away and walked toward a desk, I realized he’d pulled me into his private study, the place he met with important men like Lord Pitt and the Duke of Rivenshire. He also used the room to house Maidstone’s ledgers and take care of business affairs. In the week I’d lived at Maidstone, I’d come to realize Aldric was ready to resume his duties as lord of the manor and had spent a great deal of time poring over the books, acclimating himself to Maidstone’s affairs before Bennet left.
“I have a wedding present for you,” Aldric said as he rounded his desk.
“A wedding present? It is I who should be giving you a present, a dowry. But I have nothing to bring to our marriage—”
“And we’ve been over this,” he said firmly. “I don’t need your family’s money.”
Before I’d known his true status as a baron, I hadn’t considered that a dowry might be an important part of a union as it would have been with the Clearwater family. But as a baron, Aldric could have gained any number of women whose fathers would have paid a large dowry for their daughter’s security as a baroness.
“I cannot bestow upon you a gift,” I said, “so I cannot accept one from you.”
“Not even this?” He held up a cup shaped of a dull but thick silver. It was simple in design, without elegant engravings or markings. But something about it glimmered with an almost ethereal quality. When he slowly turned it, the engraving of the Lamb came into view.
“The Holy Chalice,” I breathed the words reverently.
He just smiled.
The cup seemed to beckon me, and I crossed to stand in front of Aldric. I lifted my hand to touch the chalice, but then stopped and took a rapid step back. “I cannot take it from you.”
“You’re not taking it. I’m giving.” With that, he reached for my hand and placed the chalice into it.
It was heavier than I expected. “Thank you, Aldric.” I traced a finger around the wide rim and imagined the Lord taking a sip from it. Would it really cure Charles? I knew I could do nothing less than allow Charles the opportunity to test its healing properties.
“Whether it heals your brother or not,” Aldric said, “the cup has already brought healing to me.”
“How so?” I lifted my eyes to his ruggedly handsome face.
“Without it, Lord Pitt wouldn’t have had any way to push us together. Without our betrothal, I wouldn’t have had to face my past. And without it, I wouldn’t have you now.”
He bent and placed a tender kiss upon my lips, one that was all too short. “And who would have thought a woman like you would ever be able to love a man like me? That in itself is the greatest miracle of all.”
I smiled. “You are not so difficult to love, my lord.”
“Is that so?” He grinned.
I set the chalice onto his desk and lifted my arms to his neck. “Yes, shall I demonstrate?”
He slid his arms around me and drew me close. “Please do,” he murmured against my lips.
And I did.
Discussion Questions
1. Olivia realizes she longs for Aldric’s admiration because he’s a man of honor. She says: “Respect and admiration meant so much more when they came from someone who lived out the qualities.” Do you agree with her statement? Why or why not?
2. At first, Olivia justified her sneaking around and stealing because she was helping Charles. Was there a better way for her to get the chalice without resorting to crime?
3. Our culture often tells us that something can’t be wrong if we’re doing it for the right reasons, especially if our choice won’t hurt someone else. What’s wrong with this kind of reasoning?
4. Aldric feels as though he failed in his relationship with Giselle, and he’s afraid to try a new relationship for fear of failing again. Are there any areas where fear holds you back from trying something new?
5. Olivia says that we will all make mistakes. Some people ignore their mistakes, too proud and unwilling to accept their faults. Others let their mistakes rule over them with an iron fist, becoming a slave to the past. And still others allow their mistakes to push them to change, letting the past strengthen their choices for the future. How do you handle your mistakes?
6. The definition of loyalty is a sense of duty or allegiance or support to someone. What are ways we show loyalty to our family, schools, sports teams, nation, etc.?
7. Olivia comes to realize that her father was manipulating her for his own desires, that he didn’t deserve her loyalty. Is loyalty something you owe someone? Or is it something that is earned?
8. Our ultimate loyalty should lie foremost with God our King. What things or people pull at your loyalty to the King of kings?
9. Aldric and Olivia got into a fight during the boar hunt. Olivia says, “I would have you weigh my opinions and ideas with as much respect as you give Lord Pitt’s.” Why is it so important in a relationship to give the other’s opinions and ideas equal respect? What happens when one person demands to have his or her way without considering the other person?
10. Aldric learned he couldn’t control Olivia, that doing so would eventually push her away. Control in a relationship is always dangerous. In what ways can a controlling relationship cause problems?
Jody Hedlund is the bestselling author of multiple novels, including Love Unexpected, Captured by Love, Rebellious Heart, and The Preacher’s Bride. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Taylor University and a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin, both in social work. Jody lives in Michigan with her husband and five children. Learn more at JodyHedlund.com
Young Adult Fiction From Jody Hedlund
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Due to her parents’ promise at her birth, Lady Rosemarie has been prepared to become a nun on the day she turns eighteen. Then, shortly before her birthday, a friend of her father’s enters the kingdom and proclaims her parents’ will left a second choice—if Rosemarie can marry before the eve of her eighteenth year, she will be exempt from the ancient vow.
A Daring Sacrifice
In a reverse twist on the Robin Hood story, a young medieval maiden stands up for the rights of the mistreated, stealing from the rich to give to the poor. All the while, she fights against her cruel uncle who has taken over the land that is rightfully hers.
For Love & Honor
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A complete list of my novels can be found at jodyhedlund.com.
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