A single tear slipped down Isabelle’s cheek. “I did love you. I wanted nothing more than for you to return my love.”
He fought for breath as he clutched his chest. “And I was unable to do that.” His eyes grew desperate. “There is but one thing I would have, though I have no right to ask…But it is all that could give me some measure of peace now as I prepare to leave this world.” His eyes closed as he sucked in harsh, ragged breaths.
Isabelle leaned close and whispered, “I forgive you.”
Never opening his eyes, the earl heaved a great sigh, then fell still.
It was a moment before Rowena realized what had happened. She reached out to place her free hand upon that sunken chest. “He is gone.”
Isabelle put her hands up to cover her face before running to Simon, who waited beside the fire with Lord Greatham and Lady Jannelle. He enfolded her in his arms.
Rowena stood there, feeling confused and uncertain. Everything had happened so very quickly.
She wished that she, too, had somewhere to go for comfort. But when she risked a glance toward Christian, he was looking out the window, his back to the chamber.
It was as if he had forgotten her. He was very likely reveling in the fact that it was all over. He had accomplished the task of seeing right done by the foster father he had loved.
He could now go home to Bransbury with a clear conscience.
She tried to calm her painfully pounding heart, but could not seem to do so. It was all so overwhelming. How was she to take the chaos that existed for the people of Dragonwick and make it right?
Christian had taken charge this day, securing the entire keep with the loss of only one life, and that had been Sir Fredrick’s choice. How different things would be if she had him at her side. But that was not to be.
Rowena felt dazed with confusion, unhappiness and exhaustion. Suddenly she had to be alone with her churning thoughts. She turned toward the door, knowing not where she would go, only that it must be away from Christian.
Yet the tension and fatigue of the last days and weeks had taken their toll. She had barely gained the door when a wave of dizziness washed over her and she swayed. Rowena reached out for something solid to cling to, desperate for her spinning world to right itself. Then it all went black….
“Rowena!” Christian heard Isabelle’s alarmed exclamation and spun around. His gaze immediately took in the fact that Rowena lay crumpled on the floor, even as his father, Simon and Lady Jannelle also cried out.
Heaven help him, he had allowed her to push herself too hard! Before any of the others could react, he ran across the room, gathering her into his arms. “Rowena, my beloved.”
Her lids fluttered and she whispered, “Is this Christian?”
“It is me, love.” He was driven beyond his fear of rejection by his concern for her.
She opened those lovely green eyes. “Am I dreaming?”
Feeling the eyes not only of his father, but of all the others upon them, he picked her up and carried her out into the hall. He would not bare his soul in that room.
He tried the door across the hall and entered when he saw that the room was comfortably furnished. Settling her upon the bed, he sat down next to her, watching her face. “Do you want to be dreaming, Rowena?”
Her expression was guarded now. “Why are you asking?”
He paused for a long moment, then said, “I have told my father that I mean to stay on here at Dragonwick for as long as I am needed.”
She looked away. “Is it because you have realized that managing Dragonwick will be a great task for me?”
He grew very still. “What are you saying? Are you telling me that you have changed your mind, that you are considering staying?”
Rowena’s lovely green eyes met his with challenge. “I…yes. I have realized that the people here need someone, as you said all along. Those men who took us prisoner yesterday would have been so very different with someone strong and caring to lead them. Yet I pray you do not offer your aid out of guilt. I do not want nor require your guilt.”
Christian took a deep breath, knowing that no matter what pain a rejection might bring him, he could not hide his love for her another moment. “I love you, Rowena. I have loved you from the first moment I saw you. It is why I was so determined that you had to come to England with me, even though you were obviously less than eager. How could I fail to love you? You are beautiful and kind, and wise beyond your years. And if you are angry with me for saying so I am sorry.”
“Angry?”
“Yes. I know how I have hurt you.” He looked away. “I don’t know how you can ever forgive me.”
“Forgive you?” She rose up and put her hand to his face. “Forgive you, Christian? I would forgive you anything.”
He looked at her then, seeing the tears of joy in her lovely eyes.
“I love you, Christian, I have and will always love you.”
“You love me?”
“To echo your words, how could I not? Fate has decreed that we be together.”
His own eyes grew damp. “And I love you, Rowena.”
There was a hint of sadness in her voice as she said, “Rosalind, now.”
He shook his head. “You will always be Rowena to me. The years since you were Rosalind are part of what has shaped you to be the woman I love.”
Happiness rose up inside her like a blazing light, which she could feel shining from her eyes. She never wanted to forget her life as Rowena, for it had indeed made her who she was. Christian was even more dear to her for having realized it. “I do love you, Christian, more than you will ever know.”
He took her in his arms, where she had always longed to be.
Epilogue
Rowena heard booted feet coming down the corridor to her chamber and leaped up, dropping her sewing to the floor. Knowing that step well, she ran to the door to greet him. “Christian!”
They had chosen their rooms at the opposite end of the keep from what had previously been the lord’s chamber. Rowena had taken part in the cleaning and provisioning herself, wanting their life together to begin with as little of the past to remind them of the pain they had experienced as there could be. The heavy green brocade draperies, the linens and tapestries, as well as the thick carpet that Christian had brought back from the Holy Land, were all new.
The door burst open just as Rowena reached it. And then she was in her husband’s arms, held close against his heart. For one precious moment she breathed in the scent of him—cool wind, perspiration and horse, and underneath all that, warm man.
Then she pushed away, feeling with joy his reluctance to release her. She looked up into those blue eyes. “What said the king?”
He pulled her back against him. “He said that you may hold the lands.”
Again she pushed away. “Truly? As simply as that?”
Christian frowned. “I have missed you so. I would hold you for a moment.”
Rowena placed a hand upon his chest. “As I have you, but you have been privy to all that I have not. And I would know what has gone forward, not only for myself but for all who abide here.”
He sighed. “Aye, I know that, love. I am only feeling selfish after my time away. As to your question, nay, not as simply as that. Because my father and Simon both gave witness that Kelsey confirmed your identity before he died, as well as naming you heir, John has confirmed your position. Yet he does have his own conditions. Because you are a woman, he has agreed that you may hold, with my aid, only until you have a son who reaches the age at which he might do so. If you die without issue—” a tender expression softened Christian’s face as he moved his hand down to cover her belly “—the lands will revert to the crown. And we have already begun to assure that does not occur.”
Rowena felt a thrill of longing at that touch. He had been gone such a long time and their bed was so near.
But she still had questions—questions that had burned in her mind these two long weeks. “Did you tell your father of our news?
I have, of course, informed Isabelle.”
He ran a hand through his dark hair, seeming overwhelmed for a moment before he said, “You will not believe what news I have. ’Tis difficult to credit such a possibility, but not only is Aislynn breeding, but Lady Jannelle as well.”
“Both of them?”
“Aye. He is pleased about Aislynn, of course, but he is ecstatic about his own child. He is as a young man again. He is concerned for his bride, as she is in her thirty-sixth year, but he tells me that she assures him of her good health hourly.”
“I am so very glad for him, Christian, for them. I know how you worried about taking on Dragonwick rather than helping him at Bransbury.”
He grinned. “It seems he only needed someone to share his life and dreams with. Not to mention his passion. It is thus with all men.” He nuzzled her nape.
Rowena closed her eyes as a delicious shiver raced down her spine. They flew open immediately and she said, “Aislynn as well?”
“Jarrod’s letter to Father said that she is near as round as she is tall, but bounds about as if it were nothing.”
Rowena shook her own head. “I would dearly love to know your sister better. Isabelle has become so very dear to me. And little Simon. I have twice picnicked with the two of them whilst you and Simon have been off at court. ’Twas more a joy than I would have imagined. We have been so busy here at Dragonwick these past six months. We do not have enough opportunity to see our loved ones.”
They had indeed worked hard in their six months at Dragonwick. The coming harvest promised to be a good one, and Christian and Rowena planned to leave the greatest share of that bounty for the hungry mouths of their folk.
He hugged her. “Do not worry on my behalf, beloved. My father knew that it would be difficult at the start, as did the others. Time is changing that even now.”
She asked him again, “Did you tell them of our news?”
He kissed her mouth, grinning at last. “I did. Neither were surprised, and Father intends to inform Jarrod and Aislynn when he reaches Bransbury. They have been there with his lady wife whilst he was at court, since Jarrod’s brother Eustace’s condition has improved somewhat of late. They will write the moment the babe arrives.”
Her eyes grew round. “I nearly forgot. I have had word from Hagar. She took my letter to the monastery as the messenger instructed, and they read it to her, then wrote back to me. She says all is well, though I am missed and that Sean, though he is sad, has begun to get on with his life.”
“I am happy to hear it,” Christian answered. “I find it easy to pity the man who had to give you up.”
She shook her head. “Though I loved him dearly I was never his.” Her green eyes were filled with adoration. “’Twas always you, my love, even before I knew.”
He held her to him, his voice tight even as he teased, “Where are the kisses I have longed for?”
She lifted her mouth, kissing him with fervor as she felt the familiar rush of longing in her blood. “I love you, Christian, with all that I am and ever will be.”
He slipped his hands down her back, making her shiver with wonder and need. “I have missed you so, missed…”
“As have I, dear heart.” Then there were no more words as he picked her up, kicking the door closed behind them as he took her to their bed.
When at last she drew back, her body sated, she held his hand against her still-flat belly. Tenderly he whispered against her ear, “He shall be a great man, as his grandfather was, just and wise and full of life.”
She lifted her lips to his throat, her heart aching with love as she said, “I honor your love for my father, and his memory, yet I would have you know that our son will gain all those qualities from his own father.”
Christian swallowed hard around the lump that rose up in his throat. “I…I didn’t know that it was possible to love anyone as I love you.”
She touched his face with wonder. “I was only surviving till you came to fetch me, though I knew it not. I thought it was my father and my past that I must search for, but it was you and your heart all along.”
“And I learned the same of you, Rowena.” He kissed her deeply, thoroughly, and passion stirred inside her once more. But the sensation was tender and gentle, requiring no haste, for they had their whole lives ahead of them.
She sighed, placing her hand over his on her belly. “I am so pleased that the babes will be of an age to be friends, as you and Jarrod and Simon have been. Life and the continuation of it is the purpose of love.”
He shook his head, his dear gaze holding hers. “Nay, beloved. Love has no purpose but to be given away.”
ISBN: 978-1-4603-6040-8
DRAGON’S DAUGHTER
Copyright © 2003 by Catherine J. Archibald
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** Velvet series
* Seasons’ Brides
† The Brotherhood of the Dragon
Dragon's Daughter Page 23