The Princess and the Templar
Page 28
If only all their prayers would be answered and Raul would live.
Strumming the harp, she thrust aside her gnawing fear, trying to free her mind from its tormented twisting and concentrate on the flowing notes of the music. In truth, the soft tones of the harp comforted her, as they always had, returning her to a happier time when her father and brothers still lived. And yet another time when she’d first laid eyes upon Raul and noticed how handsome he was.
Clach finished bandaging Raul’s wound, and the youths took their leave. Cahira continued to strum the harp, humming softly to herself whilst half of her mind said more prayers for Raul’s recovery.
The music washed over Raul, soothing his spirit and easing the pounding pain in his neck. His thoughts drifted in and out, floating on the sweet notes. It was the music of a harp, he thought, like the angels played in heaven.
Heaven…that gave him pause. Ragged tatters of blood and pain and a battle fluttered at the corners of his mind. Then he remembered with a sudden swift clarity, the fearful descent of the Sinclair’s sword and the pain after. He wondered if he’d died and gone to Heaven. But with all the sins that besmirched his soul, he marveled he’d gone to that good place.
Opening his eyes, he glanced up and saw the very visage of an angel. His angel, his princess. It was her face, Cahira’s face that greeted him. He saw her sweet countenance clearly, framed by her red-gold hair. Her emerald eyes shone with a new intensity, wetted by tears.
There were no tears in Heaven.
Why was she crying? He reached out his hand, as if to brush her tears away but his fingers only brushed air. He tried to rise, but fresh pain lanced through him. He fell back, groaning. He felt her presence, hovering over him. Her soft hands stroked his forehead. Even if he was dead, he would know her touch and recognize the gentleness of her hands.
His Cahira. His own Princess.
This was no dream nor Heaven, either. This was real. He wasn’t a dead man. She lived and so did he. He gazed at her from beneath half-open lids and found her beside his bed, kneeling and praying. She prayed for him, openly and without censure. He relaxed, taking in her words. Registering the beseeching timbre of her voice.
She loved him. Wanted him. Prayed for his recovery.
His heart soared, taking flight.
“Cahira.” His voice sounded rusty, ill-used to his own ears.
She raised her head. Tears misted the green brilliance of her eyes. “Raul?” she breathed.
“I will live. Doubt it not.”
“Oh, Raul.” She threw herself on his chest, sobbing.
He stroked her bright hair. “The Sinclair is routed?”
“Aye.” She raised her head and gazed into his eyes. “You gave him a telling blow. He died, spilling his blood on the ground.”
“As I expected. But his knights—?”
“Malcolm rallied my men. They lowered the drawbridge and joined us to fight the Sinclair’s army.”
Raul took in this new information. He remembered the sound of the drawbridge and how he’d fought unconsciousness, knowing that the lowering signaled an important turning point. For Cahira’s sake he was happy her men had finally rallied to her side.
“That’s good. I knew Malcolm would protect you.”
She laughed, her merriment obviously forced. “But I didn’t know. At first, he turned us away. I thought I would have to fight him and my people. We laid siege to the castle, and the Sinclair arrived and attacked my Templars. You came and saved me—”
“And got myself wounded in the bargain. If Malcolm hadn’t been willing to help, proving his loyalty, the Sinclair’s men might have still won the battle.”
“Nay.” She shook her head and tilted her chin.
He rejoiced seeing her thus. His Cahira, his stubborn and brave lioness.
“Mayhap, you’re right.” She shook her head. “’Tisn’t important now. All that’s important is you’re alive.” She laid her head upon his chest again. “I don’t know if Malcolm would have intervened if you hadn’t come and—”
“Hush,” he soothed. “Of certain, Malcolm would have aided you.”
She lifted her head. “Raul, I know you might not believe me, especially after what I did and what I said to you in France. But I don’t care anymore. All I care about is you.”
His heart swelled at her words. “I love you, Cahira. We’ve both made mistakes but that hasn’t changed how I feel about you.” He trailed his fingers over her downy cheek. “And what I asked at Fécamp hasn’t changed. I want to marry you. Will you have me?”
“Oh.” She swallowed and cast her eyes down. “But I was so wrong at Fécamp. I was impatient and thought—”
“Don’t talk,” he urged. “Just hold me close and never let go.”
“Nay, never.”
“And you will marry me?”
“This very day.” Their gazes met and held. “Raul, you are my one true prince. A prince of the realm. I want no other.”
Hearing her heartfelt words, joy streaked through him. A bright shooting star, filling him to the brim, extinguishing his pain, rallying his hope and restoring his life. He sat up and took Cahira in his arms. His lips found hers. When he finally broke their kiss, he lifted his head and made his first royal proclamation.
“We will make a kingdom together. A kingdom dedicated to justice and to…our everlasting love.”
A word about the author...
Hebby Roman is the author of eight print published romances, four historical romances and four contemporary romances. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America and the past president of her local chapter, North Texas Romance Writers. She was selected for the Romantic Times “Texas Author” award.
She lives in Arlington, TX with her husband, Luis, and Maltipoo, Max.
Please visit her website
www.hebbyroman.com
or
on Facebook
http://tinyurl.com/q79n4qp
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
The Princess and the Templar
Copyright
Dedication
Praise for THE PRINCESS AND THE TEMPLAR
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
A word about the author...
Thank you for purchasing this publication of The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
Also available from The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
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