An Uncertain Choice

As I neared Derrick, the first stars twinkled overhead as if God himself had sprinkled diamonds across the sky for the occasion.

“Your bride, my son,” the duke said, placing my hand upon Derrick’s arm.

My groom straightened his shoulders. In a clean tunic and dark jerkin, with his freshly shaven jaw and hair combed into submission, he was still rugged in a way that sent my heart into a strange pattering dance.

“My lady,” he whispered. Slowly, almost reverently, he swept up my veil until he’d pushed it all the way back. “You’re beautiful.” He made a leisurely perusal of my face before focusing on my lips. This time there was a determination in his eyes that told me he wouldn’t be swerved now or ever again.

Heat unfurled deep in my middle.

“My lady,” he said again, this time raising his gaze to mine. “I’ve been waiting patiently to claim the prize you owe me. But today, at this moment, my patience has finally run out.”

“What prize did you have in mind, sir?” I trembled, knowing full well what he wanted.

“May I show you?” he whispered, bending nearer.

I nodded.

He lifted a hand to my cheek, brushing my skin with the softness of the wind. He bent closer until his breath hovered above my lips. After an immeasurably sweet instant, his lips came against mine, claiming me as his own.

I leaned in and gave myself to him. For a long, precious moment, I was on the brink of heaven with just him.

“You don’t need to rub it in,” came the teasing voice of Sir Collin next to Derrick, followed by the low rumble of chuckles from the others.

I pulled back, heat radiating over my cheeks, but I met Derrick’s proud grin with one of my own.

“Perhaps you shall have to claim your prize again later, sir,” I whispered.

His grin widened. “Whatever you wish shall always be my command.”





Epilogue




My pulse fluttered at the blaring of the trumpet signaling Derrick’s return.

“He’s home early,” Trudy said, tying the lace on my bodice. “And I haven’t even started on your hair.”

“My hair will be just fine.” I rose from the bench in front of my dressing table unable to contain my anticipation.

“But shouldn’t we pull it up, my lady? For the evening?”

I was already halfway across the room, my hair cascading around me in wild abandon. “I couldn’t bear to sit still for the time it would take to fix it.”

Trudy clucked, but then her face softened. After two months, the wounds from her ordeal with the tongue-ripper were finally beginning to fade. She shook her head, gave me a secretive smile, and then waved me onward. “Be off with you, then.”

I returned the smile. Although I hadn’t shared the news with anyone yet, I was sure Trudy knew, especially after consulting the physician that morning.

With my heart beating louder with each passing second, I stepped into the hallway. Due to the fading light of the autumn evening, the wall sconces had already been lit.

“He’s home, my lady.” Bartholomew gave me one of his gaping but endearing smiles.

I wanted to reward my old guard handsomely with riches and land for his part in helping Derrick escape from prison, but Bartholomew had resisted every reward, except one — ?my promise that he could continue to serve me as he’d always done.

“I didn’t think he’d be gone very long,” Bartholomew said, his eyes twinkling with mirth. “He just can’t be away from you, my lady.”

“Nor I him,” I said with a widening smile. It had been the first day I hadn’t traveled with him on one of his excursions into the kingdom to evaluate and plan for improvements. When I’d informed him earlier in the day that I wasn’t planning to go, he’d wanted to postpone the trip.

But I’d insisted that he go without me. And he’d only done so reluctantly only after a great deal of persuasion.

I moved after Bartholomew as he led me down the winding staircase to the Great Hall. Even though Derrick had entered the castle walls, I knew it would take some time before he reached the inner bailey, dismounted his horse, and handed it over to the care of one of the stable hands.

Nevertheless, I wanted to be ready for him, wanted to be the first to greet him when he entered.

I was surprised when I made my way through the back passage of the Great Hall to hear a commotion coming from the front entry. My new porter was racing to the doors.

I’d been sad to have to send James on his way to find employment elsewhere, but after learning of his part in helping the abbot, Derrick had wanted to lock James away in the dungeon until he rotted to death.

However, I was convinced that in his heart James had only thought he was doing the best thing for me, had believed the abbot truly cared about me, the same way I had. No one had considered that the abbot was consumed with controlling me so that eventually he could control my lands.