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Authors: Alyssa James

Knight of Her Heart (Conquering the Heart) (41 page)

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“I love you, Rowan, not your title.” Tears misted her eyes. “’Twould matter not to me whether you were a villein and we spent each harvest season in the fields side by side reaping crops to put aside for the cold winter ahead. I would be happy as long as you held me in your arms each night and kissed me with the dawn of each new day.”

His chest tightened fiercely at the earnestness of her words. “Then love me, Countess of Romsey, even though I lead not a simple life, for you are mine and I am yours willingly, lovingly and with the blessing of God.”

Smiling down at him, the love in her eyes shimmered like a thousand stars, eclipsing the beauty of any night sky he had seen and any moment of happiness he had known. She brushed her lips against his. The tenderness caused a loving warmth to curl and spread all the way through him.

“I thought not to experience such strength nor such a complete union of souls,” she confessed. “When my parents were killed and I discovered who was to be my guardian, I believed I would never know true happiness again.”

With flagrant disregard for the pain his actions caused, he locked his arms around her.

“Never let me go,” she implored him.

“Nay. You are mine until the end of time. But, Lisette, we are talking far too much.”

“Aye. Altogether too much,” she concluded before leaning over him once again and claiming his lips with her own.

Chapter 24

’Twas a beautiful sunny day a sennight later when Lisette walked arm in arm with her husband out of Baddesley Keep and toward the forest. ’Twould not be long before they journeyed to Romsey, for Rowan’s wound was recovering well. Although ’twould be a long time before he trained again with his knights, he had regained enough of his strength to leave his bed for lengthy periods. He pushed himself a little harder each day, determined to be home at Romsey Castle for the Michaelmas celebrations.

Richard had returned from London the previous eve with news that King Henry had brought her former guardian and Malin of Baddesley to trial swiftly. Justice had been done. Both men had swung from the gallows for their crimes of murder and treason. Their co-conspirators in the assassination plot had been arrested and were to be placed on trial imminently.

When Richard had conveyed the news, Lisette had seen Rowan’s shoulders slump slightly. Later that night, as she’d nestled very carefully against his uninjured side in their bed, he’d spoken of the conflict he’d felt—a huge sense of relief that Malin had finally been called to account for his deeds, yet an incredible sadness.

Despite all reasoning with him to the contrary, Rowan still held himself partly responsible for what Malin had become. Her husband knew he was illogical to blame himself for Malin’s evil streak. Still he argued that Malin had been consumed by resentment and bitterness that would not have been present had Rowan been his full blood brother and been truly entitled to claim the seat of Baddesley.

Now as they walked, Lisette ventured, “I have been thinking about what you said last eve.” Rowan looked down at her and she drank in the handsomeness of his features before she continued. “We are each dealt a set of circumstances in life and bear sole responsibility for how we will deal with the situations. Just because God places something on the pathway of our life that we feel is unjust, we don’t have to react badly. We must keep our faith in Him and believe that He will give us the strength we need to deal with it. Indeed, I believe what I have heard others say, that facing hardship makes us stronger and more resilient.”

An appreciative smile of acknowledgement curved Rowan’s sensuous lips upward. “You are a wise woman and provide sound counsel. I am a very fortunate man.”

“My point is,” she stressed, needing him to believe her, “you were not responsible for Malin’s actions. The sole responsibility for his actions rests with him.”

Rowan sobered. “I pray that he will rest in peace.”

“And I pray that you will find peace.”

“Believe me, my wife, with you by my side I already have. There is just one more wrong I need to set right.”

Lisette tilted her head at him in enquiry.

“After Michaelmas and when I am fully recovered, I will ride to London and seek an audience with the king. All that your father told him about the priest having been killed in self-defence was true only up to a point. I believe my liege should know what was in my heart the night I took the priest’s life.”

She smiled up at him. “I think that is a wise course of action, for the incident still weighs heavily on your mind and you are burdened by the knowledge that King Henry is not aware of the whole truth. You will, mayhap, find it easier to forgive yourself once the king has granted you a pardon for your action. I am certain King Henry will realise ’twas done in the heat of the moment and with the inexperience of youth—and the man had reached for a weapon.”

“Aye.”

“My father believed in you and I know he was an excellent judge of character. From all that I have heard of King Henry, he too is an excellent judge of character. I believe the king will understand, Rowan. He is just and you, my one true love, are a most honourable knight. You may be the king’s first knight, husband, but more importantly, you are the knight of my heart.”

Rowan turned her into the circle of his arms and gave her a lingering kiss. Eventually he raised his head and said, “I am not a very capable knight at the moment.”

“You are. You have slayed all my dragons. Knowing Genevieve is under your care also helps me sleep easier at night.”

“Enjoy your sleep, my lady, for when I am fully recovered you may be cursing me for keeping you awake!”

Lisette laughed. “You won’t hear me complaining.”

All was well and comfortable between them. ’Twas a wonderful thing to be able to speak openly with her husband about important things one moment and to be able to share this flirtatious banter with him the next.

They made their way slowly and in silence toward the small graveyard just at the edge of the forest. Once there, Lisette handed Rowan the small posies of flowers she had been carrying. Seeing her husband place them down reverently and kneel before his parents’ graves, his head bent in prayer, her vision blurred with unshed tears.

He had suffered greatly in his life and lost so much, but she vowed he would now know only happiness. Placing a protective hand over her womb, she recognised a powerful surge of love. Rowan knew the gratitude of his king; the respect, loyalty and comradeship of his men and the appreciation and high regard of his vassals. Most importantly, he would know the love of his wife and the children they would have together. In return, he was a man in whom she placed her complete trust, knowing he loved her and had the wisdom and determination to keep her safe. ’Twas as he had once said to her—he would always act with her best interests in mind.

Through the moisture in her eyes, Lisette saw horses in the distance, riding toward Baddesley.

“See yonder, Rowan. Knights approach bearing the flag of the House of Winchester.”

Rowan got to his feet a little stiffly and dusted down the fabric of his hose. “Richard told me his father was anxious to meet me and that he may lose patience waiting for my body to mend. It seems his patience has run out and he has come to me instead.”

They waited, hand in hand, as the riders approached. Lisette glanced sideways at Rowan to judge his reaction. If he was nervous about the meeting he certainly wasn’t showing it.

Even had he not worn his ducal coat, Rowan’s father would have been instantly recognisable. He had the same height and regal bearing, the same strong jaw and high hewn cheekbones as both Rowan and Sir Richard. As he swung down from his mount, the Duke’s moss-green eyes regarded them both before they fixed on Rowan.

“Rowan. I’ve stayed away from you since the day you were born believing ’twas in your best interests and the best interests of your mother that I did so,” the Duke of Winchester said without preamble. “When Richard assured me you were willing to meet but told me you were recovering from a wound, I resolved to ride out to meet you.”

“I am greatly honoured that you have.” Rowan extended his hand.

“Nay, my son, ’tis I who am greatly honoured.”

The Duke stepped forward. Lisette saw his tears as he ignored the hand Rowan extended and instead embraced his son heartily, clasping his shoulders tight.

Lisette saw pain in Rowan’s features as his father, in his eagerness to greet his son, had forgotten the extent of the wounds Rowan carried. Rowan masked his pain quickly.

She was deeply moved as she saw the emotion and the instant and firm bond of acceptance that formed at last between father and son. She rejoiced in the hope that her husband would have close ties with the side of his family he’d never known.

No longer an orphaned youth, whipped from his home and carrying his own personal demons, love would now surround the Earl of Romsey. Love would also bind them together through all eternity.

The knight of her heart deserved no less.

Author’s Note

I have an interest in history and loved researching the time period of this novel. I am a fan of history but make no claim to be a scholar in this area. The way I have portrayed life in my novel, and in the dialogue I have used, is meant to lend the story a medieval flavour, not to be a perfect representation that would satisfy the standards of an academic who is learned about this time period.

The siege of Harfleur, Normandy, France took place in 1415. Henry V of England took the fort but many of his men were hit hard by dysentery. Henry marched on and fought the French army at the Battle of Agincourt.

An arrow was stuck in Henry’s face at the Battle of Shrewsbury in 1403 and he was left with a permanent scar. The Battle of Bramham Moor took place in 1408. Henry’s reign had few domestic difficulties politically except for the Southampton plot, which has been referred to in this story.

Romsey is, today, a town in Hampshire which is northwest of Southampton, southwest of Winchester and has a neighbouring village of North Baddesley. The town does have a coat of arms, which I have described as Rowan’s coat of arms. Likewise I have used the colours of the coat of arms of Winchester. All other references are purely fictious.

On another note, both Lisette and Rowan are flawed characters who have committed serious and inexcusable crimes. They do, however, possess ‘heroic’ qualities. This novel is not only a romance, but also a journey where each character seeks atonement for the crimes they have perpetrated. They must learn to forgive themselves as well as to forgive each other.

There is a tradition in romance of what is referred to as “Dubious Consent”. Often when this has involved a female character there has been a blurred line for authors. There is nothing dubious about Lisette’s capture of Rowan. Her act—even in desperation of a life and death situation and in her naivety—was clearly wrong. She realises this as her character develops, and she repents most sincerely.

It is also a scene which may draw criticism and even in writing the scene I stress that it is not behaviour I would condone, any more than I would condone Malin’s sadistic plans.

Most women today are fortunate to live in a society where they possess rights and where there is a legal system which will uphold those rights. This was not the case in medieval society. The vast majority of women today would never be forced into an undesirable marriage which was almost certain to result in death after twelve months. In this fictitious novel, that is what Lisette faced. She did something terribly wrong. She repented sincerely. I hope that her crime will not prevent you as a reader from forgiving her, enjoying the development of her character and following her quest to find love.

Best wishes,

Alyssa

Other Titles by Alyssa James, penned as Alyssa J. Montgomery

Published by Escape Publishing, Digital Imprint of Harlequin Enterprises, Australia: