Page 63 of The Sword and the Damsel

Victor strode past. “I don’t care if she’s entertaining the Queen Eleanor. My quest is urgent.”

As he entered, a servant came running up. “Sir Victor! We were not expecting you. What—”

“I need to see my aunt immediately.”

Something in his grim demeanor must have scared the servant, who mumbled, “Right away,” and went running.

Victor jogged to keep up as the servant guided him to the formal hall where his aunt conducted her daily business.

The room was cavernous with high, arched ceilings that disappeared into shadow. Tapestries with military scenes hung on the walls, illuminated by a few small braziers that failed towarm the space. His aunt sat in her accustomed spot in an ornately carved, tall wooden chair that was practically a throne. In a much humbler chair beside her sat a woman. Was it—?

Could it be—?

“Victor,” Alais cried out and jumped up to run to him. He caught her in his arms and clasped her close, desperate to kiss her but knowing this was neither the time nor the place. Instead, he had to content himself with feeling her heart beating against his chest and holding her as tightly as he could without hurting her. “I was so frightened that Robert would succeed in his plan. I’m so glad to see you alive, though I’ll never forgive him for hurting you.” She took in his wounds and frowned.

“And I’ll never forgive him for hurting you,” he said, taking note of the bruise and cut on her forehead. Red-hot fury filled him at the sight. He wanted to tear Robert limb from limb for daring to touch her. And what else might Robert have done? Blood thundered in his ears, and it was all he could do to keep himself from tearing off in a rage to find his cousin now he knew Alais was safe. But Alais came first. And he knew she was far from safe in his aunt’s clutches.

“Touching,” said his aunt, watching them with a sharp eye. “Such a tender reunion.”

Without relinquishing Alais, he turned to face his aunt. “My lady, I must return to Winchelsea with Alais without delay.”

“Now, now. No need for haste. You are both injured and in need of care. Stay with me and recuperate. It is good to have you back, Victor. I’ve missed you.”

She’s missed my sword.

“My lady, I must return Alais to her family, and it was at your command that I swore fealty to the Earl of Winchelsea. We must return. We cannot stay.”

His aunt smiled, her eyes sparkling with calculation. “But when your wife showed up on my doorstep this morning, I sentmessengers to the Earl of Winchelsea. He is likely on his way as we speak. So, you see there is no need to go anywhere. Stay. We have much to discuss.”

Victor took a deep breath to calm himself. “First, I would like a word with my wife in private. And I need to send a message to the men who are with me.”

“Ah yes. The Templars. You never should have involved them, my dear. You should simply have come to me. But since you did, I’ll have word sent to them that you have found Lady Alais, and she is safe. They are free to return to Westfield. I have sent a guard to Sir Robert’s house to arrest the members of his household. If Sir Robert values his neck, he will not return to Hastings.”

Victor nodded. He would rather have thanked the knights from Westfield in person, but it was more important for him to speak with Alais. “And a moment alone with my wife?”

She made a dismissive gesture with her hand. “Go if you must. But don’t take long. I wish to speak to you before the earl arrives.”

Grabbing Alais’s hand, he led her from the hall and pulled her into a small meeting room with an ornately carved table and chairs and little else.

As the door closed, she flew into his arms. He crushed her to him, bending her backward with a kiss. Her lips filled him with fire as did her frenzied caresses. When he let her up for breath, he spun her around and kissed her again.

“Tell me what happened to you,” he said, relinquishing her at last. “I was so afraid Robert had tied you up and locked you in some dark cellar. How did you escape from him?”

She took a deep, tremulous breath and answered, recounting what had happened since he last saw her and leaving nothing out. With every word she spoke, his fury with Robert deepened, as did his determination to find his cousin and end his sorry life.After she finished her tale, she squeezed her eyes shut. “I know what Robert must have told you. I promise you he didn’t.”

Thank God!

She looked up at him, eyes glistening and luminous with unshed tears. “I swear to you I didn’t betray you. Nothing happened between us, no matter what he said. I know you must suspect the worst, and I have no way to prove to you that I’m telling the truth, but I beg you to believe me.”

Victor tightened his arms around her and rocked back and forth. “I believe you, and I’m so sorry this happened. You were so brave. But please know that I would love you no matter what.”

She exhaled and leaned into his embrace. A tear leaked out and trailed down her cheek. She burrowed her face into his chest. “I’m yours and yours alone, Victor.”

As her loving words sank in, relief and joy flooded him. It still defied belief that she had chosen him, but he could no longer doubt that her affections were his.

“I know you are, no matter what may have happened. I want to be the only man to make your body sing. He couldn’t do that without your consent, and I know he didn’t have that. Even if his lies were true, I would still love you, though, for your sake, I’m deeply relieved nothing happened. You’re mine and I’m yours, Alais. No matter what.”

He wanted to take all the pain away, undo all that had transpired since that terrible evening at Guestling, but all he could do was hold her as she sobbed and love her with all his heart.

---