Free Unending Love by Kathryn Le Veque Page A

he’d
never truly loved anyone in his life, at least in the romantic sense. All he
knew was that the feelings he was developing for her were consuming him and he
couldn’t stomach the thought of her with someone else or, worse, sealed up in a
convent. He wasn’t sure he could explain all of it to her but he was willing to
give it a try. He didn’t have a choice; he’d opened wide the door and now was
the time to step in.
    “Addie, I want you to listen to me and listen
closely,” he said in a deep, quiet tone. “I do not do anything out of pity. It
is a weakness and I am not weak. When I saw you for the first time after having
not seen you in many years, I felt as if I was introduced to someone I’d never
before known.  All I could see was a beautiful and brilliant woman with
kindness and fire and intelligence. I could also see why four men in two days
have come vying for your hand; you are truly an astonishing example of
womanhood and you would be a wife a man could be proud of. I would be
proud, Addie.  But if you no longer feel as you did those years ago, I
understand. You were a child then with a child’s dreams. Perhaps you have
outgrown me, but I hope not. I could never forgive myself if I did not ask if
you see anything within me that you still find attractive.”
    Not only was David’s mouth still hanging open,
but now his eyebrows were lifted and his eyes were bugged.  He stared at Maddoc
as if the man had grown two heads, but Maddoc only had eyes for Adalind.  When David
looked at his granddaughter, he could see that nothing else in the world
existed, either.  Maddoc had all of her attention.
    “I… I do not know if I can believe my ears,” she
said, tears fading as she labored to regain her composure. “This... this cannot
be real.”
    “It is real.”
    “I am not dreaming?”
    “Nay.”
    She just stared at him, stunned, before wiping
away the last of her tears.  “Do you swear, Maddoc?”
    “I swear.”
    “You are not jesting?”
    He smiled faintly, finding her disbelief
understandable and humorous at the same time. “I would not jest with you on a
subject as important as this.”
    Adalind continued to stare at him. Now that the
wave of hysteria had rolled over her, she was strangely calm.  Pensive, even. 
But she still leaned back against the wall for support; she didn’t trust
herself to stand under her own power just yet.
    “Maddoc?”
    “Aye?”
    “Go away and come back later.  Say the same
thing to me at that time and perhaps I will believe you.”
    With a twinkle in the bright blue eyes, his gaze
lingered on her a moment before he turned away without another word.  Before he
reached the door, however, he spoke.
    “De Burgh is in the bailey, my lord,” he said to
David. “If I am in competition with him for Lady Adalind’s hand, then you will
understand I will do what I must in order to rid myself of my competition.”
    David still wasn’t over the scene he had just
witnessed but he forced himself to focus on what Maddoc was saying.
    “You may not challenge him, Maddoc,” he said
quietly. “De Burgh must be treated with care.  I would not bring the whole
family down around us.”
    “I will not challenge him,” Maddoc turned to
look at him. “But I will not welcome him, either. I ask that you send another
to deal with de Burgh, for I cannot do it. Forgive me.”
    David gazed at the man with some astonishment.
He had always known Maddoc to be the most responsible, stable, and wise knight
he’d ever known.  Maddoc had been mature beyond his years at a very young age
and his wisdom and common sense in all things was second to none.  To hear
those words come forth from the man was quite extraordinary. He believed him
implicitly. He took a few steps in Maddoc’s direction.
    “Maddoc,” he began, grasping for words. “I must
ask. Are you… are you truly serious about Adalind?”
    “I am, my lord.”
    “In all the years I have known you and in all of
the years