Free Unending Love by Kathryn Le Veque Page B

she annoyed you to tears, you have never once expressed any interest
in her. Why the change of heart?”
    Maddoc’s gaze was intense. “The woman who came
to Canterbury two days ago is not the Adalind either one of us remembers,” he
said quietly. “She is cultured, poised, wise, humorous, and undeniably
beautiful. She is also vulnerable and sad. I… I cannot explain why my heart has
changed only that it has. You will have to take me at my word.”
    David’s gaze was equally intense. “Then if you
are serious about courting her, I will have to treat you like any other
suitor.”
    “What do you mean?”
    David expression flickered, no longer the liege
of a knight but the grandfather of the woman the knight intended to pursue.  He
wasn’t sure how else to behave but he wanted to make his thoughts clear to
Maddoc.
    “As my captain, you have unrestricted access to
the entire family, including Adalind,” he lowered his voice. “If you truly
intend to court her, then your access will be limited. You will be watched when
you are with her. You will no longer be permitted to be alone with her and any
and all requests for her time will have to come through me. Am I making myself
clear?”
    Maddoc nodded. “You are, my lord.”
    “Do you still intend to pursue her, then?”
    “I do.”
    David couldn’t help it; he still wasn’t over his
astonishment and slipped. “Do you really ?”
    “Absolutely.”
    David took him for his word. He was no longer
astonished because Maddoc seemed very sincere If he thought on it, he was
rather delighted, not only for Adalind’s sake but for his own. He had always
adored Maddoc and to have the man as a son was something of a dream for him as
well. A hint of a smile came to his lips.
    “I will say this only once but if you ask me to
repeat it, I will deny ever speaking the words,” he said softly. “I could ask
for no better husband for Adalind.  I have raised her, you know, since her
father died those years ago. She is not only my granddaughter but my child as
well. She deserves every happiness in the world and I know you would be good to
her. But I swear upon all that is holy if you hurt her or mislead her in any
way, I will kill you myself. Do you understand?”
    Maddoc knew the threat was sincere. He was
unafraid in his reply. “I do, my lord. Implicitly.”
    David’s gaze lingered on him as if to emphasize
his point.  He wanted to make sure Maddoc knew he would slit [J10]   his throat and take great pleasure in it if
Maddoc hurt Adalind in any fashion.  But Maddoc’s gaze held firm, eye to eye,
and they understood each other.  It was an oddly tense moment but a necessary
one.  After a moment, David nodded shortly.
    “Very well,” he rumbled. “Go about your duties but
stay away from Adalind. I will greet de Burgh.”
    They vacated the room without another word,
leaving Adalind still standing against the wall, wondering what they had been
whispering about. More than that, she was still coming to grips with what had
just happened.  She still couldn’t believe it. Surely she had imagined it. 
    Pushing herself off the wall, she collected her
fallen loom, off balance herself as she tried to right it.  It ended up falling
again and she left it, too unsteady to pick it up again. Her mind was elsewhere
as she staggered out of the receiving room and up the spiral stairs to the
third floor where her small chamber was.
    Thankfully, Willow wasn’t anywhere to be found
so Adalind had it to herself as she flopped down on her bed and lay there,
staring up at the ceiling, wondering what on earth had just happened. Maddoc
has offered to marry me .  Dear God, surely it was still a dream!
    She fell into a deep and exhausted sleep for
five straight hours.
     
    ***
     
    Adalind woke up to the soft voice of her mother.
    “Addie?” Christina was stroking her head gently.
“Addie, wake up.”
    Adalind’s eyes popped open to find her mother
gazing down at her, her lovely face