Free Hearts Across Time (The Knights of Berwyck: A Quest Through Time Novel ~ Books 1 & 2) by Sherry Ewing

trembling hands, she opened the door and closed it behind her. As she stepped into the room, she could only wonder what fate had in store for her. It couldn’t be any crazier than falling completely and hopelessly in love with a ghost.
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    “ G o sleep off the ale you have consumed, brother. I shall see you on the morrow,” Gavin laughed boisterously and nudged his brother’s shoulder with his own.
    “I am not that deep into my cups that I cannot teach you a lesson or two in humility come the sunrise,” Riorden grumbled, rumpling his brother’s hair as he often had done in their youth.
    Gavin laughed even louder. “I look forward then to the challenge. ’Tis truly good to see you, Riorden, and ‘tis been too long a time in its coming.”
    Gavin turned to Aiden and put his arm around his shoulder as though they were long lost friends. “Come, Aiden. We shall continue to drink our fill, and you can tell me of the wilds of Scotland where your lineage lays. Is it really as fierce as the say?” Gavin questioned, and their voices dwindled down the passageway, away from Riorden’s hearing.
    He placed his hand upon the latch to his chamber to open the door, but halted. He knew with every fiber of his being she was inside. He could feel her presence, as if she were waiting for his arrival. He opened the door, closing it behind him, and went to the hearth to rekindle the embers into a low flame. He exhaled slowly, more to get his thoughts together than to appear as if he could not handle a situation such as this. Truly, what was there really to be afraid of?
    He turned and looked towards his bed. She stood there, touching one of the posts admiringly, just as he had seen her the first time but days ago. He had the pleasure of idly watching her, since it appeared she as yet did not know he was here. In truth, to his way of thinking, he had never seen a woman as lovely as she. Her beauty did not come from an outside appearance that may have appealed to him with other women in his past. Nay…hers came from the depths of her soul and from being good at heart.
    His contemplation of her only intensified whilst she closed her eyes and leaned her head back. It appeared as if she was looking towards the heavens and the guardian angels above to at last come and claim her soul. He did not want to admit it, even unto himself, but he did not wish for her to leave as yet to join God, for with her nearness, he felt a soothing comfort fill him as never afore.
    Riorden reached for a nearby pitcher of wine and poured some into a chalice. His nervousness must have shown, for he almost tipped over the now filled cup. It rattled upon the table and at last drew Katherine’s attention towards him. Her face transformed to one of pure radiance, and he felt he could stare into her glorious eyes for a lifetime, if the chance were given to them.
    Riorden took a long drink of his wine before giving her a small bow. “Glad tidings to you this day, mademoiselle .”
    Katherine nodded her head. “And may I wish you the same, Sir Knight.”
    He watched her standing there, seeming to drink in the sheer sight of him, as he continued to take several deep sips from his chalice.
    “You know, if you continue downing that in such a manner, you’re going to have a nasty hangover in the morning.”
    He frowned at her strange words and took a deep breath. “I know not what you speak of, my lady,” he declared, watching her every move.
    She rolled her eyes and gave him an impish grin that surprised him. Apparently, she must have realized her words confused him, for she touched her finger to her forehead and tapped it. “You’ll have a bad headache.”
    “Your speech is passing strange,” Riorden commented. He put the cup back down on the table and placed his hands behind his back. Neither of them made any further comments whilst an awkward silence persisted between them. They only stared one unto the other. She, at last, came closer to stand afore him.