At that moment Tom bounced into the cottage.
“He comes,” Tom shouted. “He comes.”
“Richard has arrived?” Garrett shuddered. Richard would hate what Garrett had to relate.
“Nay.” Obviously out of breath, Tom struggled to relay his message. “Lord Colvin. Lady Margot is back and she brought Lord Colvin with her.”
“You saw him? Margot was with him?”
Tom nodded. “Only,” he paused for another breath, “It’s a secret. Nobody knows it’s the lady. But, I know, I saw. She rode next to him but she looks like a servant.”
“She uses a disguise. How many men?” When Tom raised one hand and three fingers, Garrett pushed Rhianna toward Pernith. “I must go.”
“I go with you. I want our babe.”
He hesitated. This would not be pleasant. It might become violent. But he didn’t want to leave her. “Come,” he said, then lifted her onto the back of the nag and jumped up behind her.
~ * ~
Joseph met them outside the postern. “I ordered the men outside.” He nodded to the cluster of soldiers behind him. “The servants have already told Margot we have arrived. Colvin is in a rage.”
“It doesn’t matter. We are here for the babe. Then, I must wait for Richard.”
“You will have to kill him this time,” Joseph said.
Garrett nodded, not needing to ask to whom Joseph referred. “Arthur!”
“Here my Lord.” Arthur stepped from behind the group of men. Garrett grinned at the gasp from Rhianna who sat before him. The lad was nearly a man and she had just recognized him.
“Take your sister to the babe. Stay with her.”
“Nay,” Rhianna whispered.
Despite her objection Garrett handed her down to Arthur, who gave her a quick hug.
“See to our babe,” he murmured, then waved her on when she turned back to him. “Later,” he said, sliding from his mount.
“Watch my back,” he said as Joseph handed him his sword. He didn’t wait for the assurance he knew Joseph had given as he turned and rushed through the postern, his men behind him.
Garrett marched into the hall, a dozen torches lighting even the corners of the room. Colvin and Margot stood in the center of the room, arguing.
Before Garrett could announce his presence, David deVerney rushed forward, his sword drawn. Garrett heard Margot cry out but deVerney faced him and Garrett had no time to acknowledge his sister.
He raised his sword just as deVerney attacked. Joseph stepped to his side. deVerney was not much of a swordsman. With only two skillful strokes, deVerney fell to the rushes, gasping for his final breath. Garrett glimpsed Colvin rushing forward, Margot hanging on his arm.
“Nay,” she cried. “Not in my house. You must not do this in my house.”
The clang of steel hitting steel rang out around Garrett but all he saw was the look of hate pouring from the face of his brother. Again, he raised his sword, giving thanks that
Joseph stood at his side.
However, Colvin appeared intent on reaching Garrett. With one hand on his sword, he hurtled forward. He lunged and Garrett jumped back. Still, he charged Garrett, now a dagger in his other hand.
As Colvin lunged forward, Margot again yelled her displeasure and stepped between them. She grabbed at Colvin’s arm just as he thrust the dagger toward Garrett. Her hand could not stay him. A flash of steel glistened in torchlight as the blade sank into Margot’s chest.
Colvin was forgotten. Memories of that day in the Welsh cave, well over a year ago, flashed before Garrett. Another day, years before, in the solar at Knockin, shot through his mind’s eye. Then another woman sunk to the floor, blood flowing from her wound, just like the crimson now spreading over Margot’s gown. In a haze of memories, Garrett watched Margot fall to her knees.
“Margot,” Garrett sank down beside her, lifting her into his arms.
“I had to—to have a child. You understand?” she reached for his face. “I—I...” she closed her eyes. “You... you do... understand,” she struggled to draw breath and gasped her last. He placed her gently on the rushes, aware of the clash of metal above him.
A roar of agony drew Garrett’s head away from the sight of Margot. He glanced up just as Joseph stepped away from Colvin. His brother fell on his back a few feet from Margot, his life’s blood pouring from a deep wound in his chest.
A strange grief flooded Garrett. Both his half sister and brother lay together, death taking grim charge.
He glanced away his eyes finally registering the stairs.
“Go,” Joseph said.
Garrett stood. For an instant he stared at the two forms on the floor, then shook his head. Without a backward glance, he started for the stone steps.
~ * ~
Rhianna cuddled the babe in her arms as the cart bounced over the dirt clods in their path.
“How does she do?” Garrett asked from the back of his war horse.
“We are both doing fine,” she answered, knowing the love she felt flooded her eyes. The smile he gave her told her that love was returned tenfold.
He nodded to Pernith, who sat beside Rhianna. He had named her maid to Rhianna, just as she had been to his mother. “And you?”
“Fine, my Lord. We are fine.” Pernith answered.
Rhianna laughed at Tom who nodded his head as he bounced along next to the fur-lined cart.
“Later,” Garrett said before he reached down, squeezing Rhianna’s shoulder then patting the bundle she held.
She watched him ride toward the front of his troops, pride swelling in her. The last several weeks had been hard on Garrett. They had buried Margot, sent Colvin’s body to Sanford. Rhianna had waited impatiently knowing Garrett had to stay at Fiston until Richard arrived, but it was difficult.
Arthur had told her how her brothers had brought Lily to Knockin and how Mildred had immediately taken the little girl into her care. Garrett also had even spent hours with the child, teaching her chess, taking her before him on rides through the forests surrounding Knockin.
He was going to be a wonderful father to their own child. She could not forget how she had lain next to him in one of the chambers at Fiston, her heart full of concern when he told her about his struggles to survive his wounds. He told her how her brothers had come, how Arvel had taken care of him, how, while he lay in bed recovering, her brothers had searched for her endlessly.
She frowned, for still, her position at Knockin was not clear. Garrett loved her, she knew that, and he knew she loved him. However, they had still discussed nothing of their own future while they waited for Richard.
He reached the keep two weeks after Margot’s death. Garrett had sent word the day Margot died, but Richard had been at sea. When he greeted Garrett, he’d given a sad smile, admitting the marriage had never been a happy one. Margot’s actions sickened Richard, and Rhianna remembered him wondering aloud if he had pushed her too hard. After only two days at Fiston, Richard returned to his duties for Edward, assuring Garrett that he would try to come to Knockin soon.
It took another day to convince Pernith that she too should travel with them. When all the preparations had been made, they moved away from Fiston.
They were on their way now to Knockin where Mildred and Lily waited along with her other brothers.
She glanced up to see Garrett riding toward them. He was grinning from ear-to-ear.
“My Lady,” he greeted her, acknowledging her title. He stopped before the cart, jumped from his horse and stepped closer.
“Word has just arrived. Your brothers have finally agreed. Benedick will be waiting for us this eve.”
“Benedick is coming to Knockin?”
“Aye, he has a wedding to perform. Ours.”
He reached into the cart and took Gwendolyn from her arms. Handing the babe to Pernith, he lifted her from the cart. The kiss he gave her sent her heart toward the heavens. He lifted her veil and whispered, “Now, forever, your love songs will only be for me.”
“You are wedding me this day?” she asked.
He nodded and she placed her hand over his heart. “Then my heart will only ever sing for you, for you are my heartsong.”
About The Author
Allison, like many authors, read a book she didn’t like. Despite occasional digs from her children, she wrote a romance. “Heartsong” is her thirteenth book.
A retired teacher, she’s taught fiction writing and spoken at conferences throughout the country.
She and her husband moved south to the land of hurricanes and sunshine. When she isn’t watching the weather, she writes, creating heroes and heroines, then finding ways to make their lives miserable.
She’s currently working on a romance set in the Yukon, one set in regency England, and a traditional Gothic Romance.
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