Lonely is the Knight (Merriweather Sisters Time Travel Romance Book 3) (16 page)

She walked beside him. “What’s wrong?”

He shook his head. “I am not sure, but we have had much trouble with Lord Hallsey and his men. ’Tis better to send men out to scout the area.”

He spoke to the sentry on duty while she tried to nonchalantly walk along the battlements, stopping here and there to look out over the walls into the water. With the breeze making ripples on the surface, she couldn’t see her reflection today. Living in a castle in the middle of the water felt like being on your own private island. This was now her home, or would be soon.

Married. After watching her friends graduate college and marry, seeing her sisters’ friends marry and start having babies, after so many failed relationships, she’d given up. Maybe all those boyfriends were practice for Henry. He was the real deal, and she hoped as they kept getting to know each other, he would love her.

Ever since the castle inhabitants found out she was going to marry Henry, they’d quit calling her mistress and started calling her lady. They’d all accepted her without question. And for that she was grateful. The lady of the castle. Charlotte still couldn’t wrap her head around the idea.

What a huge difference from her own time. In the future, the church had no such power. If someone threatened her, she would’ve simply gone to the authorities. But here, things were very different. She knew how much the people relied on him. Had heard stories of other lords and how awful they could be. Henry was an anomaly in how much he cared about the welfare of his people.

Charlotte had agreed to marry him because she could see no other way. Being tortured and killed was certainly not on her list of desirable things to do, and she’d feel responsible if Henry lost everything. So she agreed. In time, she’d hoped they’d continue their relationship, but she’d thought it would be years, not days before the subject of marriage came up.

She was in her chamber, washing off a day’s worth of dirt, when there was a knock at the door. Henry strode in, and she was struck again by how handsome he was.

“I hope I didn’t cause you to send men out for nothing. My eyes were probably playing tricks on me.”

“’Twas a scout. One of Hallsey’s men.” He led her over to the window and pointed. “His lands are to the north. He would like nothing more than to take Ravenskirk and control access to all the land to the south.”

“Are we in danger?”

“I think not. After we killed the men responsible for burning the village, he will be loath to lose more. Though I have doubled the guard to be safe. Edward would strike. My brother stabs first and questions later.”

“How many brothers do you have again?”

“Five. Edward is the eldest. And there was John. Then me, Robert, and Christian. Christian is the youngest at a score and two.”

“You’re how old?”

“I am a score and seven.”

“You must be awfully good at being a knight to have done so well for yourself at such a young age. I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up.” She laughed. “I guess now I will be Lady Ravenskirk.”

Charlotte put a hand to her throat. “I’m still trying to get used to the idea, so I go around saying ‘Lady Ravenskirk’ all day. I think everyone believes I’m daft.”

Henry chuckled. “They already think of you as my lady. Many of them have told me I should have married you the day I found you.” They sat down in the window seat and he stroked her cheek.

“I am truly the luckiest man in the realm. You are kind and beautiful. Intelligent and strong. Any man would be lucky to have you for a wife.” He looked into her eyes, and Charlotte wanted to lose herself in him.

His voice came out as a whisper. “I have come to care for you a great deal. I hope in time you will feel the same. Mayhap one day, we will love each other.” He leaned forward and gently kissed her. He paused for a moment, his lips an inch from hers, and Charlotte felt the tension between them filling the room. It seemed to stretch out and out until finally it snapped.

Henry pulled her to him and kissed her again. The kiss was not gentle. It was the kiss of a man who cared for his woman. She lost herself to the feelings. The sensation traveled from her head all the way down to her toes, as they tingled. When he sat back, she put her fingers to her lips. They felt bruised and swollen, and she thought she must have a goofy smile on her face. He smiled at her in the way that men seemed to do when they were particularly happy with themselves.

“I will be counting the minutes until I see you in the hall for dinner.”

Oh my. She was in deep trouble. He was kind, responsible, and thoughtful. Not to mention charming, handsome, rich, and a great kisser. Yes indeed, she was in trouble.
 

Charlotte could almost hear Aunt Pittypat from the great beyond laughing hysterically. Whenever she complained she couldn’t find a good boyfriend, her aunt always said not to worry. For when she finally found the man meant for her, she would fall, and fall hard.

Aunt Pittypat was always right.

“You own all this?” Charlotte couldn’t believe it. “Are you richer than the King of England?”

He laughed. “Nay. My brother Edward is, though.”

She sat across from him. All morning she’d been distracted and hadn’t accomplished anything. Charlotte joined Henry in the solar for a few moments of quiet.

“I don’t have much to offer. This is all I own.” She untied the scarf and dumped the coins and gems on a small table.

“You have much to offer. I care not for gold and gems.” He looked through her offering. It was odd to see the old coins back in the time they belonged.

“There is a great deal here.”

She snorted. “Not compared to you. I would like to add it to the household for whatever is needed.”

“Keep it for yourself to use as you see fit.” Henry rubbed the material of the scarf between his fingers. “Such fine workmanship. The craftsmen in your lands are skilled.”

For machines
, she thought. “Thank you.”

“Charlotte?”

The look on his face made her tense. “I’m going out for a walk. It’s a beautiful day.”

“Wait.” He ran a hand through his hair and stretched out in the chair, hands folded across his stomach. The somber look made her even more nervous.

“What is it?”

“Would you prefer to live elsewhere? I will see you settled in your own estate. With men to guard you and ladies of your choosing. You need not remain with me.”

She blinked. Hurt sliced through her heart, so sharp that for a minute she thought she was having a heart attack. All the emotion she’d felt since Lucy went missing, then Melinda, bubbled up. The fear when that man tried to kill her, and the sensations of traveling through time. Her own insecurities about men. It was too much.

Charlotte stood, one hand on her hip, one finger pointed at Henry.

“I understand you’re sacrificing a great deal by marrying me. If you don’t want me around, just say so. Quit being so damned charming and solicitous.” Her finger trembled, but her voice rang out across the room as the fury built to hurricane status inside her.

“Charlotte, perchance you misunderstand me.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. Henry, sensing the change in mood, jumped up from his chair and stood in front of the windows, hands out in front of him. Too late; she was in a state, as her sisters used to say. He better run.

“I guess I should be grateful you’re not packing me off to a convent. Will this estate be anywhere near Ravenskirk? You’ll come visit me once or twice a year so we can have an heir to continue your name? I will not be locked away to sit and wait for the mighty lord to visit me.” Charlotte poked him in the chest.

“We can speak reasonably. You are vexed.”

“No you didn’t. Did you just tell me to calm down? You have a hell of a nerve, Mr. Prince Charming. I’ve heard all about you. The women here have filled my ears with tales of your conquests. You must have women in every village in the entire country, and probably France and Scotland too! I thought you were charming, but you’re nothing more than a womanizing pig! Take your offer of an estate and go to hell. I’d rather be drawn and quartered and my head used as a fricking bowling ball than marry an ass like you!”

She stomped out of the room, slamming the door.

Royce stuck his head in, grinning. “The lady sounds most displeased.”

Henry was bewildered. “What did I do? I offered Charlotte her own estate where she could live in peace if she so desired.”

“You told her to go?”

He ran his hands through his hair. “I thought she might not want to remain here with me.” He threw back the contents of his mug. “She has a fearsome temper.”

“She thinks you do not want her as your wife. That you are marrying her to save her and your own sorry self. Women want to be wooed.”

“I’m giving her the protection of my name. My body. She will want for nothing.” Henry stalked back and forth across the solar. He needed his sword. “To the lists.”

“The men have made themselves scarce. They heard Mistress Charlotte bellowing, and you will not see them until supper.”

He cursed. “She knows I am not a prince. Why did she call me one?” He scratched his head. “And I know what a pig is, but what is ‘womanizing’?”

“From her speech, ’tis a man who enjoys the favors of many women while remaining true to none.”

“Bloody hell. I have not shown another favor since I rescued Charlotte. I cannot change what happened in the past. How can she be angry with me?”

His childhood friend snorted. “Women. Who knows why they do the things they do. But Henry, you marry her in three days. Make it right or lose everything. Again.”

“And what is a bowling ball?” All the time Charlotte had been here he’d never seen her thunder and bellow as she did today. He must send her away. He could not bear her to scream at him every day the way his parents treated one another. He would marry her as ’twas his knightly duty, but he would not remain by her side. All women were the same: marry them and any affection turned to hatred. Lasting until their dying breath.

Three days passed in a blur. Was it really her wedding day? How did you marry someone you weren’t even speaking to?