My Noble Knight (34 page)

“Griffin,” she gasped.

“Why did you do it?” His words were soft, laced with disappointment and resolve.

His broken words were too much for her. Anger surged inside of her. “Why did you give up? Why didn’t you fight? Why did you let me win?”

He shook his head. “It wasn’t worth hurting you.”

Her heart squeezed. She had broken the trust they had built. “Frances asked me. I wanted to tell you. But there was no time.”

“Was it worth risking your life?”

She considered his words. If they didn’t win, they would be out in the cold. Not just her, but Michael and her father. All of them! “Yes,” she said softly. “I couldn’t say no to him, to my family. They needed me.”

Griffin turned to her. There was such sadness in his eyes that she felt a keen sense of grief. “And what of me? I needed to trust that you would not joust again, not because it was the knightly code, but because it endangered your life.”

“I would do anything for you! But I couldn’t turn my back on my family. I couldn’t let them be out in the cold. We needed to win that purse!”

“It will always be your family before me.”

“I can’t let them down. My father... He already thinks I’m a disappointment. Please.” She reached for him, but he pulled away. She dropped her hand.

“There really is only one solution.”

He was going to send her away. He was going to tell her she was dishonorable and he never wanted to see her again. "Griffin.” It was a ragged plea, ripped from her soul.

"You will have to become my family,” he said.

She swallowed hard, not really hearing him. Feeling the pain emanating from him was torture to her soul. She had betrayed him. “I never wanted to hurt you.”

“If I am your family, you would obey me in all things.”

She blinked. “What?”

Griffin sighed. “My brother and I made a bet a long time ago. If I lost a joust, I must take his place as lord so he could travel the country and participate in jousts.”

Layne scowled.

“At first, I had to prove to my family that I was capable, that I didn’t need them.” He looked down. “Then, it changed. There was only one reason I didn’t want to lose.” He looked at her. “Because of you. I wanted to be that strong knight I saw when you looked at me. I wanted to win every joust to impress you.”

Layne couldn’t speak. She couldn’t say a word. Impress her?

“But I couldn’t win against you. I didn’t even want to.” He looked away to the tent flap. “So now, I find myself caught. I must honor my bet to Richard and take his place as lord of the castle. And yet, I don’t want to lose you.”

“Lose me?” She could only echo his words.

“I can only think of one way to make you stay with me. You will join me.”

“As lord of the castle?” Her mind was reeling.

Griffin grinned. “As my wife.”

Layne’s mouth dropped. Her heart flipped in her chest. Surely he couldn’t mean he wanted to marry her? “You want to marry me?”

Griffin took her head into his hands. “I know it is a lot to ask of you. I am not the perfect knight --”

"You are! You are to me.” She reached up to touch his shoulders, his arms. Was this a dream? Then she scowled. “Why? Why would you marry me? I’m willful and disobedient. I roughhouse with my brothers...”

“That will stop,” he said and pressed a kiss to her lips.

“I am unable to embroider or cook.”

“We will have servants to do that.” He kissed her again and again. “There is really only one reason I want to marry you. I love you. I have loved you since the first time you unhorsed me.”

Layne stared at him in disbelief. It all felt like a dream. A wonderful, magnificent dream. More than she could have possibly ever hoped to dream of. She threw her arms around his shoulders. “Yes! Yes!”

Epilogue

“She’s in trouble, there’s no doubt,” Aunt Emalyn said to Gregory Fletcher. “No knight would ever escort her home otherwise.” Her wrinkled eyes turned to Gregory. “I told you to control her.”

He was an old man, but he remembered how vibrant Layne was. And how hard to control. Even from an infant, she seemed to let her curiosity get the best of her. When he had received the missive that Lord Griffin Wolfe would be accompanying her and his sons back to Edinfield, doubt and foreboding filled him. While it said nothing about being in chains, he could picture no other reason.

Now that they were nearly home, his excitement and anxiety were getting the best of him. He waited just outside the Manor for his family. How he had missed them! He ached to hear the tales of their tourneys.

“You will be lucky if any member of your family remains out of the dungeon. She was no good from the beginning.”

He longed to tell his sister to be silent, but she had graciously allowed them to stay with her during these hard times. Since his injury, he was unable to joust and provide for his family. The humiliation was almost too much to bear. And he was grateful for all she had done for him.

The gates to the Manor opened for the first person in the long procession of visitors.

Gregory’s fingers tightened around the missive crumpled in his fist.

Michael was the first in. He rode a horse that Gregory had never seen before. He came to a stop just before his father, kicking up a cloud of dust. He slid to the ground and hugged his father tightly.

Gregory squeezed Michael. “My son,” he whispered, closing his eyes. Michael had grown taller and thinner, if possible. Gregory pulled back to inspect him. He looked healthy and as vibrant as when he had left. He didn’t notice his missing fingers as his hands were encased in white gloves.

Other guards rode in and then two men together. Colin and Frances dismounted together and approached their father. They each warmly embraced him. He noticed the way Colin limped and thought to remember to ask later.

Anxiety swirled in the pit of his stomach when he saw Layne was not with them. She rode separately. God’s blood! What had happened to her?

“Told you,” Emalyn whispered.

Near the rear of the line, Gregory spotted her. She rode at a tall knight’s side. And what was that she was wearing? A dress?

The knight dismounted and walked to her horse, helping her dismount.

Gregory stared, stunned. He noticed, too, that Emalyn had closed her mouth and that gave him some satisfaction. But Layne in a dress? He had never seen such a sight.

Layne looked around, and when she spotted him she picked up her skirts and raced across the yard to launch herself into his arms.

He was almost knocked over by the exuberance in her greeting. He squeezed her, holding her close. She kissed his cheek and stepped away from him. Her hair was still wild with full curls down her back, but there were small flowers woven into it. Her eyes twinkled as she stepped back.

“Father,” she said. She looked back and the tall knight that had helped her dismount walked forward.

Gregory could see by his stature and powerful stride he was of noble birth and impressive lineage.

“I’d like to present to you Lord Griffin Wolfe,” Layne finished.

Griffin bowed slightly. “It is an honor to meet you, Sir.”

Michael ducked between them. “He wants to marry Layne. Eew.”

Layne reached out for him, but he ducked away behind Griffin.

Shocked into silence, Gregory could only stare at Wolfe. And then Layne. Was it the truth or was Michael toying with him? Layne grinned at Lord Griffin and bit her lower lip. For a moment, Gregory saw something he had never seen in Layne’s eyes before. Contentment. Together, they turned to look at him.

“It’s true, Father,” Layne said.

“He must have gotten bashed in the head once too often!” Michael said from behind Griffin.

Frances moved to grab Michael, but he skirted away from them, dashing across the yard with Frances in pursuit.

“I would have asked you in private for your daughter’s hand, but someone beat me to it,” Griffin said.

Gregory looked at Layne. He had heard of this Sir Griffin Wolfe. This fearsome, unbeatable knight. The thought of a union between his headstrong daughter and such an upstanding noble knight would never have crossed his mind even in his wildest imaginings. He cleared his throat. “And this is what you want?”

Layne smiled. She looked at Griffin. “Yes.”

Michael grabbed his father’s hand and pulled him toward the Manor. “Griffin said we could all live with him. In a castle!”

Griffin took Layne’s hands into his own. He looked down at her with complete devotion and love and kissed each of her knuckles. “You can be exactly who you are now,” he said. “I am completely besotted with you.”

Michael circled from a few feet away, still tugging his father’s hand and cried, “Eew!”

“I can?” Layne asked. “Good because when I catch Michael I’m going to give him a sound thrashing.” She started after her brother, but Griffin stilled her movement, catching her arm.

“Allow me, m’lady.”

The threat was enough. Michael ran into the Manor.

Gregory laughed. Colin and Frances laughed right along with him as they followed Michael into the Manor. Even Emalyn couldn’t help but crack a smile as she moved toward her home.

Gregory hugged his daughter. "You have made me proud, Layne.”

Layne’s spirit soared. She squeezed her father back, relishing the moment. This was all she ever wanted. She stepped back from him and looked at Griffin. Now, she had more than she could have ever possibly hoped for. Her family would have a home. Her father and her brothers would be taken care of. And she had a perfect knight.

--- The End ---

Laurel O'Donnell

Critically acclaimed novelist Laurel O’Donnell sold her first book,
The Angel and the Prince
, to Kensington after being a Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart finalist. She has gone on to win many more awards including the Holt Medallion Award for
A Knight of Honor
and the International Digital Award for
Angel’s Assassin.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Laurel began writing in junior high school when she carried a pen and paper around wherever she went. In college, she took fiction writing classes to further her skill. Her love of the medieval time period led her to work at King Richard’s Faire in Wisconsin where she learned stage combat and sword fighting. The Faire fed her insatiable appetite for the medieval era.

Laurel has many books yet to write and hopes you will join her on her journey to bring the medieval era to life!

Please visit Laurel at her website
www.laurel-odonnell.com
for the latest information about upcoming releases, contests, and to contact her.

Laurel O’Donnell Book List

Medieval Romance Novels

The Angel and the Prince

In this exciting medieval romance, the French lady knight known as the Angel of Death wages a battle of wills and desires against her dreaded enemy --- the English warrior known as the Prince of Darkness. An epic medieval romance.
Nominated for the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award. #1 Best Seller in Medieval Romance!

Angel’s Assassin

Lady Aurora of Acquitaine is the epitome of purity and goodness. Nothing makes her stray from the path of right, not even the terrible fear and sinister secret of her mother's death that she keeps hidden from the world. But then a dark and dangerously handsome man saves her life, tempting her with promises of dark passion and forbidden lust, threatening to tear her peaceful world apart.
Winner of the Happily Ever After Contest.
#1 Best Seller in Medieval Romance!

A Knight of Honor

Taylor Sullivan is a raven-haired hellion fleeing the flames that destroyed her family. She arms herself with a quick sword and a sharp tongue, hiring herself out as a mercenary, willing to do whatever it takes to survive. Slane Donovan is a knight of honor, sworn to uphold his oath and his word. He seeks the woman who wears the Sullivan ring, determined to bring her back to Castle Donovan. A fast paced medieval romance filled with action.
Winner of the Holt Medallion Award for Best Medieval Novel

The Lady and the Falconer