Unending Love (10 page)

“What are you doing wandering out here?”

Adalind recognized Maddoc’s tone as she whirled
around to face him. He came up behind her, the bright blue eyes glittering as
their gazes locked.

“’Tis cold,” he said, his voice softer. “Why are
you not inside supping with de Burgh?”

Adalind found she was rather breathless at the
sight of him.  Her heart was beating so loudly against her ribs that she was
sure he could hear it.

“Probably for the same reason you are not
supping with him,” she said. “I do not wish to be near him.”

He gave her a half-grin. “That is the truth,” he
agreed. “But in my case, it is more likely that your grandfather forbade me
from going anywhere near the man. I am therefore assigned to the night watch so
I can stay away from him.  I am supposed to stay away from you, too.”

Adalind shrugged, as if she hadn’t time for such
nonsense. “That does not seem natural to me.”

“Nor to me.”

It was a warm and perhaps leading answer.
Adalind gazed at Maddoc with a rather wide-eyed stare. It was the man she’d
always known, the man she’d loved from her earliest memories, but as she gazed
at him, she could only think of one thing to say to him.

“Maddoc,
why
?”

He cocked his head. “What do you mean?”

She swallowed hard for her mouth was dry. Nerves
were causing her to tremble. “Why…?” she swallowed again. “Why did you say
those things earlier?”

His grin broadened. “I believe I was quite
clear.”

She shook her head. “But it does not make any
sense to me,” she said, almost pleadingly. “As a child I would follow you
around until you would chase me way. Do you remember? You would tell me to go
away or you would turn the dogs on me.  Then I would run off and hide for a
time before writing you notes in the dirt apologizing for making you angry.  Do
you remember that as well?”

His gaze was warm. “Of course I remember. You only
knew a few words so your notes were mostly gibberish, but I will tell you a
secret about them.”

“What?”

“They always made me smile and then I would feel
tremendously guilty for being so harsh with you.”

She smiled faintly, but just as quickly sobered.
The subject at hand was too serious to get off course with other recollections.

“Maddoc, please do not toy with me,” she begged
softly. “Tell me why you have changed your mind about me.  Surely you must know
how this has affected me.  All my life… all my life I have dreamed of you and
now….”

She trailed off, unable to continue as she
averted her gaze.  Maddoc could see how confused she was; in truth, he had been
confused as well.  He’d spent the entire afternoon reflecting on what he’d
said, and a good hour discussing the situation Christina.  The woman’s only
concern had naturally been for her daughter and Maddoc had been duly
interrogated. By the end of the conversation, his confusion had transformed
into certainty.  It was as if reasoning his thoughts out with the mother had
clarified everything. Now, as he gazed at Adalind, he had never been more
certain about anything in his life. 

“Now you will make my dreams come true,” he
murmured, taking a step closer to her. “I explained my reasoning this
afternoon. I am not sure I can elaborate on that, Addie.”

She wasn’t convinced. “You do understand that I
have been asking you to marry me since I was about five years of age, and you
have been resisting me since that time?”

“Sometimes it takes me quite a while to make up
my mind.”

“It took you thirteen years?”

He shrugged. Then, he cocked his head pensively.
“You never did answer me, you know.”

“Answer what?”

“I asked you if you still found anything attractive
about me. You did not answer me.”

She looked at him as if he was daft. “Are you
serious?”

“Of course.”

She threw up her hands. “That is the most
foolish question I have ever heard,” she declared. “Maddoc, I have spent the
past several years unsuccessfully attempting to put you out of my heart and out
of my mind. When I first saw you two days ago after having not seen you in
years, it was as if every thought and dream I ever had about you was confirmed
and I knew I could never forget you no matter how hard I tried. When I spoke of
committing myself to the convent, it was not an attempt to force you into a
proposal. It was because I knew I could never marry another man while my heart
belonged to you. I would be doing both him and me a great disservice.  Papa
thought that perhaps someone would eventually come along that would change my
mind, but I assured him that was not the case. The heart wants what the heart
wants.”

Maddoc’s expression was soft.  “And it still
wants me?”

Adalind could feel her nervousness, her
disbelief, fading as she looked into his eyes. She was coming to realize this
was the moment she had waited for her entire life; face to face with Maddoc
spilling her most personal feelings to him. The best part was that he was
actually listening. Maybe this wasn’t a dream, after all.

“Aye,” she finally murmured. “It still wants
you. It always has.”

His smile returned, a tender gesture she had
never seen from him before, one that sent her heart racing again. When he
reached out and took her hand, bringing to his lips for a tender kiss, she
thought she might truly faint.  She actually felt lightheaded, giddy as she had
never felt in her life.

“I do not honestly know what has changed my
mind,” he whispered. “All I know is that it has in fact changed, which is more
of a surprise to me than it is to you. I see such joy and warmth and passion in
you, Addie. I see a perfect and beautiful woman, and I do not blame these men
who have made fools of themselves as they attempt to gain your attention.  Now,
I would do it, too. I want to get to know you, as an adult, and understand this
magic you seem to have. It intrigues me like nothing ever has.”

Adalind was back to trembling again as he
continued to hold her hand.  She closed her eyes tightly, briefly, as his words
sank deep.

“I have waited so long to hear those words from
you,” she murmured, opening her eyes and fixing him with her teary gaze. “You
cannot know how much this means to me.”

“Actually, I think I do.  The words mean a great
deal to me as well. I have never spoken them before, to anyone.”

She stared at him for a moment before a hint of
a smile came to her lips.  Then, the smile grew until it was broad and
beautiful.  She was positively glowing.

“Truly?” she breathed.

“Truly.”

“You will not try to chase me away again or turn
the dogs on me?”

He laughed softly. “I will not, I swear it.” He
brought her hand to his lips again, depositing a warm and sweet kiss on her
knuckles as his gaze bore into her. “Will you accept my suit, then?”

Adalind was having difficulty breathing as he
tenderly kissed her flesh.  All she could do was nod her head, rather
recklessly, before throwing her arms around his neck.  She’d only meant to hug
him, thrilled beyond measure, but she never got that far.  Maddoc’s face, and
mouth, were suddenly in front of her and their lips met with such force that he
audibly grunted as he tipped back, thrown off balance by her passionate attack. 
But just as swiftly, his arms were around her and his warm and soft lips were
kissing her as he had never kissed a woman in his life.

She was sweet and hot, incredibly delicious. The
sweet scent of
her
[J12]
 
filled his nostrils as he suckled her lips,
tasting her, acquainting himself with her. He could have very easily lost
himself in an even deeper kiss but he wasn’t oblivious to the fact that they
were in the bailey, though shielded. It was possible that someone might see
them and he knew he would be in a good deal of trouble
if
[J13]
 
news of the encounter got back to David.  So he
kissed her firmly one last time and set her on her feet.

“I would not make an even greater spectacle of
ourselves than we just did,” he said, breathless himself. “If your grandfather
hears about that, he will beat me soundly.”

Adalind was panting, hand to her mouth, tasting
and smelling the man’s scent against her flesh. “I am sorry,” she breathed. “I
did not mean to throw myself at you like that. I simply meant to… oh, I do not
know what I meant. Please do not think me wicked.”

He grinned. “I would never think that,” he said,
winking at her. “In fact, I very much enjoyed it. I am glad you threw yourself
at me.”

She was torn between giggling and embarrassment.
“Perhaps I should go before I do it again. There is no guarantee that I will
not.”

With a twinkle in his eye, he gently took her
elbow and turned her for the keep.  He properly escorted her as far as the
stairs in warm silence, both of them reflecting on the turn of events. Around
them, the castle was alive with soldiers and servants, moving swiftly through
the foggy air, but in their world it was just the two of them. More than once
they would glance at each other, grin, and look away. When they finally reached
the steps, Adalind stopped and turned to him.

“I am going to go into the hall right now and
tell de Burgh to leave,” she said firmly. “I do not want him here. He is most
certainly not welcome.”

Maddoc tried not to agree with her. “Perhaps
your grandfather has already done that.”

“I cannot be sure.”

“I would tread carefully, Addie. You do not want
to make a mess of things. Let David handle the situation, please. Go back up to
your chamber and stay out of sight for now.”

Her gaze lingered on him a moment. “Is that what
you wish?”

“It is.”

She smiled. “Then I shall do it.”

He returned her smile, feeling a bolt of giddy
warmth shoot through him. She had such a lovely smile, now reserved only for
him.  Like her, he was still having trouble believing what had transpired and,
like her, it all seemed very perfect and dream-like. It was heavenly.

“Thank you,” he said sincerely. “I will….”

He was cut off by a loud voice at the top of the
steps. “My lady!” the voice nearly shouted. “Alas, I am fortunate enough to
gaze upon you!”

Adalind whirled around so fast that she nearly
lost her balance, for standing at the entry to the keep was none other than
Walter de Burgh.  David was standing right behind him and he did not look
pleased.

Maddoc knew the displeasure was directed at him.

As I stare on and on into the past, in the end you emerge,
Clad in the light of a pole-star piercing the darkness of time:

CHAPTER
FIVE

“How is it possible you have grown more
beautiful since last I saw you?” Walter demanded as he began to descend the
stairs in Adalind’s direction. “I am very glad to see you. Come and greet my
properly, my love.”

Adalind backed away from him and ended up
practically hiding behind Maddoc. She was frowning deeply.

“I am
not
your love,” she snapped. “I
told you that I was not interested in your suit, my lord. I am greatly
displeased to see that you have come to my home.”

Walter de Burgh was a few years older than
David, a short man with a bulbous nose, a big belly, and pocked skin.  His gray
hair was wavy and long, oily, and he often reeked of cheese.  It was a horrific
combination. Having already buried three wives, he was on the urgent hunt for
the fourth because with five daughters, he was desperate for a son.

But the heir would not be from Adalind. At her
sharp statement, he came to a halt with genuine astonishment on his face.  He
was torn between disappointment and surprise.

“Addie, how can you say that?” he asked, his
arms open wide as if to embrace her. “You know how fond I am of you.”

Adalind wedged herself even tighter behind
Maddoc, afraid Walter would make a grab for her. “I am not fond of
you
,”
she said. “Go away, Walter.  I do not want to see you.”

Walter wasn’t sure how to react. He looked
rather speechless before turning to David. “Women do not know what is good for
them,” he said, his good spirits returning. “It is fortunate that they have no
negotiating power in a marriage contract.”

David gazed at the man with veiled tolerance.
“Perhaps that is true in some cases,” he replied, “but not in this case. As I
told you when you arrived, my granddaughter is already betrothed and Adalind
has made her wishes clear. There is no room for negotiation.”

At David’s words, Adalind, still standing behind
Maddoc, reached out and discreetly grasped his hand.  She squeezed, thrilled
that David had apparently given Maddoc permission to court her.  It was the
most wonderful thing she could hope for and wasn’t at all peeved that she found
out in a rather roundabout manner. All that mattered was that David had given
his permission.  Maddoc, thinking all of the same things she was, squeezed
back.