Chapter Seventeen #2
The man looked sorrowful and Brogan knew why. Brogan knew because he had, in fact, had the same expression when he thought Avalyn had been lost to him forever. As he held Avalyn, feeling her sobs of joy against him, he gaze locked with William’s.
“Thank you for bringing her to me,” he murmured. “You are a true and faithful knight. And I swear upon my life that I will take good care of her.”
William knew that; the reunion between Avalyn and Brogan was breaking his heart, wishing with all his soul that it had been him with his arms around her and not Brogan.
But he knew it was not to be. He was resigned to it.
Now, it was time for him to move on and make his own life, a life that no longer included the hope of Avalyn as his wife.
Now, he was free, but he knew he was leaving her in very good hands.
There was nothing more for him to do. After a moment, he smiled faintly.
“I know you will,” he muttered. “But you have no idea what you are getting in to, truly. She is very stubborn sometimes. You have my permission to spank her.”
Brogan grinned, nodding his head in understanding. “Did you ever spank her?”
“I never had the heart to.”
“What makes you think I will?”
William grinned as well, a moment of levity and relief.
As he gazed at the pair, he knew their path wouldn’t be easy but as long as they had one another, he was sure that even though the rough times, their love would endure.
He’d been wondering the entire trip to London if bringing Avalyn to Brogan had been the right thing to do and at this moment, he could see that it was.
All of the struggle, all of the adversity and chaos the two had been through, this was the sweetest reward of all.
It had been worth it. He couldn’t help but be happy for her.
With a nod of his head, an acknowledgment that his job was over, he excused himself and turned for his horse. He wasn’t needed here any longer. But Avalyn’s voice stopped him.
“William?” she called.
He paused to look at her. “My lady?”
Avalyn gently pulled herself from Brogan’s embrace, making her way to William and standing in front of him.
For a moment, she simply looked at him. Everything she wanted to say was in her expression and he understood.
Gratitude and adoration and fondness was reflected there.
But after a few moments of staring, she threw her arms around his neck and squeezed.
Leaving him with a kiss on the cheek, she whispered softly.
“Thank you,” she murmured. “You are the most loyal and true friend anyone could ever have and I will never forget you.”
William, struggling with her bittersweet words, gave her a quirky smile. “See that you do not,” he told her. “I expect you to name your first born son after me.”
“I swear it shall be done.”
“It had better.”
Avalyn grinned, watching him as he walked away to collect his charger.
She continued to watch as he spurred the beast down the avenue, kicking up a small could of dust in the warm air until he disappeared from view.
Nay, she would never forget him. None of this would have been possible if it had not been for him.
He was a true friend, indeed.
*
William received a missive a year and a half later, a roll of vellum sealed up in a well-worn leather pouch, that had originally been delivered to Guerdley Cross and St. John had forwarded to him at the de Neville seat of Warwick Castle.
He had been taking his morning meal when a soldier had delivered it and, with curiosity, he had opened the pouch only to discover that the contents were from Avalyn.
Holding it up in the light, he read the entire thing with great interest.
He grinned at the part describing the birth of big, healthy, and loud baby William Tygor de Neville-Aubrey in Dresden, in the earldom of Saxony.
Everyone was healthy and happy, and Brogan had become a knight in the service of the House of Hesse, Earls of Saxony, as his father had been before him.
He was finally where he belonged, as they all were, including baby William who was, in reality, an English baron who had inherited the Aubrey estates.
Both William and Avalyn, as well as Brogan, William suspected at this point, knew that the child was not Charles’.
But it didn’t matter. It would keep the Aubrey estates in the Aubrey name, and the baby would grow up with the advantages and wealth that Brogan could have never provided for him.
It was a secret between the three of them, something not even Barton knew, but William wondered, upon the return of young William Aubrey to Guerdley Cross, if someone needed to let Barton in on the secret should the boy look like his real father.
It was an interesting prospect to consider for the future.
Avalyn ended her missive with the words Schritte der herrlichkeit. William had to find someone who spoke Germanic to have the words translated. Steps of Glory, he was told. He didn’t really know what she meant by it, but he suspected.
She’s finally found her happiness, after all.
* THE END *