Chapter Eleven #3
Christin nodded eagerly, taking his elbow as they headed over to the garden.
The day was bright, with puffy clouds overhead, and the castle garden looked much different in the daylight.
There was a big yew tree, a pond, and many green and growing things that were starting to go dormant as autumn settled in.
Alexander walked her past the tree and over to the pond, all the while holding the fingers that were clutched around his elbow.
Outside of the castle, he’d seen the groups of nobles coming into the castle and knew they would soon be inundated with people for the festivities, so his plan this morning was to have a few moments alone with Christin before William Marshal arrived.
After that, there was no telling what he’d be called upon to do and he didn’t want to take the chance that he might not see her.
Therefore, this was a precious moment.
And a nervous one. God help him, he was actually nervous.
He’d spent all night staring up at the ceiling, reliving the events in the hall, wondering how such a beautiful, intelligent woman could actually notice a man like him.
Certainly, he had prestige and a reputation, but a woman like Christin de Lohr should have far more than that.
The attention of a fine woman wasn’t something he’d ever really had to ponder, so this was quite new to him. He felt so inadequate.
But, oh… so lucky.
“I’ve not yet seen Lord de Winter this morning,” Christin said, breaking into his thoughts. “I am not entirely sure how I am going to apologize for destroying his hall.”
Alexander looked at her, grinning. “You did a splendid job of it,” he said. “I’ve not seen that much chaos in quite some time. And that knight you kept threatening – the one you threw bones at – he’s actually a good man so I hope you do not really think poorly of him.”
She looked at him, mortified. “I do not know why I did that,” she said. “It just came out. I should find him and apologize to him, too.”
Alexander laughed softly. “He would run from you in terror,” he said. “I will find him and make mention of the situation. I will ease things; have no fear.”
Christin sighed heavily. “I was only concerned with the king’s reaction, to be truthful,” she said. “He seemed quite appalled, did he not?”
“He did, indeed.”
“Do you think it was enough to discourage him.”
“I think it certainly gave him pause, but I also think it would be wise for you to leave the castle and stay at that inn near the cathedral until he leaves. Just to stay out of his way.”
She came to a halt, facing him. “If you think so,” she said. “But I must confess all of this to The Marshal, too. It is possible he may not want me to leave. I had a task to perform at the celebration and that was to infiltrate the women. Remember?”
Alexander’s smile faded. “I remember,” he said. “But I do not think that will be wise after last night. I think it best to get you out of John’s sight altogether. I think your presence will cause an added complication we do not need.”
Christin could see his point. She averted her gaze, looking at her feet. “I’ve made a mess of things, I think.”
He reached out, tipping her head up to look at him.
His eyes glittered at her. “You have not,” he said.
“It is John who is to blame. But, then again, I cannot blame him when I look at you. You have stars in your eyes and the beauty of a clear night sky. There is no man in England who would not see that. But I have an advantage. I know that the quality of your character is equal to everything men see on the outside.”
She was deeply flattered by his words. “Even after last night?”
“Especially after last night.”
Reaching up, she stroked his cheek gently and he caught her hand, kissing it tenderly.
They simply stood there a moment, gazing at each other, understanding that whatever was brewing between them had somehow solidified overnight.
It was only yesterday that they were confessing their feelings.
Today, they were free to speak of them and more.
Christin took him by the hand, pulling him over to a stone bench by the pond.
“Come and sit with me,” she said. “Tell me how it will be between us from now on. I must remain here at Norwich because I serve Lady de Winter, but you… you will leave at some point.”
Alexander nodded, politely helping her to sit before he sat beside her. “I will return to London with William Marshal,” he said. “Where he goes, I go.”
“When shall I see you again?”
That had been on Alexander’s mind most of the night.
“That is a good question,” he said, holding her hand to his chest. “I told you that I have been a loner and a wanderer. I have friends, that is true, and very good friends. But I have never had a lady who I have been fond of, so this is all very new to me. All I know is that I do not want to leave when The Marshal returns to London. I want to remain here, with you.”
Christin smiled at him, clutching the hand that was holding hers. “This is new to me, also,” she said. “I do not want you to leave, either, but I know you must. I do not know when The Marshal will call upon me again and until he does, I will remain at Norwich.”
Alexander sat there for a moment, staring down at her hands as they held his. He simply stared, clearly lost in thought.
“When Maxton and Kress and Achilles married for love, I thought it was weak of them,” he said after a moment.
“I did not know Maxton’s wife very well, but I knew the women that Kress and Achilles wed.
Although they were fine women, I still thought it was weak of them to make their careers secondary to their marriages.
To these women, they surrendered. After all, we have served together for over twenty years, all of us.
We have faced life and death together. We are a brotherhood like none other and I did not understand why they let their personal feelings interfere with that.
But now… now, I do, because I find myself facing the same thing. ”
Christin was listening to him seriously. “And this disturbs you?”
He shook his head, slowly. “It does not. I thought it would, but it does not.”
“Then what do you wish to do, Sherry? Do you wish to think about this? I do not want you to be confused and miserable over your feelings for me.”
He looked at her, then. “There is no confusion,” he murmured.
“That is why this is all so baffling, but at the same time, all so wonderful. There is absolutely no confusion. I know what I want and I know what I feel, and both of those roads lead to you. Everything leads to you. And now I am trying to determine our future.”
Christin could see that, in spite of his words, he was puzzled. As he’d said, this was new to him, so he was trying to plot a course. She scooted closer to him, gently laying her head on his shoulder.
“You do not have to decide anything today,” she said softly. “We do not have to do anything right this very moment. We have time. But know this; no matter how long it takes for you to determine our future, I will wait for you. I will be right here, waiting for you.”
Surprise washed over his features. “You would truly wait for me?”
She nodded. “Of course I would. I do not give my affections easily, Sherry. I do not give them at all, really. I assured you that this was not a whim and you told me that you would stop at nothing to make me yours. I will hold you to that, but I will not rush you.”
He leaned his head so that it was resting on hers, a sweet and simple gesture that meant the world to him.
“That is what’s so strange about this,” he said.
“I do not want to leave you. I want to be with you every day for the rest of my life, so I want to determine the course of our future now. I will have to leave with The Marshal, but I will return for you as soon as I can.”
She chuckled; he could feel her. “You must still speak with my father, you know.”
“I know. And I will do that as soon as I can.”