Page 38 of A Dark and Stormy Knight (A Knight’s Tale #3)

W hile the royal debacle played out before him, their self-congratulatory praises making him ill, Paul seized the chance to approach the object of his life-long desire. “Lady Helena.”

She turned, her expression instantly sliding into one of disdain. “Lord Dinsdale.”

Anger lit and burned within him. Her demeanor should not bother him after all these years, but it did. She should’ve been his wife, the mother of his children, and she dared to look at him with distaste?

“I congratulate you on your son’s win.”

He hadn’t thought to do that at all. It was simply her presence before him had goaded him into conversation.

He dreamt of her sometimes. Of how she’d looked when they were young and carefree and headed toward a future together. So beautiful.

Her chin lifted. “You have tried most of your life to take what is ours. You deserve to end with naught, but thanks to my son, you still have your son. This ends now.”

It ended, did it?

She could be complacent, could she not? Her husband avenged, her son the winner, their name restored.

But what of him?

She’d done him a great wrong, as had her husband. He saw it every time a child flinched away from him.

And thinking on children, Lady Helena’s should never have been born, not unless he’d fathered them.

And yet she dared to stand there, looking at him with disdain and distaste as others turned toward them, avid for more gossip, protecting her from his wrath.

Her face suddenly softened. “Paul, please.”

His name on her lips, so unexpected, gave him a jolt.

“I am sorry for the role I’ve played in your suffering,” in that moment her face resembled young Lady Helena once more.

The girl who’d been so beautiful, so young, full of dreams, and love for him.

“But, please, end this, now and forever.”

He came back to himself. To the reality that she’d only been his, that he’d only held her heart, for a very short while.

As she watched him, there was sudden pity in her gaze, and he wondered if perhaps she saw the tender emotions she inspired.

His lips tightened, though he knew what that did to his scar.

Let her look.

He didn’t know if he wished to slap her face, or kiss her, but either way, after all of these years, he still felt.

He wished he did not.

Without another word, he turned and walked away, determined to follow the course he’d laid out for himself.

* * *

Though it was starting to chill, the crowd wasn’t in a hurry to disperse.

Not only were people still talking about the fight, but a couple of men even reenacted it with sticks off to one side, much to the amusement of others.

Wallace led her away from everyone, seeming as determined to speak to her as she was to avoid it.

Not in the middle of a crowd.

Everyone was enjoying the crisp air, still excited about the win. Food was cooked and sold, and it seemed everyone there wished for a chance to congratulate Wallace.

Not on his wedding plans, of course, but on his win.

When Wallace was cornered by a group of men, Cara joined Gillian and Lady Helena who now stood off to one side with Amelia and Dori.

Amelia’s head was bent, but not in shame. From her tight-lipped, belligerent expression, she had no regrets about her part in this day’s events.

When she stopped in front of the other ladies, Gillian shot her a grin. “Congratulations are in order.”

“Thank you,” Cara responded, relief the main emotion washing through her.

Lady Helena, not one to waste her smiles, nevertheless looked pleased. “Although I already considered you one of our own, I still welcome you to our family with pleasure.”

“Thank you,” Cara said again, and smiled to cover her uneasiness. She glanced at Amelia. “You doing okay, kiddo?”

Amelia glanced up, ascertained that Cara’s gaze was upon her, and let out a long-suffering sigh. “I suppose you wish my betrothed had been killed?”

Cara waved a hand. “Yeah, not particularly. I prefer to keep my breakfast in my stomach most days.” No need to mention she hadn’t been able to eat.

Amelia’s expression softened and she suddenly looked hopeful. “You are not unhappy with the way things turned out?”

Cara chuckled. “I’m sure it will all work out the way it’s supposed to.”

She included herself in that statement. Somehow, it would all work out. She hoped.

It was obvious the younger girl had her own hopes where Rupert was concerned, and was no doubt half in love with the good-looking young man already.

Cara glanced around to see if Lord Dinsdale was slithering about, but didn’t see him anywhere.

There was no doubt Rupert’s bloodline was unfortunate, and perhaps a long engagement was a good idea. A few visits back and forth so they could get to know each other better, but she wasn’t one to judge someone based on unfortunate relatives.

Anyway, for all any of them knew, his mother was fabulous.

She smiled at Amelia. “Rupert seems like a nice enough guy to me, and time will tell.”

Amelia suddenly clasped her hands together. “If you will talk to Wallace and my mother, I am sure they will come around.”

Well, Wallace probably wanted to talk about his own relationship at the moment.

Lady Helena made a scoffing noise. “Now is not the time, nor the place, Amelia. These things will be discussed at a later date.”

“’Tis the king’s will,” Amelia said darkly.

“Later,” Lady Helena said in a much firmer tone.

Lips pressed tight again, Amelia stomped off, and Dori followed. Lady Helena excused herself and soon it was just Cara and Gillian, which worked out just fine as she wanted to talk to the other girl.

“Have you spoken to your hubby about the ring?”

Gillian’s gaze sharpened as she studied Cara. “You want to go back home?”

Cara’s gaze immediately went to where Wallace stood among a group of men, chatting.

He stood tall, strong, head and shoulders above some of the others.

Everyone loved a winner.

Wallace looked friendlier, more relaxed with the men than he’d been these last few days. It lightened her heart to see it.

She was glad for him.

And glad to shed the guilt.

So, why did she have to feel such a wrenching in her heart at the thought of leaving him forever?

Mouth parted, she turned back to Gillian and struggled to come up with a response.

Gillian laughed. “Oh, your expression. How well I know what you’re going through.”

“This isn’t the life I’d envisioned for myself, you know?”

“I do. But are you sure? You and Wallace get along so well, and the way you’re looking at him … oh, and now he’s staring at you in a sort of dark, possessive way. Whew.” Gillian started fanning herself.

Cara didn’t look. She knew that look well and it would weaken her resolve.

She felt a little desperate. Almost like she could feel her will, her former life, slipping away. “I mean, don’t you miss showers? Your career? Shopping?”

“I still have baths, surrounded by candles. I still paint, and I still get new clothes, it’s just that they are made from scratch.”

“And your family?”

Gillian glanced down. “My family passed away in a car accident before I met Kellen.”

Cara’s eyes widened. “I’m so sorry.”

Gillian placed a hand on her stomach. “I gained a family here.” She gave Cara a sympathetic look. “But I can certainly understand that it would be hard for you. Who did you leave behind?”

Cara’s eyes filled with tears as she thought about her parents. “My mom and dad. I’m an only child, so no siblings. I’ve got cousins, but we only see them every other year or so, though we do keep in touch on Facebook.”

They both stood in silence for a long moment, and Gillian finally said, “If you’re sure, I’ll try harder with Kellen. All he’ll say is he destroyed the ring, but I’m not sure I believe him. I’ve never looked for it, and I suspect if he did hide it, it’ll be somewhere I would never find it. But I’ll talk to him again and let you know.”

“Thank you,” Cara said, and her gaze was drawn to Wallace once more.

He glanced up and their eyes met, and it felt as though something almost physical passed between them, an acknowledgment, certainly, but deeper and more meaningful than that.

At the thought of never seeing him again, her throat tightened.

If it were possible for her to go back to her real life, surely their feelings for each other would fade. She’d be relieved to have her family, and all the luxuries she’d grown up with.

Maybe his former betrothed would have him back, now that he was Wolfsbane.

Because this wasn’t the life for her.

Was it?

Wallace shot her a slight smile, a lifting of his lips, the corners curling, his dimples flashing.

Her heart swelled and something within her seemed to settle into place.

She wasn’t quite so sure that she wanted to, or even could, live without him.

* * *

Wallace’s heart twisted as he held gazes with Cara, struggling to keep his expression calm, because with all the men standing around him, clamoring for his attention, he did not wish for what he felt to show in his face.

Wearing his heart upon his sleeve would only make a mockery of him once more, and he’d had enough of that to last a lifetime.

He’d been told by the group at large of the way Cara had spoken for him the night before.

Everyone wished to tell him a piece of the story, how the woman he loved had taken up for him in such a manner. It made it all the more difficult for him to hide his feelings.

When she turned away, ’twas almost a relief, allowing him to regain some of his composure.

He couldn’t wait for all of this to be over, so he could have Cara to himself.

He’d won. She was his, and by the king’s command. He wished to reclaim his properties, marry Cara, and install her as Lady of Wolfsbane.

If he’d ever had this much luck, or happiness, or good fortune in his life, he did not remember it.

Now, if he could only understand the expression in her eyes when she’d agreed to marry him. She’d said yes, for the second time, no less, but her eyes had not.

Mayhap a trick caused by the cloudy day. The moment he had her alone, he’d ease her fears.

“Wolfsbane!”

When the king called him, Wallace was quick to excuse himself and weave his way to stand below the dais. “Your Majesty?”

The king’s smile was sly. “The queen wondered if you would sit with us for evening meal. With the Lady Cara, of course.”

Wallace gave the queen a slight smile and bowed. “I thank you for the invitation, Your Majesty. We would be most honored.”

And then on the morrow, they would be on their way once more.

He’d put this spectacle behind him, and settle back into his life.

Only this time, with Cara at his side, it would be so much the better.