Page 116

T here was a soft knock on the chamber door and Maitland, half-covered in soap and water, went to open it.

Thomas stood out on the landing, smiling weakly at her, and she waved him inside.

“Come in, Sir Thomas,” she said, indicating seven children and two big copper tubs filled with hot, soapy water. “We were just cleaning up all of the Castle Heton filth. Care to lend a hand?”

Thomas’ smile broadened and he shook his head as he caught sight of Artus and Phin in one tub, dunking their heads underneath to see who could hold their breath longer. Artus popped up, wiped water out of his eyes, and spied Thomas.

“Watch me, Sir Thomas!” he cried. “Watch me!”

His head went back under quickly and water sloshed over the sides. Thomas pointed to the boy. “He is not going to stay under too long, is he?”

Maitland laughed softly, wiping her hands off on a linen towel. “Nay,” she said. “He becomes frightened after only a few seconds. It will not last long.”

The two of them grinned at each other as the door opened again and in swept Jordan and Caria, carrying piles of garments between them into the warm and slightly damp chamber.

“Tommy!” Caria cried, dumping off the garments on the only bed in the room, a rather big bed, and then rushing to Thomas, who picked her up and squeezed her. “How long are you going to stay? I want you to stay a very long time. Will you?”

Thomas gave her a hug and she gripped his neck enthusiastically.

“I cannot stay too long, but you know I will return as soon as I can,” he said, spanking her affectionately on the buttocks before setting her to her feet.

“Look at all of these children you have to play with. What fun you shall have.”

He said it to distract her and it worked. Caria saw Marybelle, Nora, and Dyana in one of the big copper tubs and she ran to it, trying to take her clothes off as she went.

“Matha!” she said. “I want to take a bath!”

Jordan was over by the bed, separating clothing out by size, and saw Caria as the little girl tried to pull her dress over her head. Dropping what she was doing, she rushed to her.

“God’s Bones, lass,” she said, helping Caria yank her clothing off. “Let me help ye before ye tear yer head off.”

Caria was far too excited to get into the bath with the other girls, and when Jordan stripped her down and put her in, she squealed with delight and immediately started splashing. Both Thomas and Maitland watched with a grin.

“It seems that everyone is having fun for bath time,” he said to Maitland, his smile fading as he looked at her. “Do you have a moment to spare me?”

Maitland could see he meant a private conversation, away from little ears. She mouthed “ always” before replying aloud.

“Of course,” she said. “Lady de Wolfe? May I leave you with the children for a moment?”

Jordan waved her on and she followed Thomas into the corridor outside. She shut the door softly behind them, shutting out the sounds of frolicking children and splashing water.

“Your mother has been so kind,” she said quietly. “I hate to impose on her, especially with your father’s injury.”

Thomas lifted his eyebrows. “She told you about that?”

“She did. How is he faring?”

“Much better. He was able to sit up in bed a little just now as I told him of our grand adventure.”

“That is good news.”

He grunted, wearily rubbing his eyes. “I have not spoken to you since we returned with the children,” he said, looking at her. “I have so many questions about what happened, but that will have to come later. At the moment, all that matters to me is that you are safe and the children are safe.”

Maitland gazed up at him, seeing that he was a man with much on his mind. She wanted so badly to wrap her arms around him. “There is time to speak of everything later,” she said. “Do not be troubled. We need not speak of it now.”

Thomas shook his head. “I must,” he said. “But before I do, may… may I hold you?”

Maitland fell against him, her arms around his neck as he wrapped his big arms around her and held her tightly. Feeling his strength, his great and solid body, undid Maitland and tears sprang to her eyes.

“I was so frightened I would never see you again,” she whispered. “I was so frightened for the children, but I am selfish in that I was mostly frightened for me without you. Does that sound terribly selfish?”

His face was buried in the side of her neck. “Nay,” he whispered. “For I was fearful of the same. You cannot know the horror I felt when I came across Dyana and she told us that you had been taken away. Utter and complete horror.”

“Desmond told me everything. It is a miracle she found you.”

“It is, but I am sorry about Tibelda. I know she was your friend.”

That only made Maitland hold him tighter. “She was,” she murmured. “I shall miss her terribly, but the children are safe. That is all she would have wanted.”

Thomas held her a moment longer before loosening his grip so he could kiss her.

It was a sweet, tender kiss, one of great power and longing.

The kiss grew increasingly amorous until he backed off, knowing this was not the place.

But he licked her lips and kissed her again before setting her to her feet.

“I have just come from my father,” he said quietly, holding her hand and lifting it to his lips as he spoke. “So much has happened since we last spoke that I do not even know where to start. I suppose the first thing I must do is ask you a question.”

“What question?”

“You once said you would take my heart and never give it back. Is that still true?”

She nodded, her eyes warm with sincerity. “More than ever.”

He lifted her hand and kissed it again, a painfully sweet gesture.

So much had happened in the short time they’d been apart– his father’s trip to Kyloe and subsequent injury, his continued determination that Thomas should marry Adelaide.

That hadn’t changed. Maitland didn’t know about Adelaide’s murder streak or anything else about the woman beyond what Thomas had told her.

She knew that Edmund de Vauden was dead, but certainly none of the politics behind Thomas’ rush to marry Adelaide now.

There simply wasn’t any reason to tell her.

But the situation was breaking his heart.

“That is good to hear,” he whispered. “Because I have given you my heart for always. I thought I was in love before, once. I have spoken of Tacey and of my feelings for her, but with you… I realize that mayhap I wasn’t truly, deeply, and madly in love.

Tacey gave me a taste of what I was capable of feeling, but you have brought out the best in me.

I never knew I could love someone the way I love you, Mae. ”

She looked at him with wide eyes. “Oh, Thomas,” she breathed. “I have never loved a man, not ever. That gift has been reserved for you, my love. I will love you until I die.”

Thomas had heard those words before, but not when they came from someone who meant something to him. He pulled her into his embrace again, holding her tightly, kissing her ear, her temple, and finally her lips. They weren’t kisses of lust or passion, but those of true and deeper emotion.

Her kisses were imprinted into his very soul.

“Remember that,” he whispered. “Remember that when I return to Wark because my father has ordered me to marry Adelaide. I cannot tell you my devastation with this, but it cannot be helped. For now, my mother is going to keep you and the children here at Northwood until my father can travel. Then, she tells me that she is going to take you back to Castle Questing. She does not want you returning to Edenside until the walls can be reinforced and a proper gate built. I promise I will come and see you at Questing as soon as I am able, but know that it may take some time. I must return Edmund’s body back to Kyloe Castle and I must become familiar with my earldom. ”

Maitland was holding to him tightly, but she was nodding her head. “I know, my love,” she said. “Take all the time you need. You know where I will be.”

His embrace tightened and he lifted her off the floor, holding her against his body and feeling her warmth. “God, I don’t want to leave you,” he whispered. “Every day we are apart will feel like an eternity.”

“I know,” she said, squeezing him before loosening her grip and sliding down to the floor. “Things are not ideal. They are not even good. But I know you love me, and you know that I love you. There is hope in that, Thomas, whatever the future may bring us.”

He didn’t want to tell her what he hoped it would bring– an annulment of his marriage to Adelaide once Patrick arrested her for the murder of two young men.

He didn’t want to dare give her hope because if it didn’t happen and he was forced to remain married to that horror of a woman, then he didn’t want Maitland to be disappointed.

Already, he was planning the life he would live with her, marriage or no.

Cupping her face between his two big hands, he kissed her one last time.

“The future is bright as far as I am concerned,” he said. “I have never been this happy, in spite of everything, and it is all because of you. You and those seven little waifs and that goat cheese you make. It’s such a beautiful, simple life and I want to be part of it.”

Maitland smiled, holding up her hand and he saw the ring he’d given her. “You already are,” she whispered. “Now, I must return and help your mother before those children get that entire chamber wet. I like your mother, Thomas. She is a wonderful woman.”

He returned her smile. “And she likes you a great deal,” he said. Then, his smile faded somewhat. “I will try to say farewell before I leave for Wark on the morrow, but if I do not, then let this be my farewell for now. You have my love and my heart, Maitland de Ryes Bowlin. Never forget it.”

“I will not.”

He winked at her as he started to move away, but then he paused. “Just a mention,” he said, “but Des is not too happy about the situation.”

“You told him?”

“I had to.”

Maitland frowned. “I love my brother, but he worries like an old woman.”

Thomas grinned. “Do not tell him that. He will think I told you to.”

She started to laugh, blowing him a kiss as he moved down the corridor and reached the stairwell. He blew one in return before disappearing down the stairs.

Maitland stood there a moment, basking in the glow of their encounter, thinking on what they would both be facing from now on.

She’d told Thomas when she met him that she would never carry on with a married man and until this moment, she’d kept that vow.

As he’d pointed out, he wasn’t married, though they both knew that was a technicality.

Once a man was betrothed, in the eyes of the church, he was indeed married, but neither one of them had brought that up.

It was easier to pretend otherwise. But soon, they wouldn’t be able to pretend at all and she struggled against the sorrow that provoked.

She knew very well it was a contract marriage and that Thomas hated the sight of Adelaide, but that didn’t change facts that the woman would be his wife.

Maitland would have his love, but Adelaide would have his name.

She wondered how that would play out in the years to come.

Maitland wondered if she would have to defend herself from a jealous Lady de Wolfe in the days or years to come.

Not that she cared. Or, at least, she didn’t at this moment.

But only the future would tell if the love she and Thomas were building could withstand the test of time– and the pressures of their complex situation.

She fervently hoped so.