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Somehow, Magnus had known, all along, that his father would be supportive. After all, Patrick had stolen a postulate from a convent and married her. Magnus’ mother was that former postulate, and Magnus knew that his father had even had to fight for his mother.

Perhaps it was Magnus’ turn to fight.

“If anyone understands that there are times when a man falls for a woman who may not be meant for him, it is you,” Magnus murmured. “You married Mother, and I am sure Poppy was greatly against it.”

Poppy was what all of the de Wolfe grandchildren called Patrick’s father, the greatest de Wolfe of them all. William de Wolfe had been gone for several years now, but his memory was alive, as strongly as if he was only in the next room. He was spoken of often and fondly.

Patrick snorted at Magnus’ statement. “You have no idea, lad,” he said.

“Poppy gave me such a fight that I truly thought it would ruin my relationship with him forever. But it did not. You are right when you say that I understand what it is to fall in love with a woman you are not meant to have. Would you like me to ride to London with you?”

Magnus’ eyes widened and he stood up, facing his father. “Would you?”

“Of course I would,” Patrick said, seeing how much it meant to his son. “Titus can remain here with your uncle Alec in command. Berwick can do without me for now. I think you need me more. Besides… I have a few things to say to Hugh Despenser about his intentions toward you.”

Magnus felt better than he had in months. Having his father’s support was everything to him. “I am going to Lonsdale to marry Lady Delaina,” he said. “I want to be perfectly clear, Papa.”

Patrick smiled faintly. “I am well aware, lad,” he said. “In fact… I think I have something for you.”

He turned back to his table, only he moved beyond it to a niche in the wall where he kept a fortified, locked iron box.

That was where he kept most of his valuables and coin, and he used a big iron key to open the box.

After wrenching open the old lid, because it liked to stick, he fumbled around in the box until he came across what he was looking for.

Magnus was still wiping the moisture from his face and Titus was trying to force more wine down his throat when Patrick returned to them, bearing items.

Magnus looked at him curiously. “What do you have?” he asked.

Patrick held up an exquisite dagger in the Northman fashion. It was made from steel, with intricate patterns of dragons and snakes. He put it in Magnus’ hand.

“This is from your grandfather and namesake,” he said.

“When he visited us before his death several years ago, he brought these things with him. I think he knew he would never return, and he wanted to make sure his grandsons had something of their Norse heritage. Markus received a belt, Cassius a set of tankards, but you… he had something special in mind for you, since you were named after him. He told me that this dagger is meant for your son, and that you are to tell the lad of his great-grandfather and keep the Northman alive for your children. Will you do this?”

Magnus held the dagger reverently. “Of course I will,” he said. “This is a beautiful weapon.”

“It is,” Patrick agreed. “I’m sure it has killed many an Englishman. But he also wanted you to have this, to give to your wife.”

He held out something small, and Magnus extended his hand to have a small silver ring deposited in his palm.

Upon closer inspection, it was a magnificent piece of jewelry.

The band was a dragon, wrapped in a circle and biting its own tail.

The dragon’s eye was a big moonstone, perfect and glistening and milky.

“This is beautiful, Papa,” he said. “And he wanted me to have this?”

Patrick nodded. “It belonged to his wife, whom you never met,” he said.

“Her name was Daina, and Magnus said she was the strongest woman he’d ever known, a true queen among her people.

This is not your mother’s mother, however, but the woman Magnus married later in life.

They had no children, as you know, so he wanted his grandsons to have these things.

You will give it to your lady when you marry her. ”

Magnus was overcome with emotion. He could only nod before going to his father and giving him a fierce hug.

Patrick hugged him tightly, so incredibly sympathetic with Magnus’ plight.

Patrick had indeed married a woman forbidden to him, and he didn’t know what he would have done had he not been allowed to marry the lovely Lady Brighton.

He released his son, cupping his face between his two big hands as he looked him in the eye.

“I understand what it is to love a woman you are not supposed to have,” he said.

“I am sorry you were separated from her, Magnus. I truly am. I’m sorry that you felt that you could not tell me any of this, but I’m glad that you did.

If you truly want this woman, then we shall go and get her. ”

Magnus was feeling emotional, especially with his father’s unconditional support. “The missive said she is dying, Papa,” he said, his lower lip trembling. “What if it’s true?”

“Would you like to take Uncle Hector with us? He is an excellent healer, as his father was.”

“So is Uncle Scott.”

“Uncle Hector is closer.”

“If you do not think he would mind, I would.”

A missive went out to Northwood Castle before the night was out, asking Hector de Norville, Patrick’s brother-in-law and commander of Northwood’s army, to join Patrick and Magnus on an errand of mercy in London.

Northwood was deeply entwined with the de Wolfe properties, even though it was the seat of the Earl of Teviot.

But Teviot’s loyalty, and friendship, ran deep when it came to the House of de Wolfe.

There was never any question that Hector would answer the summons.

Within two days, the three of them, plus three hundred de Wolfe soldiers, were heading for London at a full gallop.