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Titus didn’t seem to notice that she’d gone pasty white. He picked up the bowl that she’d dropped, only half-filled with fruit, and began shoving strawberries in his mouth.

“Aye,” he said, chewing. “He’s outside speaking to my father and brother.”

Oh God, Delaina thought. She gripped the table so she wouldn’t fall over.

“Who is your brother?”

“Magnus.”

She bolted for the entry door before Titus realized what had happened.

Running blindly, Delaina rushed from the entry door and out into the ward, which was rather big.

She could see a small army of soldiers pouring in through the open gates, but more importantly, she could see Morgen with his back to her as he spoke to one extremely tall knight and a shorter, broader one.

But there was no mistaking who that shorter, broader one was.

On legs that felt like jelly, Delaina took a few halting steps toward them, moving so that Morgen wasn’t between her and the shorter knight any longer.

It seemed as if it all happened in slow motion; one moment, she was looking at Morgen’s back and the limbs of the man he was talking to, and then abruptly, she was looking at Magnus.

He had come.

Dear God… he had come!

“Magnus?” she said weakly.

Magnus’ head snapped in her direction as if he’d been struck.

Violently struck. She heard him groan, perhaps even calling out to God for strength, because he seemed to stagger.

Even as he headed in her direction, he seemed to stagger.

He couldn’t seem to walk a straight line.

He ripped his helm off, tossing it into the dirt as he went.

Delaina could only stand there and look at him.

“Magnus,” she breathed. “Is it really you?”

He put a hand to his mouth, and she watched his eyes fill with tears. “Sweet Jesus,” he whispered. “You’re not dead.”

She shook her head. “Nay,” she said, a lump in her throat because he was falling to pieces before her very eyes. “I am very much alive.”

Magnus came to an unsteady halt a few feet away from her, afraid to go any closer. “The missive,” he said, hardly able to speak. “The missive I received from Worcester said you were dying.”

Delaina began to realize what had made him so upset, so colossally unsteady.

“I was unwell for quite some time,” she said.

“After I went to Westminster, they sent me to St. Blitha’s Convent.

It was not their fault. They simply did not know how to tend to a woman carrying a child.

Their physic told me I would not survive the birth, and I believed him.

Foolishly, I believed him. That was why Worcester told you that. ”

Tears were pouring down his cheeks and his hand was still over his mouth. “And he was wrong,” he said. “You look… you look more beautiful than I remembered. Are you well?”

She nodded. “It was Denys who brought me to Worcester,” she said.

“It was Denys who convinced me… He convinced me that I had been wrong all along. Magnus, I do not know if this matters to you because it has been so long, but I am sorry. For refusing to marry you, for sending you away… I should not have done that. I thought I was saving you, but you did not need saving. We needed each other, but I was afraid of what would happen to you if I remained by your side. I hope you understand that I did not do it to be cruel.”

He was nodding even before she finished, and his hand came away from his mouth.

“I know that,” he said. “You needn’t apologize because I know you were doing what you believed best. I am touched and honored that you would care enough for me to do it.

But you are right—we needed each other. I still need you.

I have never stopped needing you, Delaina.

I need you and I need our child, if you will still have me. ”

The tears she had managed to stave off now came full force.

She couldn’t help breaking down in soft sobs.

“There is something you must know,” she said.

“Our son was born with the cord wrapped around his neck and he could not breathe. He did not survive the birth, Magnus. He was christened William, after your grandfather, and buried at St. Peter’s Church, just down the road. ”

Magnus looked at her with sorrow that went beyond tears. He couldn’t even cry for the son he’d lost. All he could do was feel grief and empathy, mostly toward Delaina and what she had been through. So much turmoil, and then a dead child on top of everything.

After a moment, he found himself looking at the house behind her, the trees, even the sky. All the while, he was processing what she had told him, dazed and overcome. But eventually, his gaze fell upon her once more.

“I thought that I was coming to Lonsdale to find you dead and a new infant that I was responsible for,” he said hoarsely.

“But it seems that God had another plan in store for us. He knew that I would be devastated the rest of my life over the loss of you. Though I deeply mourn the son I never met, he is in God’s hands and he is safe.

But you… I have been given a second chance with you, Delaina.

There will be more children for us. But there will never be another you. ”

Delaina closed her eyes to his sweet and poignant words, tears continuing to course down her pale cheeks.

“Do you not understand, Magnus?” she said.

“There is no longer a child involved. You do not have to marry me. I know you came here to do the noble thing, but I am telling you that you do not have to. After everything that has happened, I do not expect it. Moreover, I have nothing to bring to this marriage. No money, no possessions. If you wish to think about this, then I understand.”

He wiped his face, composing himself. “Let me make myself plain,” he said.

“I love you. I am going to marry you whether you like it or not. As for the money, I have your money. I collected it from The Pox the night I went searching for you, so I have had it all along. I will return it to you. But you and I are going to be wed. Is that clear enough?”

Delaina was still weeping, but a smile flickered on her lips. She closed the distance between them, putting her hands on his face as he stood there and quivered.

“It is clear,” she whispered. “As long as you are certain.”

“I am.”

“Then we must make ourselves a promise.”

He wanted very badly to take her in his arms, but he simply didn’t feel that he could. Not at the moment. Once he did, the conversation would be lost, and there was still much that needed to be said. But this time he wasn’t going to lose control. He wasn’t going to lose her.

This time, he was going to make sure she was part of him forever.

“What is the promise?” he asked, his voice raspy.

She smiled at him, finally allowing herself to feel some joy, the only joy she’d felt since the day he walked out of her life.

“Worcester has told everyone that my name is Violet de Lohr,” she said.

“Do you remember when you and I discussed changing my name to protect your family from my past? Morgen has done that for us. He has introduced me to everyone here as his cousin. That is all anyone need know. For our children’s sake and for the sake of Morgen’s honor, we must promise to keep the illusion. Let it start now.”

He couldn’t disagree with her. The nobility of England was an unforgiving thing, and if it were well known that the mother of his children was a former courtesan, finding spouses would be difficult.

It also wouldn’t look good for Morgen to have housed a fugitive courtesan.

Although Magnus hated that he had to do it, for so many reasons, it was necessary.

He nodded. “Violet,” he murmured. “I like it. But who knows the truth?”

She shrugged. “Morgen does, clearly,” she said. “His wife does. Kirra and I have grown very fond of one another. She was my strength throughout the ordeal, Magnus. I shall never forget that.”

“Nor I,” he said, finally bringing his trembling hands up to cup her face. The first touch of her flesh against his in so many months nearly brought him to tears again. “I shall forever be indebted to them for giving you back to me. May I tell them that?”

Delaina looked off to his left to see Patrick and Morgen standing there, beaming emotionally, as fathers would.

When Morgen met her gaze, he smiled broadly and nodded as if to tell her that all was well.

That this was the way the situation was supposed to end.

That the passing of their baby would only make them stronger.

For certain, they had endured much in order to be together.

Strength in times of trouble.

That was the de Wolfe mantra.

Now it was hers, too.

“They already know, Magnus,” Delaina said, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Trust me, my love. They already know.”

And they did.