Page 33 of Last Knight (Knights Through Time #7)

Charlotte was careful not to slip on the icy patches as she made her way across the battlements.

Looked like it was going to be a rough winter.

Were the severe climate changes and storms continuing to worsen at home?

The summers had been hotter, with terrible flooding and hurricanes, and she hoped it had gotten better, that people had woken up and made changes to leave a world for their children.

She was staring at the ice on the trees when she heard a sound she hadn’t heard in a very long time. A raven was flying low and close. One of the guards crossed himself and prayed as the big black bird almost clipped the guy.

The raven flew so close that she could see the iridescent feathers, and as it passed, the bird dropped something.

She reached out without thinking to catch it.

It was some kind of chain. When she opened her hand, a sob escaped, her vision blurred from the tears streaming down her face.

How was it possible? She thought she’d never see it again.

Aunt Pittypat’s necklace. Charlotte shielded her eyes, the chain dangling as she yelled, “Thank you, Aunt Pittypat. I love you. ”

The guard moved away, crossing himself again, but she didn’t care. She ran through the corridors to the solar, shouting for her sisters.

Lucy opened the door, a look of alarm on her face. “What’s the matter? We heard you yelling.”

Charlotte could hardly speak, she was crying so hard. The charms sparkled in the light as she held up the necklace. After she’d blown her nose and wiped the tears away, she was able to tell them.

“Remember the ravens?” She looked to Melinda and Lucy.

“Now I know. It had to be something to do with Aunt Pittypat. I don’t know if she’s up above watching over us, or somehow she was reincarnated as a damn raven, but one thing I know for sure: this has to be her doing.

I’m so sorry I lost it in the well.” Charlotte was crying again, holding out the necklace to her sisters.

Melinda took it and dropped it in her hand. “The raven gave it to you. It’s yours.”

“Are you going to tell us the story?” Ashley said.

Charlotte held the necklace up. “I had it last, so let me start.”

After that emotional display this morning, Ashley had decided she had to tell Christian the truth if there was any hope the two of them might have a future together, and if not, at least she’d tried. She found him in the lists.

“Would you walk with me?”

He kissed her hand under the watchful eye of his brothers.

“Shall we come along, Ashley? Make sure our brother is comporting himself as a knight should?” Robert called out.

She was about to answer when Christian scowled. “The lady wishes to have speech with me. We do not want you lot loitering about. ”

He said to her, “’Tis too cold for you to be out walking. Come inside, where it is warm.”

She followed Christian to his solar. When he closed the door, she took a deep breath to gather her courage.

“I’m sorry for everything. I have something I need to confess.”

The hopeful look left his face, and she knew he was probably afraid she was going to tell him she had a secret husband or was running off with a merchant, so she had to spit it out before he kicked her out.

“Where I came from, I was always focused on getting ahead in life. And I always believed you could be whatever you wanted to be. But I was lying to everyone. I told them that I grew up wealthy, when in fact I had a terrible childhood.”

Christian took her hand. “Are you married to another?”

“Nay.” She shook her head.

“The night you sang in the inn…you had much to drink and you told me of your mother. The man and woman who made you their own.”

“I don’t remember much of the night. Why didn’t you say anything?”

“We all have wounds that are slow to heal. We will heal old wounds together.”

She didn’t know what to say. He’d known about her childhood all this time and didn’t care. Cold bloomed in her chest. Had she told him the other thing?

“Wait.” She paced in front of the fire, skirts swishing as she walked.

“When I ended up here in medieval England, I felt like I had gone backwards. The thought of living in a place where people were content to stay in one town their whole lives—it felt like failure. All I could think about was going back. Now I know I’m not a failure, where I lived doesn’t matter, and it’s who I’ve become that matters.

” She held out her hand. He took it instantly.

“I found something different here, something that banished the darkness. I found you, and Merrick and your family, and realized that’s all I need in life.”

“Then make me complete. Marry me, Ashley Bennett.”

A tear slipped down her face. She wiped it off, but another followed.

“I want to. But I cannot.”

“Why? Do you not care for me?” His hands had turned cold, chilling her through. “Mayhap in time, you would come to care for me?” Christian wiped her tears away with the pads of his thumbs.

She cried out. “I care plenty. It isn’t that at all.”

“Then what is it, my love? Together there is nothing we cannot overcome.”

“I can’t have children,” she whispered.

“I did not hear.”

Ashley bit her lip. “I cannot have children.”

Christian looked confused. “How can you know such a thing?”

She took a deep breath. “When I was fifteen, I was in a lot of pain. My mother took me to the doctor and I had to have an operation. Surgery. They cured me, but the result was I cannot have children. And the funny thing was, I never cared. Not until I met you.”

Her throat was raw, and she swallowed, trying to find the words.

“I know how much you want children and a big family. So no matter how much I wish to marry you, I cannot. You have my blessing—find someone else who can give you the children that you long for.”

As she looked into his eyes, she saw him as timeless as the castle around him. A bit worse for the wear around the edges, but standing. And she knew he would never leave her. He would always be there to catch her. That was why she had to send him away, so he could have a chance at happiness.

Christian was silent for so long that Ashley knew she had her answer. She disentangled herself from his arms and walked to the door, her heart shattering like the icicles on the trees.

“Stay.” He caught her up in his arms. “I have been a fool. All this time, I thought if only I had a big family I would no longer feel lonely. But I do not need to fill Winterforth with children. All I need is to be loved and to love. Tell me you love me, for that is all that matters in this world.”

Ashley was crying so hard that Christian’s face was blurred by her tears. “Of course I love you, but what does it matter? You aren’t thinking straight, and you will resent me as the years pass when you realize you want children and I cannot give them to you. You must let me go.”

Deep in her core, Ashley knew it didn’t matter where she lived or who she pretended to be.

All that mattered was the kind of person she was.

She was Ashley Bennett, and she accepted her past, embraced this better version of herself, the woman in love with a man who was more than six hundred years older than she.

A man she loved so deeply that she was willing to sacrifice her heart for his happiness.

Somehow, she’d found the strength to let him go.

“I will never let you go. You are the other half of my soul. And you may not believe I would change my mind, but I know in my heart I do not need children. I only need you. Now say you will marry me.”

She looked into his eyes, saw the love for her reflected within, and felt peace flow through her.

“Yes, I’ll marry you.”

Christian swung her around. “I will love you for the rest of my days. Together we will be our own family.”

He captured her mouth, bruising her lips, claiming her as his tongue traced her lips and met hers in a dance as old as time. Their souls joined, the light banishing the darkness. Ashley had come home.

Could her life get any better? Today she was getting married, and tomorrow was Christmas Eve.

She stood in the chamber letting the girls dry her off after her bath.

Never in a million years was this how she would’ve imagined her wedding.

Of course, she’d never thought of her wedding at all, but it certainly wouldn’t have taken place in medieval England in a castle.

Anna had given her herbs to put in her bath, and Elizabeth had given her some lotion. Ashley begged for the recipe, and Elizabeth laughed, saying it was one of Aunt Pittypat’s—the sisters had figured out how to replicate it with what they had on hand, and would share it with her.

For the first time in her life she had sisters, or would soon have. Ashley choked back a sob at the thought. Women she barely knew felt like family, and they were all here to see her marry Christian.

There hadn’t been time to have a new dress made.

They wanted to marry while everyone was here.

With a critical eye, she looked at her dresses.

Any of them would do, so which one should she wear?

The sound of the door opening made her almost drop her cup of wine.

All six women came in, their hands full.

“You don’t think we’d let you get ready without us, did you?” Charlotte said.

“We’ve all brought something.” Lucy smiled.

Melinda added, “You know, something borrowed, something blue.”

Ashley willed herself not to cry. “I don’t know what to say. You all have been so kind to me.”

Anna held up a pair of shoes. “I think we’re the same size, and these would look so pretty on you.”

Elizabeth held up a dress. “When we were leaving, I packed this. Not for Christian’s other bride. I didn’t know why I did, but now I do. It should fit if you’d like to wear it. ”

The dress was exquisite, pale velvet, covered in pearls and other semiprecious stones.

“It’s the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen,” Ashley said.

Jennifer held up a pair of earrings. “I bought these at the last market day. The emeralds will match your eyes.”

Lucy handed Ashley a bundle wrapped in fabric. “Go on, open it. I finished it late last night.”

Ashley sat on the bed and opened the bundle.

Inside was the most beautifully crocheted cape.

It was a soft gray wool, thick and heavy.

It looked like something she would have paid thousands for back in New York.

She pulled it over her head and hugged it tight.

She’d never been a crier, but the past few days? Nonstop tears. Of sadness and joy.

“Thank you, Lucy. I think it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever owned.”

Charlotte handed her an embroidered handkerchief. “Don’t cry. Your face will get all red, and Christian will wonder what we’ve been doing to you.”

Ashley dipped it in the cold water and blotted her face and eyes.

“I’ve come to realize that home isn’t a place.

Home is made up of the ones you love. They are your home no matter where or when you are.

” She blew her nose. “It isn’t just Christian.

I know it’s only been a short while, but I consider all of you family.

You have made me feel like I belong. I can never thank you enough. ”

“Now you’re making all of us cry,” Anna said as everyone wiped their eyes.

Charlotte took something out of her pocket and held up a necklace. “I want you to have this.”

Ashley shook her head. “Charlotte, I can’t. That’s Aunt Pittypat’s necklace. The one you guys were talking about.”

“Then borrow it for the ceremony. I know she would be so happy you’re wearing it.”

Ashley nodded and let Charlotte put it over her head .

The women formed a circle around her. The comments came one after another.

“You look beautiful.”

“The perfect bride.”

“We’re so happy you’re here and part of the family.”

Ashley thought this had to be the most perfect day ever. She took a deep breath. “I think I’m ready.”

“Great. Let’s get you married and celebrate.” Melinda laughed. The door opened, and they preceded her down the hall. She was actually getting married. Ashley Bennett, the girl who thought she would never marry, had finally found a man she not only adored as a friend, but loved with all her heart.