A Bit of Heaven on Earth (24 page)

Her words shocked Gavin. Why was she pushing him into the arms of another woman, unless she wanted him kept away from the war?

Before he could protest, she rambled on, “I also have a suggestion of my own to make, begging your pardon. I would wish to be allowed to enter Queen Philippa’s service. Or I could serve in another capacity in one of the royal households. I would wish to—”

“You certainly are demanding, Lady Elizabeth.” Edward steepled his fingers and regarded her with a solemn expression. “I had other plans for you.”

She dropped to her knees in front of Edward. “I know those plans, sire. Robert confessed of his and Aldred’s schemes. I know you came to tell me that I must marry Robert and join our estates together.”

“Indeed? So these are my plans for you, my lady?”

Her face was now in agony. “Oh, your majesty, Lord Robert is a fine man, finer than many in the kingdom, but he is not for me.”

She looked over to Gavin. Their eyes locked. His heart pounded as she said, “I love Lord Gavin, your highness. I love him with all my being and cannot even look upon another. I realize I am a political pawn, but please, please, for Aldred’s sake and the good service he gave to you, let me marry no man. I appeal to your sense of fairness and wisdom, my king. Please show mercy to me.”

Edward studied Elizabeth. Gavin longed to reach out and touch her, stop her trembling, but he was frozen in place.

“You say you want no man, or none other than Lord Gavin.” He tilted his head as he looked at her. “Then would you even enter a nunnery if I asked it of you? And remember,” he cautioned, “I know of your wild ways as a child.”

Tears began to course down Elizabeth’s cheeks. She bowed her head and responded, “I would do so most willingly, sire. I love Lord Gavin that much.”

Gavin could no longer stay silent and leapt to his feet. “I will not let you do that, Elizabeth! You can’t throw your life away.” He crossed the room and knelt beside her, taking her hands in his.

“Sweetheart, don’t be a fool. You can keep Kentwood. Make Aldred proud. Keep your people happy. Please, my dearest, marry Robert. He loves you. I shall go to France. You will soon forget me. I promise.”

She smiled sadly through her tears. “Forget you? How can I forget the face that I dream of every night, the one I long to glimpse each minute of every day? You think going to France and deliberately putting yourself in harm’s way till you are killed will make me happy? No, Gavin. My people would never be happy if I am not. The king must find an heir that will satisfy them and keep Kentwood thriving.”

She pulled her hands from his and faced Edward again. “I apologize profusely for my bold words, sire, and beg of you to give me leave. Only protect Gavin. Don’t let him go back to France. He has suffered enough.” She turned to go.

Edward held a hand out. “No, my lady. Stay. I have this situation firmly in hand. I will simply name Lord Gavin heir of Kentwood. After all, he is Aldred’s son, and it was Aldred’s deathbed wish for his son to inherit his estate.”

The king’s words stunned Gavin. He stumbled to his feet.

Aldred’s son? He was Aldred’s son?

A shock of disbelief ran through him. Yet even as the words lingered in his mind, he knew them to be true. Aldred, a father truer to him than Berwyn ever had been, a warrior and gentleman like no other could ever be, had been his very sire.

A wave of desolation hit Gavin. Aldred was now lost to him. Had he always known of their relationship? He pushed the thought aside. He would not allow bittersweet regret to rule his life. Simply knowing Aldred had been his father was enough. A sense of relief settled over him, a happiness that the mystery of his bloodline was solved.

He looked to Elizabeth. She’d gone stark white, the color drained from her face.

He pulled her to her feet. “Are you all right, sweetheart?” He cradled her cheek in his hand.

“Yes,” she answered him. “Just dazed. Why would my lord husband never have mentioned such a thing?”

“Aldred only realized the truth when Gavin arrived a few weeks past. When he heard what had occurred to Gavin when he returned to Ashgrove after escaping from prison, Aldred wrote to me.”

Gavin turned to Edward as the king spoke. “Lady Gillian had not told Aldred of the child they made just before she wed Berwyn. More than likely, she herself did not know. ‘Twas only after he heard what Berwyn had done that Aldred realized Gavin must be his son.”

Edward smiled indulgently. “After all, there is a passing resemblance between them. In any case, Aldred wrote me and conveyed all this news shortly before he died.”

He paused and downed the remainder of his wine. “He also wanted his widow to marry
you
, Lord Gavin. Not Lord Robert as he previously requested.”

Gavin’s heart nearly burst from happiness at the king’s words. He slipped Elizabeth’s hand into his, hoping it was no dream.

Then he remembered Edward’s words from a few minutes before. “And what of your offer for me to wed Lady Anne and settle in the west?”

The king shrugged, a mischievous smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Mayhap I thought to tempt you a bit. She is a sweet morsel. Nay,” he continued. “I brought along the girl as bride for Lord Robert. Hopefully, she will appease him, for he will be losing out on marriage to Lady Elizabeth.”

“Then, we
are
to wed?” Elizabeth asked, wonder in her voice.

“Yes, of course,” Edward said benignly. “The sooner, the better. Unless you would like to enter that convent, after all.”

“Nay!” she cried. “I have found my bit of heaven on earth right here, with the man I will love till my dying day and even beyond the grave.”

Gavin felt the tears on his own cheeks as he enveloped Elizabeth within the circle of his arms.

“Lady Elizabeth, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” he asked formally.

Her face radiated love, and he caught the desire that began to light her eyes. “Yes, my Lord Gavin, son of Aldred and Gillian. My dreams will come to pass with our marriage.”

Gavin lowered his mouth to hers in a hungry kiss as Edward’s loud laughter rang out behind them.

EPILOGUE

Kentwood, 1367

The troubadour finished his song. All present in the Great Hall of Kentwood applauded his efforts. Elizabeth looked over at Anne, who was heavy with child.

“Are you comfortable, my dear?” asked Robert. “Would you care for a little more of the mulled wine?”

“That would be lovely. And please go and find me another one of those apple tarts. You know how my sweet tooth grows at these times.”

Robert kissed his wife’s fingers. “Come, Gavin, we’re on a mission of mercy and cannot return until we have succeeded in locating a score of apple tarts.”

Gavin laughed and stood. “Anything for you, my love?” he asked Elizabeth, a smile on his face.

“No. Unless you wish to save Rufus from Aldred’s pestering questions and the troubadour’s lute from List’s fierce picking. And Gillian looks tired. Would you ask Nelia to put her to bed?”

He grinned. “Anything else, my commander?”

She blushed at her husband’s teasing. “No, be off with you. But do see to all the children.”

As the two men left, Anne remarked, “You really are like a general, Elizabeth. Always ordering people about.” She smiled saucily. “Even your dearest companions.”

She patted her friend’s hand. “Now if only I could order your babe to come. ‘Tis well time when you should deliver, you know.”

“Oh, Elizabeth, you cannot control everything.”

She beamed. “But I can try, Anne. I can always try.” She ran her fingers through Homer’s silky coat. The cat purred contentedly as the women chatted.

Soon Robert returned with two of the apple tarts for his wife. Elizabeth was pleased that his marriage to Anne had been a successful one. It seemed they were smitten with each other at first sight the day Anne arrived at Kentwood with the king, all those years ago. She sighed, happy that their friendships had survived the events of the past.

Her husband returned, a somber look on his face.

“Which child is it, Gavin? You never look so serious unless one of the children ails,” she said.

He shook his head. “No, all our brats are fine. Unless you count a broken string on the troubadour’s lute.”

“That List. She’s a handful.”

He lifted a lock of her hair. “Just like you were at her age, my pet.”

“Oh, Gavin, you didn’t even know me then.”

He smiled. “I know. But there are stories, I hear.”

He looked over to Robert and Anne. “Something has come up that requires our attention, though. Would you excuse us?”

Gavin reached down and removed Homer from her lap, setting the cat down on the floor. He stretched lazily and wandered off in search of new attention. Gavin took her hand and pulled her to her feet. He escorted her out of the Great Hall and down to a small alcove in the stone corridor. He drew her into it and caught her up in his arms.

“So this is what requires our attention, my lord? Oh, sir, ‘tis very dark in here,” she teased. “I might not be able to follow your conversation.”

He held her fast. “Then I must let you lead, and I will follow.”

Elizabeth took his face in her hands and pulled his mouth down to hers. The minute their lips touched, it was as if sparks ignited. That liquid fire that always seemed to burn in her belly at Gavin’s touch began to flame, and she lost herself in her husband’s passionate kiss.

Some minutes later, he lifted his mouth from hers.

“I just had to touch you,” he said. He brushed his lips tenderly over hers. “I thank the stars every day for Lord Aldred. Our marriage would never have come to pass had it not been at his request.”

“He did bring us together,” she whispered, running her fingers along his jaw. “He and Edward made everything possible. For you to own Kentwood and regain your good name.”

“For me to have
you
,” he said. He kissed her again, a long, lingering kiss, full of promise. “I would care for none of this without you, my love.”

Elizabeth smiled. “Then mayhap we should go work on another babe, my lord. If ‘tis a boy, we could name it after Edward since we already have an Aldred.”

Gavin’s low laugh sounded near her ear. “You are a most intelligent woman, Elizabeth mine. Lucky was the day I wed you.”

And with that, his mouth came down on hers again.