Chris Karlsen - Knights in Time (41 page)
Read Chris Karlsen - Knights in Time Online
Authors: Knight Blindness
Tags: #shop, #humour, #eBook Publsiher, #contemporary, #sale, #reads, #books, #au, #submit, #download, #mobi pocket, #fantasies, #electronic, #e-book, #romance, #story, #phone apps, #best seller, #publishing, #usa, #author, #digital publisher, #myspace, #Smashwords, #publish, #writing, #lit, #Amazon, #html, #award winning, #reader, #comedy, #submissions, #short story, #links, #australia, #shopping, #publisher, #read, #marketing, #wwwbookstogonow.com, #digital, #buy here, #award, #yahoo, #fictionwise, #free, #authors, #PDF, #buy, #publication, #purchase, #Droid, #reading, #romantic, #submission, #bebo, #recommended read, #britain, #british, #ebook, #bestseller, #Books to Go Now, #stories, #publications, #uk, #action, #american, #writers, #Seattle, #short stories, #book, #adventure
“Truly?” Hope shot through him. Finally, he had more than just himself to offer a lady. As
a child, he’d been an unwanted orphan, saved by Guy’s father. He’d been fed, clothed, and
sheltered through the kindness of the man. He’d grown to be a squire and taught the skills of a knight, skills that granted him a good life, but one in service to another, a barracks life, a
bachelor’s life. Today, with a budding career, he had the means to provide for a wife and children.
Now, he’d possess a nice place for her to live as well.
“Give us a day to get our clothes and personal things out. We’ll leave the rest, dishes,
furniture, all that stays.”
After all Alex had done for him, it was time to do what his conscience told him should’ve
been done weeks ago. “I have a confession. I owe you an apology.”
Alex laid a hand on his shoulder. “Whatever you think to apologize for, don’t. We’re good
friends and that’s enough, that’s all I need to know.”
Did Alex suspect what he intended to say? How? Had his resentment been so obvious?
Embarrassment piled onto guilt and added to his determination to explain.
Stephen stepped to the side, out from under Alex’s hand and faced him. “This needs said.
From the moment I learned I was blind and until short weeks ago, bitterness snaked within me. I dwelled on what happened at Poitiers and your warning. When I saw Marchand on the battlefield,
I hesitated and was struck down. I blamed you. I told myself had I not been warned I wouldn’t
have hesitated.”
“Stephen—”
He gave a small shake of his head. “I told myself, I might’ve won. It took time for the
truth to sink finally in...if my victory was the destined outcome, you wouldn’t have needed to warn me.”
“Stephen, you don’t—”
“Allow me to finish. Esme saw my anger and told me it was misplaced when you’ve done
nothing but help me. She reminded me, if I’d been granted such knowledge, I’d have done the
same. She was right of course, but I wouldn’t admit it at the time.”
It was his turn to put a hand on a friend’s shoulder. “Because of you, I live. Because I
live, I have Esme. Thank you.”
Someone opened the door. “Hey, what are you two in here gabbing away about? Come on
and join the rest of us,” Shakira said.
The three of them came back into the drawing room. “Esme?” Stephen wasn’t sure
where she sat.
“Yes,” she said from the other club chair.
Stephen went to where she sat, clasped her hands and tugged her up. “Esme—” He
brought her hands to his lips and kissed the backs of her fingers, then squared his shoulders and said, “I couldn’t ask you sooner, not until I had something to give other than myself. Alex and I have talked. He assures me that I have a good future and I’ve no need to rely on Ian and
Miranda’s charity for a place to live. He’s also offered to rent me the cottage and perhaps in the months ahead even sell it to me. But, I don’t want it to be just for me.” He dropped to one knee.
“I would be honored to have you share my life and make it
our
home.”
To his left Electra squealed. To his right, Miranda and Shakira both said, “Aw,” in unison.
“Oh my. I...I...I don’t want to misunderstand. Are you asking me to live with you or
more?”
“Forgive my clumsiness. I’ve never asked a lady for her hand in marriage before. I love
you. Were you to accept this humble man, you’d make me the happiest man in the land.”
She locked her arms around his neck. “Yes, yes, yes,” she said quickly, running the yes’s
together, and tightened her embrace.
He looped his arms around her waist and uncaring of those watching, kissed her
thoroughly. When he finished, they broke apart to welcome the well wishes of their friends who
gathered around them.
“I’m going to grab a couple of bottles of champagne from the cottage. I’ll be right back,”
Alex said.
“Speaking of the cottage, Esme, can I have your flat?” El asked.
“Oh, I’m sorry, but it’s too late. I promised it to Roger. I had no idea Stephen planned to
buy the cottage, but he recently mentioned moving someplace else.” She wrapped her arm around
his waist and gave him a little squeeze. “Since I’ve been staying here a lot, I told Roger if I moved in with Stephen, he could have my place.”
“Damn.”
“There’s nothing special about it. You have your own flat. Why did you want to take mine
over?”
“For the kitchen. My flat has that itsy-bitsy one. Yours is twice the size, and I need a
bigger one. I’m starting chef’s school.”
“El, that’s wonderful,” Esme said. “You’ve talked about going to chef’s school for a long
time.”
Roger, who’d been standing next to Stephen joined in and offered, “If I may interrupt.
Milady Electra, I have no need for a big kitchen. It would be my pleasure to find another place.”
“Oh, my God. You called me ‘milady,’ how cool is that? My place is very close to here.
You’d like it. But you have to let me compensate you in some way for giving up the better flat.”
“It would be dishonorable for me to accept money from you, milady. I will take no
compensation.”
“I’m not offering money Roger Louis Philippe, I meant an exchange of services.”
Esme choked and loudly cleared her throat, while Stephen patted her on the back. “Shall I
fetch you some water?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Services? What sort of services?” The lusty interest in Roger’s upbeat tone crystal clear.
“I’ll teach you to drive. And...as I learn to prepare different dishes, I’ll have you over and
practice making them for you.”
Stephen grinned in Marchand’s direction. “Still wish you could go back, Roger?”
“No. The merits of being where I am grow daily. Sweet, Electra—,”
“Call me El, everyone does.”
“I prefer to call you Electra. Sweet Electra, I accept. Allow me to seal our bargain.”
Electra gave a tiny chirp. “Oh my god, you kissed my hand. Wow. What are you doing for
dinner tomorrow, R.L.P.?”
“Bold creature, R.L.P. it is now? Well milady, I shall be enjoying a bottle of fine wine,
French, of course, with you in your tiny kitchen.”
“Interesting turn of events,” Stephen whispered to Esme.
“Yes. Yes it is.”
“I wish Roger as much fortune in love as I have.” He kissed Esme’s temple.
“I would share that wish for El.”
“Have I told you lately that I love you?” Stephen pulled her into an embrace.
“It’s been at least five minutes. You’re overdue.”
“If French is the language of love, then let me say,
je t’aime.
I prefer to speak in the language of my heart. I love you.”
“And I love you.”
End
Books to Go Now at www.bookstogonow.com prides ourselves with representing great
stories at low prices.
We want to take you into the digital age offering a market that will allow you to grow along
with us in our journey through the new frontier of digital publishing.
Some of our favorite award-winning authors have now joined us. We welcome readers and
writers into our community.
We want to make sure that as a reader you are supplied with never-ending great stories. As
a company, Books to Go Now, wants its readers and writers supplied with positive
experience and encouragement so they will return again and again.
Our prices start at only .99 per story.
We want to hear from you. Our readers and writers are the cornerstone of our company. If
there is something you would like to say or a genre that you would like to see, please email
us at
bookstogonow @ gmail.com
Table of Contents
Copyright
4
Other Stories by Chris Karlsen
4
Acknowledgement
4
Dedication
4
Chapter One
143
Chapter Two
143
Chapter Three
143
Chapter Four
143
Chapter Five
143
Chapter Six
143
Chapter Seven
143
Chapter Eight
143
Chapter Nine
143
Chapter Ten
143
Chapter Eleven
143
Chapter Twelve
143
Chapter Thirteen
143
Chapter Fourteen
143
Chapter Fifteen
143
Chapter Sixteen
143
Chapter Seventeen
143
Chapter Eighteen
143
Chapter Nineteen
143
Chapter Twenty
143
Chapter Twenty-One
143
Chapter Twenty-Two
143
Chapter Twenty-Three
143
Chapter Twenty-Four
143
Chapter Twenty-Five
143
Chapter Twenty-Six
143
Chapter Twenty-Seven
143
Chapter Twenty-Eight
143
Chapter Twenty-Nine
143
Chapter Thirty
143
Chapter Thirty-One
143
Chapter Thirty-Two
143
Chapter Thirty-Three
143
Chapter Thirty-Four
143
Chapter Thirty-Five
143
Chapter Thirty-Six
143
Chapter Thirty-Six
143
Document Outline
- Copyright
- Other Stories by Chris Karlsen
- Acknowledgement
- Dedication
- Chapter One
- Chapter Two
- Chapter Three
- Chapter Four
- Chapter Five
- Chapter Six
- Chapter Seven
- Chapter Eight
- Chapter Nine
- Chapter Ten
- Chapter Eleven
- Chapter Twelve
- Chapter Thirteen
- Chapter Fourteen
- Chapter Fifteen
- Chapter Sixteen
- Chapter Seventeen
- Chapter Eighteen
- Chapter Nineteen
- Chapter Twenty
- Chapter Twenty-One
- Chapter Twenty-Two
- Chapter Twenty-Three
- Chapter Twenty-Four
- Chapter Twenty-Five
- Chapter Twenty-Six
- Chapter Twenty-Seven
- Chapter Twenty-Eight
- Chapter Twenty-Nine
- Chapter Thirty
- Chapter Thirty-One
- Chapter Thirty-Two
- Chapter Thirty-Three
- Chapter Thirty-Four
- Chapter Thirty-Five
- Chapter Thirty-Six
- Chapter Thirty-Six