Twin Passions (49 page)

"Why did you not tell me?" Hakon gasped in
astonishment, his eyes searching hers.

"I had not found the right time," she
murmured, a faint smile curving her lips, "until this day." She
turned back to her father. "You gave Anora the right to choose, Father,
and now I demand the same right. It is my wish to remain with Hakon as his
wife."

Earl Godric stood for a long moment, his eyes moving
from his beloved Gwendolyn's face to Hakon's, then to Wulfgar and Anora and
back again. Aye, it was true, he thought. The Gwendolyn he had known was gone,
and in her place was a young woman fiercely protecting the life of the man she
loved. He knew he could no more deny the hopeful plea burning in her emerald
eyes than he could deny the tender look of love that had passed between her and
Hakon when she mentioned the child.

"Well, and what say you to this, Lord Hakon?"
Earl Godric queried loudly. His expression was inscrutable, though his gaze was
not unkind.

"It is as Gwendolyn has said, my lord," Hakon
answered, summoning all of his strength to stand proudly before him. "I
love her . . . and would have your daughter as my wife."

Satisfied with the Viking's bold answer, a slow smile
spread over Earl Godric's face. "Very well. So be it."

Epilogue

Gwendolyn glanced over her shoulder. Hakon was waiting
for her aboard his longship, his blue gaze meeting hers across the sandy
stretch of beach, beckoning to her. She turned back to Anora and hastily wiped
the tears from her eyes.

"I must go," she murmured, her lips trembling
as she attempted a smile.

Overcome, Anora could manage only a nod. Her emerald
eyes also glistened with tears,
joy
and sadness all
melded into one. She reached out and hugged her sister fiercely for a long,
long moment. "You have my thanks, Gwendolyn," she whispered.

Gwendolyn pulled away from Anora's arms, shaking her
head. "Nay, I played only a small part," she murmured fervently. "All
that has happened was meant to be." She clasped Anora's hand. "Now, I
must go." She stepped back, her emerald eyes locking with her sister's in
an unspoken message that only the two of them could share. They had been
through so much together, yet she knew they had both found their happiness at
last. She flashed a tearful smile, then turned and hurried along the beach
toward the longship.

Lifting her face to the sun, she felt the warm, morning
breeze dry the tears streaking her cheeks. A flood of excitement coursed
through her. She and Hakon were going home . . . to Norge!

The past two weeks had gone by so quickly. So many
wonderful things had happened. The very day after they arrived in England,
Thorolf and his two warships had sailed at once for Trondheim, in his
possession a signed charter from Wulfgar Ragnarson forswearing his intent to
bring war upon Haarek Jarl. And he had also carried a charter from Earl Godric,
stating that he had given his consent to the union between Hakon Magnuson, Jarl
of Sogn, and his daughter, Gwendolyn.

Gwendolyn smiled as she remembered the joyful reunion
with her parents at the stronghold, then the flurried preparations for the
marriage of Anora and Wulfgar. The candlelit ceremony in their family chapel
just a few nights past had been one of poignant beauty. She knew she would
never forget Anora's radiant look of happiness when she at last became Wulfgar's
wife. But the evening had become even more memorable when Father Leofwine,
their family priest, had blessed her own union with Hakon after he had sworn he
would forsake his heathen Norse gods and adopt the Christian faith.

"Welcome, mistress of Sogn!" Hakon laughed as
she approached the longship, breaking into her happy thoughts. He held out his hand
to her as she hurried up the gangplank, then drew her into his strong arms and
lifted her to the deck. He crushed her to him, breathing in the familiar
fragrance of her silver-blond hair. "Are you ready to sail, my love?"
he asked softly, his warm lips brushing against hers.

"Aye, my lord," Gwendolyn replied, a wave of
intense happiness surging through her as she looked up into his handsome face.

Hakon kissed her smiling lips once again,
then
drew her with him over to the dragon-headed prow. "Oars
to water!" he shouted, his deep voice ringing out above the crashing of
the waves on the shore.

Gwendolyn turned around as the longship slid easily
into deeper water, her eyes searching the sandy hillsides. She swallowed hard,
tears glistening on her thick lashes as she spied first her beloved parents,
then Wulfgar and Anora, standing not far from them. She waved her hand in
farewell. She did not know if—or when—she would ever see them again.

Suddenly she felt Hakon's strong arm encircle her
waist. It gave her the strength she needed. She lifted her trembling chin and
looked up at this man who had so captured her heart, her love, her soul . . .
with his searing kiss of fire. "Take me home, my lord . . . to Norge,"
she whispered fiercely, as the longship glided over the waves like a mighty
serpent of the sea
.

About the Author

Miriam Minger is the award-winning,
critically acclaimed author of ten historical romances
.
 
She also writes inspirational romantic
thrillers as M.C. Walker, and is the co-author of the popular Little Mike and
Maddie series of children’s picture books about a lovable pair of dogs and
their motorcycle adventures.
 

Historical Romances by Miriam Minger:

Twin Passions

Stolen
Splendor

A Hint of
Rapture

Captive Rose

Defiant
Impostor

Wild Angel

Secrets of
Midnight

My Runaway
Heart (sequel to Secrets of Midnight)

Wild Roses
(sequel to Wild Angel)

Inspirational Romantic Thrillers by M.C. Walker:

Children’s Picture Books by Miriam Aronson:

Little Mike
and Maddie’s First Motorcycle Ride

Little Mike
and Maddie’s Black Hills Adventure

Little Mike
and Maddie’s Christmas Book

For information about the
above titles, visit
www.walkerpublishing.net
or write to
[email protected]
.