Chapter Thirty-Five

Chapter Thirty- Five Alex leaned back with a smile slipping his arm about Isobel’s shoulder as Bowden and a blushing Bridgette accepted congratulations from prince Berne on their wedding. A week had passed since Alex had killed lord Dagda and Giles had been injured taking the attack meant for him. The day after Dagda’s death Sasha and Valencia had arrived at the palace with twenty men sent by Alex’s brother and all three of the wagons and a cart of supplies. Valencia had said that she’s figured that since Isobel and Bridgette were safe now they would all need to return home soon and that they might like the comfort of the wagons. Valencia and Sasha had immediately begun helping Isobel care for both Giles and the king who had been experiencing withdrawal symptoms now he was free of Dagda’s poisoned wine. After several nervous days, both men had made a complete recovery, and while weak were on the mend. Lord Arrington had caught Bridgette and Bowden in a passionate embrace behind the stables two days earlier and demanded they wed at once. Valencia had managed to buy two days to see to the cleaning of the king’s hall and for a proper feast to be arranged. With the queen in exile, the royal keep had fallen into disrepair as the servants had stopped doing their work, but Valencia had managed to motivate them to clean the keep while prince Berne had begun overseeing the much-needed repairs. Prince Aldwin once the king was on the mend had ridden to the convent where his mother had been exiled with a full complement of men and a carriage to bring her home, and they were expected back any day. Bowden grinning ear to ear lifted Bridgette’s hand to his lips as he raised his wine goblet with his right. “I’d like to thank all of you for wishing us well and for lady Valencia managing to create this feast for us. It means the world to Bridgette and I, and now if you’ll excuse us I think Bridgette and I shall retire.” There was much hooting and clanking of goblets as Bowden turned to sweep a blushing Bridgette off her feet and then carry her away towards the back of the great hall. “I think I shall follow Bowden’s example, let us go to bed Isobel.” Alex stood and held his hand down to Isobel who blushing took it and let him pull her to her feet. “If you’ll excuse us we shall retire as well.” Lord Arrington gave Alex a wink as Berne raised a glass to him, and Liam followed his example taking Valencia’s hand to pull her from the banquet table. Alex his hand about Isobel’s tiny one led her out of the hall and up the winding stone steps to the chamber they’d been using. “What about Sasha, we can’t just leave her alone with all those men.” Isobel protested halfheartedly. Alex shook his head. “She shall be fine Lord Arrington is there he will act as chaperone.” “Yes, but his sons and even Berne were looking at her like she was a piece of meat and they were starving men, and what of Giles?” Isobel said as Alex tugged her down the corridor towards their chamber. “Giles shall be fine and it shall be good for him to see other men are interested in Sasha. Perhaps a little competition will show him what we all already know.” Alex replied as he opened the door of their chamber and pulled Isobel inside. “And what is that?” Isobel asked as Alex closed and locked the door after them. “That he is in love with her,” Alex replied as he stepped behind Isobel and began undoing her laces. “But, he is always teasing her or making her mad,” Isobel said as Alex finished undoing her laces and yanked open her gown. “Trust me he is in love with her otherwise he’d just ignore her.” Alex spun Isobel about to silence her with a kiss while he pulled her gown down to her waist. Isobel’s worries for her friend quickly fled as Alex began kissing her neck while he struggled to push down her chemise. “You wear too many damn clothes,” Alex mumbled in annoyance as he continued peeling off Isobel’s clothes. “Tis because I am a lady and I’m often cold,” Isobel replied as she reached for the buttons on Alex’s linen shirt. “Well then you shall like your new home it is always comfortably warm but rarely hot and there is a hot spring beside the keep that we use to not only heat it in the winter but provide hot water for bathing, and my mother had it piped into her glass house to heat it.” Alex tugged Isobel’s skirt and chemise down as one letting them pool about her feet leaving her naked except for her stockings and thin cotton knickers. “It sounds wonderful I can’t wait to see it.” Isobel stepped out of her clothes while simultaneously undoing her knickers. Alex shrugged out of his tunic and shirt dropping them to the stone floor before circling his arms about Isobel’s waist to pull her closer. “God, you’re beautiful,” Alex said before claiming Isobel’s mouth in a long searing kiss. When Isobel could no longer breathe she broke the kiss to run her hands across Alex’s sculpted chest earning a low growl. Alex lifted Isobel from the floor and carried her to the bed where he dropped her in the middle earning a giggle. “My stockings are on,” Isobel said as Alex reached for his belt and breeches while toeing off his boots. “I’ll take them off.” Alex stripped down to his breechclout before climbing on the bed to begin placing slow kisses up Isobel’s shapely left leg. When he reached the top of her stocking he gave her thigh a long slow kiss before rolling the stocking down her leg and tugging it off. Isobel moved to cover her breasts with her hands and close her legs in embarrassment but Alex shook his head. “No don’t, I mean what I said you’re beautiful,” Alex said letting his gaze rake over Isobel. Isobel saw a smoldering hungry look in Alex’s eyes and knew he was being truthful and she lowered her arms. “When you look at me like that I believe you.” “That is because I speak the truth to me you are beautiful because I see not just the outer you but the woman within you. I see the little girl that overcame the death of her family and stood up to a monster. I see the woman that though alone became strong, set herself goals and achieved them.” Alex came down on his forearms his body covering Isobel’s as he looked deep into her lovely eyes. “You see all that when you look at me?” Isobel murmured. “That and more, I see a true friend and confident, I see a woman that is brave even in the face of her fears and so much more. “ Alex brushed a kiss across Isobel’s forehead. “If I had a hundred years I could not tell you all the ways I love you, you belonged to me from that first day it just took me some time to realize it. When we are both old and grey I shall still love and cherish you and every day you shall become more beautiful to me. If you asked me I would give up my kingdom and live with you in the wagon, you are the love of my life Isobel; you are all I have ever wanted and so much more.” Isobel felt tears slid down her cheeks and she slipped her arms about Alex’s shoulders. “I love you too Alex, in this life and the next. I thought I would spend my life alone until you came along, I would do anything for you.” “Well, my only request is to love me and be happy.” Alex lowered his mouth till he just touched Isobel’s. “And perhaps children one day if the gods will it, if not we shall fill our home with pets.” “That is an easy request to grant, warm me Alex.” Isobel murmured and Alex crushed her mouth with his. “My pleasure my love, for now, and always,” Alex said as he pulled Isobel closer and melted into her arms, if he died now he would be a happy man for he had found the love of his life and would never let her go.