Part 40 (2/2)
But his Alisoun had courage, and at last she admitted, ”You're my only hero.”
A thrill skittered up his spine at her reluctant confession. They had come to the heart of the matter at last, and he wanted to shout, to dance, to jump Louis over the fences and make love to Alisoun in his herb garden. Instead he contented himself with doing what she would want. He spoke a simple, easy-to-understand sentence. ”You do love me.”
A series of emotions paraded across her face. Fear, amazement, vulnerability, and happiness.
He liked the happiness.
In a tiny voice, she asked, ”How did you know? I didn't. And how did you know that you had to tell me?”
”I just thought that since I had to tell you you were with child, I might also have to tell you you were in love with me.”
Bert and I stopped practicing with our arrows when we heard the first rumble of thunder. The sky had been clear and all of a sudden clouds rolled in! Well, we looked at each other.
”They're back!” I told Bert.
”I told you my daddy'd win,” she said.
I wanted to shake her, but I couldn't take the time. We scrambled up the steps to the top of the wall walk and looked out past the village. There we saw Sir David's destrier King Louis galloping toward the castle with my lady Alisoun's palfrey running behind, and far off in the distance two small figures racing for the shelter of the forest as the rain moved toward them.
”I hope the wolves don't get them,” I said.
The first big drops struck Bert on the nose, and she grinned, showing a big gap where two more teeth had fallen out. ”They won't eat my daddy because he has his sword. And they won't eat Lady Alisoun 'cause she's too tough.”
Bert was right. After the rain stopped, Sir David and Lady Alisoun walked all the way home. Then they ate, then they took a bath, then they went to bed for a long, long time.
That year, all of Northumbria brought in a harvest that filled the barns to bursting. In the spring, Lady Alisoun delivered healthy boys-twins! Sir David almost split from pride, and to anyone who would listen he would recount the tale his granny told about how a great love warmed everyone around them.
We didn't need to hear the story. We were living it.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
My eternal grat.i.tude to Barbara Vosbein, a.k.a. Nikki Benjamin, who when I whined and said, ”I have no plot,” said, ”Here, take mine.”
You're a s.h.i.+ning example of friends.h.i.+p-and charity. I owe you a big one. Call anytime.
About the Author.
Christina Dodd's novels have been translated into ten languages, won Romance Writers of America's prestigious Golden Heart and RITA Awards, and been called the year's best by LibraryJournal. Dodd is a regular on the USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and New York Times bestseller lists. The Barefoot Princess is the second book in her cla.s.sic new series, The Lost Princesses, following her enormously popular novel, Some Enchanted Evening.
Christina loves to hear from fans. Visit her website at .
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Praise for CHRISTINA DODD.
”Treat yourself to a fabulous book-anything by Christina Dodd.”
-Jill Barnett.
”Memorable characters, witty dialogue, steaming sensuality-the perfect combination for sheer enjoyment.”
-Jill Marie Landis on Priceless.
”A beautiful, sensual love story filled with mystery, intrigue and adventure.... A book to curl up with and enjoy.”
-June Lund s.h.i.+plett on Treasure of the Sun ”A very special romance-heartbreaking and heartwarming, original, beautiful, compa.s.sionate, and well written. It is a story you'll never forget.... Ensures Christina Dodd a place in readers' hearts.”
-Romantic Times on Candle in the Window.
”A great hero, a gripping plot and all the color and excitement of the Middle Ages. Christina Dodd is a joy to read.”
-Laura Kinsale on Castles in the Air ”An unforgettable love story that will warm your heart and make you smile.”
-Arnette Lamb on Move Heaven and Earth.
”Emotionally provocative...guaranteed to touch a responsive chord with her legions of readers. I can't recommend it highly enough.”
-Debbie Macomber on Move Heaven and Earth.
By Christina Dodd.
THE BAREFOOT PRINCESS.
MY FAIR TEMPTRESS.
HERO, COME BACK.
SOME ENCHANTED EVENING.
ONE KISS FROM YOU.
SCANDALOUS AGAIN.
MY FAVORITE BRIDE.
LOST IN YOUR ARMS.
IN MY WILDEST DREAMS.
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