His arms tightened around her, holding her so tightly that she could barely breathe. “And I love you,” he murmured. “I will do my very best to return to you whole and sound.”
She sobbed softly in his ear and he pulled back, wiping at her cheeks and kissing her tears away. He didn’t want their last few hours together to be spent weeping. In truth, he was overwhelmed by her declaration of love, so much so that he could hardly think of anything else. He could hardly believe the joy that the last few days had brought, the discovery and happiness. If someone had told him on his wedding day those weeks ago that he would grow to love the beautiful spitfire of a woman he had married, he would have laughed at them. But the proof of that love was in front of him, something so unexpected and strong that it overshadowed everything else. When he should have been focused on an impending battle, he found he could only think of the woman in his arms.
“Now,” he said, kissing her nose as he wiped the last of her tears. “I must ask you something very serious.”
She sniffled, wiping at her nose. “What?”
He looked semi-serious. “I had assumed you would stay here at Hollyhock while I am away, but my mother says that I should ask you where you want to go. She says she doubts you will want to spend endless days with a frail old woman.”
Devereux appeared puzzled by the question, a smile playing on her lips. “I do not know. I have not thought on it. Why? Where would you have me wait for you?”
He lifted a big shoulder. “Wherever makes you happy. Do you want to return to The House of Hope?”
A light came to her eyes. “Would you let me?”
He could see, in those few words, how much it meant to her to return to her charity. His mother had been right again. “If that is your wish,” he said. “But I will send you back with a contingent of soldiers. My wife must be amply protected.”
She nodded eagerly. “Anything you say, Davyss. I would like to go home, only….”
She averted her gaze and he gently tapped her chin, forcing her to look up. “Only what?”
She pursed her lips as if she knew foolish words were about to spill from her mouth. “Only I was wondering… will you and I have our own home together, a place to raise our children, or will we always travel between Wintercroft and Hollyhock like a band of gypsies?”
He laughed. “If you wish for us to have our own home, then we shall. There are several of my holdings to choose from for just that purpose.”
“Holdings?”
“Aye,” he nodded. “In addition to Wintercroft, there is Castle Acre Castle….”
She shook her head vigorously, making a face. He nodded swiftly. “So you do not like Castle Acre Castle; I understand.There is also a small castle at Threxton and, of course, Norwich Castle.”
“Norwich? I have heard my father speak of it. Is it not the king’s castle?”
“It is mine. I am the garrison commander for the king.”
She appeared to mull over the information. “Then I suppose I shall have to see these two places in order to make a decision. But it must be before the baby arrives. I do not want to be moving around after he is born.” She pursed her lips thoughtfully. “Do you think the men will listen if you tell them that you must hurry up and get the battle over with so that you may return to your pregnant wife?”
He cocked a dark eyebrow, a wry expression on his face. “Not at all,” he said dryly. “Every man there has a wife and will undoubtedly understand my dilemma. I believe it would be a fair statement to say that we all fear our women more than each other.”
Devereux grinned in response. They lay there until just before dawn, with gentle touches, conversation and sweet kisses between them. When Davyss finally rose to dress, Devereux rose with him. In between dry heaves, she dressed, assuring her concerned husband that she was well enough to see him off. He wasn’t entirely sure but did not dispute her. When they were both dressed, he escorted his pale and weary wife downstairs.
Lady Katharine was already waiting for them in the foyer. Her little dogs rushed Devereux, who this time tried to outsmart the dogs by kneeling down and speaking sweetly to them. If they didn’t like strangers, then perhaps it was up to her not to be one. Her behavior confused the little beasts for a moment but soon the tails began to wag. Before she realized it, the dogs were jumping on her and licking her hands. Lady Katharine watched with approval while Davyss just rolled his eyes.
“Mother,” he turned to Katharine as his wife played with the little dogs. “My wife would like to return to The House of Hope while I am away. I will send fifty men later today to escort her back to Thetford. She will stay at her father’s house.”
Katharine waved a gnarled old hand. “No need,” she said. “She may stay at Breckland Castle.”
Davyss shook his head. “She does not want to stay at Breckland, Mother. She wants to stay at her family’s home.”
Lady Katharine opened her mouth to insist that Davyss’ wife stay in her luxurious castle but recounted her own word from the day before about letting the woman stay where she was more comfortable. So she veered off that subject and onto the next. “As she wishes,” she replied. “But there is no need for you to feather men from your troops, men you will need in your upcoming conflict. I will send her with my own personal guard.”
Davyss pursed his lips irritably. “Your personal guard is full of old men and cripples. I do not want those men guarding my wife.”
Katharine’s thin eyebrows shot up. “Yet they are good enough to guard your mother?” she said, outraged.
Davyss leaned down and kissed her on the cheek to soothe her ruffled feathers. “Although I thank you for your very kind offer, you will keep your soldiers. You need them. I can spare a few from the thousands at my disposal.”
Lady Katharine eyed her son, not entirely soothed, but kept her mouth shut. Davyss winked at her, moving to Devereux as she remained crouched with the dogs.
