He believed her and continued on with his sordid tale. “There was evidently a plot to murder Canterbury and I was unknowingly caught up in it,” he said. “Now, whoever has created this plot is attempting to make me guilty for it. Tomorrow, I must ride to Henry at Winchester Castle and tell him what has happened. I saw four knights, men who I thought were honorable men, murder Thomas Becket. I did not participate. In fact, I stopped them from doing worse damage. But because I was placed at the scene by witnesses, I am being blamed.”
Vesper closed her eyes briefly, indicative of the anguish of his confession. “I am so sorry,” she whispered. “You are a true and noble man, Val. For these evil men to try and blame you for sucha thing… it will not work. I am confident that God knows of your innocence and He will not let you fall.”
Val sighed faintly. “I am not concerned with God at the moment, only Henry,” he said. “He and Canterbury were friends from long ago. Although they have been in contention for the past several years, it was not always like that. I fear that Henry will take Canterbury’s death very hard and will seek to punish those involved.”
“Like you?”
“Possibly.”
Vesper didn’t like the sound of that at all. Fear began to clutch at her. “But Henry knows you too well, does he not?” she said. “He appointed you his itinerant justice, which means he must trust you greatly. Do you truly think something like this would change his mind regarding you?”
Val was feeling so much comfort as she stroked his hair that he was becoming drowsy with it. He’d hardly slept the past several days and, now, all of his exhaustion was catching up to him. Something about her touch, her mere presence, built a cocoon around him that made him feel as if everything in the world was right, just for that brief moment.
“I cannot know,” he said. “I wish I could predict how he will react, but I truthfully cannot know. But one thing is for certain, Vesper– if he punishes me, then I do not want you to be punished also. It would break my heart if something happened to you because of me.”
Vesper could feel the sorrow radiating from the man. The fingers in his hair moved to his cheek and she put a soft, warm palm on his face.
“I am not afraid,” she said quietly, firmly.
Her touch was like heaven and he closed his eyes to it, savoring it. “I know you are not. But I am. As much as it pains me to say this, for now, you should distance yourself from me. Iam not the itinerant justice you knew when we first met. Now, I am a suspect in a murder that will shake England to its very foundation. You should not be associated with me.”
“And, yet, here I am.”
“But….”
She cut him off gently. “Let me tell you what I have learned during our separation, Val,” she said. “When I left you at Bishop’s Waltham, I told you that I was afraid for your reputation should you be associated with a family of murderers. I was afraid of how it would reflect upon all you have built for yourself. I told you that something dark and terrible had happened to damage our relationship and you said that you felt it could be mended. You never wavered on that opinion. Now, I tell you– whatever plot you have been pulled in to and whatever the rest of England may think of you, I know differently. I am not afraid or ashamed to be associated with you. You once told me that you were unconcerned being related to the House of d’Avignon. I tell you now that I am unconcerned being related to the House of de Nerra. Whatever happens, I will stay by your side.”
It was a speech that saw Val’s own words turned against him. Once, he’d told her all of that. He would not have been ashamed to have been associated with the House of d’Avignon and he meant it. But now, Vesper was in a similar position and telling him exactly what he had told her. He had no recourse to deny her, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t terribly worried for her still. Sitting up, he looked at her.
“You have lived a protected and genteel life, Vesper,” he said, trying to force her to understand what she was committing herself to. “What I am about to face… people have been executed for less. I cannot even promise that will not happen to me if Henry is enraged enough.”
Vesper studied his handsome face, so wrought with distress, and she smiled. “Then if you go, you do not go alone,” she whispered. “Let me stand with you. It will be the proudest thing I have ever done.”
Val stared at her a moment, her words pounding into him like a battering ram.It will be the proudest thing I have ever done.Was it really true that she understood the depths of the situation and what it might entail? He didn’t think she did. But he could not refute such sweet devotion. He lifted a hand, cupping her face.
“I do not know what I have done in life to warrant a reward such as you,” he said softly. “Although I know I should deny you, in my heart I cannot. You will be the very source I draw my strength from in the dark days to come.”
Vesper’s smile broadened. “I hope so,” she said. “I will not leave you, not ever.”
Val forced a smile. He felt so guilty for permitting her to be with him during this time but he couldn’t help it. He needed her. He felt better simply knowing she was here, with him, supporting him. Leaning forward, he kissed her sweetly on the cheek before his lips moved to her mouth, slanting over them gently.
The moment he tasted her, however, his kisses grew hungry and he pulled her off of the stool and into his arms, feasting on her with a fervor that was borne from his very soul. Something about the woman fed him as nothing else ever had. Although he’d never been in love before, he suspected that was exactly what he was feeling. This strong, beautiful, and brave woman belonged to him.
He loved her.
“Marry me,” he whispered between heated kisses. “If Henry sends me to the executioner, at least I will know you will be welltaken care of as my widow. You will inherit everything, including Selborne.”
Vesper, who had been consumed by his kisses, suddenly pulled away and looked at him, startled. “Nay,” she said. “That is not why I would marry you. I do not care about your money, Val. All I care about his you.”
Val could see that he’d insulted her. “I did not mean to offend you,” he said. “I simply meant that it would give me comfort to have you by my side, as my wife, and to know that if anything happened, you could live out your days in comfort. It would mean a great deal to me.”
Vesper understood his position, sort of, but she was still incensed. “I was never interested in you for your wealth,” she said, brow furrowed. “In fact, if I marry you, I do not want your money. Donate it to the church for all I care. I do not marry you for the security you can give me. I marry you because I love you.”
He eyes widened. “You… youloveme?”
Vesper hadn’t really thought about what she was saying before she’d said it because she was trying to prove a point. Realizing she told the man that she loved him, she looked at him rather hesitantly because of his reaction. Was he shocked? Was he pleased? Seeing his astonished expression, something told her he felt the same way she did.
“Of course I do,” she said after a brief pause. “Why else would I have ridden all the way from Eynsford on a borrowed horse to see you? Either I am foolish or I am in love. And I do not believe I am foolish.”
