He knew that magnificent hair.
Juliandra was approaching.
When Kevin realized that, he almost forgot to breathe. He started to feel lightheaded and realized it was because he was holding his breath. Then, his breathing quickened. His heart was pounding so hard that he could hear it in his ears.
God, is it true?
“Sean,” he murmured. “What is she…? I do not understand.Whyis she here?”
Sean had a smile on his face. “She asked me to bring her to you,” he said. “She sent me a missive a couple of months ago and Gareth brought her to Lansdown. Dani likes her a great deal, by the way. She and Juliandra have become fast friends. She wants to talk to you, Kevin.”
Kevin genuinely thought he might become ill. “I do not know if I can,” he murmured. “I do not want to hear…”
Sean cut him off. “Hear her,” he said, more firmly. “She has come a very long way to see you. You saved my life once, Kevin… do you recall? At the battle of the Tower of London? Now, I am going to save yours. Talk to her.”
With that, he wandered off, calling the dog as he went. Ax dashed after him, but Kevin wasn’t paying any attention to that. He was watching his wife come closer and as the breeze plastered the dress against her body, he realized that her midsection was swollen.
A baby.
When he realized that she was pregnant, he sank to his knees. He no longer had the strength to stand.
Juliandra was smiling at him, timidly, coming to within a few feet of him before stopping. For a moment, they simply looked at one another, experiencing a moment that neither one was sure would ever come again.
She pushed her hair from her face.
“Greetings,” she said softly. “I know you did not expect to see me and I am sorry if I have disturbed you.”
He shook his head. “You have not disturbed me,” he said, his voice trembling. “You could never disturb me. Juliandra… you’repregnant.”
Her smile grew as she put her hand on her belly. “He is fierce and fiery and keeps me up at night, punching me,” she said. “But he is strong, like his father. I knew of no other way to tell you of our son than to show you. I hope you are pleased.”
Kevin’s eyes filled with tears as he looked at her. “It is the greatest gift you could ever give me,” he said hoarsely. “I know that I am unworthy to be your husband, but I swear that I will take care of our son in any way you wish for me to. If… if you could find it within your heart to let me know the boy, and for him to know me, I would be forever in your debt.”
Juliandra’s smile faded and she took a few more steps until she was right in front of him. Then, she sank to her knees so that they were facing each other. Her knees were brushing up against his and he just sat there, looking at her, afraid to say a word. Hewas trying so hard to keep his composure but the tears in his eyes would not stop falling.
“Kevin,” Juliandra said softly. “I have had a good deal of time to think about everything that… happened and I want you to know something.”
He quickly wiped at his face. “Of course,” he said. “I am listening.”
She looked at him a moment before reaching out to take his hand. Once she touched him, something in Kevin snapped and a sob bubbled up, but he fought it. He held her hand tightly, unable to look at her, feeling as if he were on the verge of something that was about to shatter.
Juliandra squeezed his hand.
“I am coming to think that I have been in the wrong in all of this,” she finally said. “At first, I was confused… and hurt. I could not understand why you lied about my father the way you did. But the more time passed, the more angry and confused I became. Gareth would come by The Neath on occasion to make sure that all was well. One day, I cornered the man and demanded he tell me of the Kevin de Lara he knew. I kept him at The Neath for an entire day and night, asking him question after question, and do you know what he told me?”
Kevin shook his head slowly. “I would not know.”
“He told me that he had never known a braver or truer man,” she said quietly. “He told me that he had never known a man more dedicated to his men, concerned for them as most lords were not. Gareth explained to me why you had lied– to protect your men as you had always done, and you wanted to use me to do that. He also told me that Wybren was your first command.”
Kevin nodded faintly. “It was,” he said. “But I have told you that.”
She squeezed his hand again and he squeezed back, nearly breaking her fingers. “Gareth loves you a great deal,” she said.“Then I spoke to Cal. He has nothing but the greatest admiration for you even though he tells me that you stole me from him. He meant it in jest, of course, but his message was clear– his respect for you is limitless. I also spoke with your brother at length and even though he is your brother, and I knew he would only say great things about you, he was very honest with me. He told me that you have your faults. He told me that you can be stubborn, and righteous, and that you tend to judge men harshly who do not always behave in a noble fashion.”
Kevin was nodding to everything she was saying. “It is true,” he said, a lone tear dripping off his nose. “Did he tell you that we went for years not speaking to one another?”
“He did,” she said softly. “But he also told me why– because you were devastated at the decisions he’d made, decisions you felt harmed him.”
“That is true.”
