He released her, setting her to her feet. “I will do it now,” he said. “I want to do it before de Lohr arrives and I will be occupied with other things.”
“What other things?” she asked.
He looked at her a moment. In the past month, he had never told her about his work for William Marshal. All she knew was that he called Pelinom Castle home, so she went on the assumption that he served his father. He did, that was true, but the higher power in his life was William Marshal. It was quite possible that The Marshal would send him on another mission once the threat of the Scots invasion was over because when one served in the stable of England’s greatest spies, one did not simply walk away from it.
Truth be told, Cole wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to walk away.
He could see now that he was going to have to tell Corisande the extent of his service for William Marshal, but not now. There would be time for it later. She was a reasonable woman and he was certain she would understand.
Perhaps she would even be proud of him.
Pride in a husband who served with the most elite knights in England.
Odd how he’d never thought about someone being proud of him for doing his duty, but he very much wanted that approval from Corisande.
It meant everything to him.
“My father is involved in this crisis with the Scots,” he said after a moment, avoiding a heavy explanation until they had the proper time to discuss his service for The Marshal. “I will be as involved in this situation as your own father and brothers, so that means I will be involved with de Lohr and the other warlords who are coming north. I fear I may not see you as often as I wish, but know that I will be thinking of you. You are the queen of my heart, Cori, and I worship every moment with you.”
He gently cupped her face, kissing her on the soft cheek, as she flushed madly with his sweet words. She still hadn’t gotten over the frantic blushing she did when he was kind and complimentary with her.
She never wanted to get over it.
“I understand,” she said. “You are an important man. And I will be thinking of you, too.”
He winked at her and gave her one last kiss. “I yearn for the day when the threat of war is over and we can get on with our lives,” he said. “Normal things, like traveling to Paris so I can purchase my wife some finery. That reminds me– I saw a post for a tournament in Morpeth that is taking place this month. I yearn for the day when you can watch me from the lists as I destroy the competition in a tournament. Everyday things like that have never meant so much to me as they do now.”
She smiled faintly. “I would very much like to see you,” she said. “You must be very good.”
He snorted. “Good?” he said, incredulous. “I am the best you have ever seen. Those whelps Addax and Essien think they are the best because it was their profession for a couple of years, but they’ve never gone up against me. I will show them who is the best on the field. And off.”
Corisande laughed softly. “My brothers think that they are the best,” she said. “They have competed in local tournaments,but it has been a while. I am looking forward to the day when you can unseat them all.”
He scratched his head. “It may take some doing, in truth,” he said. “That lot is rather skilled but, in the end, I shall not fail. Not with my queen’s favor feeding my courage.”
“And you shall always have it.”
He gazed at her warmly, his mind wandering to a year or two or three in the future, when he had her by his side permanently. With Corisande’s support, nothing could stand in his way.
“Thank you,” he said softly. Then, he drew in a heavy breath. “As much as I do not want to leave you, I must go about my business and so must you. But I will see you tonight.”
“You most certainly will.”
He turned for the buttery door, but she remained where she was. He stuck his head out, making sure no one was around to see them, before turning to her one last time.
“We are clear,” he said quietly. “And, Cori?”
“Aye?”
“If you are wondering if I love you, wonder no more. It is safe to say that I do.”
With that, he was through the door, heading out into the kitchen yard, as Corisande stood there with her mouth open and her eyes wide. But her shock was momentary; it was followed by a smile so bright that tears came to her eyes.
It was safe to say that she loved him, too.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Cole found Alastorin his solar.
