Page 46 of Forbidden: Claude

“Nay. I will say this if it is the last thing I ever say. Claude, you are my best friend, but you are blind when it comes to love.”

“What do you mean, Rose?”

“Don’t let her slip away. Evelina loves you, and I know you have feelings for her, too.”

“She’s a handmaid. I’m a knight.”

“Where love is concerned, status shouldn’t matter.” Rose had another contraction and cried out in pain.

“You need to push, my lady,” said the midwife. “Push, push.”

“I can’t. I am too tired and weak. I want my father. I want Toft.” Tears flowed from her eyes.

Claude felt so helpless that it caused him great pain as well. “I will see if they’ve returned yet,” said Claude, jumping up and heading out the door. His mother followed.

“Claude Jean,” she said, causing him to stop and turn around. “The baby hasn’t moved for some time now. The midwife thinks it is going to be stillborn.”

“Nay. That will break Rose’s heart.” Claude paced back and forth.

“I heard what Rose told you about Evelina. Do you have feelings for this girl?”

“Aye. Nay. I don’t know.” He dragged a hand through his hair in frustration. “I am confused, Mother. I think I am in love with Evelina, but I know a marriage between us would be forbidden.”

“There are a lot of things forbidden in this lifetime, but not unless we want them to be. Now go, look for Conlin and Toft. I need to get back to comfort Rose. I only hope she will not die because that would be the worst thing for all of us.”

Claude made his way out to the courtyard, so upset he couldn’t think straight. He didn’t see Toft or Conlin, but Felix rode through the gate with Evelina holding on to the back of him.

“Felix. Evelina.” He ran over to join them, lifting Evelina from the horse, looking at her oddly and shaking his head. Her new gown and shoes were covered in mud. “What happened to you?” he asked.

“We had to take a few backwoods roads to get here, and they were not in the best condition,” said his squire. “Not to mention, when the horse got spooked, Evelina fell off in a puddle of mud.”

“Are you all right?” he asked her.

“Never mind me, how is Rose?” Evelina wiped her dirt-streaked face with the back of her hand.

“It isn’t looking good. Rose is weak and has lost a lot of blood. The baby hasn’t emerged or even moved in quite some time now. She has been asking for her husband and father, but they have yet to return.”

“I need to go to her,” said Evelina very determined. “I will not let her or her baby die.” She started to hurry toward the keep, but Claude pulled her to him and kissed her passionately on the mouth.

“Uh, I think I had better tend to the horse,” said Felix, slinking away.

“What was that for?” she asked him, looking up with bright eyes.

“I wanted you to know that I love you, Evelina.” He used his thumb to brush the dirt off her cheek.

“I love you, too, Claude. I am not sorry for what happened between us last night.”

“Neither am I.” He knelt on the cobblestones and took her hands in his.

“Claude, get up. What are you doing?”

“Marry me, Evie. I want you to be my wife.”

“What?” That seemed to surprise her. “You would ask me to marry you even though you said a marriage between two people of different statuses is forbidden?”

“Rose and my mother helped me to realize that I’ve been acting like a fool. You helped me to see that I have been stuck in the past and therefore blind to the future. What is your answer, Evie? Will you marry me?”

Evelina couldn’t believeClaude was down on one knee in the middle of the courtyard asking her to marry him. Her heart soared with joy but, at the same time, she felt frightened. She’d yet to tell Claude who she really was. She couldn’t tell him yes until she got out of the other betrothal with Lord Onfroi. Why was everything so complicated?