Royal Feud

Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Held Lucy's hand and led her out of the room. Hermione came next. followed by Elizabeth and Clare. When Delvin and Lucy appeared on the steps of the donjon, a loud cheer welled up from the servants and villeins milling around the inner bailey. Lucy smiled and waved to the people as Delvin led her to the chapel, escorted her up the steps, and placed her hand in Wyham's, turning her over to his care. Retreating down the steps, leaving Lucy and Wyham with Father Thomas, Delvin came to Hermione's side and smiled at her before turning his attention to the wedding ceremony.

When the bridal couple emerged from the chapel after mass, another loud cheer rose to greet them. As Wyham escorted Lucy through the inner ward, back to the donjon, they were showered with shouts of approbation. Hermione, following behind the bridal couple by Delvin's side, thought briefly that this was rightfully a joyous occasion, unlike their own wedding. She glanced up at Delvin. As if feeling her eyes on him, he turned and smiled at her. She smiled back. They had successfully overcome their disastrous wedding, and she hoped that they would soon have a normal marriage.

Hermione woke gradually, filled with contentment and satisfaction such as she had never known before. Her head rested on Delvin's chest, her leg draped over his, her n***d body flush against his. The night had been a revelation to her. The pleasure he had given her astounded her. Her fears now seemed ridiculous, and she was sorry she had wasted so much time being a prisoner of them. She now knew what Lucy had meant about the mutual pleasure for which God had ordained marriage.

"Are you awake?" Delvin asked.

"Aye."

"Good. I did not want to wake you." He rolled her gently onto her back. "I cannot seem to get enough of you."

Delvin cupped her face and leaned down to kiss her thoroughly. She eagerly responded. He drew back and pushed the bedding from her body. "Let me look at you."

In the cold light of day, she was acutely aware of the hideous scars that marred her skin. Last night, in the warm glow of the candlelight and the wine she had consumed, they had faded to insignificance in her mind. But now she felt mortified and humiliated. She desperately grabbed the covers, holding them to her chest.

"Nay," she whispered, "I am too ugly."

"Hermione, you are not ugly. Let me look at you."

Responding to the entreaty in his voice, she reluctantly loosened her hands and let Delvin pull the bedding away from her. "Hermione, you are beautiful." He ran his hand lightly over her body, then traced the scars that covered her thigh with his fingertip. He looked deeply into her eyes. "But 'tis not your body alone that makes you beautiful. "Tis your strong spirit that shines through everything you are. The pain you endured has strengthened and molded you into the person you are today, just as the blacksmith's fire strengthens and molds iron. These are scars of battle. They are badges of honor and valor. The only shame belongs to your father, not to you. The a***e you suffered would have destroyed most

women. You refused to let it defeat you. I am in awe of your courage and strength. Hermione raised a trembling hand to Delvin's face. "Thank you." She felt her spirit heal with his words. During the past months at Ishton, her body

had become strong. The time she had spent in prayer with God had restored her soul Now his sincerity and heartfelt words had cured the brokenness in her heart. With sudden clarity she realized she loved him. He made slow, exquisite love to her, cherishing her with his touch. Afterwards, she

lay replete in his arms. She felt complete, whole, strong, and fearless for the first time in

over five years.

Hermione knelt at the prie-dieu in her bedchamber. After crossing herself, she closed her eyes and bent her head. Sadness had enveloped her after Lucy and Robert rode out of the castle a few moments ago, and she had sought refuge in prayer.

"Dear Lord, I confess to You my sins. I have sinned against You by my thoughts and my words and my deeds. I have sinned against You by failing to do what You ask of me. I confess that I have not loved You with my whole heart, and I confess that I have not loved others as myself. I am so sorry for my sins. "Dear Lord, please give Lucy and Robert a safe journey back to the king's court.

Keep them well and healthy. Please bless their marriage and the love that they share. "Dear Lord, thank You so much for all the blessings You have bestowed upon me. You truly did have my best interests at heart when You gave me Delvin to be my husband. I am sorry for ever doubting You. I love Delvin so much. Help me to be a good wife to him. I know that he does not love me as I love him. Help me to accept that and not to yearn for what I do not have but to take joy in what I do have.

"Most of all, dear Lord, I thank You for Your love for me. In ways big and small You show me that You love me, that You consider me so worthy of Your love that You sent Your only Son to die for me. Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You died for my sins. Thank You for Your blood that washes me clean so I may come into Your presence. Thank You for Your love and Your grace and Your mercy. "Please continue to change my heart, O Lord. Please change me. Amen."

"M ilord." Hugh said, "Roger, Geoffrey, Matthew, and Langston will be going with you today." "Langston? Why?" Delvin pulled on his gauntlet as he looked at his

castellan's weathered face. "He requested that he be able to accompany you. He has been diligently applying himself to his training the last few weeks so I felt that he deserved the honor of hunting with you.

Delvin accepted the sword Hugh handed him while he considered the inclusion of Langston in the hunting party. The man had obeyed his orders to stay away from Hermione and had been making great advancements in his training. He shrugged. "So be

Truth be told, Delvin had been in such a good mood since Hermione had overcome her fears of the marriage bed that he could find no reason to be concerned about Langston. Hermione had obviously taken his words to heart and was no longer interested in her erstwhile friend. He was pleased that his patience had finally paid off in her willing and exuberant passion.

After riding for twenty minutes, they reached the area where the head huntsman, Bardulf, had found evidence of the boar that had been frightening the villagers. Delvin signaled his men to fan out through the forest. The plan was to surround the boar, it out into the open, and bring it down for the kill. Delvin rode cautiously forward, concentrating his senses, alert for any sign of the animal. He could hear rustling in the woods to both sides of him as the other men spread out around him.

Swiftly the boar came crashing through the bushes, running straight at him. A fully grown male, the animal probably weighed almost three hundred pounds. Its tusks were long and wickedly sharp. As the brown, bristly beast headed straight for him, Delvin barely glimpsed the projectile hurtling toward him, coming from the grove of trees from which the boar had emerged. He instinctively turned his body mere seconds before the knife, aimed at his heart, slammed into his shoulder.

Momentum and the force of the knife toppled him from his horse, and he fell directly into the path of the rampaging boar. He shouted for his men as he rolled into a ball, protecting his head and vital organs. The boar's tusks ripped into his side, the pain from the gouging searing through him. He rolled away from the boar and lurched to his feet. Yanking the knife from his shoulder, he threw it at the boar's head, impaling the beast between the eyes. fits neck. The beast gave

Roger burst into the clearing, Delvin watched as the knight tossed his lance at the boar still standing on its feet, striking the animal in the back a roar and dropped to the ground, where it remained immobile. Once Roger had downed the boar, Delvin collapsed and fell to his knees. The aggression aroused by the attack drained from his body, leaving only the burning pain behind. He clutched his side and his shoulder, trying to staunch the flow of blood. Roger came to kneel beside him. The knight pulled off his cloak to use as a pad, wadding it up and placing it against Delvin's side.

"Here, milord. Use this to stop the blood."