Royal Feud

Chapter 56

Chapter 56

"I admire her intelligence, her courage, her talent. I want her to be happy. I desirher." He sat upright. "I am a warrior. I am not used to delving into my feelings." "Aye, 1 know." Lucy gave him a sympathetic smile as she patted his knee. Twas the same with your father. It took me five years to get that stubborn man to admit he loved me. I hope you will not make Hermione wait that long. Just think of all the happiness and contentment you will miss. Delvin, love does not make you weak. On the contrary, it makes you strong and powerful. Love completes you and enhances you.

"Tis nothing to fear."

""Tis if love is not returned." Delvin took a large gulp of wine. "Hermione loves you, Delvin. "Tis plain to see whenever she looks

"Then why has she not said so?"

at you."

"As you just said yourself, 'tis hard to admit one's love when one is not sure it is returned. You must give Hermione some indication that you share her feelings before she will tell you she loves you. One of you must take a risk if you are to enjoy the full

blessings of marriage." Delvin nodded but said nothing.

"Well." Lucy stood. Delvin stood as well. "Enough soul searching for one day."

"Amen to that." Delvin raised his cup to toast his mother's words before draining it and setting it on the table. Lucy took him in her arms. "Delvin, I love you. I know you will do what is

right."

"Aye, I hope so. I love you too, Mother."

"I will pray for you. You must commit your marriage to the Lord."

"I will, Mother, I will."

Langston intercepted Hermione when she walked through the hall after dinner. "Hermione, can we talk?" he inquired.

"Aye, Damien. I am sorry I have not been able to spend time with you since you were released. There always seems to be so much to do." "I know you are very busy."

"Never too busy for a friend. Shall we take a walk on the allure? "Tis one of my favorite places. You can see the entire valley. "Tis quite spectacular." "I would like that," Langston said, holding out his arm to her..

Hermione chattered lightly, telling him about her visits to the villages of Mersthorpe and Carleigh as they strolled through the inner bailey toward the turret in the outer wall. Once they were on top of the crenellations, Hermione felt as she always did, as if she were on top of the world. Looking out over the beautiful valley spread below them, she marveled again at the intense colors-the brilliant cerulean of the sky, the glistening white of the billowing clouds, the myriad shades of green-that God had used to paint their world. As they ambled along the west curtain wall, Hermione smiled at the guard and waited for him to pass by them before turning to Langston. "Damien, how are you really? You do not look any the worse for your long

incarceration." "I am fine. Sir Hugh made my imprisonment bearable."

"I am glad. I spoke many times with him to make sure you were Delvin had f*******n me to speak with you. Well, that is all in the past now and should be forgotten. On a happier note, I was thinking we should hold your knighting ceremony next Sunday. Is that all right with you?" doing well, since

"Aye." Langston smiled at her. "The sooner the better, as far as I am concerned." "We will need to make new clothes for you. Lady Elizabeth and Lady Clare are very skilled with the needle. I am sure they will be able to complete your vesture in time. I will speak with them this afternoon."

"I do not want to put you to any trouble, Hermione."

"There is no trouble, Damien. You deserve to have a proper

knighting ceremony. I will speak with Delvin to make sure these arrangements meet with his approval." "Aye, you had better get his permission. I would not be surprised if he changed his

mind about knighting me."

"Delvin would not do that. He always honors his word."

"I am sorry, Hermione. I did not mean to offend you."

"I know. I am the one who is sorry. You have not been well treated by Delvin. I intend to make up for it." ""Tis not necessary." She just looked at him until he shrugged and gave in. "As you

wish, milady." He gave her an elaborate bow.

They resumed their stroll on the allure. Reaching the north side, they had a good

view over the lists where Delvin was training with his men. Hermione stopped to watch him, admiring his muscular body as he fought.

"Have you told your husband that you love him?"

Hermione looked up at her friend with a rueful smile. "Nay."

"Mayhap you should do so. Then he might no longer want to take off my head every time he sees me. Come to think of it, you had better tell him before the knighting ceremony, when his sword will be in very close proximity to my neck."

Hermione laughed at his teasing. "Aye, I will do that." "Are you happy?"

"Aye, Damien. I am very happy." Hermione smiled at him. "I hope someday you will find someone to love as deeply as I love Delvin."

"Aye, I hope so too."

Langston offered his arm to her. She placed her hand on his, and they continued their stroll.

laric pulled Guaire to a halt near the thicket of hawthorn trees and turned to look at Hermione. Not wanting an audience for his discussion with his wife, he had already given orders to the guards who accompanied them to station themselves discreetly nearby. After dismounting, he went to her side and helped her down from her horse.

"This looks like a good place to take a walk." Delvin placed her arm through his. ""Tis a beautiful day today."

"Hmm," he murmured. Just how did he go about telling his wife that he loved her? The fear that she did not return his feelings was still present. He would much rather be facing an enemy in a fight than this conversation. He was a warrior, not a poet, for Saint Peter's sake. It was still hard to humble himself, but he had to take the risk. Their whole future depended on this conversation, so he had to handle it properly. That was why he had chosen to have this discussion with his wife outdoors, rather than in the intimacy of their bedchamber. He did not want Hermione to feel obligated to return his words of love if she did not feel that way toward him.

Gracious Lord, he prayed, give me the words. Help me to open my heart to Hermione. Thank You for giving her to me as my wife. Help me to be a loving, supportive husband to her. Help me to be humble and considerate of her. Amen.

"Delvin, is something bothering you?"

"Nay. I just have had a lot on my mind "Do you want to talk about it?"

lately, 'tis all."

He halted next to the river and stared into the distance, gazing at the beech trees lining the meadow, but not really seeing them. Perhaps it would be easier to talk to her if he was not looking directly at her. Conscious of her pressed against his side, he took a deep breath. "I had several long conversations with Mother while I was recuperating."

"Aye?"

Taking heart from her encouraging tone, he laid his hand over hers as it rested on his arm. "She pointed out to me that I have been willful and headstrong. That I was insisting on being in control, rather than submitting my will to God. I did not want to listen to her at first, but eventually I realized she was right. I tried to control everyone around me not only the men at my command, but also you, my wife, as well. Hermione, I am sorry. I am trying to surrender my will to the Lord, but I have not yet completely mastered this. I suspect I never will, in this life."

She squeezed his arm. "Aye, I do not think such a trait can ever be mastered this side of eternity." "Tis been a struggle, but one that becomes easier every day. I find the more I rely

upon God and ask Him to change me, the more He conforms my will to His own." "My own struggle has been to accept that God really does love me. When the man I believed was my father did not love me, in fact abused me and showed me nothing but hatred, I decided I must be unlovable. That I was not worthy of having anyone love me. It was your mother who taught me that the Lord does love me. He loved me so much that He died for me."

Delvin turned toward her and cupped her face in his hands. "Hermione, you are worthy of love. I love you with all my heart."

As she gazed up at him, he saw the tears pool in her eyes. "You love me?" she whispered.