Blood Sword Legacy 04 - A Knight to Remember (6 page)

“Then consider the gift a sign from God through me, and the order one less novice. The Lady Mercia will no longer reside here.”

Mercia gasped. Cedric sputtered, Rowena howled. Rhodri turned to Cedric. “You have lied to me, sir, and therefore I retract my betrothed contract for your daughter Rowena’s hand.”

“How dare you!” Cedric cried.

“I dare whatever I like. You broke your oath! I am free to negotiate a new contract.” He looked down at Rowena, who glared at him through swollen eyes. “I would give you five hundred silver pieces as a dowry to another groom of your choice.”

Another collective gasp rent the air. Rhodri turned to Cedric and brought Mercia’s hand to his lips. “For this daughter, I will accept as her dowry the clothes on her back and nothing more.”

Mercia’s knees shook, and had Rhodri not held her so tightly she would have joined her sister on the floor.”

Cedric sputtered. “You mean you wish to wed Mercia? But she is—”

“The woman I choose. Do you agree or not?”

“I—take Rowena, she is more worthy.”

Rhodri stepped into Cedric’s face. “’Tis Mercia I desire. Do you give your permission!?”

“Father!” Rowena cried as she came to her feet. “Do not come between my sister and her happiness. For if you do I will cut my hair, rend it with ashes and wear rags, so that no man, not even for five hundred silver pieces, will want me.”

Mercia’s heart filled with love. Cedric nodded, but grunted his true feelings.

Rhodri turned to her, and dropped to one knee. He took her hands into his. “Will you have me, Lady Mercia?”

Joy filled her so completely that Mercia thought she would burst. She threw herself into his arms. “Aye. I will have you, from this day and every day that follows!”

He grabbed her up to him and kissed her. Long, hard and intimate, giving no care to those who stood and gaped around them.

When they separated Rhodri shouted, “Call a priest! I will see this night a wedded man!”

And so it was to be. Lady Mercia of Wendover found her prince. And he, prince Rhodri of Dinefwr, sworn to never love, discovered on the frigid beaches of Wessex, the one woman who would become his princess and change his world forever.

They returned to Dinefwr, where they began a dynasty that endured for centuries.