The Angel's Assassin (19 page)

“I will send what I
can to you.”

Annabel shook her
head in confusion.

“I am no wealthy
man…not any longer…” he added quietly.

“I have no need of
your coin,” she said with a tinge of frustration. A thought occurred to her and
she uttered it before thinking. “I thought you had a vast wealth or was that a
lie also?”

Nicholas’ head
jerked towards her as he recognised the bitterness that laced the question.

“Nay, ‘twas no lie.
But I am no longer in possession of it.”

A pang of horror
assailed her at the thought of him living penniless, in spite of herself. What
could have possibly occurred that would take all his wealth from him? Had he
been punished for his crimes? Nay, he would have surely hung if that were true.
The thought sickened her.

“What has happened
these seasons that you have lost everything?”

He gave her a wry
look. “Naught, aside from the bewitchment of my heart by an angel.”

A smile tugged at
her lips. “I have not robbed you of your coin.”

“Nay, the nuns of
St Mary’s have taken care of that.” He saw her look of confusion. “‘Twas tainted
money; I could no longer live on the rewards of my wickedness. I am not wholly
changed, Annabel, but I am seeking redemption”

“So you are a poor
man now,” she mused. “What will you do?”

“I would do whatever
you bid, Annabel. I am still yours to command.”

“I have no wish to
command you.”

Tears of
exasperation beaded in her eyes. Would he not fight for her? Had all his focus
and determination departed him? The empty shell of a man that stood before her
tugged at her heart. She wanted him back, she realised. She wanted
her
Nicolas back. The man that she knew he could be.

“Why do I vex you
so, sweet angel? I intended not to cause you harm. Should you wish me gone, I
shall stick to my word and bid you farewell. I know that I have broken my vow
to leave you alone by coming to you now, but I had need to see that you were
safe. I will not return again if it pains you so.”

Annabel felt the
trickle of tears escape over her cheeks before she could stop them and
Nicholas’ hand instinctively darted out to sweep them away.

He paused, remembering himself,
but when she didn’t shirk away, he allowed himself to brush his thumb across
her cheek. His heart twisted at her sadness and he felt frustrated by the well
of impotence that threatened to drown him. He was thoroughly lost when it came
to Annabel. Foolishly, he hoped that by seeing her once more, and seeing her
happy, would seal his heart to her and allow him to move on.

To move on and make
reparations for all the hurt he had caused.

That had been his
plan at least. He had spent near three seasons searching for her necklace,
living like a penniless pilgrim. A minor penance for how he had wronged her, he
had decided. Now it seemed it was too little for not only had he destroyed her,
but he had left her with a babe in her belly.

She was beautiful
still, though she looked tired, and he wondered if it was the babe taking its
toll or the task of running a keep. How he wished he could have been there for
her - while she struggled to bear his child, while she recovered from the wrong
that he had done to her.

And now he was
hurting her all over again. Nicholas should have never even attempted to come
to her. Though he could not regret it, for at least he had seen his son. He
glanced at the sleeping infant once more and was astounded by the swelling of
love that overwhelmed him for the babe and his mother.

Nay, he would
always love her, sweet angel that she was, and he would do better to leave them
rather than burden them with his hell-bound soul.

He turned to leave
but a slight cry of distress from Annabel stopped him and he turned.

“‘Twas never out of
spite that I bed you, my intentions were well meaning…if wrong. Pray will
you…will you tell our son of that? I would not have him believe he was borne of
evil.”

“Nor I. I would
have him know he was borne of love.”

Nicholas’ eyes
flashed, a wary hope taking root in his expression. “Aye, he was that.”

Swallowing, Annabel
pulled in a breath. Nervous energy surged through Nicholas, readying himself
for the moment she would send him away.

“Will you not tell
him yourself?”

She waited,
watching him with her glistening wide eyes. Waiting for what? Was this his
test? His angel was testing him but he had no idea what she wanted from him. He
had assumed she would want naught more to do with him. Her last words to him
had been so bitter. But now she spoke of love…

“Annabel…?”

Courage bolstered
him. If he had the remotest chance of winning her affection, or even just
gaining her forgiveness, then he would have to take it. Nicholas felt his
determination emerging once more.

Placing his fingers
over the hand that held Joshua’s tiny form, he was gratified to see not fear or
anger in her gaze, but something deeper and altogether removed from such
emotions.

“I would tell him
every day if you let me. As I would his mother.” He dropped to his knee in
front of her, still clinging to her hand. “I vow I would protect and cherish
you until the end of my days. There is naught in my heart but love. ‘Tis you,
Annabel, you have banished the darkness from me.”

Annabel gave a
choked laugh. “Rise, Sir Knight, I will not see you on your knees in front of
me again.”

He did as she bid,
rising until he stood only a short step away from her, gripping onto her hand
fervently.

She viewed him with
a watery smile. “You have given me a most precious gift. Our son is proof of
the good within you, Nicholas. Now strengthen that proof and take me as your wife,
for I cannot bear another day apart from you.”

“Truly?” Nicholas
spluttered.

“Aye, truly. I love
you.”

“And I have never
stopped loving you, my angel.” He smiled hesitantly, the joy slowly threading its
way through him feeling foreign, yet so very right.

Annabel looked at
him in delight and traced a finger across his mouth. “You should smile more
often, Nicholas.”

“I’ve had little
reason to.”

“But you do now?”

“Annabel, with you
by my side, I shall have little reason not to.” He gave her a serious look.
“Can you truly love me with all that you know about me?”

“What kind of angel
would I be if I did ignore my duty? I believe I have a soul to save, do I not?”

“Aye.” He nodded
solemnly.

“Though I suspect ‘tis
too late.” She reached into her bodice and Nicholas’ eyes widened as he watched
her in confusion. Drawing out a tattered red ribbon, she grinned. “I believe
you are a man of honour now.”

Passing Joshua back
to him, Nicholas felt his heart swell as the tiny babe slept peacefully in his
arms. Before meeting Annabel he had never believed he would ever love and now
he had two people that he loved more than aught.

Annabel drew the
ribbon around his arm, tying it back into position, and Nicholas watched her in
awe, still not quite believing that she wanted to become his wife. Carefully
curling an arm around her shoulders, he drew her into him - their son tucked
between them - and pressed a kiss to her lips. As Annabel returned the kiss
with ardour, Nicholas knew that it was true. She had been sent to save his
soul.

And save it she
had.

********************

Other
titles by Samantha Holt

The
Crimson Castle

A
Summer Siege

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