The Iron Knight (The De Russe Legacy Book 3) (38 page)

Laurent’s eyes widened. “You… you
sent
for him?”

Lucien nodded. “Lady de Russe did,” he clarified, a glimmer of mirth in his eye. “I was only doing her bidding.”

Laurent was genuinely speechless. “My God,” he exclaimed after a moment, struggling with the words. “I… I simply cannot believe you would do such a thing.”

“Why not?”

Laurent shrugged, still struggling with his surprise. “Lucien, my father tried to cheat you by marrying you to my pregnant sister,” he insisted softly. “That’s exactly what he tried to do. That you would be generous enough to reunite my sister with the man she loves goes beyond mere compassion and benevolence. I… I simply do not know how to thank you.”

Lucien could see that the man was genuinely touched. “You and your sister are good people who were being manipulated by a man who has lost his moral direction,” he said. “I am not angry with either one of you. Everything will work out as it should and we will move on with our lives. There is no use in dwelling on grudges or past anger. It will kill a man as surely as a sword will.”

Laurent nodded, smiling at Lucien in a way not often seen. It was gratitude, it was humbleness. Laurent knew that, given the situation, it could have gone very different for him and his father and his sister. But instead of taking them to task and ruining reputations and livelihoods, Lucien had been most magnanimous in his outlook. Only a man with great wisdom was capable of such things.

“I will go and tell my sister what you have told me,” Laurent finally said. “If you see her weeping hysterically, do not be troubled. It will be tears of joy.”

Lucien’s lips twitched with a smile as Laurent begged his leave and headed to the table where the women were. He was watching them, in fact, when Sophina snuck up beside him. He didn’t even see her until she looped her hands into the crook of his elbow. Gazing down at her, he smiled into her lovely face.

“So you think to give me some of your time, do you?” he said. “I am honored, Lady de Russe.”

Sophina laughed softly. “I have been very busy ensuring that my husband is pleased with his wedding feast,” she said. “Has it met with his expectations?”

Lucien nodded, kissing her on the forehead. “It has,” he said. “As have you.”

Sophina smiled prettily for him, coyly batting her eyelashes until he laughed. She laughed, too, a joyful sound. Finally, for them both, there was joy to be had in every moment, relishing their time together as they never had before. It was their life together, now, and they intended to enjoy every minute of it.

“I saw you speaking with Laurent,” she said as the giggles died away. “Did you tell him what we have done for Juno?”

Lucien nodded. “I did,” he said. “He was most grateful. That was a remarkable suggestion, my lady. You are most generous and kind.”

Sophina shrugged, leaning her cheek against his big bicep as she gazed at the table with Juno and Emmaline and Aricia and Susanna, now joined by Laurent. “I understand what it is to be apart from the man you love,” she said softly. “Juno is so very young and kind and vulnerable. She has spent her life being manipulated by her father. It is time for her to know some happiness.”

Lucien’s gaze was lingering on the table as well. “Holderness will not be an issue,” he said. “That man will never know freedom again for what he tried to do to you. He is very lucky that I did not punish him as I punished du Ponte.”

Sophina put her fingers to her lips in a hushing motion. “Shhhh,” she said. “We promised never to speak his name again.”

He nodded, contrite. “My apologies,” he said. “You are correct.”

Her smile returned. “I usually am.”

He laughed softly now. “Am I going to have to listen to this for the rest of my life? How correct you always are?”

She giggled because he was. “Of course,” she said. “What did you expect?”

He continued laughing as he put his arms around her, pulling her close and kissing the top of her head. “I am a willing servant, my lady,” he said. His gaze ended up on the young women again and, in particular, his daughter. It reminded him of just how quiet she had been for the past two days. “Speaking of willing, my daughter has been most obedient for the duration of this meal. She was even obedient during the wedding mass. What miraculous spell have you cast over her that she is not screaming and trying to hit people?”

Sophina shook her head. “Not me,” she said. “Lady Aricia. She has worked wonders with Susanna in ways I would never be able to. Susanna has found a kindred spirit in her, I think. They have become fast friends.”

Lucien’s eyebrows lifted. “Truly?” he said, astonished. “Why have I not been told of this?”

“Because it has really only just happened. Moreover, you have had other things on your mind – murderous earls, reuniting lovers. Those kind of things. Aricia has helped Susanna very much in the short time they have been friends.”

Lucien could hardly believe it. “Then I must thank her.”

Sophina looked up at him. “I was thinking of something more than that,” she said, a calculated statement. She had been thinking of a way to broach the subject of Aricia and Susanna for two days and this was the perfect opportunity. “I believe it would be an excellent idea to keep Aricia here as Susanna’s companion. If she has done so much with Susanna in just a few days, imagine what she can do with her for a lifetime. Mayhap we can offer her a small stipend to live here and be Susanna’s companion, and she can become part of our household. I like Aricia very much, Lucien. I think… I think I want her to belong here, with us.”

Lucien liked the idea a great deal. Anyone who could help his daughter learn to behave was someone he was more than happy to have around.

“If you believe it to be a good idea, then I trust you,” he said. “Do what you must in order to convince her to remain with us. She will be a welcome addition.”

Sophina was happy to have his approval but it also brought up another thought – the subject of Aricia’s true sex. She didn’t think that Lucien would have an aversion to it, but it would not be fair not to tell him. If Aricia was going to be so close to Susanna, it was only right that Lucien, as the child’s father, know everything and Sophina realized, in good conscience, that she could not willfully withhold such information. Therefore, she wrapped her arms around his waist and looked up at him. She wanted to look him in the eye for what she was about to tell him.

“There is something else you must know about Lady Aricia,” she said, lowering her voice. “Before I tell you, let me say that I have spent some time with her, as has Emmaline, and we have found her to be warm and genuine and kind. She is very talented and the way she has dealt with your daughter has been nothing short of miraculous. You see, she understands what it is to be different from other people. She knows what it is like to be shunned. Although Susanna has never been shunned, in her young mind, she believes that people have been cruel to her at times. Aricia was able to explain to Susanna just how wrong she was in a way that Susanna understood.”

Lucien was listening carefully. “Susanna is convinced I hate her,” he said quietly. “Given our relationship, I suppose she has every right to believe that. It has been difficult to convince her otherwise.”

Sophina nodded. “I know,” she said. “I have heard her say it. So has Aricia. But Aricia… her father truly hated her. He said awful things to her, Lucien, just terrible things that a father should never say to a child. Aricia is such a good and gentle creature, but her father did not see her that way. He saw her as an abomination and a vile affront to moral men.”

Lucien’s eyebrows furrowed. “Why would he think that?”

Sophina’s expression was soft. “Because Aricia was not born a girl,” she said softly. “She was born male, but she has dressed and lived as a girl since she was an infant. Her mother understood this where her father did not. Aricia is not an abomination of nature, but a girl trapped inside of a boy’s body. She lives as a girl and always will. Juno knows this but her father did not. I do not know if Laurent is aware. But believe me when I tell you that Aricia is as kind and good a person as I have ever seen. She will make a wonderful companion for Susanna and Susanna already adores her. Nothing strange or unseemly will happen; Aricia is trustworthy. I would stake my life on it. But because I have recommended she be your daughter’s companion, I think it only fair that you know that she was not born a girl. I pray you are not angry with me for telling you this.”

Lucien was looking at her quite seriously by the time she was finished. He had to admit, he was shocked by the news. Inevitably, his gaze moved to the table with the women, specifically looking to Susanna and the young woman beside her.
A young man
, he thought. Even as he looked at her, there was disbelief because she didn’t look like a man at all. As he continued to watch, Susanna whispered something in Aricia’s ear and, when Aricia nodded, Susanna burst out laughing. He’d never seen his daughter laugh like that, not ever. He was astonished. It was a moment before he could answer Sophina.

“I know you would not allow anyone to harm my daughter,” he said hesitantly. “I believe you when you say Aricia is trustworthy. But… a male?”

“Aye.”

“Does… does Susanna know?”

Sophina looked over to the table as well, watching the interaction between Susanna and Aricia. “I do not believe so,” she said. “There is no point in telling her. She has found a friend and that is all she knows. She is happy.”

Lucien couldn’t deny that. The evidence was there. “Aye,” he admitted. “She seems to be. I have never seen her so happy.”

Sophina turned to look at him. “Then Aricia can stay?”

Lucien’s gaze lingered on his laughing daughter a moment longer before turning to his wife. “Aye,” he said softly. “She can stay. I suppose it does not matter if she was born a male or a female. If her heart is good, that is all I care about. If she can make my daughter happy, then she has my gratitude.”

Sophina smiled, reaching up to sweetly touch his cheek. “You are as generous as you are wise,” she said. “Aricia’s secret will be our own. I believe she will make a fine addition to our household. And I also believe she might help you in your relationship with Susanna. She has been speaking to Susanna on what it means to have a father who cares and I believe Susanna is listening to her. Mayhap she will help you both heal, someday.”

Lucien couldn’t dare to hope but he was willing to try. If Sophina thought that Lady Aricia could help mend what had been damaged by helping Susanna grow and learn and understand what it meant to be a kind young woman, then Lucien was willing to let that process take place. Perhaps there was yet time to make Laurabel proud of the daughter he had raised. And perhaps he, too, could be the father he had always wanted to be. No more guilt, no more running.

Perhaps, someday, he would have a daughter who loved him.

So he stood there and hugged his wife, thanking God yet again for the day He brought her into his life. It had been less than a week but in those few days, his life had changed forever. It was difficult to comprehend all of it, just how much things had changed, but he would have a lot of time to ponder that in the future. He was looking forward to it perhaps more than he’d looked forward to anything else in his entire life.

As Lucien’s thoughts turned to the coming night and the first night he would spend with his new wife, he happened to see Colton approaching the table where the women were. He and Gabriel had been over in the corner with the de Bretagne men, rolling dice, and while Gabriel remained crouched down on the floor, gambling with the others, Colton was sauntering casually towards the table that, not strangely, contained Emmaline. Lucien continued to watch as Colton stood behind Emmaline as she chatted with Juno and Laurent but when she happened to catch a glimpse of Colton, she invited him to sit. He did, quite eagerly, beside her.

“God’s Bones,” Lucien grunted. “I told you to keep your daughter away from Colton. See how she lures him!”

Sophina turned to see what had him scowling and she laughed softly. “You blame her?” she said. “Blame him. He buzzes around her like bees to honey.”

Lucien frowned. “Impossible,” he scoffed. “Colton de Royans is above buzzing. She is bewitching him somehow with her beauty and sweet disposition. How can he resist such things?”

Sophina shook her head. “He cannot,” she said flatly. Then, she eyed him. “I know we have jested about this subject before, but mayhap we should speak on it seriously. When Emmaline’s father died, he left very little by way of finances, which is why we had to live with my father. I have managed to save a small dowry for Emmaline, but certainly not what Colton might be looking for. If he chooses to seriously pursue her, then he should know she is not wealthy.”

Lucien waved her off. “Colton is heir to a very wealthy barony,” he said. “He would not be interested in her for her money. He is a smart lad. I am guessing he knows she more than likely does not have much of a dowry. That is of no concern to him. Moreover, now that Emmaline is my daughter, I will supply her dowry. Trust me when I tell you that she will have more than enough behind her to attract any husband in England.”

Sophina had to grin. “When I brought up her lack of a fortune, I did not mean you should supply it,” she said. “That was not my intent.”

“I know.”

“And I would much rather have her marry for love than marry someone who simply wants her fortune. I only wish for her to be happy above all.”

Lucien couldn’t disagree. Looking around the room, at the smiling faces and the laughter, he couldn’t ever recall being happier above all. A life that had been so full of battles and duty for the king, a life that had, until a few days ago, been one of loneliness and hopelessness.

Marrying for love? He couldn’t imagine anything greater. It was love that had saved him, love that had given him faith again. Love was more powerful than kings and countries as far as he was concerned and as he looked at Emmaline, laughing with Colton, he could only wish them both the very best of love, and of devotion, and of hope. Perhaps kings ruled the world but in matters of the heart, love was the most powerful thing on earth.