Forbidden: Claude (Second in Command #2)(42)

Evelina wanted this more than anything, but she needed her father to agree to it first. She realized she should never have gone against him without talking to him and explaining how she felt. Knowing now that her mother believed in marrying for love, she could see if she had tried harder to talk with her father they might have been able to come to a decision that benefited both of them. She looked up at her father, feeling her heart beating rapidly in her chest, waiting for his permission.

“Go on,” said the count with a chuckle. “I wouldn’t want to get in the way of a love like that.”

“I will,” said Evelina, feeling as if her dreams had come true. “I will marry you, Claude Montague, and I am honored to be your wife.”





Chapter 16





Three days later



Claude stood atop the cliff at Hastings, having just said his vows and marrying Evelina. She looked beautiful wearing the purple velvet gown that was now clean and fit for a princess. A circlet of freshly picked flowers crowned her head. They left the priest and crowd of people at the foot of the cliff because Claude wanted to bring Evelina up to the ruins of Castle Hastings. It was such a big part of his past.

Claude had chosen to be married in Hastings because it was once his father’s demesne and where Claude’s life changed forever.

The count had stayed in England for the wedding, and Lord Onfroi hadn’t been seen again since he was sent away. Everyone was there to celebrate, including the Barons of the Cinque Ports and their families, and even Rose and Toft and their new baby, Daniela.

“I can’t believe we’re married,” said Evelina, glancing down at the ring on her finger. Claude had given her a ring that was his late grandmother’s, on his father’s side. His grandfather insisted Claude take it for good luck.

“I can’t believe it either,” he said, looking up to the ruins where half of the castle still clung to the cliff hanging over the silted-up harbor far below.

“Claude, why are we here?” asked Evelina, looking over at the ruins. “This doesn’t seem like the best place for a wedding.”

“I think it is a perfect place,” he told her, wrapping his arms around her, pulling her back against his chest. “This was once my father’s castle. It was his pride and joy. There was a bad storm one night, and he lost almost everything – except his family and those he loved.”

“Go on,” she said, urging him to continue.

“See that broken tower,” he told her, pointing up to the castle.

“I do.”

“That is where I almost died.”

“Oh, Claude, that is horrible.”

“Nay, not really. My father saved my life that day. Then, my mother and I saved his life in return. It was also where my grandfather took his own life.”

“I still don’t understand why you would want to come here to get married.”

“It wasn’t the act, but the love I felt that day that made me want to return. I learned a lot at the young age of five and ten years. I learned to forgive, and I learned that love is stronger than any blade. It is all that really matters.”

“That is beautiful, Claude. I think I understand now.”

“There is more,” said Claude. “I realized that wanting to return here was only clinging to the past. And since I am looking forward to the future, I want to leave the bad memories behind and only bring with me the good feelings from now on.”

“That is wonderful, Claude. I am happy for you. Now, you need to show you are leaving your past behind by throwing something into the sea.”

“Like what?” he asked.

“Not me,” she said, causing both of them to laugh. “Take this,” she said, removing her crown of flowers and handing it to him. “By throwing it into the sea, you will be releasing everything from the past that has been holding you back. The flowers symbolize life. As they float in the water, they will either wash out to sea or back to shore, but it doesn’t matter. They symbolize new life, new growth and new love.”

“I love you,” said Claude, taking the crown, stepping forward and tossing it over the edge of the cliff and into the sea. “There,” he said, taking her hand. “Now we can celebrate with our loved ones and start our new life without anything holding us back.”

They ran happily down the hill and didn’t stop until they met with the others.

“Claude,” said his father, John, coming up to him with a look of concern on his face. “What were you throwing into the sea?”

“Don’t worry, Father, I was just getting rid of some things I didn’t need any longer.”

“Aye, and nature did that for your father, getting rid of that big ol’ castle that he used to brag about all the time,” said Lord Nicholas Vaughn with a chuckle.

“Easy, Nicholas,” John warned him. “If you keep that up I am going to have to remind everyone that you still are living in a manor house while I have a new castle just about built in Winchelsea.”

“Don’t worry, Nicholas, I’ll lend you one of my castles if you need it,” said Lord Conlin -.

“Conlin, our second castle is in Scotland,” said Isobel. “Nicholas and Muriel and their children are happy in New Romney.”