Forbidden: Claude (Second in Command #2)(43)
“That’s right,” said Nicholas’ wife, Muriel, who used to be a spinster. “Evelina, my brother and I made this for your first baby.” She handed her a beautiful woven blanket.
“I love it,” said Evelina, taking it from her and running her fingers over the soft wool.
“Muriel and her brother, Isaac, once had their own shop and are skilled at spinning and weaving,” Claude told her.
“I was the merchant’s daughter,” said Muriel, holding the hand of her three-year-old son, Glen. The rest of her four children ran around chasing Isobel’s three boys as well as Claude’s sister, Charlotte.
“Lord Nicholas married you, yet you weren’t a noble?” she asked in astonishment.
“He did,” said Muriel. “Sometimes love is stronger that status.”
“I wanted to marry you even when I thought you were only a handmaid,” Claude reminded Evelina.
“And I would have married you if you were naught but a commoner,” Evelina told him in return.
Evelina’s father cleared his throat. “So, Montague, where will you be living with my daughter? In England or France?”
“Yes, Claude,” said John. “If you are ready to leave France behind, I have plenty of room for you and Evelina and any children you might have in my new castle. I would love to spend more time with you, Son.”
“Where will we live, Claude?” asked Evelina, looking up in question.
Claude felt torn. Now that Evelina was his wife, her family resided in France. He was lord of Stonebury Castle in France, yet he wanted to spend more time getting to know his father in England. Plus, his mother and younger sister resided in England as well. A body of water separated his family.
He looked up to the ruins of Castle Hastings, breathing in a deep breath of fresh, sea air. Even from the ashes, one can rise again, he realized. There was no need to choose between his past and future because he could have it all living in the present.
“We will live in both places,” he told Evelina.
“How can we do that?” she wondered.
“We will spend most of our time in France, but several months out of the year we will live in Winchelsea with my parents and sister.”
“Oh, I would like that,” said Claude’s mother, always wanting to be close to him.
“That’s a wise choice, Son,” said John. “I am looking forward to it.”
Claude’s squire, Felix, ran over and interrupted the conversation. “Lady Rose is still feeling weak and can’t leave the wagon. She wants to congratulate both of you. So does Lord Toft.”
“Aye, I’d like to see the baby again,” said Evelina, holding on to the blanket and taking Claude’s hand as they strolled over to the wagon to talk to Rose and Toft.
“I am very happy for you,” said Rose, sitting in the wagon, holding her baby to her chest. The baby started to cry. Toft took it from her, making silly faces and noises, trying to make it stop fussing.
“How are you feeling?” asked Evelina.
“I am still weak, but I will be fine thanks to both of you. So will Daniela. I can’t thank you enough for being my friends.”
“We’ll always be your friends.” Claude reached up and hugged Rose and kissed her on the cheek.
“Claude, you are married now and shouldn’t be kissing other women,” Rose told him.
“It’s all right,” said Evelina. “Claude and I know that our love is real and nothing can come between us.”
“That’s right,” said Claude, gathering Evelina into his arms and kissing her passionately. “I hope to start raising a family soon because I can’t wait to be a father.” He dipped Evelina and bent over and kissed her again. She laughed as they both ended up falling on the ground.
“Save that for the bedchamber, Son,” John called out. “After all, you need to learn what you can and cannot do in public.”
“Nay, Father, you are wrong,” Claude called back with a huge smile on his face. He looked deeply into Evelina’s eyes when he said the next words. “With our love, there are no bounds, and nothing at all is Forbidden.”