That was an understatement. Cole headed over to the big de Bourne tent, quietly calling to Corisande until the tent flap moved aside and she appeared.
The smile on her face filled him with comfort and contentment and joy such as he’d never known. He could look at that smile until the end of his days and never, ever grow weary of it.
“Gaia is already asleep,” she said softly. “Poor dear. She is exhausted.”
He reached up, moving a stray piece of hair from her face. “And you?”
She shrugged. “Weary, of course,” she said. “But I am thankful for my life. I am very thankful for your life. It was heroic of you to come and save us.”
“And you think that I would not?”
“I did not mean it that way. I simply meant that you are a brave and bold man.”
Reaching out, he took her hand in his big mitt, bring it to his lips for a tender kiss. “I am a brave and bold man who loves you more with each passing moment,” he said. “I would do anything for you, Cori. Anything in the world.”
“As I would do the same for you.”
“Then go home. Take Gaia and leave this field of battle so I know that you are safe.”
Her smile faded. “You know I cannot leave,” she said. “As you have obligations, so do I. I know you do not like that, but you cannot change it. Not now, at least.”
He didn’t want to get into a tussle with her when he had only just gotten her back, so he backed off. He didn’t want to ruin this moment by being belligerent.
“You may as well know that I am selfish,” he said. “I only want you to be safe, my queen. You know that. And that makes me selfish because it is for my peace of mind.”
Corisande relented a little. “It does not make you selfish,” she said. “It makes you sweet and wonderful and thoughtful. But right now, I will not leave. My father needs me and so do my brothers. I must be here to see this through, but once we are married… if you do not want me to go on any de Velt battle marches as your surgeon, then I suppose I shall have to obey you.”
A smile tugged at his lips. “Your father just told me that I have his permission without reservation to marry you,” he said. “When this battle is over, I intend to do precisely that.”
She broke out into a big smile. “There is nothing I want more,” she said. “I am looking forward to it more than you know.”
“As am I,” he said. But then, he turned his attention in the direction of the mobilizing army, moving towards the river. “But first, we have a city to hold and Northmen to chase away. I am going to have to leave you for a while.”
Her smile faded. “Where are you going?”
He looked over his shoulder, towards the castle in the distance. “To Berwick Castle,” he said. “I must help my father hold the fortress. Our suspicion is that the Scots will try to take it back with the help of the Northmen, so I must be there to defend it to the last man if that is the case.”
She reached out her hands, clutching his big fingers. “You will be careful,” she said softly. “You are a great and noble knight and I should like you to father my children. And we are going to have a lot of children, so I will need you around for some time to come.”
He chuckled. “How many children?”
She lifted her shoulders. “A dozen, at least,” she said. “Mayhap more. I’ve not yet decided.”
He wriggled his eyebrows. “That is a lot.”
“Complaining?”
He shook his head, pulling her into an embrace. “Nay,” he murmured in her ear. “Because the fun will be in the practice.”
She giggled as he hugged her tightly, lifting her off the ground so that her feet were dangling. Her arms were around his neck, her hands in his hair, as they simply held one another. It was a big day and they both knew it, but Corisande couldn’t even entertain the thought that this would be the last time she would ever hold him. To her, he was big and strong and indestructible.
She had to have faith.
“Until I hold you again in my arms, I will see you in my dreams,” she murmured. “I love you, my darling. Be safe.”
He kissed her head, her cheek, and finally her lips before setting her on her feet. “And I love you,” he murmured, releasing her. Then, he pointed at her. “And stay away from Scots.”
She grinned. “I will try.”
“No trying. Do.”
“I will do my best.”
“You are not giving me any confidence, Woman.”
She laughed at him and he grinned, waving a hand at her as if he were finished with her foolery. But her smile faded and she blew a kiss at him. He gave her a wink and headed for his horse.
Corisande stood there and watched as Cole mounted Drago. Addax and Essien were already on their steeds and the three of them took off, heading for Berwick Castle.
Heading into the belly of the beast.
It was all she could do not to break down in tears.
“He will be fine, you know.”
Blinking away the tears that stung, she turned to see Ares standing a few feet away. She nodded, trying very hard to be brave.
“He is a de Velt,” she said. “They are unbreakable. I know he will be fine.”
Ares’ gaze lingered on her. “I thought, at first, that he was fortunate to have you, but now I think you are fortunate to have him,” he said. “You know he serves William Marshal, don’t you?”
She nodded. “He told me,” she said. “How did you know?”
Ares gave her a wry smile. “It did not take a genius to figure it out when he assimilated into The Marshal’s men,” he said. “Spies and assassins and cutthroats, they are. But admirable knights. There are none finer.”
Corisande smiled at her eldest brother, a surprisingly wise man when the mood struck him. “And you?” she said. “The great Sheriff of Westmorland? I think you’re a fine knight, too. I’m very proud to be your sister.”
He reached out, stroking her cheek affectionately. “I’m glad you’re back from your Scots adventure,” he said. “When you feel like telling me what really happened, I will listen.”
Her smile faded. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that what you told Father wasn’t the entire truth, was it?”
He was very astute. Years of dealing with criminals and liars in his line of work had made him so, but Corisande wasn’t going to divulge something she wasn’t even sure she could ever verbalize. Even as she thought on it, guilt consumed her like a flame consumes kindling.
She could feel it burning into her very soul.
“There is really nothing more to tell,” she said, avoiding giving him an exact answer. “They captured us when we were waiting for wounded with the surgeon’s and provisions wagons, they took us to their encampment, and Cole and his men rescued us this morning. It is not as if they had us in chains, Ares. They were not… unkind to us, given the situation.”
He was looking at her as if he didn’t believe her, but had the courtesy not to press her. “We can speak more of it when you are rested,” he said. “As for Cole – he will be well. You will see him when this is over.”
Corisande appreciated the encouragement. She also appreciated the change in subject. “I want to see you, too, when this is all over.”