Page 38 of Promises Made at Midnight
“Do you not have war in your time?” he asked, taking his hand to gently place her head on his chest. She began rubbing her fingers across his chest and he raised his eyes heaven bound to give him strength not to take her.
“I wish I could tell you the world is a happy place in the twenty-first century, but that would be a lie. Our planet has been plagued with one war after another over the course of its existence. I’m sure that will continue on long after we’re gone from this place.”
“I am glad to hear you still have worthy knights to help secure your lands.”
Bridgette chuckled. “Well… they’re not exactly knights as you know them, but we do have military. The Marines, Army, Air Force, to name just a few. I have always been so proud of those who sacrifice their lives for our country, but I was never one who felt compelled to join.”
“You have women who fight?” Ulrick shook his head whilst pondering Bridgette’s modern world.
“Yes, as a matter of fact, we do. I have the utmost respect for all our military, which now includes you and the knights of Berwyck who keep us safe,” she replied, reaching up to grab a length of his hair. She absentmindedly began twirling its length between her fingers.
“Your time must indeed be a wonderous place,” he marveled, thinking of some of the inventions Bridgette had told him about.
“It does have its moments, I suppose,” she said quietly before leaning up on an elbow to stare into his face. “What’s happened with the children, especially the little girl I handed you and the young boy who was scared to death of Dristan? I’ve been so wrapped up in my own personal misery. I should have inquired about them sooner.”
“The boy’s name is Eustace and he is eight summers. The little lass is barely speaking and the lad has been calling her Eva. Both lost their parents when the village was razed to the ground,” he answered. “The other six were taken in by other family members or friends so they will be provided for.”
“I’m glad to know their names, but are they being taken care of? I would like to see them.”
“I understand that a family on the far end of Berwyck Village have taken in both of the children since the girl created such a fuss when we attempted to separate them. Eustace will be an adequate worker in the fields and Eva will be able to help with other chores once she is grown. ’Tis honest work and the couple appreciated the extra set of hands since they lost their own son to an illness but recently.”
“The boy is to work in the fields? Like as a serf?” she asked, with a furrowed brow.
“There is nothing wrong with the lad tilling the fields and ’tis most likely what he was already doing in his own village in order to survive.”
“I want them to more than just survive, Ulrick. I gave them my word they would be taken care of properly,” she fumed, before tossing the covers off her naked body and striding to her clothes laying on a chair by the hearth. He appreciated the view of her in all her glory as she crossed the room, and wished she would return to his bed. She tossed a log onto the low burning embers before reaching for her gown.
“Theyarebeing adequately taken care of, or Dristan would not have placed them with the couple,” he argued. He, too, left the warmth of his bed to begin donning his garments. ’Twas apparent that their day was to begin whether he wished it or not.
“Adequateis not good enough. Please take me to them,” she insisted, as she quickly began braiding the length of her hair.
“I will be more than happy to take you to see them, my lady, but mayhap we can wait until the sun rises to light the way?” His brow rose as if she should have noticed ’twas still dark outside.
“Are you mocking me, Ulrick?” The warning tone was laying just underneath her words. He did everything in his power not to chuckle.
“I would never dare.”
She gave him a brief nod. “Good. Then I will see you in the Great Hall to break our fast after I change my gown and attend morning Mass. I wouldn’t want anyone to see my walk of shame being dressed in what I was wearing last evening.” She went over to him and quickly placed a kiss upon his cheek before she rushed toward the door.
She left so suddenly he had no time to comment on her words.Walk of shame?God’s Bones, he prayed she was not ashamed that they had been making love. Mayhap he should speak to Dristan and quickly. If Bridgette was having doubts as to his feelings for her, then he would make her his wife, posthaste. Ulrick never wanted Bridgette to have such a feeling again.
CHAPTER26
As Bridgette left her bedchamber, she began to realize that her words to Ulrick could be misconstrued. Many of those who lived in the castle wore the same garments for days on end. She should be grateful that Lady Amiria had seen to it that she had several gowns to choose from, along with jewelry, or baubles as they told her, to match.
Bridgette certainly wasn’t ashamed she and Ulrick had been making love behind everyone’s back, especially Lord Dristan’s. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t had sex in modern times so it wasn’t that unusual, at least as far as Bridgette was concerned. The worddisgracerumbled across her mind but she dismissed it. No matter how many times she reminded herself she was no longer in modern times, she continued to slip back into what used to be hernormal. She and Ulrick belonged together, and she wouldn’t stop sharing his bed. Since the battle days ago, she hadn’t been the same. When she relived the horrible scene in her head, the only person who was able to calm her was Ulrick. She needed him as much as he needed her, whether he realized it as yet, or not.
The Great Hall was only just stirring to life and, while Bridgette’s stomach growled in hunger, she followed the other knights and ladies who made their way out the keep door toward the chapel. Morning Mass would come first before they would be allowed to eat, and Bridgette was required to sit with Dristan and his family.
The chapel began to fill. It took everything within her power to not look behind her when she took her place next to Amiria and Dristan to see if Ulrick had arrived. Their children weren’t present, but that hardly surprised her. Bridgette had been relieved to learn Amiria had a modern approach far ahead of her time where her children were concerned. Bridgette cringed, thinking of infants being swaddled so tightly the poor dears couldn’t move. She had come to love spending time in Amiria’s solar with Royce and Liliana, who both looked so much like Dristan with their dark hair and blue eyes that there could be no doubt they were his children.
Mass began and once more Bridgette went through the motions of attempting to pay attention to what the priest was droning on about with his sermon. However, thoughts of the lives she had taken on the battlefield continued to wear on her mind and instead she offered up prayers to be forgiven her sins. By the time Father Donovan was giving his blessing to those in the chapel, Bridgette felt as though a great weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Perhaps God had forgiven her after all.
As everyone began to rise to leave and return to the keep to break their fast, Dristan held Bridgette back. At her questioning gaze, he made a motion with his hand and she saw Ulrick moving forward. He bowed before them.
“My Lord Dristan,” he murmured before his gaze slid over Bridgette. “My lady…”
Her cheeks flushed at his low sexy tone. Good heavens! They were in the chapel of all places. “Sir Ulrick,” she at last replied, before she offered him a brief smile.
