Page 44 of Promises Made at Midnight
“Ulrick…” His name as it escaped her lips was a calming balm to his soul and he brushed her black hair from her face to caress her cheek.
“Ma chérie,” he began before brushing a quick kiss upon her swollen lips, “we must needs return or I fear Dristan may never forgive us.”
“I’d rather stay here with you,” she answered pulling him close.
“As would I, but may I offer a suggestion?” he asked quietly before he pulled her away to stare into the brilliance of her eyes.
“Of course,” she whispered whilst offering him a bright smile.
“Marry me after the evening Mass tonight. I know ’tis rushed but I do not think I can go another night without you as my wife.” He waited breathlessly for her answer. When none came, he gave a heavy sigh. His sorrow was short lived because she suddenly laughed. The sound gave him hope for their future.
“Yes, Ulrick. I will marry you. Nothing would make me happier!”
She threw herself into his arms and joy that she would finally be his wife surrounded his entire being. His body reacted to her nearness as never before, and he knew without any doubt that he had found the missing half of his soul. He tried to dismiss Lady Maya’s warning, because nothing would ever tear them apart again. Nothing could possibly go wrong as long as Bridgette was by his side… or could it?
* * *
Bridgette fidgeted with the ribbon that had bound hers and Ulrick’s hands together when Father Donovan had sealed their fate. She had asked to have the keepsake and Berwyck’s priest happily nodded his approval. It was most likely because he had married another couple together who would otherwise be living in sin. Not a big deal in modern times, but obviously a problem in twelfth century England.
She had thought their hasty ceremony after the evening Mass would be a small affair. However, word must have quickly spread that one of Lord Dristan’s personal guardsmen would wed that eve. All had turned out to witness their union, causing Bridgette’s heart to swell with uncontained joy. She had grown fond of many of these people who thrived at Berwyck Castle. She could only wonder what their future held in another place in time.
When the priest had called for an accounting of what Sir Ulrick would bring to their marriage, Bridgette had been astounded to learn that her soon-to-be husband was an extremely wealthy man, with lands in both France and England. She realized she would never want for anything for the rest of her life. Not that she needed physical objects and massive wealth. Truly, she would have been perfectly content with Ulrick at her side along with Eustace and Eva. She had lots of questions but those could wait for another time.
Bridgette had a moment of panic when asked what she, in turn, would bring into Ulrick’s coffers but this, too, was quickly squashed as first Dristan and then Bertram stepped up and dropped a sizable pouch filled with coins. The jingle of monies when the leather bag settled onto the table left no doubt that these men would see that she was sufficiently dowered. Drake and several other guardsmen followed in their wake, leaving Bridgette standing on wobbly legs as their generosity touched her heart.
“Bridgette…” her name being whispered brought her attention back to the present while Ulrick held a quill in her direction. He silently nodded toward the parchment for her to place her signature.
She squinted in the dimly lit chapel since she really couldn’t make out the medieval wording. Such was the drawbacks of being a woman from another place in time. However, she did make out the wordcountessscrawled beneath where she was to sign.
She raised a questioning brow to her husband. “Countess?” she asked, her hand trembling as her fingers took the quill.
“Aye, of Somerset,” he replied, before leaning down to whisper in her ear. “There is no cause for alarm, and I will reveal all later,ma chérie.”
“You have been keeping secrets from me,” she teased while a smile turned up at the corner of her mouth.
He bent forward to kiss her lips. “I will make it up to you later,” he murmured. The rich vibrato of his husky tone caused a warm glow to seep into her body. His eyes held the assurance of what their evening would entail once they were alone in his chamber.
“Promise?”
“Aye… now sign the document before these people starve to death at our delay to fill their bellies.”
Taking a deep breath, she dipped the quill in the ink pot and signed her name. A cheer arose in the chapel before Lady Amiria announced for all to head to the Great Hall to feast.
Ulrick offered her his arm and Bridgette gladly accepted his support. She had the feeling she would never make it across the inner bailey on her own. Life had just taken a sudden wide turn she had been unprepared for, but she would look forward to their next adventure together.
CHAPTER30
Ulrick stood at the hearth, a cool tankard of mead in his hands. His friends of many years gathered around him to offer their congratulations on his marriage. He gazed from one knight to the next whilst memories of their time together as Dristan’s personal guard flitted briefly across his mind. They had formed a brotherly bond during their time together and had saved each other in one battle after another more times than he could count. ’Twas hard to image not having them in his daily life. But all things must change and Ulrick’s course had been set. ’Twas time for him to return home to Dunster Castle and assume his entitled role he had neglected over the years.
His eyes drifted to Dristan and Ulrick inwardly chuckled. The man’s reputation as the Devil’s Dragon was still alive in England and abroad, and yet his liege lord had been living a more domestic life of late. With two children and another on the way, his role as husband and father suited the man and Ulrick could only hope he and Bridgette would be as blessed.
A silent understanding passed between the two men, and for the briefest moment in time, Dristan appeared sorrowful, as though he knew where Ulrick’s life would now lead. His liege lord, and more importantly friend, gave the slightest nod before he raised his goblet in a toast to those who stood nearby.
“My brothers-in-arm… my comrades… Let us lift our cups in a salute to Ulrick and his life with the fair Lady Bridgette. May their lives be blessed as they begin their journey through life together,” Dristan proclaimed before he downed the contents of his drink.
A round ofaye, ayeswas chorused among Dristan’s guardsmen and more than one came to slap Ulrick upon his back before they, too, took a sip of the contents of their cups.
“My thanks to you all,” Ulrick replied, wondering how he would manage to say farewell to his friends. “Lady Bridgette and I appreciate your well wishes. I will always remember our times together with great fondness.”
