Thea and Neal were alone.
He didn’t speak. Instead, he leaned over the table and flipped a page of the journal. His fingers brushed over her writing.
“What made you think of this?” he asked, breaking the silence.
“Something you said to me. I woke with it in my mind, and I realized how right you were. You said the heart is a shield. Your forebears have tried so many ways to defeat this curse, but what if we embraced it, Neal? What if we used our hearts as a shield against her evil? What if we went to her and let her know she can steal our lives, but the love we feel for each other is stronger than her powers.”
Neal pulled her up from the chair. He placed his arms around her. “Dear God, I am blessed to have you for my wife.”
Thea smiled up at him. “And I am glad you recognize the fact, my lord.”
His response was to tilt his head back and laugh. The sound was carefree, and Thea put herarms around his waist and hugged him as tight as she could.
“We will defeat this,” she promised. “I won’t let you go without fighting with everything I have.”
“Then Fenella had best watch out,” he whispered. “But whatever happens, Thea, you are my wife and my love. Not even death will be able to change that.”
And then he kissed her.
No man’s kiss had ever had such power over her. He claimed her every time his lips met hers. She loved! And his father had been right when he’d written in his letter that they were sweet words.
At that moment, they were joined by Jonathan and Christopher. The boys had obviously been out in the cold, because the tips of their noses were red. They often went to the stables down the street to help feed their ponies.
“Good morning,” Christopher said in a happy voice. He was always in a good mood in the mornings. He came right over to Neal and Thea and threw himself into the hug. Jonathan did the same. The boys giggled at their audacity, their arms reaching around Thea and Neal’s legs—but Thea didn’t laugh. She thought it was a blessing that her sons had found a father. A blessing thatshe had found a man she could love for all eternity.
Neal reached for her hand with his left one. He laced his fingers with hers, showing her that his strength had returned. His grip was strong.
It might weaken again. Or it might not.
But in this moment, having it return was the confirmation they needed.
They would defeat Fenella. She knew they would.
As her sons climbed into chairs around the table for their breakfast, she leaned her head against her husband’s shoulder.
The heartwasa shield, and the love she felt in this moment was enough to protect them all.
Fenella had best beware.
Harry
It takes hard courage for a man to defeat his demons.
His brother needed him. His family needed him.
And Harry was not ready.
In all his years in the military, he had always been ready ... but not any longer. His hands shook, his head ached and his body yearned for more drink even after the copious amounts he’d consumed over the preceding day and night.
He’d been trying to ease his dose of laudanum. He’d never really taken it for his leg. Yes, his leg pained him but not beyond something a good soldier could accept.
A good soldier. How long had it been since he’d thought of himself that way?
But now he had another chance to be a hero.
His siblings suspected he’d been attempting to kill himself with heroics that day he’d charged the French cannon position. Perhaps they were right.He certainly was not afraid of death. However, he was not a suicide.
He’d attacked that post because doing so had been needed to win the day. He’d felt invincible at the moment of his decision. War depends upon bold acts, foolhardy acts ... and men willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice.
