Page 140 of The Champion

But neither Stryder nor Rowena heard them as they stared at each other.

“So, Lady Rowena,” Henry said, “you have your freedom to choose your husband. Who will he be?”

Damien stood up.

Until that moment, Rowena hadn’t even realized he was present in the hall.

He didn’t speak or move.

“Have you someone in mind?” the queen asked.

“Aye,” Rowena breathed. “I want someone who can sing to me whenever I wish it. Someone who is fierce and strong, and who has all the qualities a noble knight should have. In this land of knavery, I want a champion who isn’t afraid to stand up for himself or for others.”

She met Stryder’s eyes. “For the Lady of Love, there can be only one husband.”

“And that is?”

“The one true prince among the knaves. Lord Stryder, Earl of Blackmoor.”

She expected Damien to protest, but to her surprise, he didn’t. He merely motioned to his men and quietly left the hall.

“What say you, Lord Stryder?” Henry asked. “You threw your perfect record aside so as not to have to wed her. How stand you on her wishes?”

Stryder’s gaze never left hers. “I stand at the lady’s side, my liege, where I intend to be ever at her service.” He reached out and wiped the tears from her eyes.

“Well done then,” Henry said. “We shall see you two wedded in the morning.”

The king and queen rose to their feet and, as they passed by, Rowena heard Eleanor mumbling, “I told you so, Henry. You should listen more to me than to your advisors.”

Ignoring the crowd in the hall and her uncle, Stryder picked her up from her chair and carried her from the room, up the stairs until they reached her bed chambers.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“I’m scandalizing you so that you will have no choice save to marry me in the morning.”

She laughed at that. “You’ve already scandalized me, milord.”

“How so?”

“Do you have the note I sent you?”

He pulled it from his sleeve.

Rowena opened it up and read it to him. “Knave of hearts and bane to all women, be it known that you must win your tournament for me, otherwise I shall have a most difficult time explaining to my new lord my newest addition.”

He scowled at her as if he had no idea what she was talking about. “Your newest addition?”

Rowena took his head and led it to her stomach where his words were still written. “Aye, my lord. ‘Tis early still, but I am rather certain that inside me lives your future heir.”

Stryder couldn’t breathe as he stared at her in disbelief. “How do you know?”

“I told you ‘tis early yet, but my monthly time has passed with no flow. I think we shall be parents to our own child soon, Stryder. But have no fear. I have no intention of making you stay home with us.”

“Are you banning me from my home?”

“Nay,” she said with a frown. How could he think such a thing? “I would never do such.”

“Then I meant what I said below, my lady. I never again intend to leave your side. Yea, I will continue to fight for my brothers, but I can’t fight without my heart and my heart is you. I love you, Rowena. There is no other lady I would ever have.”