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Undaunted, she continued until William was sure she had brushed him bald. But he closed his eyes at her touch, tucking it back in his memory to remember when he was feeling particularly lonely. He watched her beautiful face as she observed her handiwork, playing with the natural wave in his hair until she was sure he looked presentable.

“There,” she sighed, looking down into his eyes. “Now ye look like a proper baron.”

He wound his thick arms around her midsection, pulling her against him. Standing on the chair, she was almost exactly his height.

“And you, madam, look like a proper baron’s wife,” he kissed her sweetly. “I will send you a missive as soon as I reach London and let you know what is happening. I will try to write you at least every week until I see you again. And you know, of course, that my brother is the Earl of Wolverhampton, should you need to get a private message to me. It will be much easier for me to write you than for you to write to me.”

She nodded. “I know,” she replied, running a hand along his hair. “Have ye decided which knights ye will take with ye?”

He sighed. “I have been thinking hard on it,” he said quietly. “For whoever I take will remain with me once we return to Questing. Even then, I intend to press de Longley for more. Those men are like my brothers.”

“They will not be happy that only two will be allowed to serve ye in yer new position,” she said.

“Neither am I, but I must respect de Longley’s wishes.” He lifted her off the chair and onto the floor, still embracing her. “But I have made my choice. I will take Kieran as my second, and Deinwald.”

Her eyes widened. “Kieran?” she stammered. “But…English, Jemma will be crushed.”

“I know, but think on it, love,” he told her. “When we return to Questing, Jemma will go with you. And Kieran will go with me. ’Twill be much harder if he stays here and I have to petition de Longley to retrieve him at a later date.”

She saw the logic, but she knew how heartbroken her cousin would be. She sighed and nodded.

“Ye are right, as always,” she said. “Poor Jemma.”

He snorted. “Poor Jemma indeed. She will no longer have the biggest knight at Northwood as her personal protector, and she will have to tame her mouth.”

She frowned. “ ’Tis not that and well you know it. She and Kieran love each other. In fact, she says he has asked her to marry him.”

He released her with a half grin, pulling on his gauntlets. “Then he had better do it today, before we leave, or they will be waiting a long time.”

She watched him, now finally in full armor save his helmet. Her heart lurched painfully in her chest but she was determined not to let him see her pain. God, she missed him so much already.

The light mood between them was fading fast, the void filling with the pain of separation. She tried to fight it off, thinking madly of what to say or do, but it was difficult when his armor was reflecting candlelight back at her, reminding her with every move he made that he would be gone soon.

He turned to her finally and anxiously watched her face for any sign of a breakdown, but she gave him a smile instead.

“I have a song for ye,” she said softly. “ ’Twas a song my grandmother sang to my grandfather every time he left for battle, and she swore that to sing it was to bless the man and render him impervious to harm.” Smiling shyly, she looked him in the eye and lifted her beautiful voice.

Home, my sweet, where e’er ye roam,

to home my heart ye come,

The world is a cruel and darkly realm,

but yer hearth will remain yer stead.”

It was sweet, sad and simple. Her voice trailed away and his heart was suddenly gripped by her words. She could see his carefully maintained composure slipping and tears filled his eyes.

Running to him, she threw herself into his arms and they held each other silently, the force of their embrace speaking everything they could not say because tears stood in the way. She wanted to stay in his arms forever, never letting go, wanting to cling to him kicking and screaming as he left with the king. Had she had any less sense, she would have done exactly that. But she knew he would be back. He had promised her.

Jordan pulled back, tears on her cheeks but smiling nonetheless as he hovered over her, devouring her face.

“Buy me some pretty things in London?” she begged sweetly.

He smiled. “Of course I will. Dresses and baubles and jewels to fill your chests, I promise.”

“Tell Kieran to buy Jemma some pretty things, too,” she told him.

“Aye, madam, I will,” he eyed her critically. “Now, I will have your promise that you will not be too hard on Paris. He likes you a great deal. You will obey him without question, for he is my voice in my absence.”