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They burst inside, and indeed, Sir Gareth was there with Lady Evelina. Each of the men embraced their friend and congratulated the pair.

“Tell us all,” Alden said.

Gareth and Evelina exchanged a glance. Holding hands, clearly very much in love, the two drew in a collective breath. It was as if they were one person, and Roland had never seen Gareth happier. He was glad for his friend, but Gareth had paid a heavy price for choosing to marry the woman he loved.

“We spoke to him already,” Lady Evelina said. “On our way here. Eamon—” She smiled, peering at the swordmaster. “My father facilitated the meeting.”

“It went as planned,” Eamon interjected.

“Which is to say,” Gareth added, “awful. At first, he would hear nothing of what we had to say. My deeds at Lincoln Castle were meaningless to him.”

“When you aspire to marry your daughter to the son of a future queen, no other will measure up to such a standard,” Eamon said.

“My father . . . the baron,” Evelina corrected herself, “was not receptive but eventually saw reason. He agreed not to challenge the marriage under the condition that I not expose myself as his bastard daughter.”

Roland cast a quick glance at Eamon. As always, he remained stalwart. Roland did not know a greater, more honorable man than his swordmaster. Evelina’s happiness came before his own, for keeping the fact that she was his daughter a secret could not be easy.

“Where will you go?” Darien asked. “What will you do?”

“We will remain here,” Gareth said.

“You are in the presence of our new horsemanship instructor.”

Every jaw in the chamber dropped. Of course. It made so much sense. Their previous instructor had died in the siege at Lincoln Castle, and Gareth was more decorated as a tourney knight, more skilled in mounted combat, than any man in England. It was the reason he’d been recruited.

One by one, they shook his hand.

“Congratulations,” Alden said. “Though you may find us to be difficult students.”

“I will not,” Roland said, shaking Gareth’s hand as well, “call you aught but Gareth.”

“Nor would I expect it. These three will be difficult students, I expect.”

“I expect they will,” Eamon agreed.

A knock at the door interrupted them. Eamon opened it.

Amalia.

She flew into the room and into Evelina’s arms. The two embraced and did not appear to have any inclination to let go.

Roland could understand. If he got Amalia in his arms, he might not be inclined to let go either. She wore a gown he’d not seen before, and the deep green color suited her. Very well.

As Evelina and Gareth repeated their story to Amalia, Roland watched her face. From happiness to surprise to relief, it was only when they told her of their plans to stay at Castle Blackwood, Gareth as a new instructor, that Amalia’s smile faltered.

For the first time since entering the chamber, she looked at Roland.

Before he could decipher her expression, Eamon spoke.

“Though I do not wish to cut this reunion short, I’ve other news to share.”

All attention turned to him.

“As you know, the queen is being moved to London to be crowned while Stephen remains in captivity. She has the backing of the church and enough high-ranking nobles that her advice has been not to delay. A contingency of Guardians will serve as her personal escorts.”

It was truly happening. A murmur of excitement filled the chamber. It’s what they had been recruited for. Trained for.

“You served well at Lincoln,” Eamon said to Gareth. “And are newly married. Remain here. Step into your position as instructor with the recruits, then stay behind.”