Epilogue

Five years later

Kennington Castle

"I thought that was you, my lord," Andia said, beaming as she lifted her hand to shield her eyes from the sun. "Welcome to Kennington."

Daniel dismounted his steed and handed it over to Emile, who was now the horse master at Kennington. Daniel gave his torso a twist, stretching out stiff muscles, surrounded by the dust and noise of the bailey in the midst of what had been a warm, dry summer. In fact, he was red around the cheeks because of the heat, and he smiled pleasantly at Andia.

"You are looking well, Lady de Serreaux," he said.

"Thank you, my lord."

"And how is your brood?"

She grinned. "I am not entirely sure," she said. "Mayhap you should ask Lady Penden?"

Daniel chuckled. "Is she still here?"

"Still? She has not been home to Rochester in years!"

Daniel was still grinning. "Can you blame her?" he said. "Inviting her for your eldest child's baptism was the start. Once the children started coming, how could she resist?"

"That is true," Andia said. "Especially when I named our first daughter Olivia, after her."

"And then you named your second daughter Desiderata," Daniel said. "God's Bones, that name is a mouthful."

Andia giggled. "It is a beautiful mouthful," she said. "Just as my new daughter is beautiful. She looks just like her father."

"Speaking of Torran, where is the man?"

"In London," she said, her smile fading as she looped her arm companionably in his, leading him toward the great hall. "That is not surprising. He has spent most of the past six months there, ever since the passing of Henry, as you know."

"I do know," Daniel said. "I know that the Earl of Ashford has been one of Prince Edward's most trusted advisors. Some say Edward will hardly make a move without him."

Andia puffed up proudly. "Torran is a great man," she said. "But you would know if that statement is true. You put just as much time there."

Daniel shook his head. "Not lately," he said. "Chad does. Stefan does, of course. But me? I am in my winter years, Andie. I would rather spend time with my wife at Canterbury. She has had to share me with the monarchy all these years. She does not want to share me anymore."

Andia understood. "I do not blame her," she said. "But that is the burden for women who marry important men. They must share them."

"You are quite generous with Torran."

She shrugged. "He tries to come home at least once a month, for a few days, but the travel has been wearing on him, so we are moving back to London for the time being."

"To the new townhome?"

"Have you seen it?" she said, incredulous. "It's a glorious monstrosity, one insisted upon by Edward. The thing rivals Westminster in its grandeur."

Daniel laughed softly. "It is quite grand, I agree," he said. "When will you leave?"

"Soon," she said. "We could not move before because of my pregnancy, but the baby is three months old now and she can travel."

"With Lady Penden standing guard, no doubt."

"Probably," Andia said. Then she shrugged. "Lady Penden's son has not yet married and she has no grandchildren, so tending to my children brings her great joy. Her husband even comes to visit her once in a while. I am not exactly sure about the state of their marriage that he would let his wife leave to go live with another family and tend their children, but he tolerates it and she is very happy. My children love her and I am grateful for her nurturing."

"Then I am happy for her and for you," Daniel said. "Speaking of children, however, I've come with news about your brother."

"Is that what has brought you all the way to Kennington?"

He shrugged. "Truthfully, I was traveling home from a gathering at Dover," he said. "But I wanted to stop and tell you that I am sending Aeron north to Castle Questing, seat of William de Wolfe. It is time for him to enrich his education, and Castle Questing, and the entire de Wolfe empire, is very active. He'll learn a good deal about the Scots and about warfare. He's eager to learn, Andie. This will be good for him."

Andia pondered her little brother, now verging on the cusp of manhood. "Are you sure he is old enough?" she said. "I have heard about the House of de Wolfe. They are a warring house."

"No more than de Lohr is, although they do have the Scots to deal with," he said. "But Aeron has excelled at everything we've taught him. I cannot teach the lad any more, so it's best that he go somewhere to learn new things."

Her smile returned. "I am so grateful he has had you to teach him all of these years," she said. "You took a child my father had practically ruined and turned him into something that we can all be proud of."

Daniel thought about the boy who was once fond of shepherd's slings and shouting out rude commands. "Much of that was Stefan's doing," he said. "Even though Stefan has gone on to be part of the Six, he's still gone out of his way to mentor Aeron. Even as his hearing has failed him almost completely, I think in some way, Aeron has kept him from being completely desolate about it. Your brother gave him something to focus on."

Andia nodded in agreement. "It goes both ways," she said. "Stefan has helped Aeron so much. It's like he's not even the same boy I knew."

"That is a good thing."

"Aye, it is."

"What does Torran intend to do with him once he's knighted? He'll be a good one, you know."

She nodded. "I hope so," she said. "Torran intends to send him to Etchingham, the castle that used to belong to my uncle. It's an Ashford property these days. I think that Torran wants to give it over to Aeron, with Edward's permission, so he'll have something of his own. A new legacy for him."

"Does he ever say anything about losing the Ashford title?"

"Not really," she said. "I often thought it was strange that he hasn't, but Torran seems to think he simply doesn't want to be reminded of his past. He only wants to move forward."

"What do you think?"

She chuckled. "I think he is grateful to a sister who had the foresight to hide the family coin from Henry's men," she said. "He may not have the Ashford name, but he has the Ashford fortune waiting for him once he is knighted. That's enough legacy for any man, wouldn't you say?"

They were nearly to the great hall at this point, but the sounds of the sentries alerted them that there was a new arrival at the gatehouse. They both paused, turning to see who it might be, when Torran rode through the gatehouse astride his big black and white horse.

Andia let out of shriek of surprise.

Leaving Daniel standing near the great hall, she rushed in Torran's direction as the man came to a halt. He'd barely had time to dismount before his wife was hurling herself at him, and he found himself engulfed in the embrace he lived for. Even though it had been five years since their marriage, there wasn't anything he craved more than this. In his world, there was nothing more important than Andia's touch, her warmth, and her love.

Her lips slanted over his and, for a brief moment, he was lost.

Like always.

"You've come home," she finally gasped, kissing him again. "Why did you not send word ahead?"

He grinned. "Because I do not get a reaction like this if I do," he said, watching her laugh. "I like catching you by surprise. 'Tis much more fun that way."

Andia hugged him again, tightly. "I'm so happy you're here," she said. "I've missed you."

"I hope so," he said, holding her against him but also noticing the tall, white-haired man over by the hall. "What's this? Canterbury is here?"

Andia loosened her grip on him. "He just arrived," she said. "He said he was coming from a gathering in Dover and stopped to tell me that Aeron will be going to the Scots border to train with William de Wolfe. Did you know about that?"

Torran put her on her feet. "Nay," he said. "But I approve. It is time for Aeron to expand his training."

"That is what Daniel said."

"I'll talk to him about it," Torran said as he put his arm around her waist and began to head toward the hall. "But first, tell me about things around here. How have you been? Well, I hope. How is our growing litter of children?"

Andia snorted. "Your eldest is doing quite well," she said. "Sebastien takes after you in every way, Torran. It's truly remarkable."

"And Tavin?"

"He's more like Aeron every day."

Torran rolled his eyes. "God," he groaned. "Say not so."

Andia fought off a grin. "Olivia is an angel, of course, like me," she said. "And little Desi is the happiest baby. She's such a joy."

"I'm sure she's grown tremendously since I last saw her," he said. "Let me speak with Daniel first and then I will see to the children."

"Of course," Andia said. "Do you wish to speak with him alone?"

He hesitated. "Do you mind?" he said. "Political business. Things that wouldn't interest you. Just for a little while, if I may."

Andia understood. This was standard for her life, married to a king's advisor as she was. Torran was still the leader of the Guard of Six, of course, but his duties had taken on dimension over the years. Even if his father still didn't have much communication with him, it didn't really matter because Torran had the kind of wife and children that most men would kill, or die, for. A life he had created on his own that had turned into the best life possible.

Andia understood that.

And so did Torran.

He kissed Andia once more and watched her head off toward the keep where their young brood was waiting with their adoptive grandmother. Every time he saw his wife, his love for her grew. So did the disbelief that she was his, and this was their life, and it was the most amazing life he could have ever imagined. He was extremely busy in his professional life, still guarding the king, now also advising the man, but the name Torran de Serreaux stood for something. It stood for resilience, for loyalty, for responsibility, but most of all, it stood for the Earl of Ashford and the new legacy he was making for himself and his family. A legacy that embodied everything good and true and worthwhile.

Words that described his wife, as well.

Good, true, and worthwhile .

That was Andia.

Once his wife reached the keep, Torran turned his focus to Daniel, lifting a hand in greeting to the man. As he did so, he happened to catch a glimpse of the standards on the roof of the hall, snapping in the breeze. They were his standards, combining the old Ashford colors of red and silver with the de Serreaux black and blue to create a three-point shield of black and silver with rearing white horse in the center.

Hodie Cras et in Saecula was the motto.

Today, tomorrow, and forever.

On the day Torran married Andia, he meant every word of it.

And he always would.

* THE END *