Chapter Thirty

E lysande inspected her blue gown one last time. Beatrix adjusted the flowers she had woven into a crown that sat upon Elysande's head. A necklace of blue gems with diamonds had been placed around her neck with the largest of them all nestled just above the cleavage of her breasts. A gift from the empress, or so she had been told by Lady Eden.

Petula stepped forward, placing a kiss on Elysande's cheek. "You are so lucky to be marrying a man you actually love."

Lady Eden agreed. "'Tis a luxury we can only wish to find. We will probably not be as blessed. I am certain that I, at the very least, will one day have an arranged marriage."

Beatrix huffed. "The fact that the empress would allow a tourney to find a husband for one of her ladies does not bode well for the rest of us. At least Reynard was the winner at the end of all the havoc."

Rovena took Elysande's hand. "You look lovely. Be happy."

Elysande could only give a weak smile. Inside, she was quaking in fear that something might happen to cause Reynard to change his mind.

Beatrix took Elysande's hand. "Stop worrying over nothing, Elysande. I know for a fact that Reynard is inside and has not deserted you. If he had, no doubt Richard would have dragged him back by his ear."

A half laugh, half snort escaped her at the vision and she quickly covered her mouth. But there was no mistaking her moment of merriment and the women around Elysande joined in her laughter.

Lady Eden clapped her hands together. "A smiling bride! So much better than what you had plastered on your visage a moment ago. Be happy, Elysande. You are about to be joined in marriage to the man of your dreams."

Petula gave a heavy sigh at such a thought and Elysande could only nod as the women left her, leaving only Beatrix.

"You are lucky to have one of the Norwood brothers love you. I have never met more loyal men than them, mayhap with the exception of my brother. Reynard will never let you down. You can trust him with your heart," Beatrix said squeezing Elysande's hand.

"I never thought I would find someone that I could love like I love Reynard," Elysande whispered, squaring back her shoulders. "I thought I was destined to wander the halls of Blackmore alone for the rest of my days."

Beatrix put her hand on the handle leading to the interior of the chapel. "I cannot imagine such an existence for you or any of the empress's ladies in waiting. I hope love will find me but I will adapt to whatever my fate has in store for me. Now, put a smile back on your face and let us get you wed before Reynard starts yelling to ask what is taking you so long."

Elysande agreed and entered the chapel. The empress sat in the front row with her ladies seated next to her. Reynard stood by the altar with the priest looking splendid in a blue tunic with dark hose. A ceremonial knife was tucked into an embroidered belt at his waist and a chain holding a cross with a dark blue gem hung from his neck. She sighed at the sight of him and could barely contain her joy knowing he was waiting for her.

Her eyes traveled to Hawke sitting next to the rest of Reynard's friends. He nodded his head as she walked past him and Elysande returned her attention to the future that waited for her. Hawke would always be loyal to her but Reynard would now become the center of all she held dear. She stepped forward and gave the man she loved a bright smile.

Reynard took her hands into his warm palms and raised them to kiss the tips of her fingers. "You are beautiful," he murmured whilst those mesmerizing grey eyes held the promise of forever in their depths.

"And you are most handsome, Reynard," she declared, smoothing the fabric at his shoulders once he released her hands.

They turned as one and sat in the front row opposite the empress with Richard, Beatrix and the remaining knights who had come to her rescue directly behind them. Lord Constantine was noticeably absent.

The priest began to drone on about the weakness of the flesh and Elysande peeked at Reynard who was doing his best to hide a smirk. She turned her attention to what the priest was saying. She could not help, however, the memories of their night together that flashed through her mind. At least she knew what their coupling as a married couple this eve would entail. She blushed thinking on the matter and knowing she should be listening to the priest's sermon.

Reynard leaned over to whisper in her ear. "Are you also thinking about tonight, my dear?" he asked in a low sensual tone that caused her body to tingle in delight.

"At least I know what to expect."

"You were more than I ever expected to drop into my life."

She tore her gaze from the priest to look upon Reynard. "Complaining already, my love?"

A chuckle rumbled in his chest. "I best not. No sense starting our marriage with a fight."

She smiled knowing he but jested with her. "Smart man."

The priest cleared his throat demanding they return their attention to the matter at hand: his sermon. Elysande could barely sit there quietly when all she wished for was the lecture to be over so they could speak the words that would seal them together. The priest at last finished and called for the scribe who rushed forward with quill and parchment. He went to a small table set up for his use and nodded to the priest who then asked for an accounting of what each brought to their union.

Richard stepped forward offering a sum large enough to have Reynard choke in surprise at his friend's generosity. Blake, Oswin, and Kingsley repeated the gesture and Elysande swore there was a moment where she could see Reynard's eyes glisten with an unshed tear or two. The priest then turned toward Elysande. But there was no one to speak on her behalf so she rose from her place next to Reynard.

"Blackmore Castle was granted to me upon my grandfather's death and comes with forty acres of surrounding land," Elysande began with a worried frown. Blackmore was in need of major repairs. It might take years to see the estate returned to what it had once been. She glanced at Reynard, knowing what a burden her home would become to her new husband. The monies needed to restore Blackmore would be excessive, and she did not wish to ask Reynard to sacrifice any of his wealth to see her home restored. 'Twas a lot to ask.

She bit her lip, knowing she did not have much else to offer for the scribe. Her parents had land abroad in Normandy and more in England. Those estates, as far as Elysande knew, were full of cattle, horses, and other animals but since she had never been there, she was unfamiliar with the management of said estates nor could she claim ownership of them whilst her parents yet lived.

The empress stood. "Lady Elysande was promised a substantial dowry once my games were concluded. I stand by my decision. Ample monies will fill her and her new husband's coffers," Matilda exclaimed with a smile before she continued, "enough to see Blackmore restored to all its former glory so that the Lord and Lady of Blackmore might continue their pledged fealty to me."

"Thank you, empress," Elysande answered, dropping down into a deep curtsey. Reynard took to his knee and bowed his head before they were both told to rise.

Overall, the empress had just made Elysande quite rich.

But 'twas the slight frown on Reynard's brow that caused her to worry. "You appear upset," Elysande said watching him carefully.

"You have become a very wealthy woman," he declared, gulping.

"You are also a rich man."

A grunt escaped him. "Only from the generosity of friends."

She smiled. "I was not necessarily thinking of the monies they gave you. Sometimes there is more to life than the monies that fill your coffers. Those men love you like brothers. Surely that in itself is worth more than anything else."

He ran his thumb over the back of her hand. "Aye… I suppose you are right."

The priest asked them to step forward and before long he was proclaiming them husband and wife. Reynard quickly kissed her lips, and the empress clapped her hands, causing everyone's attention to turn.

"Well done," she proclaimed, then took the place of the priest. "Take a knee, Norwood."

Elysande gasped at the significance of what she asked and Reynard's eyes widened in surprise. He did as he was told and Empress Matilda held out her hand. Lady Eden brought forward a ceremonial blade. The empress then tapped the blade on Reynard's right shoulder and repeated the gesture on his left.

"Rise, Reynard Norwood, Earl of Blackmore," the empress proclaimed. A small cheer rose up.

Elysande threw her arms around her husband's neck once he stood and proceeded to kiss him. He snaked his arm around her waist and pulled her up against his rock-hard chest and deepened their kiss. Not only had they been married but Reynard had been more than rewarded for his service to the empress's cause. Their life together was off to a wonderful start.