Chapter 24
“Leave us,” Ruddock ordered.
Blodwen hurried out, quickly closing the door behind her.
Sorrell rushed to her husband, towel in hand. “There’s something I must tell you.”
“There’s something I must tell you first,” he said and took the towel to wrap around her. “You’ll chill.” He didn’t want her to get a chill, but he also worried that he wouldn’t have the strength to ignore her nakedness, since he not only found peace when he held her or was inside her, but he also felt loved.
Sorrell adjusted the towel under her arms, tucking it in at the side to keep it in place as she said, “Mine cannot wait. You are accused of joining the barbarians after leaving here—such nonsense—I don’t know how anyone can believe it. And what’s even worse and more senseless is that your clan believes you ordered an attack on a troop of your warriors where Hugh—which gives reason why he spoke to me the way he did—lost the use of his arm and Lander lost his tongue, poor man. If that isn’t enough, and even more ridiculous, it’s claimed you ordered the attack and were seen there.” She shook her head. “How could anyone believe such nonsense? We need to find out who is to blame for these outrageous lies.”
Ruddock found himself speechless. His wife never doubted his innocence, never once believed him guilty. She trusted him explicitly. It was time for him to do the same… trust her enough to know the truth and hopefully still love him.
Sorrell tapped at her chin, her eyes narrowing in thought. “The thing that puzzles me is what had someone seen to make him think that you where there when the attack took place on the Northwick troop.”
Ruddock took hold of her hand. “Let’s go to our bedchamber. There is something I must tell you.”
Sorrell’s heart gave a flutter of worry when she saw concern mar Ruddock’s handsome features. “Whatever it is,” —she stretched up on her toes to kiss his cheek— “never forget that I am here for you always. That I love you… always.”
“Something I should have voiced myself when we wed, since it is the very reason I wed you,” — the words fell easily from his lips— “I love you. Sorrell. I love you more than I ever thought possible. I believed I had lost the ability to love, even care… until you came along. You changed everything.”
Sorrell’s heart swelled with joy, hearing him finally declare his love for her, and her eyes grew misty. She knew this moment would come, though she underestimated how much it truly would mean to hear it from him.
“I believe I fell in love with you when I saw you pelt Peter with those mud balls. Who wouldn’t want a wife who could throw with such accuracy,” he said with a growing smile and placed his hand at the curve of her back. “I wed you because I love you, Sorrell. I’ve wanted to tell you, probably foolish that I haven’t, and a poor excuse as to why I haven’t.”
“You were afraid, afraid to trust me with your love since so many who claimed to love you had betrayed you. And once you told me you loved me, you feared I would do the same, especially once you revealed everything about yourself to me.” She poked him in the chest. “I should be angry at you for not believing that my love for you is far too strong to let anything interfere with it, let alone rob me of it.” Her hand went to rest on his chest. “What you failed to realize is that I have known from the moment you stepped in front of me to shield me from Peter’s mud balls that you are a good man with a good heart, and nothing—nothing in this whole world—will ever change that.” She grinned. “Now tell me you love me again. I like hearing it and since you waited and wasted time not telling me, you have to make up for it.”
Ruddock chuckled. “You are a remarkable woman and the best wife, and I love you with all my heart and always will. And I will make sure you know it every day from this day on.”
“I will hold you to that, husband,” Sorrell said with a playful poke to his chest.
“I have no doubt you will, wife.” He kissed her, a faint one at first as if tempting her, seducing her to reach out for more, and she did. Her lips pressed against his with playful urgency and he returned the same in kind, until the kiss turned hungry and more demanding.
Ruddock forced himself to end the kiss and step away from her, not that he wanted to, but it was necessary. He had to tell her all of it so she knew the truth, knew what she was defending.