Page 101 of The Noble Servant

She was suddenly aware of Steffan standing beside her, looking down at her, as the last of the guards left. They were alone.

What could she say? What would he say to her? After all the closeness they had shared, the embraces, the near-death moments, and fighting for their lives ... now she would be expected to leave Wolfberg with her mother. Steffan would forget about her and marry someone else, and he’d probably think she didn’t care.

Just a few moments before, she had been overwhelmed with joy and relief that they were both safe. Now tears stung her eyes and her insides quaked with fear that he would let her go ... that he would never love her.

“My mother will be downstairs. I must go and see her.” Magdalen could not look at him as she said the words and started toward the door.

“Magdalen,” he called after her.

She quickened her step and did not answer him, her insides churning.

“Magdalen, wait.” He caught hold of her arm, but she couldn’t face him. The tears were swimming now, threatening to fall, and the lump in her throat kept her from speaking.

He tugged gently on her arm, trying to get her to turn around, then he came around in front of her.

“What is wrong? Are you angry with me?” He leaned down,trying to see her face. Then he touched her cheek, and she had to turn away as the first tear fell.

She shook her head, trying to swallow. She still couldn’t speak. Did he think she was being ridiculous? She must seem quite strange. If only she didn’t care for him so much, didn’t feel so much like her heart was breaking. She should be happy that he was getting his place back in Wolfberg, but instead, she could only think how he would forget about her.

“Please tell me what’s wrong.”

She finally managed to swallow. “Nothing is wrong.” But even as she said the words, another tear fell. She tried to turn so he wouldn’t see, but he kept moving in front of her.

“Magdalen, I—”

“You should not worry about me. You have a lot of people downstairs. You should go to them.” A sob was on the verge of erupting, on the verge of humiliating her even more. She clamped her lips shut.

“I’m not going anywhere. You are the person I want to talk to now.”

He had seen her tears, so she wiped them quickly with the back of her hand.

“Tell me why you’re crying.”

“It is nothing. Please don’t ask me.” Why was he tormenting her? Why couldn’t he just leave her in peace? “They will be waiting for you. You should go.” The statement of fact seemed to calm her and dry her tears.

“I’m not leaving until you tell me why you’re crying. Is it because that guard held a knife to your throat? Did he hurt you?” His voice conveyed sudden fear.

“No, I am not hurt.”

“I think I saw you limping.”

“It is nothing, just a little twinge in my ankle.”

The tenderness and concern in his voice were making her feel as if she were two halves being pulled apart. Did he want to see her lose her self-control? She started toward the door again.

“You cannot leave until you talk to me.” He hurried to block the doorway with his body.

She turned her back on him as the tears flowed down again. “This is your castle, and you can order me ... to do ...”

“Magdalen, I don’t know why you won’t tell me what I did to make you upset, but you are the sweetest, most beguiling woman I know, the kindest and the most noble and courageous.”

His hand touched her shoulder. The sob broke free from her throat.

“I know I am selfish and cowardly sometimes, and my fear of marrying for love must have made you dislike me, and rightly so. But I refuse to live in fear any longer. If you will marry me, Lady Magdalen, I vow to cherish you as long as I live.”

Another sob escaped. She turned her body toward him. Steffan put his arms around her shoulders and pulled her to his chest. She did her best to wipe her face and whispered, “You want to marry me?”

“Yes.” He caressed her shoulder.