Page 102 of The Noble Servant

“You said a person should have a better reason to marry than love. Are you only marrying me for my mines?” Would he be angry? Or would he admit his motives were materialistic?

He pulled away enough to look into her eyes. “It is a fair and just question.” He sighed and didn’t speak for a moment. “I watched my father grieve over my mother. He was so heartbroken, he forgot he had two children and a region full of people who neededhim. I was afraid of ever loving anyone that much, of ending up like my father. But I just could not help loving you, Magdalen. And that is why I wish to marry you—because I love you.”

Her heart swelled more with every word he spoke, with each emotion that shone in his eyes. Surely she could trust this man to love her.

“Magdalen? Will you marry me? Will you let me love you?” There was so much hope in his expression.

“Yes, I will marry you.”

He smiled jubilantly.

She couldn’t wait any longer. She put her hand on his shoulder to keep her balance, rose onto her tiptoes, and pressed her lips against his.

Steffan’s heart soared at her boldness and at the thought that she was willing to be his wife. He caressed her cheek as he kissed her. The sweetness of her touch, of her lips, her skin, her nearness ... his gentle, sweet Magdalen.

She pulled away slightly. He kissed her cheek as she stroked his beard. Then he gazed into her half-closed eyes.

“Now will you tell me why you were crying?”

“I thought you didn’t want me. That I would go home and you would forget me.”

He brushed his thumb over her chin. “I could never forget you. But are you sure you want to marry me? I thought you were excited about not having to marry at all.”

“Of course I was excited.” She smiled as she slipped her arms around his neck.

“You’ve said you would marry me and I’m not letting you out of the agreement.”

Her smile widened. “I don’t want out of it.”

She leaned forward and they kissed again, his heart pounding.

She ended the kiss and said, “Of course I was excited about being able to help my people without marrying a stranger or an old man. And you had already told me you never intended to marry me.”

“I’m sorry. I was daft.” He wished she would forget about that and kiss him again.

“You should not be sorry. It was your uncle’s fault. You were only telling me the truth.”

“Yes, but I should have wanted to marry you after meeting you two years ago in Thornbeck. You were obviously sweet and very lovely, though you are even more beautiful now than you were then.”

She rewarded him with another kiss. How good it felt to kiss the girl he loved. Perhaps hecouldbelieve Alexander was a changed man after falling in love. He certainly felt different after being with Magdalen the last few weeks. Maybe they’d all learned some important lessons.

Magdalen had never felt anything like kissing Steffan. And she hadn’t even told him ...

“I love you,” she whispered against his cheek.

He inhaled sharply, kissed the corner of her mouth, then her lips.

A few moments later, he said, “How can you love a selfish man like me?”

“We are all selfish. Everyone wants what they want. But you ... you defend the helpless and weak and put yourself through pain and hardship to help others.” She rubbed his beard with her fingertips and sighed.

He touched his forehead to her temple. “You say the sweetest things.”

Sweetwas the word for how it felt to stand here with Steffan. But it seemed all a dream.

“Magdalen, there you are.”

She looked up to find her mother staring at them from the doorway.