Mysterious Warriors: Alone (17 page)

~ Chapter 39 ~

              Neal stood with Pearl and Ian as Gary, Rachel, Elena, and Sacrifice spoke. He wondered why the Mysterious Warrior was so interested in the royal family.

             
“No one expected Queen Addison to invite the Mysterious Warriors to Elena’s birthday ball.” Janie stated.

              “Queen Margaret must hate her now.” Blake pointed out.

              Neal wondered what Janie would have worn to Elena’s first birthday. He shook his head. All of her dresses had been made for Rachel, borrowed by the woman who had no dresses of her own. She had her own breeches, coats, swords, and everything men needed. But if she was alive, he would have made sure she had dresses made for her, showered her with jewels, and made sure she would never have to pretend to be a man again.

              “Sir Neal.” Patience curtsied. “Hello, it’s good to see you.”

              “Hello Patience.” He bowed formally.

             
“That gown really brings out the dark blue in her eyes.” Blake stated.

             
“I was your blonde beauty.” Janie’s voice continued. “She’s your brunette beauty.”

             
Were you even truly blonde?
Blake’s hair was dark brown.

              “You look beautiful.” Neal stated.

              “May I have the honor of a dance?” Patience blushed as she looked up through long lashes.

              “I’d be honored.” Neal hoped it wasn’t a lie. His stone heart was thick, and he wondered if any woman would be able to crack through the rough exterior again.

              Patience led him to the dance floor with her right hand, and Neal couldn’t keep his smile from his lips. Patience knew what she wanted, and she wasn’t ashamed to fight for it. She had the heart of a warrior.

              Neal spun Patience around; her cobalt skirt waved and swirled in a twirl. Neal, hand behind his back, tapped his boots to the beat.

             
“I remember when we first danced together.” Janie whispered.

              Neal moved to the left, releasing Patience as she continued to spin. She turned away from him before returning to his waiting hand. Neal’s arms outstretched as Patience spun from one side to the other and out once more.

              “All the times I danced this with Gwen, I wanted to be with you.” Blake’s voice was more feminine than he remembered. “You were always the person I loved. I couldn’t love Gwen or Tara because I was never the man they thought I was. I was always the woman who loved my best friend. I wanted to tell you the truth, but I was killed before I could.”

              After repeating the move several times, Neal took hold of Patience’s right hand, and they marched in the point of a cross with Rachel and Gary, Tara and a noble, and Pearl and Ian.

              “We should have been the ones dancing this every time.” Janie’s voice was sad. “It could have been our friends and us, happy couples providing new children to become friends as we are. We could have had a son or daughter who would have been best friends with Elena. We could have provided the princess with a playmate.”

              Neal and Patience turned clockwise as the pitch of the music hit a high note. At the end of the note, they broke away from each other, spinning with arms sashaying high and then low.

             
“You made me believe in love.” Janie’s voice was sad. “I lost so much in my life, but you reminded me of why I should continue on and live. You are the man I wanted to always be with.”

              Upon the low movements of the arms, Neal took hold of Patience’s hand and outstretched their arms, completing the dance.

             
“Now you have to let us go.” Blake stated. “It isn’t right for you to keep holding onto us. You have to make the choice, but you will never be happy if you don’t let us go.”

             
But look at everything I lost.
Neal closed his eyes.

              Suddenly Patience’s lips were on his, and Neal’s eyes sprang open. She released him, and her face was red as she looked at him, concern in her dark blue, hazel eyes. Her lips remained close to his, and Neal’s hands trembled at her shoulders. He wasn’t sure what he wanted.

             
“Go ahead.” Janie encouraged.

              Neal pulled Patience back, and he kissed her. She threw her right arm around him, and Neal wasn’t sure if he should pull away.

              His breath came in and out quickly, and Patience extricated herself from his embrace. She was flushed as she looked up at him, her long eyelashes casting shadows on her cheeks. “I didn’t expect that.”

              “You kissed me first.”

              She laughed. “But I didn’t expect you to respond like that.”

             
“She’s kinder than Adeline.” Janie stated. “She’s a maid, just like I said I was.”

              But you were never a maid.

              “I didn’t expect to be wooed while visiting Zorba’s Reach.” He admitted. “I definitely didn’t expect it from you.”

              “A maid?” Her gaze narrowed.

              “I’m friends with the princesses and Pearl; I know how the queen expects the people to act here.” Neal explained. “I have nothing against maids.”

              “The woman you loved was a maid, right?”

              Neal nodded.
No. She was a knight.

              “Did your parents know about her?”

              “My father gave me his blessing.” Neal smiled. “He would have been very happy to include Janie in the family.”

              “It must be nice to live in a place where people are viewed as individuals instead of their station.” Patience paused. “My parents would be very upset with me if they knew I was interested in you.”

              “You’re very kind, but I cannot offer you what you desire.” Neal touched her cheek. “You want someone who can offer you his heart.”

             
“You can offer her your heart.” Blake argued. “Before you met Janie, you always spoke about your perfect bride: brunette, strong, beautiful, kind, someone who made you feel alive. Janie made you feel everything you wanted to, but Patience can fill that gap if you give her a chance.”

             
“I wish things were different.” Patience whispered.

              “Me too.”

              Patience curtsied. “I should go before the queen realizes how much time I’m taking with you.”

              “You shouldn’t have to fear the queen.”

              “I’d be a fool if I didn’t.” Patience slipped back into the crowd.

              Neal watched her go, and a part of him wanted to follow her. He wanted to grab her hand and pull her back to him. Should he let her disappear? He wasn’t sure what he wanted.

             
“You have to trust yourself.” Janie stated. “You weren’t expecting to find me, and you aren’t expecting to fall in love again. Patience can offer you something I cannot.”

              But I don’t want anyone except you.
Neal gently pushed his way through the crowd, trying to find something to eat. He found the large banquet tables overflowing with food, and Neal grabbed cut strawberries and pears. He dished them onto a white-gold plate and found a seat on the far side of the room.

             
“What would we have named our first child?” Janie’s voice floated around him.

              Whatever you would have liked.
He took a bite of the fruit.
You would have been an incredible mother.

             
“I would have always been there for our children, unlike our own mothers.” Janie paused. “How much of what I told you about my family was true? Can you imagine if nothing I told you about me was true? Did you even know the real me?”

              I ask myself that all the time.

~ Chapter 40 ~

              The rain blanketed the courtyard as Neal embraced Gary, Rachel, Elena, Tara, and Alex under the coverings of the front of the royal palace. “I’ll see half of you soon, and the rest, hopefully sooner than later.”

             
“Our group of friends has truly grown.” Janie stated. “I would have enjoyed getting to know Ian and Alex more. I’m glad Pearl and Tara found happiness.”

              Gary nodded. “Rachel and I will travel home in a few months.”

              “Our family still needs us here.” Rachel smiled at her sister.

              “You should get going before it starts raining again.” Alex stated.

              Neal embraced his niece. “We’ll see you at home soon munchkin.”

              Elena crossed her arms.

             
“Rachel and Gary’s daughter is so cute.” Janie whispered. “I wish I could have known her.”

              “I know.” Neal patted Elena’s dark head. “I love you.”

              The little princess embraced him.

              “Be safe.” Pearl embraced Tara. “Thank you for having us. Be sure to thank your parents for us as well.”

              “We will.”

              Neal looked at the palace one last time as he secured his pack onto his stallion. The rain soaked his hair and jacket. He was ready to return home, but a small part of him wondered what his life would be like if he stayed. Someone cleared her throat, and Neal turned. “Patience.”

             
“Awe, she’s come to see you off.” Janie sounded pleased.

              “I know you’re leaving.” She looked at him as she walked into the rain. “I wanted to say goodbye.”

              “Goodbye.” He embraced her. “I’m sorry I couldn’t give you what you wanted.” He touched her right shoulder. “You deserve to fall in love with a man who can give you his heart. Mine is broken.”

             
“Many people have broken hearts, and all of those people can heal from them.” Blake stated. “A broken heart doesn’t have to stop you from falling in love.”

              “I’m sorry I couldn’t fix it.”

             
“You never let her.” Janie’s voice was soft. “Will you let anyone fix it?”

              “You have nothing to apologize for.” He assured her. “There may be hope in my future, and you are the one who helped me see that.”

              “You deserve to be happy.” She kissed his cheek.

             
“Listen to her.”

              “So do you.”

              “Thanks.” She squeezed his hand and smiled as she started toward the royal palace.

              “Wait a moment.” He grabbed her hand. “I have something I wanted to give you.”

              She faced him, and Neal took a bracelet from his pocket. “I hope you won’t forget me.”

              She grinned as he clipped the amethyst and silver-beaded loop around her right wrist. “Thank you.”

              “You’re welcome.” He released her hand as she slipped away from him.

             
“She’s right you know.” Janie stated. “You deserve to be happy.”

              And what do you deserve? You deserve to be alive. Rodger took everything from you, from us.

              “Perhaps I took everything from Joanne Swanson?”

              I don’t believe it.

              “You don’t know what to believe.”

              Neal mounted his stallion as Ian mounted. Pearl entered a carriage; she didn’t want to risk anything that could have harmed her baby.

             
“I should be pregnant now too.” It was the first time Janie really sounded bitter. “I wanted to have children with you. We would have raised them to be intelligent, strong warriors.”

              Would they have been knights, like their parents?

              “Perhaps. They could have been whatever they like: knights, ladies, scholars, teachers, maids, anything. We could have given them anything.”

              We would have. Do you think your parents would have come to our wedding? Seen our children?

              “You don’t even know if my parents are alive. How can you believe anything I told you?”

              He kicked his stallion to a gallop.
I wanted to believe everything you told me.

              Tara touched the net containing her dark locks as she felt more self-conscious than she ever had in her life. She took a deep breath as she followed Stefan into the royal menagerie.

              “Do you think he’ll like me?” Tara wasn’t sure why she was so nervous about making a good impression. She took a deep breath as she moved closer to the man who could possibly be her future father-in-law, if she chose to marry Stefan.

              “How could he not like you?” Stefan kissed her cheek. “You are easy to like my Little Hummingbird.”

              She bit back a smile as he brought her to a small picnic area where a man stood, looking up at the bright beams of sunlight reflecting off the windows of the menagerie.

              Stefan cleared his throat. “Father, I would like to present the woman I’m courting, Princess Tara Colville. Tara, I would like to present my father, Baron Jameson Graem.”

              Jameson turned and smiled at the princess. He went to her, took her fingers, and kissed the back of her hand. “It is a pleasure to finally meet you Princess. I have heard a lot about you. My son is quite smitten with you, Your Highness.”

              “Thank you Baron.” Tara tried to keep her blush from her cheeks. She knew she failed. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She didn’t want to tell him she knew about his daughter, her death, and his responsibility. She took a deep breath. “How have you enjoyed Junipero so far?”

              “It is lovely.” He answered. “I visited the capital when I was younger, but things have changed. Your mother is a woman of talent and taste. She has sure made this a beautiful palace.”

              “She does enjoy decorating and being stylish.”

              “So I hear that you are different than your mother?” The baron raised an eyebrow.

              “I am.” Tara glanced at Stefan, who closed his eyes.

              “I always wanted Stefan to meet a woman more like your mother than yourself Princess.” The baron sighed. “But I guess it’s a good thing that you are heir.”

              “That’s not why I’m courting her.” Stefan gasped. “How could you think that Father?”

              “Think what?” The baron frowned. “What?”

              “Stefan and I enjoy spending time together, and we’re compatible.” Tara reached to take Stefan’s fingers in hers. “We are friends, and we have strong feelings for each other.”

              The baron blinked.

              “I love Tara for who she is.” Stefan assured his father. “She will make a wonderful queen one day, whether I’m her king or not.” He glanced at Tara, the sun making his lashes cast long lines down his cheeks. “I would love to be your king.”

              I would love Sacrifice to be my king. She couldn’t say the words she felt.