Carried Away by Anna Markland Page A

experienced an unusual December snowfall. Dieter kissed her deeply as the driver cajoled the horse into a trot and headed for his house.
    “ Ich liebe dich , Blythe,” he whispered, caressing the side of her face and gazing into her eyes. “I love you, my wife. You’re so beautiful.”
    The love she saw in those blue depths humbled her. “I love you too, Schwarze ritter .”
    He enveloped her in his arms, pulling her to him and tucked her cold hands inside his coat, warming them with his body. She felt the firm muscles of his chest.
    She shivered. “My feet are so cold.”
    “Not far now, liebling , and then I’ll warm your feet. In fact I hope it won’t be long before I’m warming your whole body.”
    She shivered again, but not from the cold.
    ***
    Blythe was delighted to see throngs of cheering crowds assembled to greet the hero of Andernach and his bride as they arrived home. He assisted her from the sleigh, taking a moment to kiss her, to the delight of the crowd. He waved, picked her up and carried her over the threshold of his house.
    “ Willkommen, Gr äfin von Wolfenberg, welcome to your home, my Countess.”
    She kissed him and rubbed her cold nose against his. They laughed. He sat her on a chair and rubbed her feet, until she stopped shivering. How could his hands be so comfortingly warm when they’d been outside in the frigid air?
    Excited servants scurried here and there, looking important. As the guests arrived they were ushered into the dining room, and Dieter and Blythe took their places at the head table, accompanied by Caedmon, Aidan, her father-by-marriage, Dieter’s sister, and Johann. Shy at first, the little boy had quickly responded to the loving attention Blythe had heaped on him. She was enjoying getting to know Dieter’s modest father and sister who were proud of Dieter and treated her like a queen.
    Indeed she felt like royalty as the festivities commenced. Their guests were happy for them, and she almost burst into tears when her father winked and smiled. How she loved him. He’d been the rock of their family, and she felt privileged to be the daughter of such a loving man. She knew many young women at Henry’s court who had no relationship with their fathers.
    To have her twin there was a boon beyond measure. She caught him gazing at her thoughtfully several times and wondered what his true feelings were. She leaned in to whisper to him as the food was being served. “Aidan, you know you’ll always be the most important man in my life?”
    He smiled back, clasping her hand. “No, but I don’t object to being the third most important, after Dieter and Father.”
    Caedmon rose to toast his daughter and her new husband. Dieter’s father came close to tears expressing his sentiments in his toast.
    Dieter embraced him, and then proposed a toast of his own to his bride. “I’m the most fortunate of men. I am today the husband of the beautiful Blythe. My bride is a woman of incredible courage and fortitude. Though she’s not of our homeland, she has embraced our culture and our customs. She’s a woman I’m proud to call my wife. Please drink to the long life and health of my bride, Blythe Lacey von Wolfenberg.”
    Voices echoed the toast and tankards banged loudly on tables. Blythe rose to respond. “ Graf Dieter Von Wolfenberg is a man any woman would be proud to have as a husband. But he has given his life to me, and I’m humbled by his gift. I am doubly lucky that I have two new men in my life, Dieter and his handsome son, Johann.” She fluttered her eyelashes at him and smiled. “ Meine damen und herren , drink to the long life of my husband, Count Dieter von Wolfenberg, the hero of Andernach.”
    Again the toast was echoed and loudly cheered. Johann grinned, though he looked like he might fall asleep any second. His father tousled his hair and whispered something in his ear. He came to Blythe and kissed her cheek. She hugged him, her heart full.
    The servants waited at