Unending Love by Kathryn Le Veque Page B

had naturally been for her daughter and Maddoc had been duly
interrogated. By the end of the conversation, his confusion had transformed
into certainty.  It was as if reasoning his thoughts out with the mother had
clarified everything. Now, as he gazed at Adalind, he had never been more
certain about anything in his life. 
    “Now you will make my dreams come true,” he
murmured, taking a step closer to her. “I explained my reasoning this
afternoon. I am not sure I can elaborate on that, Addie.”
    She wasn’t convinced. “You do understand that I
have been asking you to marry me since I was about five years of age, and you
have been resisting me since that time?”
    “Sometimes it takes me quite a while to make up
my mind.”
    “It took you thirteen years?”
    He shrugged. Then, he cocked his head pensively.
“You never did answer me, you know.”
    “Answer what?”
    “I asked you if you still found anything attractive
about me. You did not answer me.”
    She looked at him as if he was daft. “Are you
serious?”
    “Of course.”
    She threw up her hands. “That is the most
foolish question I have ever heard,” she declared. “Maddoc, I have spent the
past several years unsuccessfully attempting to put you out of my heart and out
of my mind. When I first saw you two days ago after having not seen you in
years, it was as if every thought and dream I ever had about you was confirmed
and I knew I could never forget you no matter how hard I tried. When I spoke of
committing myself to the convent, it was not an attempt to force you into a
proposal. It was because I knew I could never marry another man while my heart
belonged to you. I would be doing both him and me a great disservice.  Papa
thought that perhaps someone would eventually come along that would change my
mind, but I assured him that was not the case. The heart wants what the heart
wants.”
    Maddoc’s expression was soft.  “And it still
wants me?”
    Adalind could feel her nervousness, her
disbelief, fading as she looked into his eyes. She was coming to realize this
was the moment she had waited for her entire life; face to face with Maddoc
spilling her most personal feelings to him. The best part was that he was
actually listening. Maybe this wasn’t a dream, after all.
    “Aye,” she finally murmured. “It still wants
you. It always has.”
    His smile returned, a tender gesture she had
never seen from him before, one that sent her heart racing again. When he
reached out and took her hand, bringing to his lips for a tender kiss, she
thought she might truly faint.  She actually felt lightheaded, giddy as she had
never felt in her life.
    “I do not honestly know what has changed my
mind,” he whispered. “All I know is that it has in fact changed, which is more
of a surprise to me than it is to you. I see such joy and warmth and passion in
you, Addie. I see a perfect and beautiful woman, and I do not blame these men
who have made fools of themselves as they attempt to gain your attention.  Now,
I would do it, too. I want to get to know you, as an adult, and understand this
magic you seem to have. It intrigues me like nothing ever has.”
    Adalind was back to trembling again as he
continued to hold her hand.  She closed her eyes tightly, briefly, as his words
sank deep.
    “I have waited so long to hear those words from
you,” she murmured, opening her eyes and fixing him with her teary gaze. “You
cannot know how much this means to me.”
    “Actually, I think I do.  The words mean a great
deal to me as well. I have never spoken them before, to anyone.”
    She stared at him for a moment before a hint of
a smile came to her lips.  Then, the smile grew until it was broad and
beautiful.  She was positively glowing.
    “Truly?” she breathed.
    “Truly.”
    “You will not try to chase me away again or turn
the dogs on me?”
    He laughed softly. “I will not, I swear it.” He
brought her hand to his lips again, depositing a warm and