Falcon's Love. Denise Lynn

      A movement at the edge of woods situated on the far side of the cemetery caught his eye.

      Osbert saw it, too, and gasped.

      Darius sheathed his sword. “For the love of God.” He flicked the reins and started toward the two figures. They walked hand in hand to a spot in the cemetery where they sat down.

      Marguerite put an arm around her companion and drew him into her lap. Darius’s heart twisted with pain at the obvious display of love between mother and child.

      He and Osbert reined in their horses at a slight distance from the edge of the cemetery. Marguerite’s attention was so focused on the child that she had not noticed him.

      Osbert broke the deafening silence by softly stating, “You did not know.”

      “Nay.” Darius shook his head. “How could I? No one has said a word about Thornson’s child.”

      How had she hidden this from him? Where had the child been? Why had no one at the keep mentioned a word about a child? Not even in hushed whispers. They didn’t so much as ask about his whereabouts.

      At that moment the child jumped up from Marguerite’s lap and drew her to her feet. They danced around a few of the crosses, before Marguerite pulled the child into a hug.

      Darius’s horse whinnied, catching the attention of Marguerite and the child. The youngster turned around and stared at both men.

      Osbert swore. Darius nearly fell from his horse, the blood draining from his head in shock. He now knew what his heart and soul had been hiding from him.