Defiance at Werewolf Keep (Werewolf Keep Trilogy) (17 page)

Lily chuckled at Will’s attempt at humour. She smiled at the anxious Charlotte and then resolutely opened the door to Ellen’s room.

Ellen lay,
eyes closed, bundled up in her big bed, the fire in the grate flickering merrily. As she crept closer, Ellen opened her eyes and smiled, even as she fought for each rattling breath. Lily knew what it was like to struggle like that. It made the old lady’s sacrifice all the more precious.

‘Ah, you came. I’m glad. Your man was very upset that you were taking my decision so badly.’

Lily nodded and smiled sadly, coming to sit on the side of the bed so she could take up the old lady’s cold hand. She couldn’t believe the change that had taken place in a day. The hand she held was limp and coldly clammy, where yesterday it had been strong, dry and warm.

‘I… I want to thank you for what you’ve done for Will. I didn’t realise it before. I forgot that
you and he had a bond that existed for years before I came here. Doing what you have done has meant my life is safeguarded now, which makes him very happy. But there’s more than that here… Do you know Will’s story?’

The old lady shook her head, words too difficult to find when she was gasping for air.

‘He told me no one else knew, but I think you need to know. His mother was an invalid. Like you and I. Loving her was painful, too painful for a child so young. So he went a bit wild on the streets of Glasgow until one time he was caught stealing. He believes his mother was so disgusted by his actions that she gave up on him and trying to stay alive to be with him. He carried that seeming rejection every day of his life.’

The old lady’s eyes were burning bright with understanding now.

‘You are not just giving your life so I know not to risk mine. You have convinced Will he’s worth something. Worth your sacrifice for his happiness. I saw the difference in him out there, just then. He’s standing taller, prouder. I couldn’t give him that, but you could. I will be grateful for that all the days of my life.’

Her e
arnest words brought tears to Ellen’s fierce eyes. ‘Thank…you for sharing…that.’ Speaking was becoming an increasing struggle but she persevered, that fire burning within her growing with each passing moment. ‘I…often wondered why…he bothered with an old…biddy like me. I’m so… pleased I’ve been…able to make up for his mother…in some small way. He’s a…grand lad, is your Will. You’re lucky…to have him. And I’m so…please he found you. I never thought…to see him happy and carefree…as he’s been since he married you.’

‘I w
ish you didn’t have to leave us.’ Lily fought back a sob.

‘I wish
…I didn’t, either. It would have meant…you could have taken the cure. Still, life as a werewolf…isn’t all bad,…is it, my dear?’

‘No, not when I can share a cell with my mate.’

Her concerns about this issue must have been written on her face because the limp hand made a monumental effort to squeeze her fingers. ‘Don’t worry… He won’t take the cure now… He won’t let you go through that alone each month…He loves you too much. And…being a wolf suits him…I imagine he’s always had…wildness in him…Helped him to survive…the streets of Glasgow.’

‘I imagine so.’

The door opened then and Will walked in quietly. Lily stood up and gave Ellen a last farewell smile. Then she left her man to say his goodbyes to the woman who had, unbeknown to her, healed the last of his wounds for him.

The Harrogate Methodist Cemetery was overflowing with mourners that snowy January morning. The frozen earth would have been impossible to dig, but for the strength of the werewolf. Will and a few of the remaining male wolves had dug the grave with ease the previous day. Now the dark clothed mourners stood around the deep hole as the minister droned on.

When he’
d finished talking about the transience of life and the heaven that awaited those whose sins had been forgiven, Byron cleared his throat to say a few words. This time, Will didn’t tune out the drone, even though his mind was far too occupied with his own grief to fully take them in.

‘Sydney Carlton said
in Charles Dickens’ recent work
A Tale of Two Cities
, that “
It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest I go to than I have ever know
n
.
”

‘Although our dear Ellen was not a
dissolute rascal like Carlton, and lived a long and good life, I think she would have felt the truth in those words in her last brave sacrifice.

‘Ellen was one of us. Though she rarely strayed beyond the walls of her little room, her presence was felt everywhere. And her eyes were everywhere, seeing and knowing more than some of us were comfortable with, at times. But her interest in our lives was always benign, and her words of wisdom, when she chose to share them, were always valued.

‘Breckenhill Keep has brought together many lost souls, and forged a family from them. If that statement holds truth, then Captain Davenport was our father and Ellen our beloved grandmother. She wore her changed state with pride and humour, one of the few who accepted what life had handed her.

‘She will be missed. But her memory will go with us, as each member of this extended family goes their way, taking up their other lives once more. Non
e of us will ever think of the keep’s stone walls without thinking of her toothless, delightful grin. Be at Peace, Ellen dear. You deserve it.’

Will felt the cho
king sob rising in his throat, and Lily, sensing his waning control, hugged his side a little closer. She, too, was crying, but made no attempt to staunch the flow. Her transformation since the night of Ellen’s death was miraculous. Instead of weighed down with guilt, she was uplifted by something he couldn’t name. Yes, it was gratitude. Yes, it was pride…But there was something else in her eyes when she looked at him these days.

Whatever it was, he was grateful for it. Grateful for Lily’s understanding and for Ellen’s sacrifice. He had known many brave soldier
s in the Crimea, men who had given up their lives for Queen and Country, proud to die for what they believed in. Ellen was every bit as brave and glorious as those men. That her sacrifice had been for him humbled him, and yet filled him with pride.

Byron was right. Ellen would live
on in his memory for as long as there was breath in his lungs.

EPILOGUE

Spring sunshine warmed their faces as t
he large coach pulled up at the front of the Keep. Micky sat in the driver’s seat, a big grin on his pleasingly homely face. The group of residents milling on the stones steps began to edge toward the waiting vehicle. Charlotte, throwing her dark curls over her shoulder in a characteristic gesture of impudence, strode off first, seemingly fed up with the torturous goodbyes.

Phil, just as quickly, followed her down the stairs and grabbed her arm, pulling the other woman into a tight hug. ‘This is not goodbye. We will see each other again. Once we have returned from our world trip, we will look you up. By then you will have become the toast of London, I am sure. A career on the stage is perfect for you.’

Charlotte’s veneer of impatience dissolved as big tears poured from her red eyes. ‘I am scared, Phil. Being a wolf was my only protection. I am not sure I will be safe out there.’

Phil grinned cheekily. ‘I a
m more worried about the safety of the outside world with you back in it, dearest Charlotte. You are one of the strongest women I know, and your wolf’s experience will always be part of you. She will not allow you to be put upon or hurt again.’

Charlotte nodded through her tears and kissed Phil’s
cheek. ‘I’ll miss you. You’ve been a true friend to me. One of the few I’ve had in my life.’

‘I am still your true friend. This is just farewell for the moment.’

Unable to find more words, Charlotte climbed up into the coach. Then, as an afterthought, she yelled out the carriage window, ‘Lily, you look after my roses. I don’t want to hear you let them die because of your ignorance or neglect.’

Lily, who had watched the sad exchange
, laughed aloud. ‘I promise to care for your babies just as you would do. And I’ll send you a rose water made from next season’s blooms.’

Charlotte nodded
, satisfied, and sat back in the seat to await the others.

‘I will write to you once our research has been cat
egorised and entered into the archives of the British Museum. I will do my best to appease the dissident voices still opposed to the integration of we ex-wolves back into society,’ Professor James said to Byron as he, too, made his way to the open carriage door.

‘You know our itinerary. Please keep me abreast of the political climate, as I will of our success in administering the cure.’ Byron’s voice was stiffer and more formal than usual. Lily realised
he assumed this stilted persona when his emotions were heightened.

There were more hugs and kisses as the rest of those leaving climbed into the coach.
Lily felt a lump in her throat so large she had difficulties swallowing. One group of residents had already gone the day before. With this exodus, only eleven of them remained at the Keep. Of those, the Hortons and their maid, Maude, and the Carstairs and Mary, who was to be the new baby’s nurse when it was born, would be leaving for their extended trip overseas on the morrow.

It would be strange living
in this huge Keep with barely a handful of people remaining. Job had taken the cure but decided to stay on as groundsman and gardener. Jamey would stay on with his father, caring for the horses and being groomed for the role of manager one day. Cook had also taken the cure but had decided to remain, too. She was needed, she said. Who else would see to Lily’s needs when she was in wolf form? Not either of the males, ‘that’s for certain sure’ she had said more than once.

There was still no official word on Will and Lily’s decision not to take the cure. Byr
on had done his best to assure Her Majesty’s Government that the remaining werewolves would be kept safely locked away, posing no threat to the general community. And rumours of werewolves that had been whispered of in dark corners for over twelve years would soon fade into folklore. Two lone werewolves in the wilds of the Yorkshire Moors would be quickly forgotten.

‘I do wish you would reconsider taking your sister with us, Jasper. You know the
adventure would do her good,’ Fidelia said as they all began to walk slowly back up the stairs to the Keep.

‘Dee, darling, t
his is our overdue honeymoon. It will be bad enough having Byron and Phil along for the ride. I do not want to play guard dog to my lovely sister, who will have a pack of men sniffing around her everywhere we go.’ Jasper grinned cheekily at his friend.

Lily had noticed a marked change in Jasper since news of the cure had come to light. The shadow that hung over him had lifted completely and he
seemed years younger.

‘Next time, then. They deserve a little adventure before they settle
down. The world is their oyster, after all.’

‘As it is now ours. And yes, we will take both girls with us next time. But I imagine you will not want to go far from Phil once she has her child.’

‘I will take my God Mother duties very seriously, as will you, Godfather. But Phil is already talking about visiting the ancient pyramids in Egypt and travelling the Nile to its source. I am not going to be left behind for that journey.’

Jasp
er laughed loudly and hugged his small wife to his side. ‘Darling Dee, you will never be left behind on any adventure you wish to undertake.’

Byron smiled down at his
heavily pregnant wife. ‘I am not sure how long Phil will be able to travel. I do not want my child born in some uncivilized part of the world.’

‘Flo
rence is hardly uncivilized, Beloved. That is where we should be when the babe makes

his or her appearance.’ Phil elbowed her husband in the ribs
.

Byron rubbed at his side as if she’d hurt him, the slight quirk of his lips the only indication that he was play-acting.
‘Babes have a tendency to make their appearance as they see fit. We might be somewhere in the wilds of the Carpathian Mountains when
she
arrives.’

‘Is that not where vampires are to be found? What a lark
it would be if we discovered vampires were as real as werewolves.’ Phil stuck out her tongue cheekily as she broke away from her husband and took the last stair alone. Then she danced into the Keep, making her protruding belly her partner. ‘And
he
will be a good little boy and wait until Firenze. I just know it.’

Lily turned to see what Will’s reaction was to this childish display of high spirits. Would he regret that he couldn’t be a part of their great adventure, forced to remain imprisoned for a lifetime
here at the Keep because of her? His friends would return here, now and again, but from tomorrow it would only ever be as visitors. The Keep would no longer be their home. The bond that had welded them all to this place was broken and only Will remained bound.

But Will’s silly grin
was enough to tell her that he was not unhappy with the situation. Instead, he seemed buoyed by the banter.

‘Do you wish you were going with them?’ she asked anyway, just to allay the last of her fears.

‘Och no, Lily, lass. I’ve done ma share of seeing the world. I’m happy enough takin’ on the management of this place. This is a good life. Better than I deserve.’

‘It is a good life, but not better tha
n you deserve. You deserve all the happiness you can get.’

‘
And happy I am, Lass, happy I am. I have ma beautiful wolf at my side, a mouldering heap of stones to keep standin’, and a living to make from the land here aboots. What more could a werewolf want? And one day there might be wee werewolves underfoot.’

That thought was still a contentious one. No one knew if it was possible for them to procreate, and if so, what they would have. But life was filled with unanswered questions. They would deal with whatever came their way, together.

‘You know, I doubt you would have been happy being an ordinary man again, Will McManners,’ Phil said from the doorway, obviously having heard their exchange.

‘Aye
, you may be right. Ma wolf is a part of me now. Killin’ him off never sat right wi’ me.’

‘I
miss Jasper’s wolfish side,’ Fidelia said a little sadly, looking up at her man.

‘You just miss my strength. I cannot pick you up and throw you about quite as easily anymore.’ J
asper gave another guffaw of laughter.

‘That is not the only time your wolf was app
reciated. You are already becoming a little too civilized, dear husband. Please remember I married you for your wildness.’

Jasper swept
his wife up into his arms and began to bite at her neck. She shrieked and wriggled in his arms.

‘If you will all excuse us, I have a wife to convince that I am still wild enough to suit even her feral tastes.’

With that, he strode away, up the curved staircase, Fidelia kicking and giggling all the while. Lily caught his last words meant only for his wife. ‘You know this is what I wanted to do to you the first day you arrived.’

‘I still have so
me last minute paperwork to see to,’ Byron said regretfully, as he watched his friend disappear from view at the top of the stairs.

‘And I want to have a chat with Cook,’ Phil said, leaning up to kiss her husband on the cheek. ‘Tomorrow is going to be here before we know it.’

When they left, Will stood with her in the empty entry hall. It seemed oddly sad and desolate after the noise and excitement of the last half an hour.

‘This is going to be a good life, Lily. I pro
mise that you will never regret not being able to take the cure.’ Will drew her in close and kissed her lips tenderly.

‘I hope you feel the same way.’
She watched his dark eyes closely, searching for even a hint of disappointment with his lot.

‘Always. I
survived
my life until you came into it. Now I am
living
it, content to be anywhere you are. I love you, ma bonnie lassie. Ne’r doubt that.’

And
as he kissed her again, Lily realised that, from this moment on, she never would.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

I hope you have enjoyed the Werewolf Keep Trilogy. It was a very emotional time for me, saying goodbye to these people who have come to mean so much to me. If you have enjoyed reading this book and the rest of the trilogy, please leave a review on amazon telling others about it.

I also love to hear from readers and can be found at
www.nhysglover.com

If you haven’t discovered my other paranormal novel
The Way Home

here is a taste of what you will find there.