Secret Of The Manor (26 page)

Over the summer, while Argo returned to Carl’s stable and was given a well-earned rest, Alex and Warren visited Philippa in France, where Warren promised to introduce Alex to windsurfing as soon as their injuries healed.

Following a family Christmas at Carl’s, Warren’s five years at A-Genet was soon complete. Instead of simply letting him leave following an office farewell, Miles threw him a party at his house. He invited family and friends, which included Carl, Eileen, James, and Alex, along with work colleagues. Despite only knowing the man for five years, the day Warren came out to Miles was the start of a friendship that blossomed. Miles was one of the few who knew about Warren’s relationship with Alex. Jean, too, guessed he was in a relationship after Warren started to wear one of the signet rings given to him by Milady. He wore the one donated by Nicholas. It was a chunky silver ring with an amethyst Saxon cross at its centre. Alex wore the opal one given to Milady by her father. It, too, was elaborate in design, with a single gem in the middle. The third went to James, from one lord to another. The carvings on it were around its sides, with a large, square blue sapphire as its feature.

The chink of a knife on the side of a glass signified Miles wanted everyone’s attention. It took quite a while for the number he’d invited to settle and to drag Warren to the patio.

“Ladies, gentlemen, peers, partners, team members, and anyone else I’ve missed. As you know, today is Warren’s retirement party. Forty seems far too young to do this, and I’d have loved to keep him longer, but there we go. Warren has only been with us for a short while, but I know something of his life.

“Since the day he left college he’s been all work, and not all the breaks have been good. But he ploughed through and never compromised his principles to do it. That, in today’s society, is a rare thing and one of the reasons I offered him the post here. He joined A-Genet mainly because we offered one hell of a severance package.” That got Miles a few laughs. “But since being here, Warren has not only become a well-respected member of the company, he’s become a good friend, too, and I think his retirement at such a young age will allow him to go out and sample some of the joys he missed in his youth.

“Warren, thank you for the person you are, the work you’ve done, and the minefields you have circumvented. I’d like everyone to raise your glasses... to Warren Blake.”

In chorus, everyone raised their glasses. “Warren Blake.”

After a most excruciating, but well-meant round of thank-you, keep-in-touch, and don’t-be-a-stranger messages, Warren and his friends returned to the manor for a small celebration of their own.

Carl and Eileen didn’t stay too long, as they had to get back to the horses, but the others stayed and consumed enough alcohol to crash at the manor.

The following morning Warren was woken by Alex, who was disgustingly chipper for such an early hour. “Come with me,” he whispered.

They made quick work of their morning routine and grabbed some toast. Suitably dressed, Alex led Warren down the path to Little Walmsley.

When they arrived at the church, the place looked lighter and brighter. Many of the old trees had been given a proper pruning, and bulbs with something for each season surrounded the building. The grass was cut, and Nicholas’ corner was free of its holly veil.

Warren was sad that Nicholas’ bones were no longer there, but he was where he belonged. There was, however, a headstone.

Nicholas, loving son of Milady, now at peace with his love, Sir Edmund.

Alex unlocked the oak doors and led Warren inside the church. New, lighter ash benches had replaced the old seating. The walls had been given a coat of paint, and although the place had always been beautiful, its dark past had marred what was there. The new look was altogether much brighter. It was as if the sun was allowed in Little Walmsley again.

Alex led Warren up to the altar where the Walmsley emblem lay on the floor beneath their feet. “You know I liken you to the stag in my family’s coat of arms.” Warren opened his eyes more at Alex’s statement, and let him continue. “The stag is a representation of one who will not fight unless provoked and is the epitome of peace, harmony, strength, and fortitude.”

“Wow,” was all Warren was able to come up with at such an early hour.

“Those qualities only go partway to describing the man I see in you. The man I have come to admire and love.”

Warren moved forward, and the two embraced. “You know I feel the same about you.”

“I do.” Alex grasped Warren by the hips and moved him back, and, with one finger held up, told him to stay put.

Alex fiddled in his pocket, then turned to Warren, took his hand, and got down on one knee. “Warren, the day you came into my life was the day I began to live again. Would you do me the immense honour of continuing the journey with me, for a lifetime? Warren Blake, will you marry me?” Alex opened a small box containing a gold-and-platinum ring.

Warren swallowed hard, trying to hold back tears. He pulled Alex up off the floor, and when their eyes locked with each other’s again, the tears overflowed, followed by an absolute, “Yes.”

The men didn’t see three ghostly figures sitting in a pew at the back of the church, gripped by the scene before them. All of them let out satisfied sighs and disappeared, leaving Warren and Alex to seal their future with a kiss.

TAYLIN CLAVELLI lives in the United Kingdom, about 15 miles south of Birmingham, and a short journey from the world famous Cadbury’s Chocolate factory. She’s married with children and loves her family with all her heart.

Her love of books has been a long standing affair, with Taylin liking nothing better than to lose herself in an imaginary world.

Until she met Lily Velden, she never considered trying her hand at writing. However, after talking ideas, Lily encouraged her to put pen to paper—or rather, fingers to keyboard. Since, with a few virtual kicks in the right place, she hasn’t stopped. Her confidence eventually led to her writing an original work for submission.

Now she absolutely adores immersing herself into the characters she creates, and transferring the pictures in her brain to paper, finding it liberating, therapeutic, and wonderful.

Outside of writing, her interests include; martial arts (she’s a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Taekwon-do), horse-riding, and movies, all of which facilitates her love of a wide variety of genres. Her action heroes include Jet Li and Tony Jaa—finding the dedication these men have for their art combined with their skill both amazing and a privilege to watch. If pressed, she’ll admit to thinking that the screen entrance of Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow in the
Pirates of the Caribbean
–
Curse of the Black Pearl
, and
Shadowfax
in
LOTR
, to be the greatest screen entrances ever. Her all-time favourite movies are
Star Wars
and
Lord of the Rings
.

The simple things in life that make her day, putting a smile on her face are:

Laughter - especially that of her children.

The smell of lasagna cooking – it makes her mouth salivate.

The dawn chorus – no symphony ever written can beat the waking greetings of the birds.

TAYLIN CLAVELLI can be found at:

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005234535413

Website:
http://www.taylinclavelli.com/

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/TaylinClavelli

Email:
[email protected]