The Knight and the Dove (25 page)

Megan roused after just 45 minutes of sleep, but she did so easily. All the tension had left her. For an instant she lay still and listened to the thud of Bracken’s heart. It was a comforting sound, and the arm and chest around her were warm and safe. After a time she raised her head, rotated her shoulders, and then tried to look up into his face. It was very dark.

“I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

“I’m glad you did,” he told her easily. “I’m sorry it’s been such a long ride.”

Megan sighed. “I really have no one to blame but myself.”

Bracken didn’t comment, but he had smiled slightly in the dark. For a time they rode in silence.

“Can you tell me of William?” Bracken’s question had come out of nowhere for Megan, and she took a moment to answer.

“William Clayborne?”

“I am not sure. A man came to the abbey. His name was William, and he was seeking you.”

Again Bracken heard her sigh.

“Have you ever been in love, Bracken?”

He could have told her that he was in love right then, but said instead, “Why do you ask?”

“William is enamored with me. There is a wonderful girl—her name is Rose—and she loves William deeply. But he thinks he wants me.”

“You do not think him capable of knowing his own mind?”

“I don’t know.”

“And you, Megan, do you love him?”

“No,” she answered softly, but without hesitation. “I care for William. He has been a good friend, but I do not love him. He believes with time that I would have a change of heart. I do not think we could be happy.”

“And what of us, Megan?” Bracken questioned while betraying none of the vulnerability he felt within. “Will we ever find happiness together?”

Megan turned to him in the dark but could not make out his features.

“I do not know, Bracken, but I pray so.”

He didn’t say anything, but after a moment he gently pressed
Megan’s head back onto his chest. She stiffened for a instant, but it wasn’t long before she picked up the beat of Bracken’s heart once again. Just seconds later she relaxed. Something was happening within her where this man was concerned, and the swiftness of it astonished her. Megan could only conclude that because she’d surrendered the anger in her heart, God was finally able to work.

Comfortable as she was, Megan began to grow sleepy again, but even in her fuzzy state she was cognizant enough to thank God that Bracken had insisted she ride on his horse.

Megan had apologized sincerely to Helga for asking her to lie, and the faithful servant had been gone from Megan’s presence for only five minutes before Louisa came through her door. The moment the older woman saw her, she pulled Megan into a fierce embrace. Then Megan was forced to stand helplessly before Louisa and watch her cry.

Megan did put her arms back around Bracken’s aunt, but she was overcome with shame when she realized how little thought she had given her in the last days. In all her selfish running away, it never once occurred to her that she had scared Louisa sick. She confessed this to God as she released Louisa, and then apologized to the woman herself.

“I am so sorry, Aunt Louisa.”

“It’s all right, Megan,” she cried. “As long as you are safe.”

Megan hugged the older woman yet again, and Louisa tried to contain herself. Having arrived back late the night before, most of the castle had been quiet and Megan had gone directly to her room. She had not seen Louisa until daybreak, when she nearly burst into Megan’s room. The prodigal bride-to-be was up, already reading the Psalms, and so glad to see Louisa that she almost cried herself.

“I am famished,” Megan admitted suddenly.

“As am I,” Louisa said. “Let us go below and break the fast. How are your mother and father?” she inquired as they started down the stairs.

“I don’t know,” Megan told her. “I didn’t see them.”

“Megan,” Louisa said in a surprised voice, “why ever not?”

“I did not go home. I went to the abbey.”

They had gained the great room now, and Louisa abruptly stopped. “But surely they came to see you.”

“No,” Megan told her with a shake of the head.

Louisa could only stare at her. Megan had thought nothing of this up to now, but suddenly she felt ashamed. She wasn’t sure if the shame was for herself or for her parents, who didn’t appear to care for her.

Bracken had spotted the women’s descent and now approached. He studied Louisa’s face and then Megan’s flushed cheeks and frowned. He would have thought that Louisa would be thrilled to see his betrothed.

“Is there some problem?” Bracken asked.

“No, no,” Louisa spoke swiftly, glancing first at Bracken and then back at Megan. “I’m sorry I acted so, Megan.”

Megan smiled in understanding, but her heart was still troubled. Bracken, reading this, wanted to know more.

“Megan?”

She looked at him. “Aunt Louisa was just surprised that I didn’t see Father and Mother.”

“I thought they would at least come to the abbey, Bracken,” Louisa put in softly.

Bracken read and understood the compassion in his aunt’s eyes.

“I saw them,” he said.

“You did?” Megan had forgotten this.

“Yes. I did not know you had gone to the abbey until I’d talked with your father. He seemed to think it best to leave things in my hands, so we didn’t stop back at the castle on the way here.”

Megan nodded, now recalling the messenger who had come to the abbey.

“You did see my mother?” Megan, picturing Bracken at Stone Lake, asked, a sudden thought striking her.

“How was she?”

Bracken glanced at the floor and then at Megan. She saw instantly that he was amused, and for the first time she felt like laughing herself.

“I would say that she was not very happy to learn you had gone to the abbey.” Bracken’s voice was dry.

He put it so delicately, that for the first time, Megan smiled at Bracken. It quite nearly took his breath away.

“She didn’t wish to see me?” Megan asked with huge, innocent eyes
that sparkled with impish glee. She knew well what her mother thought of her and oft times chose to laugh rather than cry.

Bracken’s smile went into full bloom as he offered his arm to Megan. He sent a speaking glance toward Louisa. The older woman took his cue, as well as his other arm, and the three went silently on to the tables to eat.

Eighteen

“’T
IS TRULY THE ODDEST THING
I’ve ever known,” Bracken admitted to Louisa. “Lord Vincent came as swiftly as he could when Megan first came here, but in truth it’s as if they don’t even care. He never even mentioned seeing Megan at the abbey. He seemed more intent on our touring his keep than anything else.”

Louisa looked troubled. It was the end of Megan’s first day back, and Bracken had finally sought out his aunt in her chambers.

“And you say that Lady Annora was only angry, not concerned?”

Bracken’s look turned fierce. “She was livid, and then when that creature, Marigold, appeared, her manner was so sweet I felt ill.”

“It’s taken some time, Bracken, but I finally realized I’ve met Marigold. We, too, were at court at the same time, and I hate to say it, but a more avaricious woman I’ve yet to encounter.”

“She’s certainly self-seeking,” Bracken put in. “We never even exchanged words, but I could see from across the room that she thinks of little beyond herself.”

“And do Megan and Marigold get on?”

Bracken was suddenly struck by a vivid memory It was right after Megan arrived. They’d been talking by the hearth, and Marigold’s name had been mentioned. Bracken recalled being amused by what he thought to be sibling rivalry

“I think not,” he said now. “We have never actually spoken of it, but I sense that Megan and Marigold have much the same relationship as Megan and her mother.”

“And what is that exactly?”

Bracken’s face was covered with pain. “Nothing but animosity.
Annora does not seem able to stand the thought of Megan, let alone the sight of her. I tell you, Aunt Lou, when I think of my own relationship with my mother, I can hardly reckon with what I see in Megan’s family.”

Louisa nodded in full understanding.

“You love her, don’t you, Bracken?”

“I do, Louisa,” he admitted softly. “I will admit that at first it was strictly carnal. I was captivated with her hair and face, but now I’ve seen things in her that have nothing to do with her looks.

“She fights me, but I so admire her mettle. She is unendingly kind to the servants, but she brooks no lying from those who would seek to cheat me.”

Louisa suddenly chuckled. “She certainly doesn’t like Barton.”

“Indeed.” Bracken now chuckled as well. “I wonder when the next battle will be fought.”

“Could she be right, Bracken?”

Something in Louisa’s tone made Bracken take his eyes from the fire and look at her. In truth, what proof did he have that Barton would never steal from him? Barton had worked under his parents since before Bracken could remember, but neither his mother nor his father could read. Bracken could read some, but he never bothered to question the man’s doings. He was more interested in his training fields and the external functions of the keep.

“I think maybe it would be wise to listen to her,” Louisa suggested softly, and for the first time Bracken was open to the idea and not threatened by it.