The Knight and the Dove (36 page)

“But of course you can. We leave tomorrow. The wedding is but four days off.”

“That’s enough, Mother,” Marigold snapped at her. “I tell you, I
won’t
be going.”

Annora didn’t know when she’d been so hurt. She believed that Marigold was acting completely out of character, when in fact the two of them had simply never been at cross-purposes before. Never had Annora made plans for Marigold and really cared one way or the other if she fit herself into them. But Megan’s wedding was quite another matter. She tried again.

“I think maybe you’re not feeling well, dear. Why don’t we sleep on it? You’ll see reason in the morning.”

Marigold glared at her mother. Annora was so taken aback that she didn’t know what to say or do. Marigold saw the look on her mother’s face and grew furious. She
hated
to have her plans thwarted.

“Honestly, Mother!” Marigold snapped. “Megan and I are not even close.”

“But you haven’t seen her in years.”

“Yes, I have! I saw her in the village at Hawkings Crest just weeks ago.” The words were out before she could stop them, and Marigold turned her back on her mother’s look of absolute shock. Marigold was furious with herself for blurting out such news and worked desperately to control her voice and features.

“You saw Megan?” Annora asked when she recovered her voice.

“Yes,” Marigold spoke slowly, still keeping her back to her mother. “We didn’t have a chance to speak, but she looked fine.”

“But why were you at the village there?”

Marigold’s lip curled with hatred, but she actually maintained her voice.

“I was simply meeting Roland Kirkpatrick. You know, Lord Kirkpatrick’s son.” Marigold made it all sound so innocent that Annora immediately took the bait. After all, Lord Kirkpatrick was a duke. However, Annora momentarily forgot that Roland was not the oldest son.

“Is he interested in you?”

“I think so.” Marigold was now able to turn with a smile that covered the lies in her heart.

“Oh, Marigold, my darling, that would be wonderful.”

Marigold falsely agreed with her and was able to keep her mother happy until Annora remembered a task that needed attention elsewhere.

Once outside the room, Annora realized that they had not finished speaking of the trip. She shrugged, however, sure that Marigold would make the proper choice and attend her sister’s wedding.

She wouldn’t have gone away with such confidence had she read Marigold’s real thoughts. That selfish young woman planned to be far away from Stone Lake even before the sun set that night.

Twenty-Five

“B
RACKEN?”
L
OUISA’S VOICE WOBBLED
slightly as she approached Bracken in the hall the very next day.

“Louisa, what is it?” Bracken stood in concern.

“Megan is gone.” Louisa bit her lip, and Bracken’s face clouded.

“What do you mean? She can’t be gone.”

“She told Helga that you quarreled last night.”

An audience of family members was gathering now, each one looking tense as he watched the thundercloud covering Bracken’s face.

“It’s true that we did have words, but I was certain she was beyond this.”

“Beyond what?”

“This childish habit of running away.” Bracken’s angry eyes stared off into the distance until all watched his expression turn to cold acceptance.

“I am glad it happened now,” he spoke with regret.

“What do you mean, Bracken?” This came from Stephen, whose strained features matched Bracken’s.

“I can see it was too great to hope that she was ready for such a union. I see now that she is little more than a child.”

“Oh, Bracken.” His mother’s voice held tears.

“I am sorry you have come all this way,” Bracken turned to face his family; his features a study in anguish. “It would seem the wedding is off.”

“No, Bracken,” Brice said. “I’m sure if you will but find her, you can work this out.”

Bracken slowly shook his head. “I won’t be looking. She clearly does not want me, and I can see now that’s best. It is also best for me to let her go.”

Bracken strode from the main hall. His family stood in desolation. Even Joyce looked like a statue, her youngest daughter, Kristine, clutching her mother’s hand.

“I’ve got to make him see reason,” Stephen spoke as he started after him. The others did not move. They had seen that look in Bracken’s eyes before and knew that this time his mind was made up.

All of Hawkings Crest fell into a depression as the day moved on. Chores were done and some work was accomplished, but no one was even hungry. Stephen had gone to Bracken, but as the others in the family had predicted, it did no good. After growing angry with Stephen for again taking Megan’s side, Bracken took himself off on a ride. He was gone for hours, and Stephen and Brice had never been so upset.

They tried to talk with their mother, but it seemed to pain her all the more, so they made their plans quietly. They would go after Megan themselves. They even enlisted Richard’s and Derek’s help, and the men geared up and sent for their horses.

They were in the courtyard, Stephen already mounted, when Bracken rode through the gates with Megan sitting comfortably across the front of his saddle. They drew up, just as precisely planned, and Bracken captured the back of Megan’s head in one great hand and gave her a hard kiss on the mouth.

Stephen was still staring at them in utter stupefaction when Richard put a hand to his chest and said in a high, dramatic voice, “She’s very sweet, but her hair is the color of fresh carrots and frizzy like a bird’s nest. Bracken has resigned himself to her looks. He’s doing this for the king.”

Stephen’s face was more than they could have hoped for.

“It was all planned,” he said in wonder as he took in each expression. “You all knew,” he went on, continuing to stare at each of them.

Brice, Richard, his mother—everyone had been involved. The full import was slow in coming, and when it hit, Stephen threw back his head with a shout of relief. He swung from his horse and nearly ran to
Bracken’s mount. In the blink of an eye he had taken Megan down and hugged her, laughing all the while.

Bracken now joined them, claimed Megan, and moved toward the laughing group.

“You should have seen your face.”

“That will teach you, Stephen.”

“It’s not often we catch you out.”

“I wish I could see it again.”

“You certainly deserved it.”

Stephen laughed in good humor, but his eyes finally narrowed on his cousins.

“I hope you know that I might not be done with you.”

Richard, who was an inch taller, approached him, his manner playfully threatening.

“You had better be, Stephen. I stared like a fool at our lovely Megan, so hear me well, dear cousin, you had better be done.”

Stephen’s hands went in the air. “I concede, I concede.”

“Come now,” Louisa called to all. “We have all played our parts well to the point that some of us are starving. I have had Kimay sneaking food to me from the kitchen all day.” The group laughed at this admission. “Let us all go in and eat.”

Cheers went up for that good news, and as Bracken draped his arm around Megan once again, her heart swelled with joy. What a precious family she was marrying! Megan had never known such contentment among so many.

There was just one question that persisted. If Joyce had made a decision for Christ, what of her children? How was it that they did not seem to share her belief ? Megan thought she could figure Bracken, since he would have already been lord of Hawkings Crest and away from the family, but what of the others? Megan could see that they all had strong convictions, but she doubted that each could claim to be a true follower of Jesus Christ.

Megan determined then and there to have some answers. She was to be wed in just two and a half days’ time, but before then, she must strive to learn the background of her husband’s relationship, or lack thereof, with God.

“Oh, Megan,” Joyce spoke in pleasant surprise the next morning as the petite redhead came from the kitchens. “I have something for you, a wedding gift of sorts. Would you have time now to come to my room?”

“Of course.” Wondering if this might not be her chance to speak privately before the wedding, Megan followed her.

“It’s a gift that belonged to my husband’s mother,” Joyce continued as they walked. “She gave it to me just before I wed Greville, and now I want you to have it.”

Megan was intrigued. Joyce’s rooms were in the tower, and it was a few minutes before they entered.

“Sit here, Megan.” Joyce indicated a chair. Megan took a seat and watched as Joyce moved to a small trunk at the foot of her bed. She returned with something dangling from her hands.

“It’s a jeweled belt,” Joyce explained. “It’s been in Greville’s family for years. I want you to have it.”

Megan’s hands came out in wonder. The ornamented belt was exquisite. Stones of every conceivable color were set in fine chain-style gold. Megan stood to slip it around her. It was a perfect fit. She beamed at Joyce and then gave her a tender hug.

“I will treasure it always.”

“Mayhap,” Joyce spoke when they were seated once again, “you will have the opportunity to give it to
your
future daughter-in-law.”