The Knight and the Dove (57 page)

“Then you are never afraid, Bracken,” she stated, her face turned up to see him.

“I would be a fool not to be alert, my love, but I fear not for tomorrow. Has God not proven to us repeatedly that He will see to our every need? Has God not proven His love over and over?”

“Yes, Bracken, He has. I am not trusting.”

“Then I will pray that your trust increases.”

Megan smiled at him again and put her head back against his arm. He never made light of her shortcomings or rebuked her harshly, but with love and tenderness led the way by word and example.

“You’ve grown rather quiet,” Bracken commented.

“I was confessing my sin of faithlessness and then thinking about the future.”

“Worrying?”

“No, not this time. This time I must leave it with God. This time I must trust completely.”

Bracken turned her so she was in his arms and he could look down into her face. “In the Holy Scripture a dove is at times the symbol of peace. You’re my dove; did you know that, Megan?”

“Oh, Bracken.” Her eyes sparkled at his praise. “I love you so.”

His head lowered to better place a gentle kiss upon her lips, but he stopped to say one more thing.

“There are no guarantees concerning tomorrow, Megan, but believe as I do, my dove. God alone holds England in the palm of His hand, and as long as He gives me breath I shall be here for you.”

“Thank you, Bracken.”

“For what?”

Megan smiled, thinking that God had outdone Himself the day He had created her knight, but she didn’t answer and Bracken knew that enough had been said. The duke’s head lowered once again and this time he kissed his precious wife so tenderly that words were no longer necessary.