by Speer, Flora
Arden remained in the corridor with his head bowed until Margaret put her arms around her husband's waist and held him close. After a while his arms encircled her shoulders in response and his cheek rested against her hair.
* * * * *
When the time came for the Mass, Aldis' first outburst of sorrow was over, her tears dried by the affection of her devoted cousin and her friends, and by her own sensible observation that men who died while on crusade died with all their earthly sins forgiven them. She was further comforted by Royce's declaration that she would always have a home at Wortham Castle. Red-eyed but calm, she embraced Arden at the chapel door, declaring that she understood and forgave him for waiting so long to reveal the sad news. She was even able to smile at him.
The solemn Mass that Father Aymon offered was followed by a second marriage feast that was more honestly joyful than the first one, yet subdued in the knowledge of family deaths. The guests would be departing in the morning, with Tristan and Isabel traveling in company with Royce, Catherine, and Aldis to Wortham Castle, to rest there for a day or two, before continuing on to Cliffmore.
Late afternoon found Catherine and Aldis above stairs with Isabel and Laure, all of them busily repacking Isabel's many trunks. Arden, Tristan, and Sir Wace were still at the high table discussing how much stone would be required for the new chapel, which Tristan was going to supply from the quarries at Cliffmore. The arrangement would require frequent visits between Bowen and Cliffmore, a fact that delighted all parties concerned, especially Margaret and Isabel.
Margaret thought she ought to extend her personal invitation to Royce to come to Bowen whenever he liked, but she could not find her father-in-law in the hall or the solar. Acting out of sympathetic instinct for all Royce had learned that day, she went to the place where she would have taken refuge if she were Royce. Margaret went to the chapel. Father Aymon was apparently preparing to say the Vesper prayers, for the candles on the altar were lit, though the priest was absent.
Royce was kneeling on the steps before the altar, and when he lifted his head to look at the crucifix hanging on the wall behind the altar, Margaret saw his face shining with tears. And she heard the broken-hearted cry that the famous and powerful baron of Wortham had repressed while he was in the presence of his son for all of that long day, so Arden would know without question that his father had forgiven him.
“Oliver,” Royce moaned. “Oh, Oliver, my beloved brother! And Roger, dear boy!”
Silently, Margaret stepped outside the chapel. She closed the door, taking care to make no noise, then leaned her back against the doorframe while she got her emotions under control and banished the tears from her eyes.
“My child?” Father Aymon, arrayed in his vestments for the evening service, came out of the priest's cell on his way to the chapel. He paused when he saw Margaret. “What is wrong? How can I be of help to you?”
“It's Lord Royce who needs you,” Margaret said, wiping her damp cheeks. Indicating the chapel door, she added, “He's in there.”
“I rather thought he would be.” Father Aymon put his hand on the door latch, then looked back at her. “Will you join us for Vespers?”
“I think it's better if I don't,” Margaret said, fighting back fresh tears.
Father Aymon gave her a searching look. After a moment he nodded his understanding and went into the chapel and pulled the door closed again behind himself.
Chapter 24
It was so early in the morning that the sun was not quite risen, yet the folk of Bowen Manor and their departing guests were awake and busy.
“How I hate to leave,” Catherine said, embracing Margaret for the fourth time. “You must come to visit us at Wortham in the spring. And you, too, Isabel. Only, be sure to bring the baby with you.”
“In the spring?” said Royce. He strode into the entry hall behind the women, who were engaged in lengthy and tearful farewells. “Who knows, Catherine? By spring, I may have found a husband for you and these ladies will be traveling to Wortham for your wedding. Having successfully married off my son, I consider it my next duty to concentrate on my daughter's future – and to find a suitable husband for Aldis, since I am still her guardian,” he added, smiling at his niece.
“If you marry off both of us,” Catherine answered, forgetting her tears in favor of seizing the opportunity to tease her father, “then you will have no choice but to find a new wife for yourself. Wortham Castle requires a good chatelaine.”
“Chatelaine, indeed!” exclaimed Royce. His red-gold eyebrows rose, expressing his distain for the suggestion. “I can manage very well on my own. Just what, may I ask, do you ladies imagine I have been doing during the weeks when you have been gone from home, you heartless creatures?”
“Destroying domestic order,” Catherine responded promptly, “which Aldis and I will now have to restore. I have no doubt a thorough cleaning will be needed as soon as we reach Wortham. We will be busy for days.”
“May heaven have mercy on everyone who lives in my poor, benighted castle, and on our guests!” Royce cried, laughing at his daughter.
“If Catherine becomes too enthusiastic about her housekeeping,” Margaret said to Royce, “you could always send her back to us for a while – or to Isabel at Cliffmore, where she will learn how to care for a new baby.”
“Now, there's a fine idea.” Royce kissed Margaret on either cheek. “Be happy, dear daughter,” he whispered.
“I will,” Margaret said, returning his embrace. “Thanks to you and your unselfish love for Arden, I have a husband whose heart is almost whole again, three new relatives whom I love dearly, and more happiness than I ever dreamed of knowing.”
“Farewell for now, Arden. I'll see you again soon.” Royce embraced his son, then hurried down the steps to mount his horse.
“Father knows about Tristan,” Catherine whispered, wrapping her arms around Margaret and hugging her tightly yet again. “He has known all along of my infatuation. Being my dear, loving father, he thought it best to allow me to recover from my childish affection in my own time, and in my own way.”
“Are you sure of this?” Margaret asked, returning Catherine's enthusiastic embrace.
“Oh, yes,” Catherine said. “We talked last night, after you and Arden went to bed. I told Father that I have quite grown out of loving Tristan, which is why he has been teasing me about needing a husband.”
“Do you want a husband?” Margaret asked.
“Not just yet,” Catherine said. “For the next few months, I shall be content to resume my old life. But, in the future, perhaps—”
“Do let me know what you decide,” Margaret said with dry humor.
“I will, and probably before I let Father know,” Catherine promised. She ran laughing down the steps to where a stableboy stood waiting, holding her horse's bridle.
After embracing Margaret with warm affection, Aldis was about to follow Catherine when Arden caught her by the shoulders and hugged her.
“Be happy,” Aldis whispered to him. “Don't worry about me. I suspect concern for me is part of the reason why you have been so unhappy. But I am fortunate; I have a family that loves me.”
“Including me,” Arden called after her as Aldis descended to the courtyard.
The ladies were quickly mounted and they waved their final goodbyes. Tristan climbed upon his horse and sent a cheerful salute to the couple at the top of the manor house steps. Royce waved his hand. And then they were all gone, passing through the gate and leaving Margaret and Arden in sudden quiet.
“Look at those clouds,” Arden said, regarding the sky and noting the way the rising sun was streaking the eastern portion of the heavens with bright red. “We will have snow tonight or tomorrow.” He slipped an arm around Margaret's waist and drew her inside.
“I must remember to ask Sir Wace if his toe is aching,” Margaret remarked. “Perhaps we will be snowbound again.”
“Just the two of us this time,” Arden said, forgetting the dig
nity required of the lord of the manor long enough to nibble at Margaret's ear.
“The two of us,” Margaret agreed, chuckling, “and also Sir Wace, the kitchen staff, the maidservants, and half a hundred men-at-arms, squires, stableboys, and assorted other retainers. Not a very intimate arrangement, my lord.”
“It will be as intimate as we want it to be.”
Margaret saw the smile lurking on Arden's lips. It did not quite reach his eyes. She knew he was going to need time to recover from the horrors he had experienced in the Holy Land. Perhaps he would never recover completely.
Still, Margaret treasured every sign that his spirits were improving. Since his confession to his father, Arden was more open and friendly to others. He had not stinted in his affection when he bid farewell to Royce, to Catherine and Aldis, or to Tristan and Isabel. Arden's last words to Father Aymon had been warm as he reminded the priest of his promise to speak to the bishop about sending a permanent priest to live at Bowen as soon as the new chapel was ready. And on the previous night Arden had spent long, languorous hours making love to his new wife.
“Here's my left big toe aching worse than ever,” Sir Wace grumbled, interrupting Margaret's thoughts as he limped up the steps and into the entry hall. “It has never before pained me so severely. Be forewarned my lord Arden, and my lady Margaret, too. From the ache in this cursed toe, I am certain we are all going to be snowed in for weeks. The men won't like that. Nor will the cook or the maidservants.”
“We were just speaking about your remarkable toe, Sir Wace. I am so sorry for your discomfort,” Margaret said to the seneschal with great sympathy. “Perhaps I can find an herb or two in the stillroom that you could put into your wine to ease the pain.”
Arden laughed.
Margaret and Sir Wace stared at him. Margaret saw the corners of Arden's blue eyes crinkling with humor, saw the flash of his white, even teeth and she heard, to her heart's delight, the slightly rusty sound of Arden's laughter. She had to bite hard on her lower lip to keep herself from breaking into tears of joy at this undeniable proof that Arden was, indeed, mending, that he might eventually be much like his old self again.
“While you are in the stillroom,” Arden said to her, “mix up another batch of your wonderful perfume and I won't care how long or hard it snows. Together, my love, you and I will make our own springtime.”
About the Author
Flora Speer is the traditionally published author of twenty full-length novels and two novellas. She writes historical, futuristic and time-travel romances. Born in southern New Jersey, she now lives in Connecticut. Among her favorite activities are doing research for the next book, which is always fun, gardening (especially herbs and flowers used in medieval gardens) and amateur astronomy. She firmly believes in space travel and wishes the U.S. would restart its manned space program, which provided some great ideas for her futuristic romances.
Flora is currently writing a series of medieval romances, soon to be published on Smashwords, in which a group of young men who have no prospects in life at all, still manage to achieve remarkable results by valor and intelligence. Since these are romances, never fear that they will also find their true loves, ladies who are every bit as dauntless and determined as the men.
Connect with this author:
Web site: www.floraspeer.com
E-mail: [email protected]
Other books by Flora Speer, all now available at Smashwords:
HISTORICAL ROMANCES:
By Honor Bound
Much Ado About Love
The Viking Passion
For Love And Honor
Rose Red
Castle of Dreams
Castle of the Heart
Two Turtledoves (Christmas Novella)
TIME-TRAVEL:
Twelfth Night (Christmas Novella)
Christmas Carol
A Time to Love Again
A Love Beyond Time
Timestruck
Love Just in Time
Love Once and Forever (also paranormal)
PARANORMAL – Medieval Magic
Heart’s Magic
The Magician’s Lover
A Passionate Magic
Love Once And Forever (also time-travel)
FUTURISTIC ROMANCES
Venus Rising
Destiny’s Lovers
No Other Love
Lady Lure
ORIGINAL E-BOOKS, coming in 2014:
Lord Royce’s Knights series:
So Great A Love
Cast Love Aside
True Love
Where Love Has Gone
Love Everlasting
MORE ORIGINAL E-BOOKS, coming in 2015 – 2016:
A prequel to Lord Royce’s Knights:
Love Above All
And, a Romantic Fantasy series:
The Secret Heart
The Fire of the Soul
The Anvil of the Mind