by Lori Wick
Holly's look was so comically exasperated that Andrea chuckled softly. Holly shrugged and smiled in return, and her grandmother hugged her again.
"How about your mother-couldn't she get away and come with you?"
"No, Mummy's having some ladies in; I can't recall the occasion. That, along with Aunt Heather and the twins leaving, is why Sunny wanted to come. It made their going easier. She did send you a letter, though." Holly could change the subject very easily, "She said you should look for her next week."
175
"Well, you and Sunny come back with her if you can."
"I'm sure Sunny will; she loves Bracken."
"Does she now?"
"She talked about it all the way over here, that and your conservatory and gardens."
That must be where she's gone with Papa. Shall we join them?"
Andrea and Holly did just that, heading out through the huge glass doors on the east end of the parlor and around to the lush flower gardens of Bracken. They spotted Sunny and the duke from a good distance off. They appeared to be in deep conversation.
"I don't plan to marry," Sunny told him emphatically.
"Now why is that?" the duke, who always seemed to be matchmaking, asked her calmly.
"Well, I don't want someone having control over me. I don't think I could be happy like that."
"Doesn't Rand have the final word at Willows* End?"
"Yes, he does, but he's very kind about things, even when he says no."
The old man looked down into her trusting face, a face as exquisite as the flowers surrounding her, and thought that if she ever did marry, the word "no" would probably be the hardest thing her husband would ever have to say to her.
"I was happily married, and so was my wife," Milton told her then, his liberally seamed face smoothed into serene lines.
Sunny nodded. "Rand and Chelsea are happy, and so are Heather and Foster. But for those two happy marriages, there are many that aren't."
"Of whom arc you thinking?"
Indira's face jumped into Sunny's mind, but she pushed it away. Indira was happy. However, Saleem, Rownay, and Keskeet, the emir's second, third, and fourth wives, were little more than possessions to be brought out several times a year.
"I guess I don't know anyone here in England, but that still won't change my mind."
"You must follow your heart, my dear," Milton told her seriously, "and I hope you will learn to follow after God's heart as well."
176
177
uNow that sounds like something Brandon would say," Sunny said affectionately.
"I can believe that. Our beliefs are quite similar. They match the beliefs of my father and grandfather-men who believed their faith needed to be handed down to each generation." He hesitated and then went on softly. "And you, Sunny, what do you believe?**
"I'm not sure I believe that you have to believe anything, but I know some things I don't believe. I don't believe that there is just one God. God comes in many forms, and each one of us must decide which God we want to worship, or possibly not believe in any God at all.
"I don't think any man has the right to tell someone else how to act or live. No one should have that type of authority." "If no man has the right, my dear, then who does?" Sunny looked at him hi confusion, and then her face cleared. "Well, there have to be laws about murder and such, but not for other, more personal things."
"Does Rand have the right to tell Holly no?" "Yes."
"Who gave him the right?" "Well, he's her fether."
"So what? That doesn't give him the right to deny her something unless he has an authority that backs up his position as her parent."
Again Sunny looked uncertain and then said softly. "You're talking about the Bible."
"Yes, I am. Even parental authority comes from God, and not just any God, but the one and only living, holy God of the Bible. Your not believing in the one true God doesn't change the feet that He exists."
His words were spoken in such tenderness that Sunny did not feel rebuked. She did feel somewhat confused. What if there really was just one God? Before this moment she had never let her mind even entertain such a belief. There was certainly more to the Bible than she had ever realized, if her family was to be believed.
"Don't take my word for it, Sunny," the duke went on, cutting into her intense thoughts. "When you get home, ask Chelsea for a Bible and read the first book. Genesis means beginnings, and I think you might enjoy reading about how perfectly God planned things."
Sunny nodded and smiled at him. The duke reached with a weathered hand and gently patted her cheek. A moment later they were joined by Andrea and Holly.
"Young Lord Townsend is here, your Grace."
"Jordan?" Holly spoke with pleasure.
"Yes, my lady."
"He'll probably want to freshen up," Andrea interjected for the duke. "But please ask him to join us for tea, Parks, just as soon as he's able."
"Very well, my lady."
No one seemed to take notice, but Sunny suddenly had a piece of sandwich in her throat that did not want to go down. Jordan was here. What would she do? She recognized the feet that she wanted to see him again, but she had somehow believed she would have more time to prepare herself.
In truth, she had exactly five minutes before Jordan walked into the large salon, as tall and good-looking as he had been the day before. The duke rose and shook his hand. Then Jordan bent over Andrea's hand, smiling at his best friend's grandmother with familiar ease.
He went to Holly next, kissing her on the cheek before turning to Sunny.
"Jordan, have you met Sunny?"
"Yes, Lady Andrea, I have." He moved forward then and took Sunny's hand in his own. "It's nice to see you again, Sunny." The smile he gave her held just the right amount of warmth, and Jordan dearly hoped that no one had noticed how fast his heart was pounding. He'd ridden directly to the stables and had seen the Gallagher coach, but had not allowed himself to hope that Sunny was actually at Bracken.
Sunny had eventually swallowed the sandwich but not without great difficulty. She now spoke softly, feeling her cheeks grow warm under his warm, almost tender, gaze.
"It's nice to see you also, Jordan," she managed after a moment.
"Do sit down," Holly invited, passing him the platter of sandwiches as he took his chair. Andrea gave him his tea.
"Thank you," Jordan said sincerely and began to discuss his schooling when the duke questioned him. He was very aware of Sunny's discomfort and made an effort not to look at her or show excessive interest in any way. He found this no easy task, since she
178
looked very fetching in a dark pink day dress, with a rounded lace neckline and deep hem, her hair pulled away from her face and felling in lovely waves down her neck and back.
The women of the room all listened or at least appeared to be listening as Jordan and the duke conversed. Sunny was actually concentrating on her manners. She had suddenly found herself all thumbs. Her plate tipped in her hand, nearly spilling its contents, and her cup clattered on the saucer each time she put it down. Placing both cup and plate on the tea table, she finally gave up and folded her hands neatly in her lap, telling them to stop trembling.
The duke, whose eyesight was not the least bit affected by his advanced years, had observed some interesting facts since Jordan's arrival, the first of which was Jordan's studied care not to look at Sunny. The second was Sunny's sudden attack of nerves.
Tea was finished without ceremony, and still the duke and Jordan talked. When Parks and a downstairs maid came to clear the tray, the duke suddenly had something he insisted Andrea and Holly see in the garden.
"Should Sunny come with us?" Holly asked in all innocence.
"I think not," the duke said after a moment. "She was just in the gardens with me this morning, and someone needs to stay and keep company with Jordan."
Sunny searched the faces in the room and noticed that no one thought this unusual, so she kep
t her seat as the three left, watching the door even after it closed on their departure. It took a moment for Sunny to realize that Jordan had reseated himself and was waiting for her to speak. She could feel his eyes on her, and after taking a deep breath, she turned and let her eyes meet his.
"I'VEBEENLOOKINGFORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN,"Jordan Said
when Sunny's eyes finally rested on his.
"You were?" Sunny seemed surprised by this admission.
"Yes. I acted out of line when we met yesterday, and I'd like a chance to apologize."
This had been the last thing Sunny expected to hear from him, and for just an instant, she was speechless.
"Have I made things worse?" Jordan's already kind voice had become very tentative.
"No," she assured him quickly. "I was just thinking that I'd acted rudely to you, and I didn't expect you to-" Her voice trailed off in embarrassment, but Jordan smiled.
"Well then, we'll call it a draw, shall we?"
"A draw?" Sunny spoke with hesitation, but also interest.
"We'll leave it as it is. No more apologies needed, and we'll be on good speaking terms," Jordan amplified carefully, seeing how swiftly he had confused her.
Sunny suddenly forgot they had even been on awkward terms.MI thought to draw was to mark on canvas or paper."
"It is. But it's also to be even, as I just used the word, or to draw water from a well; that is, to bring it up in a bucket."
Sunny was on the edge of her chair with attention. "Are those all the meanings?"
"No, there are more. You can use the word 'draw* when you're
180
trying to trap an animal. You might say, *I put the food in the forest to draw the rabbit into the snare.'n
"Are there more?" Sunny's face was avid.
"Let me think," Jordan was silent a moment, thinking he had never had a conversation like this in his life. He was also having the most fun he'd had all week-this girl fascinated him. One minute she looked so proud as to appear almost arrogant, and the next she was admitting ignorance over a common word in the English language.
"You can draw money from a savings account, but that's much like getting water from a well. You can also draw interest on your money, which is more like the words *gain* or 'accumulate.*** The conversation had continued in this vein for the better part of 20 minutes, when Sunny suddenly stopped short from asking one more question. The interest was gone from her face. She stared at Jordan, her expression unreadable.
"What are you thinking?"
Sunny's face did not change, even when she answered truthfully. "That you're as nice as Miles said you were."
Jordan smiled, and Sunny found herself smiling in return.
"I was hoping you would think so," Jordan admitted and again they shared an easy smile.
Holly was some feet away from her elders when Andrea spoke for the duke's ears alone.
"I'm so glad you took the time to show us flowers that I pointed out to you two days ago."
She spoke with just the right touch of humility in her voice, but the duke was not fooled. He turned his head and met her steady gaze. Only an instant passed before he grinned. He was completely unrepentant over the feet that she had seen through his matchmaking ways. Andrea shook her head and was on the verge of scolding him when Holly cried out.
"Uncle Dex is here."
The duke and Andrea followed in her hurried path and watched as she embraced her uncle. Dex still had his arm around Holly when the duke and Andrea arrived, talking in quiet tones.
"After seeing you I was rather hoping that Sunny would be here too."
181
"Oh, but she is here," Holly told him triumphantly. "She's in the house with Jordan."
"Is something wrong, dear?** Dexter's mother asked after he'd greeted her and kissed her cheek.
"Nothing that Sunny can't fix." He spoke with what his mother recognized as a hopeful expression. "Judith's sixth bridesmaid has eloped, and Judith wants Sunny to take her place," he explained. "We'd love to have her if she's willing.**
"Of course she'll be willing," Holly exclaimed, having missed any undertones of doubt. "Any girl would be. May I tell her?**
Dexter had barely answered when Holly ran for the house, completely missing the look of uncertainty on each adult face.
"What do you mean, you can't?**
Holly stood in the middle of the room, arms akimbo, a look of total disbelief on her pretty round race. Just minutes earlier she'd arrived with what was certain to be the day's greatest news, but Holly was now stunned to see that Sunny was not excited in the least.
**I just don't think I could," Sunny answered helplessly. Until Chelsea and Holly had explained weddings to her some weeks ago, Sunny had never realized the pomp involved in an English ceremony. She was only to be a guest at the wedding, but even at that, the entire ritual had sounded a bit intimidating.
"You've told me there will be hundreds of people at that wedding. You and I were going to sit together and be together at the reception. I can't walk up the aisle of a vast cathedral by myself."
The duke had opted to retire to his room for a spell, but both Andrea and Dexter had entered the parlor in time to hear Sunny's last words.
Holly caught Jordan's eye just then and backed off entirely, allowing Dexter to approach Sunny. He stopped before her and smiled kindly into her eyes.
"Did Holly explain the situation to you?"
"She said one of the bridesmaids has eloped.** Sunny did not go on to say that Holly had needed to define the word "elope.**
"That's right, and the first person Judith asked to replace her was you. Now,** he went on sounding so much like Brandon that
182
Sunny wanted to cry, **I won't force you to accept, but you'll sec! more of Judith. You'll also get to visit with Cheryl, who is coming with John and the baby just to be in the wedding."
"But I would have seen them anyway," Sunny reasoned softly. True," Dexter conceded. "But you'll see more of them if you're in the wedding party. And don't forget, Brandon will have returned, and as best man, he'll be a member of the wedding party as well."
Dexter could see she was vacillating and added, in a coaxing voice, what he thought would be the final push.
"You'll get to come to London and be fitted for a new dress." "Oh, Uncle Dexter!" came Holly's distressed cry, having also seen that Sunny was coming around. "That's the last thing you should have said to her."
Dexter, after staring in surprise at his niece, turned to take in Sunny's chagrined face. He couldn't help but laugh. "And here I thought that would be the frosting on the cake," he spoke between chuckles.
Everyone laughed then, including Sunny. They talked for just ten minutes more, and hardly believing it was the sound of her own voice, Sunny impetuously heard herself agree.
"So how was London this trip?"
Sunny's nose wrinkled in distaste, and Jordan laughed.
"I can't think why anyone would choose to live there," she commented softly as her horse stepped lightly along the path.
"Oh, I don't know," Jordan countered as his own mount fell easily into line. "I rather like the noise and excitement."
"How do you feel about the smells?"
Jordan chuckled again. "It can be pretty bad in midsummer."
**It was bad in late summer," Sunny's voice was wry, thinking of the open sewers and the streets filled with filth and decay.
A month had passed since Dexter had found Sunny at Bracken and asked her to be in the wedding party. She had left the following day with Dexter and gone to London for a first fitting; Holly had gone along to keep her company. Then just a week ago she had returned for the final dress fitting, staying with Heather and Foster both times. Now the wedding was just three weeks away, scheduled for Saturday afternoon, September 13,1845.
183
"Will you be at the wedding, Jordan?" Sunny suddenly wanted to know.
"Yes, ma'am," Jordan told her with friendly ease. "Wil
l you save me a dance?"
"A dance?" Sunny spoke in surprise. "Will there be dancing?"
"Certainly," Jordan replied with some surprise. "At the reception."
Sunny looked horrified. Such a thought had never occurred to her. She didn't know how to dance and wasn't sure she wanted to learn. She worried about it all the way back to Willows' End. As soon as she and Jordan joined Chelsea and Holly for tea, Chelsea wanted to know what was bothering her.
"The dancing that's planned for the reception."
"Ah," Chelsea said, her tone understanding. "I don't think you need to worry on that end."
"Why is that?" Jordan wanted to know.
Chelsea grinned at him, feeling a bit sorry for what she had to say, but knowing he would take it well.
"You've forgotten Sunny's age, Jordan. Neither she nor Holly will be attending dances before they're 17."
Jordan was silent. He had forgotten that he was four years older than Sunny. His disappointment was acute, but in order not to make Sunny feel worse, he kept this to himself. Doing so was made all the more difficult when he noticed that Sunny looked relieved.
"We can make an appearance, though; isn't that right, Mummy?" Holly put in.
"Yes, just long enough to sec the bride and groom and have a bite to eat. Then you're back to Heather's without a fuss."
"Who's putting up a fuss?" Miles wanted to know as he strode jauntily into the room.
"We're discussing the feet that the girls are too young to attend the wedding dance."
"That's right," Miles spoke as he tugged first on his sister's hair and then Sunny's. "You're both just babies."
This brought cries of outrage from both parties, but Miles refused to take the words back.
"You'd best not cross us, Miles," Sunny told him with a piqued glint in her eye, "or you might find yourself having to avoid all the evergreen bushes in the very near future."
Miles's hands immediately went into the air in a gesture of surrender. "I yield; I yield," he cried. "You're both very mature, and I'll
184
call out any man who says otherwise."
Sunny's look was downright arrogant with this win, and the room exploded with merriment.