by Lori Wick
Q/nMi/~Q/m
An hour before the wedding, Sunny's look was not so fun-filled. She could have cheerfully strangled herself for agreeing to be a part of this. Not even when she had met her family had she experienced such an awful attack of nerves. The other females in the wedding party, all a good deal older than herself, were having a wonderful time, laughing and talking like old friends.
Staring down at the courtyard below, Sunny stood alone at the window in a cavernous room at the rear of the church. There had been quite a commotion when the bride had come in some moments ago, and Sunny had turned from the window to smile at her. Judith, a vision in loveliness, was now in another, smaller room where she would stay until it was time to make that long walk down the aisle.
Another commotion started in the room, but this time Sunny did not turn. She knew it was not yet time to leave, and for the moment she just wanted to be left alone.
"Holding up?"
Sunny turned in surprise at the sound of Dexter's voice.
"What are you doing in here?"
"A little bird told me you were white with strain, so I thought I'd pop in and check on you."
Sunny managed a small smile and then asked the question she had been afraid to voice all day. "Did Brandon make it back?"
Dexter smiled, knowing he was about to relieve some of her anxiety. "Last night. I know he's eager to see you, but there just isn't time before the ceremony. They're sewing him into his pants right now."
It was the perfect thing to say. Sunny let out a small chuckle, and some of the color returned to her face in a rush. Dexter kissed her suddenly flushed cheek and took himself off. Sunny's jitters did not return until she was starting up the aisle.
sunny's peripheral vision told her that Brandon was across the church from her, right to the side of Dexter, but she was afraid to look at anyone save the clergyman, lest she miss her cue to go back up the aisle and make a fool of herself. She had refused to look to the left or right as she came down the aisle and did not even look into the face of the groomsman who met her halfway to the altar.
The vastness of the cathedral caught Sunny's attention for just an instant. Her eyes moved covertly over the walls that were covered with paintings and seemed to stretch for dozens of feet above her. She was studying the way the sun poured though a huge round stained-glass window above the bishop's head, when she suddenly remembered why she was there. With a jolt of fear that she might have missed something, she brought her eyes back to the service.
It was nearly over now, and although Sunny had heard some of it, she was vaguely aware of the feet that she had missed the wedding. No one watching her would have guessed the turmoil going on within as she stoically stood in a dress of pale blue silk, full in the skirt and fitted across the bodice. The sleeves were sheer and puffed at the shoulder. Gold and dark-blue braid lined the seams and bodice and trimmed the edge of the rounded neckline.
Sunny was as lovely to behold as the bride, but in truth, she was feeling something near to pain over having Brandon so dose but not being able to talk with him. At the moment it felt as though he had been gone forever.
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In the next minutes the ceremony ended, and Sunny, acting almost without thought, moved back up among the crowd on the arm of her groomsman. They were met at the back of the church by the crowd of guests that had not been able to fit into the cathedral. Sunny suddenly found herself separated from her companion and nearly lost in the crowd. The duke, Brandon, and Dexter, all so tall, swam into view from time to time, but the people pressing in around her were all so unfamiliar that Sunny knew a moment of panic.
She had been jostled from behind for the fourth time by the same rotund man when she felt a hand on her arm. Her first instinct was to pull away, but the sound of her brother's voice came to her ears.
Sunny allowed herself to be led away from the crush, out of the cathedral, and into a waiting carriage. Stuffed gently inside by Rand, she found both Miles and Jordan already occupying the coach. They each wanted to tell her how attractive she looked and how well she had done, but one look at her face silenced them. Sunny only glanced at them before turning her gaze toward the window. The carriage lurched into motion but moved only a few yards before stopping. This time Rand helped Chelsea and Holly in and climbed in beside them.
The ladies* skirts made the ride a bit cramped, but Holly was in such high spirits that no one really noticed. Her happy chatter worked its charm and effectively pulled Sunny from her pensive mood.
"Wasn't Aunt Judith a dream in that dress? Even her veil was heavenly. And Uncle Dex! He looked like a man who'd just been handed the moon when he kissed her."
Unmindful of the heat or cramped carriage, Holly chattered on for the entire ride to the banquet hall. Finding Sunny's eyes on her ' she grinned at the younger girl, and with a straight race, suddenly complimented her on how she'd made the walk up the aisle without tripping. Not able to help herself, Sunny laughed and the rest of the carriage joined in.
**I want to thank you girls for how well you're taking this," Chelsea told them as they moved up the huge stairway that led out of the banquet hall. Both girls were subdued and feeling a bit lonely
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over having to leave, but Chelsea was right; they were taking it very well. There were no complaints or pouting looks.
They were, however, trying to gain a last glimpse of the festivities below, so they missed the fact that Chelsea was not taking them to the cloak room. She turned this way and that along endless corridors and finally up another flight of stairs. The girls, speaking softly about their new aunt and sister-in-law, never noticed.
Chelsea opened a door and ushered the girls inside. Until she shut the door and the girls found themselves in semidarkness, they were still talking quietly. Chelsea said nothing, but waited for them to speak.
"Mum," Holly finally whispered. "Where are we?"
Both girls were looking at a huge empty floor, walled on three sides, but sporting a low, open railing on the fourth. From beyond that railing came the lights and music from the dance floor below.
"This is the balcony dance floor, and it won't be used tonight. You mustn't make a disturbance while you're up here. Talk in whispers. You may watch the dancing until 10:30."
Chelsea suddenly found herself thronged by soft young arms and fervently whispered thank-yous.
"You'll crush my dress," she admonished them, but there was a smile on her face. She stayed until both girls crept to the railing and knelt down to peek through the balustrade. She stood for a moment, looking at them in contentment. Just as she turned away, Sunny dropped to her stomach, kicked her wedding slippers off, and propped her chin on both hands to better see the floor below.
Chelsea walked away with a good-natured shake of her head. Both girls had been the picture of maturity during the reception, and now they lay on the floor like children, peeking out with envy on the adults below.
* * *
**I love Judith's dress," Holly breathed reverently.
"It looks heavy," Sunny stated logically.
Holly suppressed a giggle. "Leave it to you to think of that."
Sunny nodded and smiled in agreement. She leaned her head a little further through the rails. The scene below was like something out of a storybook. The well-wishers had been to supper and now the
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dance was in fall swing. The orchestra had just finished with a minuet and had now struck up a waltz. Nearly hypnotized, the girls watched the women's skirts swirl and the gentlemen's courdy bows. It was all so lovely that Sunny found herself quite contenttowatch all night. "I've got to go," Holly suddenly said.
"Is it 10:30 already?** Sunny's voice bespoke her disappointment. "No, I'm going to the retiring room. Do you need to come?" "No, I'll wait here," Sunny answered, so relieved that it wasn't yet time to go that she barely heard the rustle of Holly's skirts as she rose from her knees and quietly left.
Sunny was intent on Miles and his progres
s around the floor with the bride when the door to the upper dance floor opened. It was closed softly, and Sunny was just about to tell Holly to hurry or she'd miss Miles, but the person at the door spoke first.
"I've heard nothing save how grown-up youVe become since I left, and here I find you with your shoes kicked off, and sprawled on the floor like a ragamuffin,**
Sunny's eyes slid shut at the sound of that tender voice. She had begun to think she would never hear it again. With movements as smooth as a well-oiled wheel, Sunny rose. Her dress was horribly crushed, but Brandon took little notice and Sunny simply didn't care. To belter see her face in the light, he joined her at the railing and found her upturned face smiling with the delight of a child. "Hello, Sunny," Brandon said, a grin splitting his own features. "Oh, Brandon" was all Sunny could manage before she threw her arms around his neck. They hugged for many moments, neither one able to speak.
WI missed you," Sunny finally said.
"And I missed you," Brandon added as he released her. "But I thought of you the whole time I was gone and prayed for you every day. I even brought you something."
Sunny watched as Brandon drew a thin gold bracelet from the pocket of his coat. He handed it to Sunny, knowing its full beauty would be hidden in the dim light.
"It's from the emir," he whispered. "He said to add it to the other treasures in your jewel box."
Sunny, who had been tenderly cradling the gift in the palm of her hand, froze. She slowly raised her face to Brandon, whose dark eyes had been watching her intently.
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"You've been back to Darhabar?"
"Yes," he admitted softly. "I have never been comfortable with the way Ahmad Khan sent you away, and I wanted to confront him over it."
"Were you welcome?"
"Most welcome. He was quite interested to know how you were, and as I said, I was most determined to know why you were sent away so abruptly."
"What did you find out?"
"Very little. He said much the same as he had in his letter to you-that his love for you was great enough to give you back to your family. We spoke for the better part of an hour before I realized that if there was another reason or motive, the emir was not going to reveal it to me. I was given little choice but to take his words at face value. At least I tried, and I guess I really do believe that his actions, however abrupt, were out of love.**
Sunny was silent for a moment.
"Have I upset you, Sunny?"
"No, I'm just surprised. I mean, you never told me what you'd planned to do, and I never-**
"If you'd known," Brandon interrupted, "and I'd been refused entrance to the palace, you would have waited all this time only to be met with disappointment. As it was, Darhabar was a dosed book to you, and that left you free to settle here where you belong."
He paused and searched her face again. "And you have settled, haven't you, Sunny?"
Sunny's smile was thoughtful. "I think so. I still hate wearing shoes and what feels like 15 petticoats, but I'm getting there." Her smile turned very wry, and Brandon chuckled.
"I bought a horse," Sunny said, her mood changing swiftly. "I wrote you all about her, but of course I never mailed the letter." In the next minutes she told him all about London Lady, her face alight with excitement.
Holly joined them shortly thereafter, and Brandon gave her a warm hug and a big kiss. They talked for a few moments, and then Brandon informed them that as best man, he must return to the dance.
"Of course you must," Holly teased with a saucy smile, as she took in her uncle's splendid form in a black suit and snow white shirt and cravat. "I'm sure many a female heart was broken at your departure.**
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Brandon reached with a long finger and touched her cheek, his smile as teasing as her own. "You're an impertinent bit of baggage, Holly."
"When do you return to Willows* End?" Brandon, after earning a dimpled smile from Holly, had suddenly turned back to Sunny.
The younger girl shrugged. "I'm not sure. Are you leaving soon?** These last words were asked hesitantly.
"Not for a month at least," he told her easily. "But for the moment, I really must go."
He was gone with those words, and with him went Sunny's desire to watch any more of the dance. She was relieved when Rand appeared not 20 minutes later, their cloaks over his arm, to usher them downstairs to a waiting carriage.
QJMQMXee'
FIVE WEEKS LATERBRANDON'SSHIP SAILED WITH THE TIDE.He
remained on deck only until they were safely into the bay and then retired to his cabin to review his reports. Strangely enough, when he was finally settled at his desk, he found his mind straying tar from his work.
Sunny and Holly had been at Bracken the day he had left. Brandon had been in an awful rush with last-minute details and had no time for socializing or even the briefest of conversations. He clearly remembered, however, the scene in the library at his departure. Sunny and his grandfather had been engaged in a fierce chess match, and Holly had been curled up on the oversized davenport, reading a book. It had all been so cozy and serene that now Brandon found himself momentarily preoccupied.
As he had left for London, he realized for the first time that the sea was losing its charm. How lovely it would have been to throw his coat over a chair and settle in next to Holly with a book of his own, or to bend his sharp mind to the task of letting his grandfather win at chess without his knowing.
ttl want a wife and family," Brandon spoke softly in the empty cabin, and his mind, without permission, went to one of his dancing partners at Dexter's wedding reception-Dinah Hadley.
Dexter's status as grandson of a duke and Brandon's position as heir to the title had made the wedding a very newsworthy occasion in London society. Outside of family members, Brandon had made it
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a point not to dance with the same woman twice.
London's tongue could be ruthless when it came to scandal gossip, but Brandon wondered even now at how difficult it had bc< to dance with Dinah only once. Releasing her to another partner when he was so fascinated by her conversation, had been very diffil cult indeed.
Dinah had grown up a good deal in the year since her coming! out, and Brandon had teased her over not having been spoken for yet] He had been shocked speechless by her soft yet determined answer.
"I'm waiting for a man who puts the importance of his relation) ship with God over and above his title or his wealth." That she had^ shocked herself was quite clear when she turned a dull red and began to stammer.
"I beg your pardon, my lord. I was very rude just now, and I hope-
"Don't apologize," Brandon had interjected, his voice kind. "Just answer one more question for me. Where do you putyourrelationship with God?"
"Above all else," she had told him sincerely. "And when He wants me to be married, I know that He'll provide a spouse who believes as I do."
The waltz changed to a minuet just after this, and Dinah was lost to Brandon for the rest of the evening. For her reputation as well as his own, he could not seek her out, and Brandon had found this one of the most difficult things he'd had to do. Unknowingly, Chelsea rescued him by telling him that Sunny was in the balcony. He had made his escape, however brief, and from then on the evening progressed smoothly.
Brandon sighed over his memories and massaged the back of his neck with a long-fingered hand.And now Pm headed back to sea. I run the risk of never seeing Papa again every time I leave. This time itys more difficult; this time I don't want to go at all.
Brandon suddenly remembered how well Sunny had taken his departure. She was adjusting very nicely, and Brandon thought how much he had to be truly thankful for. Allowing his accounts to wait, he took time to thank God for His tender care and to entrust Him with this journey and all the loved ones he had left behind.
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Sunny's fifteenth birthday came and went, as did Christmas and Year's. Almost a year to the date, Chelsea began to witness in _iy the same listlessne
ss that Heather had seen in London. She _ pale and losing weight. Both Miles and Jordan were back at lool, and neither Holly nor London Lady, nor any of her usual suits, seemed to cheer the quiet young woman. *At some point we've got to stop turning tricks to amuse her,** said to Chelsea one evening after dismissing the maid for the
it.
*If she's unhappy, she needs to face the problem and deal with it" . *I agree with you, Rand," Chelsea admitted. Turning away from *the mirror at her dressing table, Chelsea gazed over at Rand sprawled 'on her bed, "Douglas and Marian have asked her to visit Portsmouthfagain and again. Maybe if we talk to her, we can make her understand."
"Understand what exactly?" Rand wanted to know.
"That this will be her last distraction. Although I'm not sure that, for Sunny, distraction is all that bad."
"Meaning?" Rand spoke patiently.
"Only that she's quite clever, and at some point she's going to see that all this running and searching is getting her nowhere. Someday she's going to see that Jesus Christ is the only person who can fill the void she's feeling. I don't know where or how or when, but I believe it with all my heart."
Rand stared at Chelsea for the space of a few heartbeats before he stood and held out his hand. Chelsea immediately rose and put her hand in his to be led through the adjoining door and into his bedroom. Rand still had not spoken when they climbed into bed and the darkness settled around them. Chelsea was nearly asleep when he spoke.
"I love you, Chels."
"Is that what you've been thinking of all this time?" she murmured sleepily.
"That and praying about what you said. I've finally decided that you're right. I'll take Sunny to Portsmouth myself. That will give us time to talk. Doug can bring her back in a few months.
"I will say this much, though-this will be the last time. She can visit anyone she likes for a week or two, but Willows' End is her home, and she's going to have to learn to be content right here."
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Chelsea kissed Rand's jaw by way of agreement, and within utes they were both asleep.