She sighed in relief as she finally followed her mother and Tuesday from her sister’s chamber. She would have been mortified if Lord St. Erth had come to the door of Tuesday’s bedchamber to get Tuesday to her wedding on time.
Lord St. Erth, her father, and some other gentlemen waited at the foot of the stairs along with Lanyon Penrose and his sisters.
“Here we are!” Lady Stanbridge called out happily.
“It’s about time, my dear! I thought I might have to come up for you,” Lord Stanbridge said somewhat gruffly, yet Wednesday did not miss the twinkle in his blue eyes, nor did her mother.
“I was not leaving until my daughter looked her absolute best. This is her wedding day, after all, my Lord. A lady only has one wedding day.”
“Come m’dear, and you do look lovely, I must say,” Lord Stanbridge bowed and offered Tuesday his arm.
As it was her wedding day, she cast the mourning black aside and wore one of Lady St. Erth’s gowns, a lovely pale blue confection. The other ladies had supervised the altering of the gown, so it fit her perfectly. Tuesday knew Jack would like it for it was very flattering to her figure.
She smiled up at her father, who stood straight and tall beside her. She tried not to think about Charlie, but it was impossible. She missed her brother terribly at that moment, especially today, her wedding day. He should have been here, with the rest of their family. It was understandable why Marcus, Sunday and her little nephews couldn’t be here; they had just returned home from Charlie’s funeral and Sunday was expecting a third child.
Tuesday blinked back her tears and forced the melancholy thoughts away. She was marrying Jack today! Jack loved her. She loved him. She knew Charlie would want her to think happy thoughts on this day.
Marrek herded his charges in the direction of Menadue’s chapel. “Let’s get to St. Michael’s Chapel, shall we?”
Chapter Twenty-One
Wenna and Senny both bent and kissed their grandfather’s withered cheek. He sat smiling in his Bath chair near the front pew. Morva sat in the pew nearest to Robert. Lanyon sat next to Morva with her daughters and sons on the other side of him. Tuesday’s family members were seated.
Trevan beamed as he drew his smiling Wenna up beside him.
Gabriel thought Senny looked nervous. He felt a great sense of relief when she smiled brightly as she came to him.
Jack grinned. He gave Tuesday a wink as he brought her to her place beside him. It was where she belonged, after all.
Reverend Jonas Lanphear began the ceremony. His voice was a rich baritone and echoed throughout the chapel. The service was limited to immediate family, as the remainder of the household waited inside Menadue for the wedding party to join them for dinner.
Senny tried to focus on the Reverend’s words and Gabriel standing beside her. The sound of horses’ hooves pounding against the earth interrupted her concentration. There were many riders coming over the hill beyond the grounds. She began to tremble. She looked, wide-eyed to Gabriel.
“Zenny?” Gabriel whispered in her ear.
She realized they were waiting for her to recite her vows. She forced the riders from her mind long enough to say the words. When she finished the vision took hold again. Trembling, she looked to Gabriel who watched her intently. “Riders are coming!” she whispered.
At that moment an alarm sounded from outside.
Trevan turned to Marrek and indicated he should go outside to see what was going on.
Reverend Lanphear stopped his recitations.
“Cousin Jonas, you will finish the wedding ceremony. I will not leave this church until Miss Penrose is my wife! I am marrying this woman tonight if the hounds of Hell themselves are upon us,” the boom of Trevan’s voice echoed in the stone Chapel.
Laughter and nervous whispers tittered throughout the few guests in the chapel.
The Reverend grinned, gave a nod and continued.
“Make haste, Jonas. We need to get the ladies into the house!” Marrek commanded as he re-entered the chapel and slid back into the pew beside his wife. He entwined his fingers with Catherine’s and drew her close.
“If everyone would cease the interruptions, I could finish,” the Reverend said calmly. He nodded and continued with the ceremony.
He hurriedly recited the rest of the necessary words and ended with, “Gentlemen, kiss your brides. I will bring the register with me and the wedding parties may sign it inside the house.”
“Save your wives’ kisses for later, gentlemen, we need to get them inside the house.” Marrek ordered as he rose and urged his wife to walk with him. “Everyone get into the house, this instant!”
Tremayne and August picked up Robert in his Bath chair. Trevan, Gabriel and Jack held on to their new brides tightly.
“What is going on?” Trevan asked Marrek as he came up beside him.
“Riders are approaching and surrounding us outside the grounds,” Marrek answered grimly.
“What do they mean to do, Trevan?” Wenna asked as he hurriedly escorted her out of the chapel and down the path toward the side door of Menadue. She noted that there was a line of armed men along the path protecting them from the intruders.
“I don’t know what they are about, Wen Pen. Don’t worry, we’ll be fine.” He squeezed her hand reassuringly.
“Jack? Are they planning an attack?” Tuesday whispered in concern.
“Come along Lady Elveston, and don’t worry. I’ll make certain you are kept safe, wife.” Jack smiled down at her and touched the tip of her nose with his finger.
Senny realized Gabriel had lifted her into his arms. She was holding on to the vision now, it was important for everyone’s safety that she discover what these men intended. She could not let go of it until she did. She concentrated on the men outside the grounds. She listened to them and tried to make out their words.
She heard a voice she recognized. Madingly! He was dressed in the manner of a fisherman. Though he was bald, she knew it was him. She saw the scar upon his face she had given him with the jagged stone.
Senny listened to what he told his men. He told them what they must find and where it was likely to be. They were to kill anyone who got in their way, and they were to kill the prisoners who were most likely in the cellar. Madingly wanted her, but he also wanted Tuesday and a diary. Panic consumed her. She tried to tear herself away from the vision. She had to tell Gabriel. She could feel vibration in his chest as he held her against him. He was speaking to her. She realized he was telling her to breathe.
She did so. Senny tuned in to Gabriel’s voice and took deep breaths until she could focus. His handsome face and crystalline eyes came into view when the vision left her. Her hand grasped his waistcoat. She had to force herself to speak, at first the words wouldn’t come. “Madingly. It’s Madingly,” her voice was but a whisper. Gabriel deposited her upon a chaise. She realized they were in the upstairs parlour.
She saw Lord St. Erth’s face come into view and she realized he stood beside Gabriel.
“Senny what did you see?” Marrek asked her calmly.
“John Madingly, though he looks like a fisherman and his hair is gone. He is in charge. He told his men what they must find, and where they may likely find it, the safe in the study and the shelves in the library. He wants a sapphire, cruets, scrolls and a diary. He said the Duke would have a safe room, and they must find it. He suggested if they took one of the women as a prisoner, they could have the Duke give them access to where the treasures are stored. They will look for Tuesday…and me for I left a scar upon his face and Tuesday has a diary. They plan to ride up and force their way in. There are many doors and windows into the house and they only need to get into one. He said their leader ordered that it must be tonight.” Senny shuddered, “It had to be done tonight. He ordered them to kill whoever got in their way.”
Marrek nodded. “Grooms, kiss your wives. We must get downstairs.” Marrek placed a hand on Gabriel’s shoulder and turned to find his wife.
Catherine rushed to him. “Please be careful, Marrek,” she said in a hushed whisper.
He smiled down at her. He bent his head and kissed her. It was a sweet tender kiss. He raised his head. “I will be careful, Kitty. You must stay in this room and remain safe.”
Gabriel bent his head to kiss Senny. The kiss was quick and chaste, not the kind he wished to give his new bride. It left him wanting more, much more. He dared not risk more with an audience about.
“You look beautiful tonight, Zenny. I will see you after,” he whispered as he caressed her cheek.
Gabriel started toward the door. He stopped and put a hand on Micah’s shoulder. “You must stay with the ladies, Micah.”
“I can be very useful,” Micah protested.
“I know you can, but you are still healing, and the ladies need someone like you with them. It would make us feel better.”
Micah’s eyes narrowed. He shrugged. “Very well. I need to get some more arms.”
Gabriel nodded as Micah walked past him.
Trevan was still kissing Wenna when Gabriel playfully punched him in the shoulder.
Wenna giggled and Trevan grinned at him.
“I’ll be along, dreckly.” Trevan gave him a wink.
“We don’t have all day, cousin,” Gabriel smiled.
Trevan looked around the room then bellowed, “Tristan!”
Moments later boot heels could be heard pounding along the corridor floor outside the parlour.
“Yes?” Tristan escorted Harry’s sister, Lady Caroline Bellingham, into the room. Julyan Trevelyan and Lady Sarah Ravenscroft, Lyon’s sister, followed them.
“You, Julyan, George, Lanyon and Micah will stay in this parlour with the ladies and Robert. Some of our cousins are in the other parlour on this floor with the elderly gentleman, children and other ladies of our family.”
“But you might need me, Trevan. I know all the entrances into the house,” Tristan argued.
“I need you here, with the ladies. You can lead them to safety if they need to be moved. Your arm is broken, and you don’t need to jar it further.” It was a command.
Tristan lowered his head. “Fine, I will stay with the ladies.”
“Go get your arms, the both of you,” Trevan said. He paused to kiss his mother on the cheek and left the room.
George Bellingham, Harry’s younger brother entered the room.
“Did you get what you need?” Harry asked him.
“I did, Harry,” George answered.
“Take care of mother and my wife,” Harry told him.
“And what of Caroline?” George posed curiously.
Harry looked to Tristan. “Caroline has Tristan to watch over her.” Harry nodded to Tristan. He turned back to kiss Rowena then walked toward the door. Caroline and Tristan grinned at one another. Harry clapped Tristan on the back as he exited the room.
Rowena wore a wide, triumphant smile. “I always knew Harry would come around regarding Tristan,” she whispered to Sophia.
Owen brought Grace and Alice into the room, along with nine year-old Rachel, Matthias Halfknight, Lord Sinclair’s daughter.
Owen kissed Alice, next his wife then paused to stroke Rachel’s head. “Rachel will you help Lady Fitzlewis with Alice?”
“Yes, of course, Lord Fitzlewis.”
“Good girl!” Owen tousled her hair. He left them to approach Micah and Libby. He kissed his sister’s temple.
He looked at Micah. “I leave them in your able care, brother.”
Micah nodded.
“Uncle Micah!” Alice noticed her uncle. She held her arms out and gave him a happy, lopsided grin.
Micah grinned, walked the few steps to Grace, and took Alice into his arms. “Hello, Alice.” He kissed her temple and gave her his full attention.
It was then that shots and yelling sounded outside on the grounds. Owen moved toward the door. “Lock the door!” he called as he crossed the threshold.
Tristan locked the door behind him.
“Alice, you must go back to your Mama.” Micah passed the child back to her mother. He moved to the window. The parlor was a corner room and afforded views on two different sides of the house. He looked out the windows on both sides. Tristan joined him. Together they watched the approaching men, some wore brown coats and hats and some did not.
Elowen rose when Lord Alloway mumbled in his sleep. He had woken only twice for very short periods since he was wounded that morning. He said very little, but what he did say was lucid. Elowen was hoping there was no damage to his brain, which was always a concern with injuries to the head. He stirred restlessly. The area around his wound was a trifle swollen still. She had checked the wound and re-bandaged it upon her arrival a couple of hours before.
Her brother and cousin had lowered him into a bath earlier that afternoon. Marrek and Gabriel were supposed to see that a clean change of clothes was brought for him. Lord Alloway’s clothes had yet to arrive. Morva had warned her he was still quite naked beneath the sheets when Elowen relieved her.
Elowen had noticed Lord Alloway the day she arrived at Menadue. She thought him quite handsome even. Though he had been polite the few times he had spoken to her, she thought he looked at her with a skeptical eye. It was not unusual. Many people looked at her that way. She was a healer whom many in Cornwall called a Pellar. However, the most skeptical usually called her a witch.
He had insisted on escorting her to her sister-in-law’s room recently. That particular day, he hadn’t seemed skeptical at all. She shrugged. How could she truly know what he thought of her? Then again, what did it matter? Sometimes she could read people, and just know certain things about them. Not Lord Alloway.
She lifted his bandage and checked his wound again. He moved restlessly. He threw his arm out, throwing the covers back to reveal his well-muscled chest and abdomen.
Elowen would not deny he was a finely formed man. True, she had no one to compare him to for she had never seen a man’s bare upper torso. She admitted that she found Lord Alloway’s physique most pleasing. She had admired his muscular arms and chest often since coming into the room this afternoon for he was continually throwing off his covers. This was the first glimpse she had had of his abdomen. Intrigued, she observed the rows of hard, tight muscles. She felt a fultter in the pit of her belly as she studied him.
She reached out her hand. Her fingers ached to feel the hard muscles of his chest. She stopped, curling her fingers back into a fist.
What was she doing? She was a healer. She couldn’t do such a thing! He was her patient for goodness sake. Elowen should not be here lusting after his body. A body that she would compare to a finely sculpted Greek statue. She certainly should not be thinking about taking advantage of his unconscious state and exploring the muscles of his chest. What was the matter with her?
Minutes passed. The longing to touch him did not ebb. She reasoned she actually could just touch him. No one would ever know, certainly not him. He was unconscious after all.
She shook her head and decided it was best to cover him fully and remove the temptation from view. The blanket was heavier than the sheet and would be more difficult for him to throw off.
She moved to the foot of the bed, intending to unfold the blanket to cover him when he suddenly moaned again. Elowen set the still folded blanket back on the edge of the bed and turned her attention to him.
His eyes remained closed. Elowen did remember they were a striking color of green. That was the first thing she noticed upon meeting him briefly for the first time upon her arrival at Menadue. She studied the man on the bed. His rich, brown hair was streaked with gold. Apparently, he spent a great deal of time in the sun. His skin was bronzed, everywhere that she could see. She surmised he must spend time without a shirt in the sun. Good heavens, what a sight that would be!
Again, she reached out. Her hand hovered over his chest for a moment. Then she did touch him. Her fingertips feathered a trail across the sinew and hard muscles on his chest.
Through the dusting of coarse hair. They skimmed lower, over the hard ridges of his abdomen. She noted the dark trail of hair below his navel that widened and disappeared beneath the sheet. She allowed her fingers to follow that trail until she could no longer see it. Her fingers stopped at the edge of the sheet.
Something stirred beneath the sheet.
Taken aback by the strange occurrence, it took a moment for her to realize what had caused the movement.
When the realization hit her, she felt a rush of heat burn her cheeks. “Oh God in heaven what have I done?” Elowen emitted a panicked whisper. She jumped back slightly in alarm as Lord Alloway’s erection moved further and made a slight bulge beneath the sheet. She watched in horror, as it seemed to twitch and grow.
“Oh!” She was certain her cheeks were flaming red. She stood, looking at the tented sheet wondering what she should do. His erection was much larger than she ever guessed a man’s aroused member could be.
She reached for the edge of the sheet feeling the need to see his member first hand then stopped herself.
“No!” a panicked whisper escaped her. Elowen shook her head. She tried to think of something, anything to make it go away. She paced for a moment then sat in the chair beside the bed and folded her hands in her lap. She tried to focus on her hands; something else – anything else except the site of Lord Alloway’s aroused member standing at full attention beneath the sheet.
Elowen tried diligently to ignore the situation yet she could do naught but return her gaze to look upon it again and again. It seemed alive at times, the way it twitched and moved about.
He moaned again.
Elowen rose and moved to his side. He sounded as if he were in extreme pain this time. She placed her hand on his forehead. No fever. His eyes remained closed. He stirred. The movement of his legs pulled the sheet even lower. She looked down to see a great deal more dark hair now. Another half-inch and she would have been able to see the base of his, well, his arousal. Her hand reached out slowly toward the edge of the sheet. She intended to pull it back up to cover him better.
Lords of Retribution (Lords of Avalon series) Page 42