by Diane Darcy
She turned to her mother and really looked at her. Always chic, always put together, her thick, dark hair in its usual French twist. Exercise kept her trim and shapely, ready to take on the world.
Beautiful, she nevertheless put off an air of aloofness that few dared to try to breach.
Cara wrapped her arms around her mother, and pressed her face into her neck, and breathed in her Dolce & Gabanna perfume.
“And I couldn’t have asked for a better mother. You always told me to reach for what I wanted, even as I watched you do the same.”
She couldn’t stop crying, the realization that, once again, they wouldn’t just be a phone call away, getting to her.
She pulled back. “I promise to write to you, and even if you only get to read the letters all at once, you’ll be able to catch up, all right?”
“Sure, honey,” Mom said silkily, “we’ll do the same.” She glanced around at the traffic in front of them, at the chapel behind them, and then her gaze finally landed on the stone. “How does this work again?”
Wallace was at her back, tense and worried, and when Cara extended a hand, he was quick to grasp it.
“Can I use your dagger?”
He gave her the dagger attached to his side and she took it and cut her finger, just a bit, as Mom and Dad both protested.
“What are you doing?” Her father tried to take the knife, but she was already handing it back to Wallace who stuck it in its sheath.
With just the dot of blood on her finger, she reached up and touched her necklace and then turned toward Wallace.
He unclasped it.
When it sagged into Cara’s hands, she breathed a sigh of relief as she handed it to her mother. “If you’ll take it back to Stan Myers on Bond Street, and somehow clear my name, I would appreciate it.”
“I’ll make the arrangements,” Mom said. “Now what?”
“Now, we say goodbye.”
Mom looked out into traffic as if searching for their ride.
“Mom, Wallace is wearing a bracelet that will allow us to go back in time to medieval England.”
She gave her mother another hug, her alarmed-looking father another hug, and then reached out and clasped Wallace’s hand.
She was crying, smiling. “Don’t forget to watch out for Rupert, will you? We’ll be back in three months, to the day. In the meantime, wish me luck! We’re honeymooning in a castle in the thirteenth century! If that’s not an adventure, then I don’t know what is.”
So saying, she placed an arm around Wallace’s waist, and, still watching her parents’ alarmed faces, Wallace cut himself and pulled her to the stone.
As her parents faded away, she called out, “I love you both. Three months! Don’t forget!”
The last thing she saw were her parents shocked faces.
Chapter 45
It was a dark and stormy night.
Or it had been anyway.
The storm was over, and torches were lit.
They were spotted by one of the guards first, who called out the alarm, “They are here!”
As more guards noticed them, a cheer rose up!
Lady Helena came out of the chapel, took one look at them, and burst into tears as she ran forward to hug Wallace. “You are here!”
It struck Cara for the first time how much Lady Helena reminded her of her own mother.
Slightly stern, stoic, and pragmatic. But underneath it all? A marshmallow who loved her family.
She gave Cara a hug, as well. “Where are the Dinsdales?”
“Lord Dinsdale is dead, and his son is not coming back at this time,” Wallace was matter-of-fact. As his mother gaped, he took off the bracelet and handed it to her.
Lady Helena shook her head. “I do not wish it back.”
Wallace next handed it to Cara.
Her mouth dropped open. “Really? You want me to have this?”
“So you will always have a choice.”
She took the bracelet, more touched than she could say, but then had to laugh at the worried look he gave her, as if he wasn’t sure he should have done such a thing.
She wrapped it twice around her wrist, clasped it, and gave Wallace a big hug. “Idiot. I love you, and I’m staying, but I do want to see my parents once in a while, so I appreciate the gesture.”
One of Wallace’s men patted him on the back, and Cara wondered whether it was to make sure he was real or not.
“How long until dawn?” Wallace asked a guard.
“A couple of hours, my lord.”
“We’ll go ahead and get started now.”
“Where are we going, my lord?”
He wrapped an arm around Cara once more. “To Wolfsbane Castle.”
Another cheer!
She glanced up at Wallace. “So, you’re finally going to show me your castle, huh?”
“Lady Wolfsbane, I plan to show you your future.”
Aww, she liked the sound of that.
Rupert watched as Wallace and Cara made their way home through the touching stone.
He thought to call out, to join them, but at the last moment melted into the shadows between two buildings.
He found himself in a wondrous place. Lady Cara’s future place. Everything was unknown, slightly frightening, and …exciting.
What did he have to go back for?
His father was dead. His hands clenched, and a shudder ran through him. He’d think on that later.
They’d lost the Wolfsbane land and riches.
His mother, now a widow, could do as she pleased. She had strong family ties, or could stay at Dinsdale Keep as she’d never moved with his father to Wolfsbane Castle.
And if he married Lady Amelia as the king commanded, he’d what? Be reviled and hated because of who his father was? Not a happy situation for any of them. It would be kinder to free her.
He looked out into the mass of carriages, people, noise, and … adventure.
Or, he could stay here and make his way. Perhaps hire on as a journeyman, or guard, in a rich man’s castle?
He glanced around the corner, to see that Wallace and Cara were gone, and that the woman she’d been with was holding the necklace Lady Cara had worn around her throat, the man at her side, pacing.
Her parents, no doubt, from the way they’d acted.
Lady Cara’s mother and father looked upset, oblivious, and did not see the thief creeping behind them.
Rupert let out a roar, raised his sword, and rushed toward the knave just as he was about to snatch the jewels.
Everyone turned as the scoundrel jumped back, melting into the crowd.
Rupert was left clutching his sword, breathing hard, and feeling foolish.
“Rupert?” Lady Cara’s mother glanced at him, and turned to look after the man he’d intimidated into running.
“My word, what am I doing?”
She opened the square bag dangling from her hand, shoved the jewels inside, closing the clutch once again.
She took a steadying breath. “I take it you are Rupert Dinsdale?”
He remembered his manners and, sheathing his sword, gave her a slight bow. “Sir Rupert Dinsdale, at your service.”
“You just missed my daughter. And her new husband.”
Lady Cara’s father looked distraught. “What is going on here? Did that just happen?”
Rupert wasn’t sure the man spoke of Cara’s disappearance or the thief, so he kept his own council.
Though the man had his sympathy in losing his daughter. He’d lost his father this night, and suffered his own distress over the incident. He still was not sure what to think, how he felt. Time enough for regrets later.
Lady Cara’s mother looked Rupert up and down, and seemed to come to a decision. “It occurs to me that you might have some information we need.”
“My lady?”
“And I might have something you need.”
He had no idea what she spoke of, but was interested just the same.
What else did he
have to do this night? “My lady, as I said, I am at your service,” he said with another courtly bow.
She laughed, sounding much like her daughter in that moment.
“Come with me, we have a lot to discuss.”
She took her husband by the arm and hailed one of the carriages. One halted and she installed Rupert in the front, while she and her husband took the back.
It was obvious they had need of a guard, and as he had need of a position this could work out exceedingly well, indeed.
“Well, what think you of that?”
Father Cuthbert turned to the other priest, a wide smile on his face.
“Wh …” The other man showed his nerves. “What do I think of what?” he stammered out.
The first priest chuckled. “Lord and Lady Wolfsbane are married so I can check that off my list. That was a big one, you know,” he said conspiratorially. “It took many a year, and two pieces of jewelry to make it happen.”
“But … they are not truly married, as they didn't have a wedding license.”
Father Cuthbert waved a hand in the air. “Mere details. You married them, did you not? You are a man of God, are you not? What care we of licenses and such? Besides, I’m sure they’ll marry forthwith at the chapel at Wolfsbane Castle.”
“But … but Wolfsbane Castle is a ruin. Everyone knows that.”
Father Cuthbert waved a hand in the air again, too pleased with himself to explain the details to a man who’d already served his purpose.
“Yes, yes. But I have much more to do.”
“Do?” The priest asked?
“Yes,” Father Cuthbert said, more of a thinking out loud than a response. “I’ve taken care of the bracelet, the ring, the necklace, and the crown. I still have to see to the earrings and the anklet.”
He chewed his upper lip as he considered. “Sir Rupert will give me some trouble, I’ve no doubt of that, but, still, if I could deal with Marshall, MacGregor, and Wolfsbane, I can deal with him.”
He glanced at the confused priest. “And the necklace is still in play, is it not? Things are coming together nicely.”
“They are?” The priest’s confusion was evident.
“They are. Mistakes were made, and aye, aye, I was the one who made them, but must you harp? They’re being fixed, one little piece at a time.”
He chuckled. “Did you see what I did there? One piece at a time?”
He chuckled again, though the other man did not so much as crack a smile. Ah, well, he couldn’t blame the priest for that, now could he. Especially as he’d no idea what was at stake.
He clasped the other man’s shoulder and gave him a shake. “Well done, regardless. Someday you shall be able to claim your part in all of this, and will be glad to have been of service.”
With that, Father Cuthbert exited the church, made his way through the foot traffic, and to the healing stone.
He turned back to see the priest still watched him, and, waving, he placed his hand upon the stone and moved inside.
So much to be done, so much time in which to do it …
He chuckled again at his own wit.
It was good to enjoy one’s work, was it not?
Epilogue
Three months later
The rocking gait of the horse almost lulled her to sleep when Wallace said, “I do not wish you to go back for your parents. I will retrieve them alone.”
Cara bit back a smile as she relaxed against her husband. Though she was well able to ride a gentle mount, they both enjoyed his arms around her.
Besides, it was cold! When she’d told her parents to meet her in three months, she hadn’t considered it would be closing in on Christmas!
She pulled her blanket close. “In my condition, you’re going to argue with me?”
Wallace went silent, but Cara could almost feel that moody, stubborn expression she loved so much. She was well aware he wasn’t done with his argument, only coming up with a better way to present it.
He simply had it in his head that arguing with an expectant mother was bad for the babe.
Not that they were even positive about there being a babe at this point.
Conjecture, pure conjecture. That’s what she’d told Wallace anyway, but she was pretty certain.
If he’d known for sure, he’d probably have snuck off without her and she wouldn’t be heading toward the chapel where they’d first wed three months ago.
When she would not abandon her intent to go, he’d simply extended the time to get there, camping along the way at frequent intervals so she wouldn’t be on horseback for too long.
Fine by her.
Though cold, it was dry, snug, and pleasant riding with her husband once more. They’d been so busy these last months that this time together, in his arms, was pure heaven.
A lot had happened and she was excited to tell her parents about it. Excited to see them again.
They’d married a second time to please his family and people.
Father Hazleton made them wait an additional three weeks as he’d moved parishes.
Since there were no witnesses to the first marriage, they’d been chaperoned the entire time, much to everyone’s amusement.
Longest three weeks of their lives!
Wolfsbane Castle and all its properties were back under Wallace’s control, and in a strange turn of events, so were the Dinsdales.
The priest had sworn to the king the hand of God had taken Lord Dinsdale and his son, and so Wallace was not accused of foul play.
The king washed his hands of the entire affair, made Wallace swear the feud was over, and ordered him to watch over the Dinsdale properties until their return.
Fortunately, Amelia didn’t seem too broken up by Rupert’s disappearance. It seemed she was in love with a different knight every month.
If Rupert didn’t hurry and come back, she’d end up marrying someone else.
Sir Thomas had called Sir Gladwin out for his disloyalty, but the other man fled to parts unknown, and good riddance. An accounting showed he’d been stealing from the Wolfsbanes for years.
She had a host of good friends in Lady Helena, Amelia, and Dori, and they were soon to foster two preteen girls. Lady Helena was going to teach her — whatever it was she was supposed to teach them. Household management, sewing, embroidery. Cara had a few of her own ideas. Swimming, hair, makeup.
She’d also seen Gillian last month when they’d traveled to Marshall Keep.
Her friend was, in fact, glowing with happiness, and visibly preggers.
Kellen gave her back her ring, but according to Gillian, never did cough up the other one. The two men had further bonded over the difficulties of having a headstrong wife. Ha!
When Wallace took a deep breath at her back, she knew it was time to argue again.
“’Tis simply that I do not wish any harm to come to you or the babe. You must admit you’ve no idea what could happen as you dash about through time. I will simply not allow it.”
“I swear, I’ll become upset if you do not.”
“You’d risk harm to our babe?”
“Would you?” she turned the question back on him.
They were still arguing on and off when the chapel came into view, and the first thing she saw were her parents coming out the front doors, dressed in stylish medieval garb.
She gasped as shock and happiness had her bolting upright and waving an arm frantically. “Mom, Dad!”
Wallace tightened his grip to keep her from falling when she started to go sideways. “What are you doing here? How did you get here?”
They rushed to meet them, stopping short of the destrier, their excited chatter filling the air.
“Cara, what took you so long?”
“You look great, hon, really great!” Dad was all smiles, so different from when she’d last seen him.
Wallace was already off the horse and snatching her off the saddle with an unhappy glare, before gently setting her on her feet.
She was
in her parents’ arms, hugging, crying, all of them talking at once.
She started to laugh, and outpouring of joy. “I have so much to tell you, you have no idea. But first tell me how you got here.”
Mom pulled the necklace that had given Cara so much grief out of her pocket.
Cara gasped. “You didn’t give it back?”
“We did give it back,” Mom nodded decisively. “We cleared your name, and we sold some property, and we purchased it.”
Cara gaped at them.
“What?” Mom gave her a look. “Do you honestly think we’re going to be left without a way to contact our only child for the rest of our lives? I don’t think so.”
Her dad grinned. “Besides, it said right on the card describing the Heart of Eternity it belonged to Wolfsbane’s bride.”
Cara was speechless. She really had changed history.
Laughing again, she hugged her mother and father once more, and said, “I have a surprise of my own.”
She settled both hands on her stomach, and smiled broadly. “I mean, I’m not sure, but I think so, maybe?”
Mom squealed, a sound she didn't even know her mother could make.
Dad started to cry, a reaction she totally predicted.
Mom walked to where Wallace stood off to one side and gave him a hug.
He looked startled, and gently patted her on the back, then did the same thing all over again when her father, openly sobbing, hugged him as well.
Cara glanced at the stone. “How long have you been here?”
“A couple of days. We didn’t want to miss you, so we came early, and the priest took us in.”
She recognized the priest in the background and gave him a wave.
He went inside, shutting the doors behind him.
She turned back to Wallace. “I guess that answers that. We won’t be going anywhere, after all.”
“We’ll start for home immediately,” her guy was visibly relieved.
Glancing around at the tall trees, the chapel, and the healing stone, she couldn’t help but remember the night of the storm. So much had happened since then.