The Knight and the Dove (3 page)

“No, Reverend Mother. Old Mrs. Murch was working in her garden, and you know how bent her back is. I simply had to help her.”

This explained the dirt, but all the Reverend Mother said was, “Then the baby was born?”

“Well, yes, but I didn’t see her until after I’d talked with William. He still has it in his head to marry me. I told him how unsuitable I would be, but he won’t listen.”

Megan’s distressed face was comical, but the word
marry
brought the Reverend Mother firmly back to the task at hand.

“It sounds as if you’ve had a busy day. As much as I appreciate your telling me honestly where you have been, that is not the reason I sent for you.”

Megan nodded, having surmised as much.

“Your father wants you home, Meg.” The older woman had used her nickname, a rare thing and one that warned her of the Reverend Mother’s emotions.

“He has written to me, and you’re to gather your belongings and return to Stone Lake Castle by the end of the week.” The older woman, by Lord Vincent’s request, omitted the news about marriage.

Megan said nothing. She rose and went to the window, her eyes far away. Not one of the nuns would have risen and turned from the Reverend Mother without permission, but Megan was not a nun. She was the daughter of a titled lord, a girl who had lived with them since the day after her ninth birthday. She was now 17, and the Reverend Mother knew that the abbey had truly become her home.

Annora, Lord Vincent’s wife, had never wanted Megan. She was happy with her beautiful first daughter and never desired another child. If rumor could be believed, she had tried several purges to rid herself of her unwanted second pregnancy but all attempts had failed.

Annora might have forgiven Megan had she been a male heir, but the fact that she was a girl, and redheaded as well, was enough to cause her to shun the child. However, much to Lady Annora’s horror, Megan proved to be more than stalwart. The stouthearted little girl did everything in her power to gain her mother’s attention, until it became obvious to Vincent that the two must be separated lest Megan come to physical harm at Annora’s hand.

When Megan arrived at the abbey, she was insolent beyond description and so active that the nuns thought they would lose their minds. She ran away no less than twice a week and swiftly became a master at hiding and wearing disguises. The Reverend Mother thought they would never survive the first years, but much of that changed as Megan matured. Then near the time of Megan’s fourteenth birthday, her heart became sensitive to spiritual matters.

On one occasion, when Father Brent was making his regular visit, Megan sought him out. The kind priest, who had come under the influence of Luther and other reformers, spoke to her about her eternal soul, and she humbly gave herself to Christ. The change from that point was remarkable.

Megan was still a hard worker and compassionate to a fault, but the peace that surrounded her was extraordinary. Her temper was still a struggle, and when it came to defending someone less fortunate than herself, no one would put it past her to take on a giant. Her conversion, however, had been very real.

She had learned to label her sins for what they were and also learned
the sweet fellowship of obedience to God that comes from a whole-hearted desire to walk with Him.

“Does my father say why I am needed?” Megan finally spoke from her place by the window. “I mean, he’s not ill, is he?”

“No, Megan, your father is fine, but as for the reason, I will leave that explanation to him.”

Megan nodded. She had a feeling this was something serious, but she could hardly expect the Reverend Mother to be the bearer of the bad news.

“Does he say how I’m to arrive home?”

The Reverend Mother smiled, her first genuine smile since Megan entered the room.

“Transportation has never been a problem for you before, Meg.”

The young woman smiled in return. It was true. In her days of escape, she had hidden in hay wagons and cattle carts, dressed as a gypsy and walked with a traveling band, and even gone so far as to dress as a lad and go on horseback. Her generous curves had prevented that disguise in the last few years, but it was true, Megan always knew how to get where she was going.

The Reverend Mother told her that guardsmen from the castle would be arriving on horseback that Friday, just six days away. Megan accepted this news graciously, and when she was ready to leave the Reverend Mother walked her to the door. No words were spoken, but Megan hugged the older woman fiercely before leaving, thinking it felt as though she were already gone.

Two

L
ONDON WAS HOT AND NOISY
as Bracken turned his horse over to a waiting groom, gave orders to a few of his knights, and made his way to the massive front door of his aunt’s home. His long legs, clad in dark hose, ate up the distance with ease. He had not enjoyed the trip from his country estate, but a missive from the king, as well as one from his neighbor, forced him onward.

Bracken found his widowed aunt in an upstairs salon. With barely a word of greeting, he told her what he was about.

“I need you to return to Hawkings Crest.”

“Why, Bracken,” the older woman spoke in surprise. “I’ve only just arrived back in London.”

“I realize that, Aunt Louisa, but I’ve just received word that I am to marry and I need you back at the estate.”

Louisa’s eyes became huge on this announcement, but she remained silent, waiting for Bracken to explain. He did not disappoint her.

“The king has ordered me to take a bride from Stone Lake, from the household of Vincent Stone to be exact. I have also received word from Vincent himself telling me he has chosen his youngest daughter, Megan, and wishes her to live at Hawkings Crest for a period before we are wed. He wrote to me obviously believing that you were still living with me.

“I think his request a trifle odd, but since I can’t refuse the king or my future father-in-law,” Bracken’s voice hardened slightly, “I feel I have little choice but to ask you to return and act as guardian.”

Louisa studied her sister’s oldest child in silence. Bracken was usually
an amiable man. He was dark in both skin and hair coloring, and the full beard that covered the lower part of his handsome face gave him an almost sinister look. Louisa now studied his mouth and eyes. He was easily given to smiling and typically ready to laugh, but the man before her now was quite serious and clearly disturbed. For Louisa, who knew Bracken well, it wasn’t hard to understand why.

Louisa had never known anyone happier in a marriage than her sister, Joyce, widowed now for six years. Louisa knew that Bracken wanted that same happiness. He was only 24 years old, and his aunt knew well that he was in no hurry to wed. In fact, she believed as much as he desired male heirs, he would stay single all the days of his life rather than live with a woman he didn’t love.

“Will you come?” Bracken’s voice cut into her musings.

“Certainly, Bracken, but may I ask a few questions?”

The young knight answered her with a slight inclination of his head.

“Is the girl willing?”

Bracken shook his head. “Vincent’s letter did not say. He did write that she is just 17 and has been raised at the Stone Lake abbey.”

A shudder ran over Louisa’s frame. She could think of nothing worse. The girl would either be so austere that she would never warm up to Bracken, or, once released from the confines of the convent, so wild that she would never be faithful to her vows. However, Louisa kept all of these thoughts to herself. She decided then that she would brace up for Bracken, certain it was what her sister would want.

“Well, now,” Louisa began. “She could have been much younger, so her age is an asset. And don’t forget, Bracken, no matter where she was raised, she is Vincent’s daughter. Without a doubt she will be graceful and a true asset to your keep.”

Louisa secretly wondered if a girl raised in a convent would have a clue as to how to run a castle, but such thoughts remained unspoken as she watched Bracken visibly relax. Louisa relaxed herself knowing she’d said the right thing.

“Have you ever met Megan?”

Bracken’s eyes narrowed on a spot across the room. “I think I have. It was some years ago, and I must admit that it didn’t go well. I made a fool of myself.”

“What happened?”

Bracken smiled now, his first since arriving. “It was at court, before Father died. She was just a girl of course, talking with a group of other girls. I remember thinking I had never seen anyone with eyes so blue and hair so light. I gawked at her until she said something quite rude and the others laughed. I was humiliated, of course, but I haven’t thought of it in years.”

“So she’s beautiful?”

“Yes.” Bracken’s smile became huge. “She is at that.”

Louisa’s smile matched his own. Her voice was gentle as she commented, “Beauty is not enough to build a marriage on, Bracken, but it certainly helps when a husband and wife find each other attractive.”

Bracken’s hand came to his bearded chin, and Louisa chuckled.

“You’re asking yourself if she’ll find you attractive, Bracken?”

Bracken now laughed at himself. “I am at that.”

Louisa’s voice became dry. “No such thought should plague you. I feel quite confident that she will think you handsome.”

Bracken shook his head in true modesty before the two fell to discussing the dates. Megan was not due to arrive at Hawkings Crest for another two weeks, and the lord of the castle saw no reason for his aunt to have to make the trip sooner.

Bracken stayed on in London until the next morning, and by the time he left he felt somewhat resigned if not thrilled with the idea of marriage to Vincent’s beautiful blonde daughter. He would do all that was asked of him.

Bracken did not go directly back to Hawkings Crest, but he and his men rode north on business. With Megan not arriving for two weeks, there was no need for him to hurry home.

The ride on horseback to the castle on Stone Lake was not a lengthy one, but Megan, having to fight anxiety with every mile, would have sworn that she had crossed the country. Her father had been to visit her just six weeks before, but Megan hadn’t seen her home or her mother for more than two years. When she had visited that Christmas, she knew she would be returning to the abbey. This time she had no such security. This time it seemed she would be going home for good. But why?

This was the question that had plagued Megan from the moment she had left the Reverend Mother’s office. Was her sister going to be wed? Was her mother ill? Had her father given her own hand away? Meg didn’t think he would do this without talking to her, but she wasn’t sure. Maybe her mother had decided it was time her youngest daughter marry.