Page 46 of A Dark and Stormy Knight (A Knight’s Tale #3)
I t 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 counsel.
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?