As she followed Charlotte’s willowy form down the corridor, she had to clamp her mouth shut to keep from asking who wished to speak with her. If Charlotte had been allowed to tell, she would have. Wouldn’t she? The young woman rarely spoke up unless asked a direct question. Maybe she would become bolder as she grew into womanhood, but she’d already matured so much for a girl of sixteen, ensuring the Durand home ran smoothly with her cooking and cleaning and keeping up with Andre. Most people likely had no idea what a capable, intelligent young woman resided in this slender body.
Too soon, they reached the wide doors of the assembly room. Both were propped open, showing the crowd of peoplemilling inside. Audrey scrambled to keep up with Charlotte as she wove through them to reach her father.
Chief Durand offered a smile and nod to his daughter, but his expression turned grave when he looked at Audrey. The coil inside her twisted into an impossibly tight knot. “Audrey, Madame Picard wishes to speak to the villagers before the vote, and she asked that you be present.”
For the first time, she noticed the woman standing behind the chief. Leonard’s mother wore full mourning dress, including a black cloth over her hair. The sight of her caused a wad of burning emotion to clog in Audrey’s throat. She should step forward and greet the woman, take her hands and tell her how sorry she was ... What a good man Leonard had been ... How if she could go back and change things...
But she could only stand there, her mouth too dry to speak.
The chief stepped back to Madame Picard’s side, then raised his hands and voice to silence the crowd. “Before we begin the vote, one of our own wishes to speak.”
He motioned to the grieving woman. Madame Picard straightened, lowering her head covering to rest on her shoulders. Her chin quivered as she opened her mouth to speak, and the lines wreathing her face made her appear ten years older than the last time Audrey had seen her. Grief could do that.
“I have labored hard over whether to speak or not. I think my Leonard would wish it, so here I am.” Her voice began with a tremble but grew stronger with each word.
She turned to face Audrey, and the tears Audrey had been working so hard to hold back finally slipped through her defenses as Madame Picard’s gaze locked with hers. “Thesepast days have been hard for many of us. Terrible things have happened. Things I’ll never understand the reason for.” Her voice broke on the last words, but she gathered herself and raised her chin as she continued. “Audrey has proven her heart for others. She’s done much to help our neighbors, especially those ailing in body or spirit. I believe that same kindness is what drove her in this matter as well.”
She glanced around the room. “It’s not my place to judge whose choices and actions ultimately took my son’s life. But this I know well—all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. But when we repent, God’s grace covers our sin through Jesus’s death on the cross.”
Madame Picard’s eyes met Audrey’s again. “How can I not provide the same grace our Lord extended to me?” Then her gaze shifted to the crowd around them. “I urge each of you to consider the same. As you vote, purge any vindictive feelings from your hearts. Be the hands and feet of our heavenly Father in this matter.”
As she bowed her head and stepped backward, the murmurs of the crowd rose around them.
Tears streamed freely down Audrey’s face, but the only thing that mattered to her now was reaching Leonard’s mother, wrapping her arms around the brave woman, and letting their tears mingle together in a river of grief and grace.
30
Audrey’s emotions were spent, and she had no doubt her face bore the marks of her tears. But as she sat beside Levi, the tension in the air kept her from speaking. Occasionally, the murmur of conversation would drift from Brielle and Evan, but she didn’t have the energy to even look their way.
The vote should be over now, and any moment, someone might come with the news. Or she might be summoned again.
Would Madame Picard’s moving speech affect the outcome of the vote?Lord, thank you for your grace, even if I’m not granted the same from Laurent.
A knock sounded on the rear door, and thankfully, Brielle rose to open it. Audrey reached for Levi’s hand, though she couldn’t take her eyes from the entrance as Chief Durand stepped into the room. The expression on his face gave no sign of the news he brought. But he must have an update, for he would have stayed in the assembly room until the vote was complete and the council had deliberated.
Levi’s thumb stroked across the top of her hand, and only then did she realize how tight she was squeezing his. She tried to relax, but only managed it a little.
“Is the vote finished?” Brielle asked the question Audrey couldn’t manage.
He nodded, coming to stand where they could all easily see him. His gaze moved over Brielle and Evan first, landing on the man who would be his son-in-law. “You’re feeling better today?”
“I am. Audrey won’t let me out of bed for more than a minute or two, but I’m much better.”
The chief’s gaze moved to Audrey, then slid to Levi, finally hovering on them both. “The vote is finished, and the council conferred afterward. We’ve made a decision—two decisions, I guess you could say.”
His gaze grew pointed. “The rockslide yesterday had far-reaching effects, even more than we realized at the time.” His focus lifted to Evan and a frown touched his brow. Then he shifted his attention back to Levi and Audrey. “In your case, the results were good. The report of how you both helped free the men has been carried around the village.” His gaze hovered on Audrey, and a hint of a gentle smile touched his mouth. “It was a good reminder of how you’ve always worked tirelessly and unselfishly for our people.”
His focus moved to Levi. “And you labored like one of us, setting aside your own injury to help others. For many of our people, that was the proof they needed to make them willing to give you a chance. If you wish, you’re free to remain in Laurent. Or you may leave when you’re ready. I feel it only right to tell you that your behavior will be watched closely while you’re here, at least for a while. Yet we feel confident enough in the character we’ve seen so far that we’re willing to give you a chance among us.”
Relief seeped through Audrey’s body a little at a time as the chief spoke. With those final words of freedom for Levi, happiness nearly stole her strength.
A smile stretched her face so wide she had no ability to contain it. Levi squeezed her hand, and she pressed back, almost too exultant to speak.
His words buzzed through her mind.Willing to give you a chance. Free to remain in Laurent. There would be no punishment for Levi at all.
Yet a niggle in the back of her mind tugged a bit harder. Had she been so addled during the chief’s comments that she’d missed the final verdict about her? Did she dare ask?
She had to know. “Was it decided what my punishment will be?” Her voice sounded so small with the question.
