Steps of glory.His words took all of the strength from her body. Avalyn collapsed on the dank cell floor, her tears flowing freely. Brogan turned to face her, reaching his arm out between the bars, trying to touch her. She saw his hand and she extended her arm though the restrictive grate, her fingers stretching for him, wanting so badly to feel him.
“I love you, Brogan.”
“And I love you.”
Twenty inches and an entire country separated them.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
One month later
It was themost lavish wedding anyone in attendance could remember seeing.
The bride was clad in yards of ivory satin and jewels, while the groom, red-faced and sweaty, was giddy throughout the entire ceremony, so much so that he dropped his Bible, dropped the ring, and had difficulty standing from prayer. Barton stood close behind him most of the time, as Aubrey seemed to be having trouble holding his balance. He laughed, and attributed it to his nerves and too much wine. Avalyn thought he looked rather sickly, but she too attributed it to the excitement. She’d never seen someone so completely thrilled.
Uncle Richard and Aunt Anne were in attendance, as was young Anne. Isobel was with Clarence, having married him two weeks prior in London. Avalyn was sorry she had missed the ceremony for her cousin’s sake, but she had been busy planning her own ceremony and trying to focus on something other than her complete misery. Every time she thought of Brogan, she burst into tears. She had gone about her tasks with no heart and no soul, a former shell of her once-vital self. She was, for all intents and purposes, dead.
But there were small things to be thankful for, even in the darkness that surrounded her. Charles had showed his true benevolence the day she had agreed to marry him without delay; he had Brogan and St. Alban escorted from Guerdley Cross that very day under St. John’s watchful eye and, in a completeshow of mercy, allowed William to remain. After his anger had calmed, and profound remorse set in for his show of temper, he was eager to make amends to the lady.
Though Avalyn had agreed to marry him immediately, Charles knew that everyone, especially the de Nevilles, were expecting a massive affair. To marry her in a ceremony lacking pomp or circumstance would not have been fitting for either of their stations. Therefore, with Brogan gone, and on the lady’s word that any relationship between she and Brogan was forever ended, Charles agreed to postpone the wedding for a few weeks so that a sumptuous event could be planned.
In the weeks leading up to the ceremony, William kept a very discreet presence around Avalyn. If Charles wanted to be near her, he would politely excuse himself. No longer was he the cloak that shielded her from her betrothed; Avalyn had made it clear that it was no longer necessary. Even so, William felt some jealousy and concern over Aubrey’s unchaperoned visits with the lady. For some reason, he still felt the strong need to protect her, even from her intended. Aubrey was a good man, a benevolent man, but he still didn’t like him close to Avalyn. He wasn’t good enough for her, in William’s opinion. Perhaps there was just the smallest part of him that didn’t think anyone was good enough for her.
But the day came when she indeed became Lady Aubrey. After the enormous mass in the cathedral of St. Helen, the couple and their guests retreated to Guerdley Cross for the three-day celebration that would follow.
Dusk on the day of the wedding was a brilliant scope of pink and blue hues as the salty sea breeze infiltrated the land. The keep of Guerdley Cross was warm and well lit, and well-wishers wandered in and out, bringing their merriment to the bailey and congregating in loud groups. High on the battlements overhead, William watched the events unfolding, his gaze lingering onthe familiar standards of de Neville as they now flew over the keep of Guerdley Cross. The marriage gave Richard the right to announce to all that Guerdley Cross was now part of the Warwick family.
Avalyn hadn’t seemed overly emotional about anything, William mused silently. He had half-expected tears and hysterics, but instead, she had steeled herself as he’d seen her do so many times. Before she had met Brogan, she had always been in control of her emotions, unusual for a woman. But with the introduction of the big Germanic soldier, she’d finally allowed herself to feel something. Then she was asked to steel herself again. He wondered bleakly if she would ever allow herself to feel anything ever again.
She had been quite stoic, an odd scene when one considered how excited Aubrey was. Even now, he could imagine her in the great hall, chalice in hand as Charles toasted their marriage. There wouldn’t be much thrill to that, but she would drink to their happiness and pretend like she cared. It made William sick to think that the life had gone out of her.
“A lovely evening.”
A soft voice roused him from his thoughts. Startled, William turned to see Avalyn standing next to him, wrapped in a fabulous ivory brocade cloak with gold thread and white rabbit fur. It was an amazing garment that Charles had commissioned especially for the wedding. With her hair piled in an elaborate arrangement atop her head courtesy of Aggie, Avalyn looked stunning. He smiled at her.
“Lovely indeed, my lady,” he said. “Why aren’t you inside enjoying your debaucherous orgy?”
She laughed softly, the first smile he’d seen from her all day. “It is too hot in there,” she said. “Besides, everyone is drunk, including Charles.”
William’s eyebrows lifted. “Even your uncle?”
She nodded. “Both he and my aunt. In fact, my aunt has had so much wine that her ladies have taken her up to her chamber. If it wasn’t so pathetic, it would be funny.”
William did indeed soft softly with laughter. His round blue eyes lingered on her a moment before gazing off across the compound again. “An impressive wedding, Lady Aubrey. You should be most proud.”
Her smile faded, her golden eyes following William’s. “It is what Charles deserved. Even if this marriage is a farce, at least the ceremony looks real enough. The man will keep his dignity.”
“And you?” William leaned forward on the battlement, his elbows resting against the stone. “Have you kept yours?”
She shrugged. “I exchanged my happiness for it. I should hope so.”
William kept silent to that. He didn’t want to bring about memories they were all attempting to forget. He shifted on his big legs. “Your uncle wants to take me back to Warwick,” he said. “Now that you are Lady Aubrey, he feels that my work here is finished.”
She looked at him, eyes wide. “But… I do not want you to go, William. You are my very best friend. Who will I talk to? Who will know everything about me and advise me?”
He patted her arm through the heavy brocade. “You have your ladies. And you have your husband.”
For the first time all day, she began to show signs of cracking. “It is only your presence keeping me sane, William. If you leave, I shall surely crumble. I shall be lost.”
