Page 22 of Silent Knight: Alexander

“Warren, please,” said Summer, touching her husband’s arm. “We all want to know if this story is true, and there is only one way to find out. Now start digging.”

“But Mother, you shouldn’t be here,” said Dominick. “If we find Peter’s bones, it is going to be too hard for you to handle.”

“On the contrary, I need closure,” said Summer. “I never saw my baby being put in the ground because I was too weak after the birth to get out of bed. I need to see for myself if Peter is there –” She pointed to the ground. “Or there –” she said, pointing at Alex. “And I hope against all the odds the latter is true because I would be proud if you were my son, Alex.”

Lady Summer’s words melted Alex’s heart and almost made him cry. “Aye. We need to know,” he said, taking his shovel and being the first one to break the ground.

Charlotte watchedas the three men and even Summer dug up the grave of Peter Mowbray. She held her breath when Alex’s shovel clunked off of a hard object in the ground.

“It’s here,” said Alex, keeping his eyes focused on the grave. Charlotte brought her lantern closer and held it over the hole. There, in the ground, was a small wooden box, just the size that would be used for a newborn.

“Step aside, Summer,” said Warren, reaching down and pulling the casket from the earth. He placed it atop the snow-covered ground and used his shovel to break the lock that held it closed.

“Warren, hold me,” said Summer, reaching out for her husband. “I feel as if I’m going to swoon.”

Warren stepped back and held his wife. They all stood there in the dark, by the light of just a few lanterns and the moon, staring at what might be the final resting place of Peter Mowbray.

“Who is going to open the box?” whispered Dominick, as if he were afraid to say it aloud.

“I will,” said Warren, moving forward, but Summer held him back.

“Nay, Husband. It should be me who does this.” She stepped forward and reached out for the casket with shaking hands.

“Nay. No mother should ever have to open the casket of her child.” Alex limped forward and took Summer’s hand off the wooden box. “Please, let me do it.”

“Are you sure?” asked Summer. The air grew tense.

“God’s eyes, someone do it before we all freeze to death out here,” complained Warren. He wore a cloak over his night tunic, pulling it closer around him. “I’ve never ended up in a graveyard in the middle of the night in winter before even on one of my sleepwalking escapades.”

“Sleepwalking?” asked Charlotte, curious as to what that meant.

“Don’t ask,” said Warren, “because you don’t want to know.”

“May I, Lady Summer?” asked Alex, being ever so polite.

“Please do,” she said with a nod of her head, clinging to her husband’s arm.

Alex reached out with trembling hands. “I have to admit, I fear what I might find in the box. And then I also fear what I might not find. But either way, I can’t live like this anymore. One way or another, tonight I will finally have my answer.”

“And so will I,” said Lady Summer.

“All right. I’m going to open it now,” he said, reaching out but then pulling his hands back and shaking his head.

“Do it,” Dominick urged him.

“Go ahead, Alex.” Charlotte nodded.

Once again, he reached out, and this time his fingers closed around the edges of the lid. But from years of being in the ground, the box was stuck shut. “It won’t open,” said Alex.

“Perhaps if we both try, we can do it,” suggested Summer.

“Stand back,” said Warren, having no patience for this. He used his shovel to pry open the lid and then stood back and held out his arm to Alex. “Go ahead,” he said with a nod.

Alex took hold of the lid and lifted it upward, but stopped midway. Charlotte could see the indecision on his face.

“Let me help you,” said Charlotte, stepping forward and putting her hands on the lid as well.

“And me,” said Summer, doing the same.

“Don’t leave me out,” added Dominick, bending down as well.

“I’m already in my nightclothes. I’m not getting down in the dirt so count me out,” complained Warren. “Now do it, or I swear I’ll push you all out of the way and flip the box over with my foot.”

“Nay, don’t do that,” pleaded Summer.

“On the count of three,” said Charlotte, trying to help the process along. “One . . . two . . . three.” They lifted the lid, and all stared down to see an empty box.

“There’s nothing there,” said Summer, holding her hand to her heart.

“That means my brother was never buried here,” Dominick told them.

“It means Peter Mowbray didn’t die when he was born after all,” said Warren with a yawn.

“Crandell was telling the truth.” Alex stared into the box with wide eyes, looking frightened and relieved at the same time.

“Alex,” said Charlotte, taking him by the arm. “Does this mean . . . are you . . .”

“Aye,” said Alex, keeping his face emotionless but nodding slowly. He focused on the empty casket. “It means Lady Summer is my mother and the Ladies Regina and Claire are my half-sisters. Dominick, you are my brother,” he said, looking up to the man. “I am Peter. I’ve been reborn this night.” He looked at Summer and limped over to give her a hug. “Mother,” he said, catching her in his arms as she fainted.