Page 19 of Haunted Hearts

Blaze opened and read over the missive once again. “He doesn’t actually say. It only says Lady Bonnel, but I’m sure he means Lady Lillith. After all, she is the eldest and is still not married. Plus, we once planned on marrying each other. Our fathers made a verbal promise between them.”

“I remember,” mumbled Beatrice.

“Well, I guess it’s finally going to happen after all. It seems my luck is changing.” He surprised his mother by leaning over and kissing her on the cheek. He supposed she wasn’t really a bad luck charm after all.

“How are you going to answer, my lord? Will you accept the offer?” asked Orvyn being so out of line even asking these questions. Still, Blaze was so happy now that he didn’t even reprimand the man.

“Will you? Will you say yes?” asked Minerva.

Blaze thought about it for a minute. This all seemed so surreal. After so many years of feuding with the Bonnels, and after their accusations of Blaze’s family being witches and cursing their son who died, Blaze didn’t think they’d ever come to terms again.

“I don’t know,” said Blaze. “I find this all so hard to believe. Plus, it’s so sudden after Henri’s death that it’s almost a little odd. It doesn’t seem like something the Bonnels would even consider. Especially after the rumors that they’ve heard about our family. Henri was very adamant that his daughters would never go near me again.”

“This missive didn’t come from Henri,” Minerva reminded him, as if she really needed to.

“I’ve heard Henri’s brother Arthur is quite different from Henri. He’s known to be impulsive,” said Orvyn.

“Aye, I guess so. After all, he sent a messenger so soon after the death of his brother, and in the middle of the night.” Blaze shook his head, not sure what to think. Part of him warned him to use caution, but another part was too excited to do anything but to accept the proposal and make Lillith his wife.

“Mayhap the feud will finally be over,” said Orvyn. “I mean, Lord Arthur didn’t have ill feelings toward you and your family, did he?”

“I suppose not,” said Blaze in thought, staring down at the missive that could change his life. “I actually don’t really know the man at all.”

“Do you think you can trust the Bonnels?” asked Minerva. “Mayhap this is some sort of trap or just a ploy to hurt us.”

“Nay. I don’t think so,” said Blaze shaking his head and folding the missive back up. It did make sense, he decided. Henri was gone and so was Blaze’s father. Mayhap the feud had died along with them. After all, it had been Blaze’s father who fought with Henri, not Blaze. And even though Lillith slapped him today, he supposed he deserved it for his improper behavior of kissing her in public. She didn’t mean anything by it, he was sure. He’d seen it in her eyes that she truly did enjoy his kiss. Perhaps it was Lillith who convinced her uncle to make this alliance after all. “I believe this is a legitimate attempt to make things right between our families.”

“Then you’ll be accepting the offer of marriage?” asked Minerva.

“Mother, I have waited a long time to make amends with the Bonnels and for things to be the way they used to be. Yes, I believe I will accept the offer. It is what’s best for both the Bonnels as well as the Paynes. Orvyn, find my scribe and send him to my solar. I will write my reply and send it back to Lord Arthur right away. Tonight,” he added with a nod, feeling happy and as impulsive right now as Lord Arthur Bonnel.

“Aye, my lord,” said Orvyn, bowing quickly and running off to find the scribe.

“Blaze, are you sure this is a good idea?” asked his mother in concern.

“Yes, it is.” He headed toward the keep and she followed.

“Well, I’m not sure. I still don’t trust them. Mayhap you should take a day or two to ponder it over.”

“Mother, you’re not going to change my mind. And don’t bother consulting your cards, because I won’t listen to any kind of warning you might read into the situation.”

“But my cards are never wrong. I think it would be wise to consult them.”

He stopped in his tracks, causing his mother to almost crash into him since she’d been so close. “Nay! Now, I won’t hear another word about it. I’m going to marry Lillith Bonnel, and you won’t talk me out of it. As soon as my missive reaches Arthur, the deal will be finalized. This is my time to start over. I will start fresh with a new life that includes my precious Lilly as my wife. That is what was always meant to be.”

“You are too trusting, Blaze,” Minerva scolded. “You’re too infatuated with the girl to think about this objectively. I don’t want to see you hurt. I have a bad feeling about this and beg you not to accept the offer.”

“Just keep your feelings to yourself, Mother. This alliance is going to open doors for me that have been slammed in my face and closed for a long time now. Once Earl Birmingham hears that the Bonnel family is aligned with us, he’ll accept me as his knight eagerly, with no doubt in his mind. I’ll follow in my father’s footsteps after all.”

“Send your missive then, and marry the girl if that is what you think you should do. I still think you should reject the proposal. Then again, when have you ever listened to me before?”

“It has never proved beneficial for me to listen to you in the past, and I sure as hell am not going to start now.” Blaze walked away, eager to get away from his mother and to set the plans in motion for marrying his sweet little Lilly.

* * *

“I can’t marry Lord Blaze Payne, Uncle. Please, don’t make me do it,” pleaded Serena, still trying to convince her uncle to change his mind the next morning.

Lillith sat next to her sister at the dais as they shared a meal to break the fast.