Realms of Fire

by Sharon K Gilbert

  “The future of our family sits here, my King. Children conceived and yet to be born. Twins who await their time upon life’s stage. Be with them now, as you’ve been with their mother—my beautiful granddaughter—and may they honour and serve you all the days of their lives. Thank you for my sister Victoria, for our pretty Della, and for friends like the Reids and Henry MacAlpin; for Martin Kepelheim and Tommy Galton. For Risling, Ed MacPherson, and all the many agents who guard our steps. Thank you for Riga, Blinkmire, Anderson, and Stanley. And for the Patterson-Smythes. And thank you, my Lord, for this dear lady sitting beside me: our blessed Alexandrina. May she live many more years with as little discomfort as possible. And may she and I live to dance at many a wedding! Bless this food to our bodies so that we may face the day with purpose and strength. In Christ’s name I ask it. Amen.”

  As he raised his head, the duke noticed his childhood friend dabbed her eyes. “Is everything ok, old girl?”

  “Yes,” answered Drina. “It’s just I’ve not heard you pray in a very long time, James. It always touches my heart.” She looked at Charles. “We are talking later today, I hope? Discussing that ‘matter’?”

  “Yes, of course, we are. We can meet after the sleigh rides, if you like.”

  “Oh, yes, for I must join in, you know. I’ve brought ample furs and warm clothes, but I imagine you’ll have plenty of rugs in the sleighs. Beth, I’d like to visit the stables later this morning, if you don’t mind, and pay my respects to Paladin. I hope to hire his services for three of my Arabian mares. Improve the stock, you might say.”

  Beth spread butter on a scone. “If you want to hire him, you’ll have to ask Charles. He owns Paladin now.”

  Della looked up from her plate. “Really? Oh, I’d love to ride Paladin! May I?”

  Charles answered. “Perhaps, but only with me. You know, there might be another horse you could ride, all on your own. Finish breakfast, then dress warmly, and we’ll take a look.”

  “No skirts,” Beth told the girl. “Remember, what I said last night. Skirts can be dangerous if a horse bolts. Wear those riding breeches Tory had made for you.”

  “I will. Does Henry also plan to ride?” she asked, putting her puppy into the basket near the fire.

  “I don’t know. Why?” asked the duchess.

  “No reason. I just thought he might enjoy riding Paladin with me.”

  Sinclair watched his little cousin’s face carefully. He’d noticed Della had made other interesting statements regarding the viscount of late and wondered what lay at the root of it all. “I’m not sure Paladin will allow it, but it’s up to Henry. Now, let’s all eat our breakfast. The villagers and farmers arrive at midday, which means we must all be ready to act as hosts.”

  “And I shall open the games,” Adele declared. “Cousin Beth said I may.”

  “Along with your Cousin Charles,” the duchess corrected. “Is there any more boiled ham?”

  Charles gazed at his pregnant wife, who’d quickly cleaned her plate. “You’re still hungry? Little one, if there’s no ham on that table, I shall rummage through the larder myself, until I find some. You’ve no idea how pleased I am to see you eat!”

  Beth laughed. “You say that now, but when I’m fat, you’ll change your mind, Captain.”

  Emily Reid, a moderately plump woman of thirty-six whose figure had thickened after bearing two children, ate heartily as well. “I can’t imagine you ever getting fat, Duchess. I used to be quite thin, but carrying our Harold changed all that. Our daughter came first, but the boy left me with an insatiable sweet tooth. I wonder if twins make a difference?”

  “I’m sure they do,” declared the queen. “Eat all you can, my dear,” she told the duchess. “I think your Captain will love you no matter what.”

  12:45 pm – Branham Stables

  Paladin greeted his new master with a nudge and a whinny. Charles offered the magnificent stallion half an apple, which the horse consumed in two bites. Adele stood nearby, and she stroked Paladin’s nose. “He’s so very beautiful. I used to have a pony at Briarcliff named Kipper, but he died of pneumonia last winter. Paul says I must wait to get another.”

  “Did I say that?” asked the earl as he drew near with Cordelia on his arm. “Strange. I don’t remember it.”

  “Well, you practically said it,” the girl replied. “I’d be very good to a pony, though, Paul. Really, I would!”

  Charles took Della’s hand. “Shall we take a short walk?”

  “Where?”

  “Not far. Just the next stable. Perhaps, Paul and Delia would like to come along.”

  “We’ll stay here,” the earl answered. “I want to show my wife the Friesian mare Beth bought last month.”

  The young duke escorted his cousin out of the heated stable and into a slightly smaller one next door. The mews of Branham included six stables, three carriage houses, and a dormitory for the grooms. Their boots made a crunching sound as they made their way through the snow drifts. A paddock separated each stable from its neighbour, and doors allowed certain animals to share outdoor freedom according to a set schedule. Presently, only a Halflinger ate from the hay-filled manger, nodding its flaxen-maned head as they passed.

  The next stable felt warm as they entered, heated by two wood stoves. Charles led Della to the third stall on the right, where a small white horse had just been saddled. The name on the stall read ‘Christmas Star’, and Adele noticed the blanket was embroidered with a thistle, an oak, and an acorn.

  “This is a sweet little horse,” she said as they stopped. “Is she new?”

  “She is,” answered Charles. “Her name’s Christmas, because she was born on Christmas Day, three years ago. Do you like her?”

  “Very much,” the girl answered as the pony nuzzled her gloved hand. “Is she fully grown?”

  “Yes. She’s a Welsh Pony, but the breed is actually a small horse. Did you notice the stitching on the blanket?”

  “Do they mean something special?”

  “They’re symbols of the House of Stuart. Your house, Della. And if you examine the saddle, you’ll see it’s tooled with the owner’s name.”

  “Who?”

  “You.”

  This took a moment to sink in, but as it did, her expression changed from curiosity to unabashed delight. “Mine?” she exclaimed, bouncing up and down. “All mine? Really?”

  “Happy Christmas, darling,” he said, lifting her into his arms and giving her a fond kiss. “May this pony lead you into many wonderful adventures.”

  “Oh, Charles, you are the nicest cousin ever! Georgie will be very lucky when she’s born, for you’ll be her father! I miss mine, you know, but I like to think of you as one. Do you mind?”

  He began to cry a little. “Not at all. That makes me very happy, Della. I’ve come to love you as if you were my own. Now,” he said, placing her back on the ground. “This pony requires exercise. Mr. Clark’s men have her all ready to travel. Would you like to ride beside me, whilst I’m on Paladin?”

  “Oh, yes! But you mustn’t go too quickly. I don’t think her short legs will keep up with his. She’s so very pretty, Charles. I think I’ll call her Star. Is that all right?”

  “It’s perfect, Della. She’s a lovely little star, just like you.”

  He kissed her again, and she wiped the tears from his cheeks. “Shall I help you up?” he asked.

  “Perhaps, a bit of help.”

  He lifted her onto the pony, and placed her booted feet into the iron stirrups. “Comfortable?”

  “I think so. Will you stay with me until Star becomes used to me?”

  He took the reins from the groom, a boy named Afton.

  “Say the word, and I’ll walk you out.”

  “Ready,” she said, once she’d settled.

  Charles slowly led the horse and rider onto the snowy r
oad, finding Paul and Delia waiting. Paladin had been saddled, and Clark held the tall stallion’s reins.

  “Do you need me to go along?” asked the earl, his arm through his new wife’s.

  “Not unless Delia wants to ride, too,” Charles answered as he mounted the stallion. “We’ll just ride a short ways along the main road. Where’s Beth gone?”

  “Walking with Drina, last we saw. Our special guest is reminiscing about long-ago Boxing Days. The villagers are already gathering near the maze, so don’t ride too long. We’ll start the sleigh rides soon.”

  Adele took the reins from the youth, who’d stayed close. “Thank you, Mr. Afton. I want to see how she moves, Cousin Charles. May we try several paces?”

  “No galloping,” warned her brother. “Keep to a cantor, Adele. You know how to control the gait. We’ll meet you near the folly, all right?”

  Charles turned Paladin northward, and Star walked alongside, the two animals taking their humans on a pleasant journey around the main gardens. As they rode, the duke conversed with his young cousin about life and Christmas.

  “Do enjoy living at Briarcliff?”

  “Not really,” she said, surprising him. “It’s awfully lonely sometimes, especially when my brother’s away, which is most of the time. Paul travels a great deal. Is it true he may go to Egypt soon?”

  “I’m not sure,” replied Sinclair. “The prime minister had asked him to go, but now that he’s married, I imagine all that will change.”

  “She’s very pretty,” Adele said. “But young. She’s not much older than I am. Do you think I shall marry when I’m eighteen?”

  He pulled Paladin a little closer, just in case Star made any unexpected movements. “I suppose you could. Wouldn’t you prefer to go to college? I thought you were considering becoming a doctor.”

  She laughed. “Perhaps, I’ll marry one, instead.”

  “Anyone I know?” he asked.

  “I shan’t say. When did you know you were in love with Cousin Beth?”

  “Almost the moment I saw her in ’84. She was sixteen years old and the most beautiful creature in all the world.”

  “Why didn’t you marry her then?” she asked innocently as they passed to the left of the statuary park. “Was it because she was too young?”

  “No, but because I was already married. My wife had left me for another man and lived in Ireland.”

  “Then, surely the law said you could divorce her,” Della declared. “Aunt Maisie told me all about divorces. Her cousin just got one. Couldn’t you have done that?”

  “I suppose I could have, but it didn’t seem right. Besides, Beth moved to France, and I had lots of police work to keep me busy. But I never forgot her, Della. Not for one day. Why do you ask?”

  “No special reason,” she replied. “But if I did meet someone interesting, do you think I must wait until I’m eighteen?”

  “I suppose that’s up to your brother. He’s your guardian. You’d need his permission until your eighteenth birthday.”

  “Oh,” she said as they neared a large group of children, playing in the snow. “I wonder, might someone else be named my guardian? Perhaps... You?”

  He slowed Paladin, to allow the smaller horse to keep up. “Darling, I’d be happy to serve as your guardian, but isn’t that up to Paul? Why is this on your mind?”

  “No reason,” she said as they neared a sleigh filled with four children and their parents. “But if Paul approved, would you be my guardian?”

  He stopped, and Adele managed to pull up Star as well. “Della, I love you like a daughter already. If you ever need to talk, I’m here.”

  “I’ll remember that,” she told him. “But it’s nothing really. I love you, Cousin Charles.”

  “And I love you, little one,” he said.

  The pet name caused her to cry. “You call Beth that.”

  “May I call you that as well?”

  She reached for his hand. “Yes, please. Now, before I blubber like a child, I really should take Star back, I suppose. Might I trot just a bit first, though? Take her through the green?”

  “It’s really the ‘white’ today, isn’t it? No galloping, Della. Remember what your brother said.”

  “Just a cantor,” she said. “You can keep watch. Paladin can catch us up, if anything goes amiss. But she’s a lovely little pony. Smooth and easy going. I love her, Cousin Charles. Really. May I go?”

  “All right, but turn round before the woods. You don’t know how she’ll respond in there, and the paths aren’t cleared.”

  “I promise!” she called, pressing her thighs against the horse’s sides, causing it to lunge forward. He watched as they took the expanse easily, the horse’s hooves kicking up the snow as Della passed by dozens of children building a snowman. Several gardeners, tasked to patrol the crowd and maintain order, waved as she cantered by them.

  Charles saw Drummond and the queen sitting on a bench beneath a large marquee, erected just for the Boxing Day celebrations. Inside it, were tables of sandwiches, fruit, cookies, cakes, and steaming kettles of hot chocolate and sweet tea. He could also see the earl and his new wife walking towards the tent, arm in arm, and Elizabeth in a deep conversation with Henry MacAlpin. Salperton sat on a chestnut mare, bending down as he and the duchess spoke. Victoria and Dolly stood near the west entrance to the maze, waving to Adele and shouting something.

  Charles paused his horse just before reaching the marquee, for he could see smoke rising up from the centre of the yew maze. Fearing a fire, he dismounted and handed the reins to a gardener, mentioning the smoke and ordering him to contact Powers immediately.

  A part of the duke’s brain recorded everyone’s location as he neared the entrance. Tory and Dolly looking towards Henry’s Woods, Beth and Henry by the folly, just at the wood’s edge. Drummond pouring mugs of chocolate in the tent. Reid kissing his wife near the pond. Paul whispering into Cordelia’s ear, and the girl laughing. Kepelheim with Riga, Stanley, and Blinkmire on the opposite side of the frozen pond, sharing a laugh.

  And David Anderson on his own, not far from the row of yews that formed the maze’s west entrance.

  The smoke curled above the white-capped hedges, but no one else seemed to notice—except for Anderson. Charles could see him react, as though smelling the fire.

  Then it all went wrong.

  A horsefly, which had no business at all being alive in such weather, bit Christmas Star’s rump, and the horse rose up on its hind legs, neighing loudly. Charles turned at the sound, for it cut through the cold air as though aimed at his ears. What he saw terrified him: Adele, barely hanging onto the horse as it dove into the dense foliage of Henry’s Woods; Beth and Henry, reacting at once, and MacAlpin spurring his horse into the brush.

  Paul was running. Drummond dropped his cocoa. Beth collapsed against the corner pillar of the folly.

  Charles started to dash towards the rescue effort, but ran into a wall. Not a literal one, but a spiritual one.

  “Come with me, or she dies,” a voice said from the invisible barrier. “Into the maze.”

  “No!” he shouted, pushing at the wall.

  “Then, I’ll kill her now.”

  “What is it you want from me?”

  “I want to talk,” the barrier answered. “Come into the maze.”

  Charles watched the men and women—many of them villagers—rushing into the woods to help. Only Anderson saw the duke enter the treacherous maze. A chill of fear ran through him, and for a moment, it seemed history was about to repeat itself.

  Go after him, a voice whispered into David Anderson’s right ear. He needs you.

  The former Rose House footman gulped, summoning up all his courage, and then David began to run.

  Chapter Sixty-Three

  Henry MacAlpin followed the Welsh pony’s path for nearly ten minutes, but
saw no sign of horse or rider. As he neared the enclosure of trees known as Faery’s Copse, the track stopped, as though the pony had simply vanished. Henry saw no one anywhere in the area. He left his horse, leading the animal along the snowy path.

  “Della!” he shouted, praying she was just ahead.

  The packed snow grew lighter as he neared a rise in the ground, and he noticed hints of grass appearing within the mounding drifts. Just over the rise, the air warmed, and before him the woodland looked summery, with butterflies and bees attending to the many flowers. Turning to look behind, he could see nothing of winter, for all round had become impossibly verdant and luxuriant.

  “Feelin’ a bit muddled are we?” asked a woman’s voice. “It can be quite confusin’ round these parts, Henry MacAlpin.”

  Assuming he’d fallen asleep somewhere nearby, the viscount left his horse to graze and walked towards the plump woman. She wore a simple muslin dress with a checkered apron, which tied at the back of her ample waist. Her silver hair blew in the breeze, and he could see bee hives at the back of a simple cottage.

  “You know me?” he asked.

  “I’ve known you since you were a wee lad,” she laughed. “Twas me sent you Droigheann, yer doggy. Aye, he was a right good companion for a boy. You’re lookin’ fer young Della, aren’t ye, laddy?”

  “Yes, I am. Has she come this way?”

  “No, but she’s all right. There’s a girl waiting for you, though. She’s just seen some right awful things, an’ needs a bit o’ tendin’, ye know. Come in. I’ll put the kettle on.”

  Inside the hedge maze, Charles felt strangely at home. Though he’d never in his life walked this maze before, he seemed to know every correct turn to reach the centre quickly. He even knew why. The Branham maze was identical to the one near his boyhood home of Rose House.

  “This way,” he heard a voice say. “Not far now. Come on. I’ll not bite.”

  As he walked, he glanced down now and then, noticing footprints in the snow. They began as a large-footed man but transformed with each turn, finally becoming gigantic animal paws as he neared the centre. He instinctively reached into his coat for the weapon he kept there. Baxter’s tale of Connor Stuart and a young Elizabeth finding a massive grey wolf at the maze’s heart long ago passed through his thoughts. He wondered if he would come out alive.