by Lori Wick
“Not for a month at least,” he told her easily. “But for the moment, I really must go.”
He was gone with those words, and with him went Sunny’s desire to watch any more of the dance. She was relieved when Rand appeared not 20 minutes later, their cloaks over his arm, to usher them downstairs to a waiting carriage.
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FIVE WEEKS LATERBRANDON’SSHIP SAILED WITH THE TIDE.He
remained on deck only until they were safely into the bay and then retired to his cabin to review his reports. Strangely enough, when he was finally settled at his desk, he found his mind straying tar from his work.
Sunny and Holly had been at Bracken the day he had left. Brandon had been in an awful rush with last-minute details and had no time for socializing or even the briefest of conversations. He clearly remembered, however, the scene in the library at his departure. Sunny and his grandfather had been engaged in a fierce chess match, and Holly had been curled up on the oversized davenport, reading a book. It had all been so cozy and serene that now Brandon found himself momentarily preoccupied.
As he had left for London, he realized for the first time that the sea was losing its charm. How lovely it would have been to throw his coat over a chair and settle in next to Holly with a book of his own, or to bend his sharp mind to the task of letting his grandfather win at chess without his knowing.
ttl want a wife and family,” Brandon spoke softly in the empty cabin, and his mind, without permission, went to one of his dancing partners at Dexter’s wedding reception-Dinah Hadley.
Dexter’s status as grandson of a duke and Brandon’s position as heir to the title had made the wedding a very newsworthy occasion in London society. Outside of family members, Brandon had made it
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a point not to dance with the same woman twice.
London’s tongue could be ruthless when it came to scandal gossip, but Brandon wondered even now at how difficult it had bc< to dance with Dinah only once. Releasing her to another partner when he was so fascinated by her conversation, had been very diffil cult indeed.
Dinah had grown up a good deal in the year since her coming! out, and Brandon had teased her over not having been spoken for yet] He had been shocked speechless by her soft yet determined answer.
“I’m waiting for a man who puts the importance of his relation) ship with God over and above his title or his wealth.” That she had^ shocked herself was quite clear when she turned a dull red and began to stammer.
“I beg your pardon, my lord. I was very rude just now, and I hope-
“Don’t apologize,” Brandon had interjected, his voice kind. “Just answer one more question for me. Where do you putyourrelationship with God?”
“Above all else,” she had told him sincerely. “And when He wants me to be married, I know that He’ll provide a spouse who believes as I do.”
The waltz changed to a minuet just after this, and Dinah was lost to Brandon for the rest of the evening. For her reputation as well as his own, he could not seek her out, and Brandon had found this one of the most difficult things he’d had to do. Unknowingly, Chelsea rescued him by telling him that Sunny was in the balcony. He had made his escape, however brief, and from then on the evening progressed smoothly.
Brandon sighed over his memories and massaged the back of his neck with a long-fingered hand.And now Pm headed back to sea. I run the risk of never seeing Papa again every time I leave. This time itys more difficult; this time I don’t want to go at all.
Brandon suddenly remembered how well Sunny had taken his departure. She was adjusting very nicely, and Brandon thought how much he had to be truly thankful for. Allowing his accounts to wait, he took time to thank God for His tender care and to entrust Him with this journey and all the loved ones he had left behind.
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Sunny’s fifteenth birthday came and went, as did Christmas and Year’s. Almost a year to the date, Chelsea began to witness in iy the same listlessness that Heather had seen in London. She pale and losing weight. Both Miles and Jordan were back at lool, and neither Holly nor London Lady, nor any of her usual suits, seemed to cheer the quiet young woman. At some point we’ve got to stop turning tricks to amuse her,* said to Chelsea one evening after dismissing the maid for the
it.
If she’s unhappy, she needs to face the problem and deal with it” . I agree with you, Rand,” Chelsea admitted. Turning away from *the mirror at her dressing table, Chelsea gazed over at Rand sprawled ‘on her bed, “Douglas and Marian have asked her to visit Portsmouthfagain and again. Maybe if we talk to her, we can make her understand.”
“Understand what exactly?” Rand wanted to know.
“That this will be her last distraction. Although I’m not sure that, for Sunny, distraction is all that bad.”
“Meaning?” Rand spoke patiently.
“Only that she’s quite clever, and at some point she’s going to see that all this running and searching is getting her nowhere. Someday she’s going to see that Jesus Christ is the only person who can fill the void she’s feeling. I don’t know where or how or when, but I believe it with all my heart.”
Rand stared at Chelsea for the space of a few heartbeats before he stood and held out his hand. Chelsea immediately rose and put her hand in his to be led through the adjoining door and into his bedroom. Rand still had not spoken when they climbed into bed and the darkness settled around them. Chelsea was nearly asleep when he spoke.
“I love you, Chels.”
“Is that what you’ve been thinking of all this time?” she murmured sleepily.
“That and praying about what you said. I’ve finally decided that you’re right. I’ll take Sunny to Portsmouth myself. That will give us time to talk. Doug can bring her back in a few months.
“I will say this much, though-this will be the last time. She can visit anyone she likes for a week or two, but Willows’ End is her home, and she’s going to have to learn to be content right here.”
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Chelsea kissed Rand’s jaw by way of agreement, and within utes they were both asleep.
Sunny stood at the water’s edgeandremembered her brothc words to her some weeks ago: “You’ll not find contentment by ji running from one place to the next, not in Portsmouth or anywi else, Sunny. You’ve got to make peace with who you are, and God’s Son.”
Sunny had acted a bit cold to him for the remainder of the joi ney, but she now knew he had been right about finding contentme in Portsmouth. Not that she wasn’t having a lovely time; she wi but something was missing.
She didn’t see a lot of Doug, but Marian and the children werej such fun. After getting to know her well, Sunny had quite simply fallen! in love with little Grace. The boys were occupied with their school* lessons most days, and Sunny had thought it wonderful that Grace actually knew less about stitching than she did. Sunny had to admit, however, that Grace was quickly approaching her level of skill.
Sunny heard her name on the wind and turned to see Marian approaching. The wind was somewhat cold, but both women loved the feel of it on their faces and hair. Sunny stayed where she was until her sister-in-law joined her.
**I know you love it out here, but we have a visitor.” “Who is it?” Sunny grinned at the sparkle in Marian’s eyes. “Aunt Lucy.” “Who is Aunt Lucy?”
Marian chuckled. “She’s Brandon’s grandfather’s sister.” “The duke has a sister? I didn’t know that. Why has no one ever spoken of her?”
“It’s not because she’s disliked; it’s just that she hasn’t been in England for five years, and she’s simply dreadful when it comes to keeping in touch. We all have a tendency to forget she’s alive.”
“Where does she live?”
“Well, just now she has come from America, but before that she was several years in India.**
Sunny’s eyes had gone quite round, but she couldn’t manage a reply. Marian tucked her arm into Sunny’s and turned toward the house.
“Nevertheless, those were her words, and when you get to knowfrfceryou’ll find they’re not all that unusual.”
Before pushing her in the direction of the stairs, Marian laughed again at the look on Sunny’s face and told her that she had only 15 minutes to get cleaned up for tea.
Lady Lucy Hawkesbury was indeed a character. In the first moments of meeting her, Sunny thought her something of a wonder, | but in little time at all she noticed that her bright, dark eyes could be rather confused at times. Sunny had the impression that her mind was quite keen, but she really couldn’t be bothered with the mundane details of life, such as keeping in touch with her brother or remembering that her spectacles were pinned to the lace bow that fell over her rather full bosom.
Aside from all of this, Sunny could see that she possessed a kind heart. Lucy loved Doug’s children to distraction and was looking forward to seeing the rest of the family. She was thrilled when she learned that Doug would be returning Sunny to Willows’ End the next week. Declaring in a no-nonsense voice that her own carriage would follow them, Lucy’s smile beamed around the room as though the subject were settled.
“What if my house isn’t ready?” the older woman wondered aloud, suddenly having second thoughts.
“Have you sent someone ahead to take care of it?” a very practical Harlan wanted to know.
“Well, I was going to, but somehow I think I forgot.”
Sunny watched Marian’s hand go to her mouth as she turned a laugh into a cough.
“Where is Tildy?” Lucy questioned.
“I’ll find her for you,” Lance offered.
“Who is Tildy?” Grace asked, but her question was never answered because Tildy, a woman who looked even older than her mistress, appeared in the door.
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“Yes, my lady,” she said with a kind reverence. Aunt Li blinked at her in some confusion.
“Your house in London,” Marian prompted. **Of course.” Marian was gifted with the older woman’s smfl) “Tildy dear, have we done anything about the house in London?: mean, is it being prepared for our arrival?**
“Yes, my lady, but you had planned on visiting Bracken for a weeks before moving in. You told your solicitor, Mr. Kent, that wouldn’t need it until the first of April.**
“Oh, now I remember.” The room watched as she suddei went from relief to looking very unsure of herself.
“You’re going home next week, aren’t you, Sunny?” “Yes, ma’am.”
“I don’t suppose my carriage could accompany yours?“j
Sunny blinked in surprise. Why less then ten minutes ago, she’
had not asked Sunny but rathertoldher that she was going north i
with her. To Sunny’s relief, Doug chose that moment to come in for
tea, and the question was put to him.
He handled it with gentle aplomb, and in a few short moments the old girl had neatly maneuvered things to suit her. Sunny sat quietly and learned that she was to go home in two days* time, not the next | week. She then watched in silence as Aunt Lucy remembered she had j something for the children and ushered all of them out of the parlor and upstairs to her room.
Theroom was utterly quiet after her departure. Sunny sat staring at Lucy’s vacant chair, but a muffled sound caught her attention. She looked to see that Marian had her hands over her face in an attempt to stifle her laughter. Doug and Sunny joined her, staring at each other in helpless surprise.
Sunny, when she thought about it, found she was not at all upset about going home, or even about having Lucy accompany them, but Lucy was far and away the most eccentric bundle of humanity she had encountered in her life.
Doug’s words, spoken without malice before they were once again joined by the children, stayed with Sunny for the long ride home, as well as any time she occasioned to come into contact with Aunt Lucy.
“I dare say she’s quite harmless, but I’ll tell you, Aunt Lucy is a hen-wit if ever I’ve seen one.”
the calendar read may 3, 1846, when theFlying Surprisesailed up the Thames and into a London dock. Brandon had been off the shores of Morocco when he had felt such a need to return home that it nearly staggered him. Not a man given to flights of fancy, he tried to push the thought aside, but the feeling persisted. He started for London with a fraction of the ship’s hold filled, his men thinking he’d taken leave of his senses. But Brandon had never felt this way in the past, and was not going to ignore the urging now.
After arriving and docking his ship, he headed straight for his town house, rousing his staff from their sleep to prepare his carriage. His staff was loyal to a fault, and in record time Brandon was bathed, fed, and headed out of London by 3:00 A.M. Two hours later the coach pulled into the courtyard in front of Bracken. The mansion was alight with candles, and Brandon, with a heavy heart, assumed he was too late. Parks met him at the door and put his fears to rest.
“You’re in time, my lord,” the trusted servant said softly. Brandon touched his shoulder by way of thanks and took the steps on swift, silent feet.
Brandon hesitated at the doorway of the duke’s bedroom. His gaze quickly took in his mother, Dexter, Judith, Chelsea, and Rand before moving to the still form lying on the bed.
Andrea was the first of the group to spot him, and she rose and walked straight into his arms. The very sight of her oldest son was too much for her. So overcome with thankfulness that Brandon had made
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it in his grandfather’s last hours, Andrea sobbed against his chest long moments.
“I prayed, Brandon,” she finally managed. “The doctor says hcl probably headed into a coma now, but he’s still with us, and I fcn you would want-” She couldn’t go on, but there was no need. a
Keeping her hand within his own, Brandon approached the bedj He sat in the chair his mother had vacated and was vaguely aware Rand sending the doctor, nurse, and servants from the room.$
“I’m here, Papa,” Brandon whispered. “I made it back to say! goodbye.” His voice broke on these words as he placed his hand into his grandfather’s.
The old duke didn’t stir, but it was enough for Brandon to touch his warm hand and see him again before he left this earthly life. Brandon continued to speak to him in low, loving tones, thanking him for the man that he had been, the spiritual leader, the kind Papa, the wise mentor.
Andrea and Chelsea wept as Brandon spoke, but their tears subsided when he finished his goodbye. The room was quite still when suddenly the duke’s chest gave a great heave. Rand immediately went for the doctor, who waited in the hall, but after the briefest of checks, he informed the family that the duke was still with them.
He lingered for a better pan of the morning, and only Brandon, Dexter, and Chelsea were with him when he quietly slipped into eternity.
The day of the old duke’s funeral was hot and muggy. Still, over 300 mourners turned out for the service. There was no chance for the family to speak with each and every one, but the guests who crowded dose were able to speak with the new duke and his family.
After what seemed to be hours the crowd began to thin. Brandon, beginning to feel his exhaustion, turned at one point to find Dinah Hadley standing hesitantly nearby. His fatigue suddenly fell away and he turned to her without hesitation, drawing close enough to see the tears standing in her eyes.
“Thank you for coming,” Brandon sighed when he stood directly before her.
Dinah nodded. “I’m praying for you Brandon, for you and your entire family.”
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**Thank you,” he said, feeling his words were grossly inadequate.Iehadn’t seen her since Dcx’s wedding, and her appearance here ay, as well as her tears on his account, meant more to
him than he lid say. He wanted very much to reach for her hand, but knew it juld be improper.
“I won’t keep you,” Dinah rescued him, her tears finally clearing ad her heart showing in her beautiful eyes.
Brandon nodded, appreciating her thoughtfulness but reluctant Ito leave her. As he looked into her lovely face, he realized that she [was the first person in three days who had taken his mind from his1grandfather.
“May I call on you, Lady Dinah?” He asked softly, knowing that he couldn’t just let her walk away.
“I would enjoy that, your Grace,” she spoke sedately, but Brandon didn’t miss the joyful smile that lit her eyes. Dinah turned then and moved toward the waiting carriages. Brandon watched her until he heard his sister calling his name. His heart was very full as he walked slowly back to his grandfather’s graveside to stand with Chelsea and his mother.
“When I left on this last voyage, I wanted desperately to stay home,” Brandon began. “In what seemed to be the blink of an eye, the sea lost its appeal for me.”
Andrea shifted slightly to better see her son’s face, but did not speak.
“I found myself daydreaming about how lovely it would be to stay home-in this home. And now, as ridiculous as this sounds, I feel like his death is my fault.”
“Oh, Brandon, no.”
“I know,” he stopped her gently. “I know it was God’s time, but the title has never meant more to me than Papa has, and I just wish he could still-” Brandon stopped as tears clogged his throat.
“Brandon,” Rand said from his chair across the room, “don’t forget that it was not only God’s timing for your grandfather’s death, it was also His perfect timing for you to inherit the title.”
The younger man stared at him, and Rand went on.
“God knows very well that you are ready for this position. Your father died when you were very young. Dex was just a baby. Milton
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knew that you would be the next duke. As well as loving you to traction, his every word and action when he was with you was to help! prepare you for the title he knew would be yours someday.”
“He’s right, Brandon,” Dex put in. “You’re not as old as Father! would have been, but there isn’t one of us who doubts you’re more than ready to take on the responsibilities of the Duke of Briscoe.*
