The Hawk and the Jewel (Kensington Chronicles 1)

by Lori Wick

  Brandon looked at Rand with such profound relief that the older man nearly laughed.

  “Come by tomorrow. We’re staying here in town for at least a week. Sunny is sure to have a slew of callers, but you and I can sequester ourselves in the den.**

  The dinner bell sounded on those words, and both men went off in search of their dinner partners. Rand anticipated a few minutes with his wife. Brandon, who prayed as he tracked down Sunny, found himself a bit nervous that he might do or say something tonight that would spoil this evening for her.

  Jordan was doing some praying of his own as he walked a delightful young lady by the name of Roxane Carley into dinner. Holly was supposed to be on his arm, but a last-minute change of dinner partners had occurred. Jordan, who had been counting on this time to talk with Holly, found himself keenly disappointed.

  An hour later, his own dinner companions felt the same way. Jordan had spent the entire meal watching Holly some three tables away, talking and laughing with the men on either side of her.

  265

  **IT smells like A bower in here,” Rand commented as he joined Chelsea in the morning room.

  “Indeed it does,” she agreed with him. They both looked around the large room overflowing with flowers for the Lady Sunny Gallagher.

  “Has Holly seen these?”

  “Yes. And if by that question you’re asking if she’s jealous, nothing could be further from her mind. You know the only proposal she’s interested in.”

  “Well, we can praise God then, because his isn’t here.” Rand spoke as his hands sorted through the morning post, “Everyone else in London has written for Sunny’s hand, however. They’re calling her the ‘Jewel of London.’ Here’s one you might find interesting,” Rand noted as he made himself comfortable in a chair.

  “From whom?”

  “LordUndley.”

  “Lord LindleylRand, he’s 60 if he’s a day.”

  “He’s 57 according to his letter,” Rand stated calmly. “Here’s what he has to say: ‘I realize my suit may come as a surprise to Sunny, and she may consider my age a hindrance, but regardless of my age I wish her to be a wife in every sense. I believe she would enjoy her position as the Duchess of Colton.’”

  “Who else?” Chelsea asked, knowing she was now forever past surprises.

  “Lord Kenmore, Percival Cromery, Cecil Jamieson-”

  “Foster’s brother?” Chelsea interjected.

  “Yes. I’m sure it has something to do with the feet that Foster and Heather are out of town, and Foster is not around to discourage him.”

  “He’s cared for her since before she moved to Willows’ End. That’s a lot of years to carry a torch.”

  “How about Lord Lindley? He writes on to say that he met Sunny in December of 1844 while she was riding with Brandon in the park. That was just days after she arrived.’*

  Husband and wife stared at one another. There didn’t seem to be much to say.

  “Are you going to tell her?”

  “I’ll have to.”

  “When?”

  As if on cue, Sunny and Holly chose that moment to arrive home from shopping.

  “No time like the present,” Rand said under his breath and rose as the girls came in.

  “Chelsea!” Sunny spoke in surprise, and her sister-in-law watched as her adorable nose wrinkled in offense. “Why in the world would you put all of these flowers in the same room? Couldn’t you spread them around the house a bit?”

  “There are more in your room.” Chelsea’s voice was droll. “And more still in the upstairs salon.”

  Sunny sat down on the settee and stared around her. “This is what you were talking about, isn’t it, Holly? Total strangers sending flowers and proposing.”

  “This is it. Has Sunny received proposals, Papa?”

  “Oh, Holly,” Sunny laughed. “Certainly not yet. I-” She stopped when Rand held the letters in the air.

  “Who are they?” she wanted to know.

  Rand began to read the letters. Sunny, listening intently, had a comment for every one.

  **Oh, I remember him.”

  “You’re not serious!”

  “Not Cecil!”

  “He has no chin.”

  “He was nice.”

  266

  267

  “I’ve never heard of him.”

  “His hand kept stroking my waist!”

  “He promised me the moon. He really did.”

  “He stepped on my foot, twice.”

  “Who?”

  “I think his hair was fake.”

  Holly had her fece in a pillow to stop her laughter, and Chelsea was thinking that if Sunny kept it up, she wouldn’t be able to contain her own mirth. Rand had more to read, but a caller was announced. Sunny stood in a panic, thinking it was more flowers being delivered 01 someone coming to declare himself. She sagged in relief when Brandon’s frame filled the doorway.

  “Oh, Brandon, I’m so glad it’s you and not someone else coming to propose,” Sunny told him bluntly.

  “As bad as all that?” Brandon managed to keep his voice light.

  “Yes. I wish they would all understand that I plan never to marry.”

  Brandon arranged a smile on his face and gave everyone a brief greeting, but he felt as relieved as Sunny did when Rand almost immediately suggested that they head into the study.

  + $ *

  “I don’t know when it happened exactly. When Dinah first mentioned it, I was so flabbergasted I nearly laughed in her face. But since then I’ve thought about Sunny off and on, and then last night when we danced…

  “Oh, Rand,” Brandon shook his head. “I sound like a lovesick schoolboy. You heard what she said.” Brandon pointed toward the door. “After all these years, she still doesn’t want to be married.”

  “She’s never been in love, so of course she would feel that way,” Rand offered compassionately.

  “What about young Townsend? They certainly seem interested in each other.”

  “I believeheis, but Sunny thinks of him only as a friend.”

  “It seems that we have something in common.”

  Rand studied Brandon’s face as he weighed his next words. He didn’t want to give him false hope, but Rand believed that Brandon meant more to Sunny than either one of them realized.

  “Would you have considered loving Sunny if Dinah hadn’t planted the idea in your head?”

  “I don’t believe so, no.”

  Rand didn’t say anything, and Brandon turned to him, his look intense.

  “Are you thinking-”

  “I don’t know.” Rand cut him off before his hopes could rise. “I know how she cares for you, however, and that she’s very young…. Maybe given time…” Rand let the sentence hang, and Brandon nod’ ded. He certainly couldn’t ask for more than that.

  “Thanks, Rand.”

  “No thanks needed. IVe shared with Chelsea, and we’re both praying for you.”

  “What did Chelsea say when you told her?”

  That it was about time.”

  Brandon was so surprised he blinked in stupefaction.

  “And she agrees with me,” Rand added. “She thinks Sunny has probably loved you for years.”

  +

  “You realize that she’s loved him for years.”

  “Who has, Aunt Lucy?” Holly wanted to know.

  “Why* Queen Victoria, my dear. She’s loved Albeit for years,’* the elderly aunt replied, and Holly wondered how their conversation had moved from Aunt Lucy’s flower garden to her bunions and then on to the queen and prince consort.

  “Now, Sunny,” she turned to the younger girl. “How was the ball? I wish I could have been there, but I don’t like evenings on the town; they fluster me. I remember when I was young-”

  Aunt Lucy was off again, and she failed to notice that she had given Sunny no chance to answer the question. The girls had been invited to tea just that morning, and even though they both wanted to see some friends,
they knew that this would be their last chance to visit with their beloved aunt before heading back to Willows’ End.

  “Have you accepted a proposal?”

  Sunny, whose mind had begun to drift, came back to the present with a jolt.

  uNo,” she said a bit too vehemently. “That is,” her voice was

  268

  softer now, “I haven’t really had time.” Sunny knew the last thing she should tell Aunt Lucy was that she didn’t plan on marrying.

  For once Aunt Lucy was quiet. Sunny began to look uncomfortable, and Holly smoothly filled in the breach by asking Aunt Lucy how she liked living in London.

  “Well, you know I do, my dear. But I so love the country. I would dearly lovetolive where you can hear the birds singing in the morning and listen to the creatures of the night as you fall asleep. London is so busy and noisy at times.”

  Sunny and Holly couldn’t have agreed more. They were both eager to return, and in their opinion tomorrow could not come soon enough. Brandon was to go back with them, as was Andrea. In feet, Andrea was to come for them any time now. She had needed to shop and passed up the offer of tea with the promise that she would see Aunt Lucy another time.

  Andrea did arrive just after they had finished their tea, and with little fiiss or bother ushered the girls into her waiting coach.

  “Are you girls ready for tomorrow?” Andrea asked when they were settled inside. They were headed to Andrea’s for the night. Her mansion overlooked the Thames.

  “Yes,” Holly told her fervently. “It might be a bit strange without Mummy and Dad, but I know we’ll have fan.” Holly suddenly looked very worried. “They might be away for a few weeks. You will stay until they return, won’t you, Grandmama?”

  “Of course I will. Your parents need a rest, and the north country is so lovely. We’ll have a splendid time, and you won’t even miss them.”

  They finished the ride in silence, Andrea thinking how delightful it would be to stay at Willows’ End with the girls, and the girls thinking that they would like to be anywhere but London.

  brandon shifted carefully against the seat, so as not to wake Sunny where she slept against his shoulder. For the first half of the journey, Brandon, Andrea, Holly, and Sunny had shared a coach, but then Brandon had stopped the coaches so he could stretch his legs. He also had wanted to move to his own carriage to put some distance between him and the woman he loved. He realized now that he’d wasted his time, since Sunny felt sure he would be lonely and moved to ride with him.

  She shifted, and the smell of her hair rose to assail his senses. Brandon wondered just how long he could keep up the big brother act, when all he wanted, whenever she was near him, was to crush her in his arms.

  You’ll keep it up,he told himself firmly,just as long as you need to, or you’ll destroy everything between you. Please, Lord,his heart went on,please give me strength to wait for her. Show her. Lord, that I am a man, a man who would cherish her for all my years.

  Brandon’s prayers and the rocking of the carriage finally got to him. He had asked everyone to be ready early that morning, and now the dawn departure was starting to catch up with him. With his mind picturing how Sunny would look surrounded by several dark-haired children, Brandon fell asleep.

  270

  271

  The drive to Ravenscroft came into view, and Sunny smiled. She had ridden out by herself this time, not something that was usually encouraged, but she’d felt an urgent need to be alone. Rand had said they would come sometime and go through the house, but with her coming out, his plan had never materialized.

  Sunny walked around the neglected courtyard and knew she didn’t have to go inside. From the placement of the windows, she could imagine the interior. She sat on the low stone wall that surrounded the base of a tree and prayed, Lady’s reins hanging from her ringers.

  Sunny asked God to give her this house and to let it be a place of peace and caring. She asked Him to prepare Rand and Chelsea’s heart before she talked with them.

  “I’ll not go against their wishes, Lord,” she said as she stepped up on the wall and boosted herself back into the saddle. “If I don’t have Rand and Chelsea’s approval, I’ll let the matter drop and rest in You.”

  It was with some regret that Sunny rode away from the house, partly because Rand and Chelsea would not be home for another two weeks, and partly because the few times she was near Ravenscroft, she felt as if she’d come home.

  *

  “Well, Jordan,” Andrea greeted him kindly as she entered the small salon, “what a delightful surprise.”

  “Good morning. I hope I’m not coming at a bad time.” Jordan gave her a tentative smile that left Andrea confused. She didn’t think he had ever been hesitant to come to Willows’ End.

  “Your timing is just fine, but I’m afraid Sunny isn’t here. She went riding.”

  “Actually, I’m here to see Holly.”

  **Oh, I’ll have her sent down. Do make yourself comfortable.”

  Jordan was anything but comfortable as he waited. Holly had been so heavily on his mind since the night of the ball that he had thought he would go crazy thinking about her. Why it had taken until that morning for him to realize he could go and talk with her was a mystery to him. But here he was at last, and for some reason, unaccountably nervous.

  “Sunny isn’t here.” Holly’s voice sounded from near the door.

  Jordan spun away from studying a picture he had seen a hundred times before and frowned as Holly’s words registered.

  “I didn’t come to see Sunny. I came to see you.”

  “Binks said as much, but I was sure he was mistaken.”

  “No, he wasn’t. I came to see you,” Jordan repeated.

  “Why?” Holly asked bluntly, leaving Jordan thoroughly nonplussed.

  “Can’t I come to visit you?” he finally asked.

  “You never have before.” Holly’s voice had been very kind through this entire exchange, but Jordan knew something was amiss. Holly simply didn’t talk to him this way. She had always been thrilledtosee him, making him feel at home and as though his very presence had brightened her day.

  “Would you liketogo for a ride?” Jordan tried a change of subject.

  “I don’t like to ride,” Holly told him, her voice showing her hurt that he couldn’t remember even that.

  “I’m sorry…I forgot. A walk then.” Jordan was not to be put off. “It’s a beautiful day.”

  Now it was Holly’s turn to frown. “Jordan, if you want to wait for Sunny, you don’t have to entertain me while you do so.”

  “Fm not here for Sunny,” Jordan replied, thinking this was the oddest conversation he had ever had. “I came to see you. I’ve done something to hurt you, and I’d like to take a walk so we can discuss it.” It felt so good to have all of this said that Jordan let out a gusty sigh.

  Holly couldn’t help smiling. Jordan took it as an olive branch.

  “Please walk with me for a while?”

  “All right,” Holly agreed, albeit unwillingly. “My music teacher comes today, so I can’t be gone long.” Holly knew it was an excuse and wondered if Jordan saw through it.

  With a somber nod Jordan agreed, and they headed out the door. It was a beautiful day just as Jordan had stated, and for a time they walked in complete silence.

  “Have you heard from Miles?” Jordan suddenly asked, and Holly wondered, a bit testily, how many times they were going to play this scene.

  “You know, Jordan,” she stopped suddenly and spoke with some annoyance. “I’ve come to realize that our only links are Sunny and Miles. If neither one of them existed, you wouldn’t care if you ever

  274

  273

  saw me again. So I think it might be better to stop pretending. You needn’t worry about anything you might have said or done to me, because I’m fine.** It was not the complete truth, but Holly knew that given time, she would be fine. In fact, she felt better just having said it.

 
Holly cook Jordan’s silence as agreement. Turning, she started back toward the house. She was surprised speechless when his hand shot out and captured her wrist. With a gentle but determined move he brought her back to stand directly in front of him.

  “That isn’t true,” he stated with more force than Holly had ever heard from him.

  “Yes it is.” Holly’s voice was equally firm. “You’re just denying it to spare my feelings, and there’s really no need.”

  Jordan’s hands were on her upper arms now, and he drew her even closer. He bent his head until his face was very near to her own and then spoke.

  “I don’t know where you’ve picked up such a ridiculous idea, but it isn’t true. And-** he cut her off when she opened her mouth to speak, “if you tell me that’s not true, you’re calling me a liar. I wouldn’t care to hear that from you.”

  “What would you care to hear from me?” Holly tried to keep her voice light, so Jordan would not know the way his touch had affected her.

  Jordan’s eyes searched her hair and features. Her hair was raven black and pulled into an elegant chignon at the back of her head. Her eyes were wide and dark, and her skin looked like the first rose of a spring day. Added to all of this, Jordan thought she was the most compassionate, kindhearted woman he’d ever known. Her sweetness was something he had always admired in her. Suddenly he couldn’t remember what she had asked him.

  “This hasn’t gone the way I’d hoped it would. I don’t have any more answers about what’s happened between us than when I arrived, but I have to leave for London. I will tell you this however, wewilltalk. My father has business for me, and I don’t know how long I’ll be away. It could be weeks, but when I return-”

  Jordan lost track of his own thoughts when he realized how soft her arms felt beneath his hands. His eyes followed the movements of his own fingers as they lightly stroked the skin above Holly’s elbows.

  “Your skin is so soft, Holly,” Jordan whispered as though to

  himself. “Why have I never noticed how soft your skin is?”