29
Reflections Past and Future
In the warm soft-scented twilight, Percy Drummond stood at the open window of his familiar room in Westbrooke Manor. It was late. Though tired from his journey and the emotionally draining day of visiting and laughter and rekindling old friendships, his brain was too occupied for sleep.
He was here at last. The moment of truth had finally arrived when he would have to decide how to carry out his uncle’s dying commission. He had put off the how of that mystery for almost a year. The future had arrived.
After today, learning of Courtenay’s intolerable actions, the urgency of his mission was suddenly borne upon him with new force. Perhaps it had been a mistake to wait so long. With Katherine involved in the construction of a new home on the assumption that Courtenay would be viscount in nine or ten months, there wasn’t a moment to lose. The perplexity, and seeming impossibility of his mission, again pressed with great weight upon Percy’s mind.
Slowly the words rose unbidden from his subconscious. Yet they were words his subconscious was training itself to pray with every inward breath and exhaling of his spiritual lungs. “Lord,” he whispered, “show me what to do.”
This visit was unlike any previous. He was, if not quite, almost a grown man. Florilyn was a grown woman. He had completed his studies at the university. This was no mere summer holiday between school terms. Eventually he would have to explain himself—what he was doing here. If he disclosed that he was on a mission for his uncle, questions would immediately arise. He must keep his purpose to himself. Yet he must also have some pretext for being here.
Still without a clear picture of what he would do, Percy turned from the window and blew out the candle to end the long day.
The next morning dawned warm and bright. Percy slept till after nine and found Florilyn and Katherine in the breakfast room awaiting him. “That’s as late as I have slept for a long time!” he said. “I have to say, it felt good.”
After a friendly visit with his aunt and cousin, Percy found the question he had been hoping to avoid suddenly staring him in the face.
“I had been under the impression you were thinking of law school, Percy,” said Katherine. “Listening to you yesterday, it sounds as though your plans are indefinite. I was actually surprised to learn that you would be visiting us again. Delighted, of course! Merely surprised. How long will you be with us? What are your plans?”
Katherine saw him glance down at the cup of tea in his hand with an uncertain expression. “Please,” she added quickly, “you are welcome as long as you like. You are always welcome—you know that! I am simply interested.”
“Actually, Aunt Katherine,” replied Percy, “my future is cloudy. I honestly don’t know how to answer you. Yes, law school looms on the horizon as a possibility. And of course Florilyn and I have to talk,” he added, glancing toward Florilyn with a smile, “and seek what is God’s will for us.”
“I understand.”
“This has become like a second home to me,” Percy went on. “As much as I love being with my mother and father, I am more at peace here in the country. With my future uncertain, I felt that this was where I should be to ask God about it. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course not. You are family. This is your home! At least,” she added, “for another few months. Once Courtenay turns twenty-five, the manor may no longer be home to any of us! Florilyn and I may have to spend a few months or a year in Glasgow with your parents while our new home is being completed.”
Percy realized that he may never have a more appropriate moment to hint at the most important reason he had returned to Wales. “There is another thing,” he said, choosing his words with care. “Before he died, Uncle Roderick asked me to … well, sort through some of his old things, papers and so on.” He hesitated.
His aunt was looking at him with an expression of perplexity.
“He, uh …” Percy went on, “he didn’t feel he could trust Courtenay to do it, he said. I’m sorry to have to say that—”
“No, I understand completely,” said Katherine. “Courtenay has not shown himself to be the young man of sterling character we had hoped he might be.”
“He knew his death would be devastating for you,” Percy continued. “So he asked me to put his things in order, I suppose is how one might put it. I think the fact that I was hoping to study law may have influenced him as well. He was under the impression that my being a student of law gave me a sort of legal standing if such became necessary—that while you were trustee for the estate, I would be able to act on his behalf as well. I assured him that I had no legal standing and suggested that he speak to his own solicitor. But he was insistent that he wanted me to dig into his past … that is … to see that legalities were being followed. I have the sense that he may have been concerned about Courtenay as well, afraid that he might try to manipulate affairs to his own advantage.”
“Roderick had good reason to be concerned.”
“Perhaps Courtenay was his chief concern. It may be that he preferred that I be the lightning rod for Courtenay’s hostility rather than you, that is if it turned out that Courtenay attempted to exploit his position prematurely or in some manner inconsistent with his rights as presumptive heir.” Percy drew in a long breath. He was having great difficulty avoiding the central issue of his uncle’s secret affidavit.
“What exactly … did he want you to do?” asked Katherine.
“Actually, I am uncertain about that myself,” replied Percy, thankful that the wording of his aunt’s question allowed him to answer with complete candor. “I think simply to go through his papers and files, put things in order for you. He didn’t want you to be burdened by anything. As I understand it—though as I say, I have been in some perplexity about it myself—he simply wanted to be certain that all the affairs of the estate were properly settled and in legal order. His main thoughts were of you. He wanted to protect you from any burden his death was likely to cause. Perhaps I should have undertaken the charge sooner. It now seems that Uncle Roderick’s fears about Courtenay were indeed well founded. Now that I learn what he has done, I regret waiting until now. At the time there did not seem to be great urgency. After talking with my father, we determined that I should complete my studies and then return here. It may be that decision wasn’t the best.”
“Whatever he had in mind, he chose you for good reason, Percy. What’s done is done. None of us can go back and rewrite the past.”
It was silent momentarily.
“Well, the whole thing remains a mystery to me,” said Katherine at length. “I have no idea what Roderick expected you to do. The affairs of the estate seem to be in good hands with our solicitor, Mr. Murray, and with Steven managing my daily affairs. But it sounds as though you have no more idea than I do what he had in mind.”
Percy did not reply. Already he feared he had said too much. But it was too late to take his words back.
“I assume that you will want to start in Roderick’s study,” said his aunt, interrupting his reverie. “I have been using it for my office as well, but he was right in that I had no appetite for going through any old papers or files. I have not even looked in the safe. So consider the study yours for now, Percy. I will remove my few things while you are working. If there is anything you need, or any way I can help, of course you will tell me.”
“I will, Aunt Katherine,” nodded Percy.
“And if you unearth any deep, dark mysteries, I will be curious to learn of them!”
Again, Percy said nothing.
30
The Green Hills of Snowdonia
It is a gorgeous day. How about a ride?” asked Percy as he and Florilyn left the breakfast room and wandered outside into the warm morning together.
“If everyone saw us riding off,” said Florilyn with a smile, “there will be sure to be talk. All the servants are dying to know if we are going to resume our engagement.”
“How do you know?”
“I overhear them,” laughed Florilyn. “They’re not so clever at hiding their curiosity as they think. Mrs. Drenwydd says that you have come to propose to me again!”
Percy chuckled. “Well then, it would be a shame for us not to keep them guessing. But we could go out as a threesome or a foursome instead.”
“With whom?”
“I don’t know—I thought with Stevie … I mean Steven. And maybe Rhawn Lorimer.”
“Rhawn!” said Florilyn in surprise.
“I feel sorry for her. And I like her. She’s lonely.”
“She was awful to you.”
“That was a long time ago. She’s changed. You know that better than I do.”
“How can you be so good, Percy?”
“I’m not. But my heart goes out to her.”
“It might be fun at that. I know it would mean the world to her.”
They walked toward the garden in silence. Florilyn slipped her hand through Percy’s arm.
“Percy, Percy …” she sighed, “what does the future hold for us? Do you think there is an us?”
“I don’t know. I’m in no hurry. And I can tell that you are content. You look well, Florilyn—prettier than ever and at peace with your life. The more time that passed after my Christmas visit, the more I saw the wisdom in what you did. I mean, I love you and always will. But now I am asking God if the love I have for you is the love of a brother, or a cousin I suppose I should say, or the love of a husband.”
“That’s exactly what I found myself thinking when I saw you yesterday!”
“It may be that what I have to do for your father will help us know what we are to do.”
“How could that be?”
“I don’t know. I am just taking one step at a time and seeing what comes of it.”
A peculiar look of question came over Florilyn’s face. “There’s more to it than what you told Mother, isn’t there?” she said. Percy glanced toward Florilyn to see if she was baiting him. But her expression was serious.
“Why would you say that?” he asked.
“Because I know you. I could tell that you were hemming and hawing, trying as hard to keep from saying what you wanted to avoid as to say what you did.”
“Do you think your mother noticed?”
“I don’t know. I doubt it.”
They walked on in silence.
“So are you going to answer my question?” said Florilyn at length.
“Do I have to?”
“No. I won’t coerce it out of you.”
“Fair enough. Then … yes, there may be more to it. But there may not be. I was perfectly truthful in saying that your father’s request is mostly a mystery to me, too. I may turn up nothing. I have no idea what to expect.”
“I still think there’s more to it even than that,” said Florilyn with the hint of a twinkle in her eye. “But I will let that suffice … for now. As long as you promise to tell me if you discover anything interesting … especially about Courtenay. How I would love to turn the tables on him after how he has treated Mother.”
“I’m sorry, I can make no promises. I will promise you this—I will tell you whatever I can tell you.”
“Very cryptic!”
“So what do you think, shall we ask if Steven can tear himself away from his duties for a ride?”
“I will go see him right now,” said Florilyn. “Why don’t you ride into town and see if Rhawn can join us?”
The four young people set off from Westbrooke Manor shortly after midday with a picnic lunch packed by Mrs. Drenwydd. Rhawn Lorimer was quiet but happier than she had been in months to be on the back of a horse again with friends her own age. They rode into the hills eastward, four abreast, until they crested the first inland ridge. The trees thickened as they descended out of sight from the sea.
Florilyn and Rhawn took the lead, riding beside one another. Soon they were talking like the old friends they were as Percy and Steven lagged behind.
“It is so nice to have a break from mothering,” said Rhawn. “I love little Aiden to death … but he is exhausting! Thank you so much for inviting me, Florilyn.”
“It was Percy’s idea.”
“It was?”
“He is very fond of you.”
“Are there any … I mean, have you and he—” Rhawn hesitated. “Have we come to a decision yet? No. We are waiting to see what develops.”
“Don’t you … I mean, don’t you still want to marry him?”
“Not if he’s not the right one for me.”
“How could he not be? Young men like Percy don’t come along every day!”
“That’s true. He’s one in a million. But it still has to be right. Marriage is too important to rush into.”
Rhawn did not reply. It was already too late for her to have a marriage that was right.
Their two squires rode briskly up beside them, cutting off further conversation.
“Take us to the meadow where we first raced, Florilyn,” said Percy. “That will be a good place for lunch.”
“I think I have heard that story,” said Steven. “Didn’t you come to an inglorious end?”
“I did indeed!” laughed Percy. “But I have learned a little about keeping the saddle beneath me since then. Perhaps I shall play a return engagement!”
“You and I’ve already done that!” laughed Florilyn. “You don’t have to prove anything to me. I know you’re as fast as I am now. Rhawn used to be the best horsewoman for miles,” she added.
“That was a long time ago!” laughed Rhawn.
“Perhaps we should coax the men into a race, Rhawn,” said Florilyn playfully.
“Steven and I are not competitive with each other,” rejoined Percy. “Both of us would probably want the other one to win. If you’re itching for a race, you’ll have to lay down the challenge yourself, Florilyn, my dear!”
Florilyn cast Percy another smile that said, Perhaps I will at that!
They continued eastward down the ridge, through the valley at its back, across several streams, through woodland and meadow, and gradually up the next ridge until again they rose to its height and reached the parallel crest another two miles farther inland. There they reined in and gazed about. The regularly spaced peaks of Gwynedd running in a line north and south were clearly visible both to their right and left, their jagged peaks of granite dotted with snow.
“Look,” said Steven, “you can faintly see Snowdonia there, far to the north beyond the other mountains.”
“It’s still covered in snow,” said Percy. “I assumed it would be gone by now. This could be the Scottish Highlands.”
“We had a good heavy snowfall only two weeks ago,” said Steven. “It’s early yet—not quite June. Snowdonia can keep its snow till July in a late spring.”
“Have you ever climbed it, Steven?”
“My father took me up when I was a lad. It’s not a rigorous climb. But it’s certainly desolate up there—nothing but rock, gray and barren. It’s a wasteland. But the view is spectacular. Personally, I prefer the green hills all around, with meadows and forests and rivers and pasturelands. A mountaintop, I have always thought, is a dead thing. A meadow with a brook running through it is a living thing—abundant with life. I would rather see life and growth about me, not death.”
“Eloquently put, my friend.” said Percy. “In people most of all.”
Gradually they continued down the slope from the ridge toward the expansive meadow at its base, which was their objective.
“I have always considered green the color of growth and life and energy and hope,” Steven said as they went. “It must be God’s favorite color, don’t you think, since so much of his creation he painted with so many interesting and varied shades of green.”
“People are like mountains or meadows, too, don’t you think, Steven,” said Percy reflectively. “If they are not growing, then something is dead inside them. God’s meadows, that’s what he created us to be. We are intended to be live,
growing, flourishing reflections of his creation.”
“The vicar’s son!” laughed Florilyn good naturedly. “Is a sermon coming on, Percy? Perhaps you are cut out for the pulpit after all.”
“What’s this?” said Steven.
Percy laughed. “I once asked Florilyn what she thought of my career options—law or the ministry.”
“You were thinking seriously about the ministry?”
“I was,” nodded Percy. “Once the Lord got hold of my life, everything changed. I wanted to be God’s man in whatever vocation I was most suited. I wanted to be an effective spokesman for truth. Eventually I decided that would be law.”
“But you’re still not opposed to delivering the occasional short sermon, are you, Percy!” chided Florilyn in fun.
Percy laughed with delight. “One never knows when the occasion may call for it, my dear!”
“I rather like it,” said Rhawn. “The others glanced at her and saw that she was serious. “I’ve never heard people talk about God like you three do. I always thought of God as so distant and far away. But you all bring him into everything. It’s not easy to learn to grow when you’ve been a self-centered dead mountain of stone all your life.”
Rhawn had not intended to bring an end to the conversation. But her words caused them all to become reflective. They rode on some distance in silence.
At length Florilyn urged Red Rhud ahead. A few minutes later, she led with a brief gallop into the meadow. “Here we are again, Percy!” she called out over her shoulder. “Are you sure you don’t want to race me to the far end?”
“Maybe after lunch,” he answered. “I’m hungry! I’m eager to see what Mrs. Drenwydd has prepared for us.”
They reined in and dismounted. Soon the four horses were enjoying the grass and water from the living meadow, and the two young women and two young men were seated on the grass in the warmth of the sun enjoying the provisions provided by the Westbrooke Manor cook.
The Treasure of the Celtic Triangle- Wales Page 15
