"Keep secrets from me again, and I promise, you will become a one-eyed gypsy,” Ellen whispered. She raised her voice again and answered his question. “He wanted what did not belong to him. He expected me to gift him with Stargazer's colt. Imagine my surprise when Stephen told me Thunderbolt had sired the colt. I knew then, no one could have him, if it meant sending mare and colt off to Scotland, which I did. Nicholas wanted the colt as well. I certainly could not let him have it."
Laughter erupted at her indignation.
David leaned toward Ellen and played with wayward strands of her hair. Her eyes shone bright with happiness. “What does he look like?"
"Why, he looks like any other colt,” she replied impishly. “The last I saw of him, he was almost as tall as his mother, but that was a fortnight ago. You will just have to wait until we go there."
Alex cleared his throat. “Not so far away, Lady Ellen. You will find mother and son returned to Ravencliff stables. I brought them with me when news arrived of David's return from the dead. Stargazer was happy to return home."
"They are here?” Ellen looked to her father-in-law with excitement. “How did you know to bring them?"
"I knew before you arrived, that David was planning something. We could not tell you, for fear wrong persons would discover his plan. My arrival was to see my son regain his bride."
"I am glad you came. Come David, you must see Scot's Honor."
David laid a hand on Ellen's arm, stopping her from jumping out of her chair, and stared at his wife with wonder. “What of your vow never to return to Scotland?"
Ellen's face flushed. “Such words should never have been spoken. The vow was made in anger. Had I understood then, why you behaved so to me, I would never have spoken as I did."
"You might have understood my actions, but you would not have returned home. I needed to protect you, Ellen. Had I told you the truth, can you say you would have left without an argument?"
Ellen slowly shook her head and looked down, then back at David. “Had you told me the truth, much of what has happened in the last few months might not have done so. But this is the season of miracles, and I have been granted one.” She threw her arms around David's neck, making him laugh. “Promise you will stay with me forever."
"Forever is a long time, Sprite, and I have changed, these past months. Think you could put up with me that long?"
"Oh David. Any change can only be for the better. As long as this heart truly loves, it will always belong to a wayward gypsy."
EPILOGUE
Hugh entered his study and turned quickly when he realized someone had followed him into the room. “Gordon. I was just looking for Kitty. No one seems to have seen her in the last few hours. I thought perhaps she might have come in here with young Geoffrey."
Gordon clenched a fist, crinkling the edges of a paper held tightly within it. He did not want to say anything, but how could he not tell his father? “Perhaps you'd best sit down, father."
"What is it, Gordon? Can this not wait? We must return to our guests.” Hugh was pleased beyond words to have his daughter and son-in-law reunited. Bishop Renfrew had not been surprised with the turn of events, and had happily remarried and given his blessing to the reunited couple. Will and Margaret had renewed their own vows, as well, after so many years apart. Nothing could mar the events of this miraculous time.
"Unfortunately, it can not. You will not find Kitty anywhere in the castle. I found this in my bedchamber a moment ago.” He handed the bit of crushed parchment to his father.
Since I can not have one daughter, I will take the other. To come after us will guarantee her death.
Hugh's color paled as he dropped into the high back chair near the window.
Suddenly, he looked so much older. He gazed up at his son. He wanted to say something, but words failed him.
"One of the guards returned to report that Nicholas had some help in escaping on his journey to London, then he came back here, abducted Kitty and disappeared. I have discreetly questioned a few servants as to Kitty's whereabouts. No one has seen her since we returned from the church. She went to her chamber to rest before tonight's wedding feast, but never came belowstairs."
"What is being done to find her?"
"I have sent the bishop's men to see if Nicholas took Kitty to his home in Fair Haven Castle, although I think it highly unlikely they have gone there."
Hugh gathered his thoughts and stood. Tugging on his tunic, he made his decision. “Say nothing to Ellen and David, or Will and Margaret. I will not have their happiness ruined again by that brigand. Continue the search quietly and keep me informed of your progress."
"That goes without saying, father. We will do everything possible to find Kitty and bring her home. I promise you."
Father and son embraced briefly, a single moment to share the pain of the treachery brought on them once more by Nicholas. They left the small room and quietly closed the door behind them.
Pain and sorrow lingered behind in the dark, left to settle and fester in the confines of the room. May you never know happiness in this world ... A young woman sobbed uncontrollably, barely a whisper in the emptiness. Forgive me, Kitty. I did not mean it.
FINIS
OTHER ROMANCES FROM PAGETURNER EBOOKS
To Have and to Hold—Mary Johnson
Rainy Day Lover—Bob Liter
The Scarlet Pimpernel—Baroness Orczy
The Elusive Pimpernel—Baroness Orczy
Zorro—Johnstone McCulley
Not the Marrying Kind—Jac Eddins
The Island of Desire—Beatrice Ravenel
DEERSTALKER MYSTERY CLASSICS
THE GILLIAN HAZELTINE COURTROOM MYSTERIES
The Diamond Bullet Murder Case—George F. Worts
The Hospital Homicides Murder Case—George F. Worts
The Gold Coffin Murder Case—George F. Worts
The Crime Circus Murder Case—George F. Worts
The High Seas Murder Case—George F. Worts
THE AMY BREWSTER MYSTERIES
A Knife in My Back—Sam Merwin Jr.
A Matter of Policy—Sam Merwin Jr.
Message to a Corpse—Sam Merwin Jr.
The Scarlet Pimpernel—Baroness Orczy
The Elusive Pimpernel—Baroness Orczy
THE SEMI-DUAL ASTROLOGICAL MYSTERIES
The Ledger of Life Mystery—Giesy and Smith
The House of Invisible Bondage Mystery Giesy and Smith
OTHER FINE MYSTERIES
The Lone Wolf—Louis Joseph Vance
Doctor Syn, Alias the Scarecrow of Romney Marsh
Grey Shapes—Jack Mann
The Legendary Detectives: classic tales of the world's greatest sleuths—edited by Jean Marie Stine
The Legendary Detectives II—edited by Jean Marie Stine
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To Every Love, There is a Season Page 24
