Bridging the Storm

by Meredith Bond

  At first he didn’t react, didn’t kiss her back. She pressed little kisses across his lips, as he’d seemed to enjoy that the last time they’d done this. Then he began to hesitantly kiss her back. Emboldened by his response, she went even further and ran her tongue across his lips in the same way as he had done to her.

  His lips opened and allowed her to explore the inside of his mouth with her tongue, tasting his sweetness and reveling in his heat, the feel of him. His arm finally wrapped around her and pulled her closer, pressing her against the firm muscles of his body.

  Just as she molded herself to fit to him, he abruptly let her go. Taking a step back, he shook his head and ran an agitated hand through his hair. “No! We should not be doing this.”

  “I just wanted to say how sorry I am for how my aunt treated you,” Kate explained.

  His face relaxed into a smile. “Is that how you always apologize for your aunt?”

  Kate felt her cheeks heat. “No. Only with you.”

  “Well, that’s a relief to hear.” He gave a little laugh, but sobered quickly. “I deserved her reprimand, though. It wasn’t your aunt’s fault. I should have known better than to try to control a child—especially one that’s not my own.”

  She couldn’t help but laugh. He sounded as if he had children. The thought startled her so much that she couldn’t help but ask. “You say that as if you have children of your own.”

  A strange sadness filled his eyes. “I have.”

  Kate’s heart clenched. “You’re… you’re married?”

  “What? Oh, no! No. Not any more. My wife passed away, don’t you know?”

  “Oh! No, I didn’t. I’m so sorry.”

  “Yes, well…” He seemed about to say something more, but stopped himself.

  An awkward silence followed as Kate digested this information. He’d been married! He had children! She really didn’t know how she felt about this. She liked him. It shouldn't make a difference to her that he already had a family, right?

  Thoughts of her own childhood couldn’t be stopped. The hurt when the new Lady Cherington had no interest in raising another woman’s child.

  No! Kate would never do that to a child. If anything went any further with Sir Arthur, she would embrace his children as her own. She turned back to him, wanting to say as much, but wasn’t certain how to word something so personal. She had no idea if their relationship would go any further.

  He spared her the trouble when he said, “I’m afraid I will be leaving soon.”

  “Oh!” The word popped out of her mouth. “Do you need to return to your family?”

  He smiled. “No. They’re… taken care of. I’m going on an expedition. I think I might have mentioned it to you? To South America.”

  “You’re leaving for South America?” If he was going to take care of his family, she could completely understand and accept that he had responsibilities, but to go on an expedition? It hurt.

  He was leaving her. Leaving her here to deal with her aunt all alone. Leaving her to care for her little cousins. Leaving her to the domination of a woman who always had to be in control of everyone and everything within her household. Leaving her to grow into an old, unwanted, unloved spinster—for what else did she have to look forward to here? Her aunt and uncle would never see to her marriage. Sir Arthur had been her only chance at any sort of happiness.

  And he was abandoning her just like her father had, and she had constantly worried her uncle would do throughout her childhood. He would leave her to do the one thing she had always dreamed of doing—explore the world.

  A cold breeze stirred around her as a deep sadness overcame her. Despair blew through her, chilling her very soul.

  No! She wouldn’t allow him to do this! She would not allow him to just leave her here. This time she was not a child dependent on the whims of an adult. The breeze stopped and the heat of the day returned as Kate lifted her chin to Sir Arthur. She even dared to give him a smile because she had a solution.

  If she went with him… if he took her with him when he left, she wouldn’t ever have to deal with her aunt again. She could have a life of her own, doing what she had always dreamt of doing! Why should he be allowed to go on an expedition while she stayed here, doomed to a life of drudgery and an aunt who was beyond difficult to deal with? Why couldn't she leave as well?

  “When do you leave?” she asked.

  He looked confused, taken aback by her question. “I haven’t quite decided yet, but soon.” He looked at her a little more closely. “I’m glad to see that you aren’t upset by this.”

  “Oh no, not at all.” And to prove it, she gave a little laugh, suddenly caught by a tinge of embarrassment at what she was about to ask. But there was nothing for it. She had to be bold and forthright if she wanted to gain her freedom. “In fact, I’d like to go with you.”

  “What?”

  Kate thought he was about to have apoplexy, his eyes widened so fast.

  “Oh, I’m not asking you to marry me or any such thing, I assure you. I’d… I’d just like to go with you. To South America. I’ve always wanted to travel,” she tried to explain.

  “You want to leave Vallentyn?” he asked tentatively.

  “Yes.”

  He thought about this for a moment, but when he turned back he didn’t look happy. In fact, he looked more upset than Kate had hoped. “You would leave your aunt just when she needs you the most?”

  “What?” What was he talking about? Her aunt never needed her—except to be at her beck and call and care for her children like an unpaid governess.

  “Your aunt has just lost all her powers. She’s devastated. She’s going to need your help now more than she ever has in the past.”

  Oh, that, Kate nearly said out loud, but caught herself just in time. “I don’t know what I could possibly do to help her with her powers. And besides, my uncle is here.”

  “Your uncle is a busy man. He can’t stay with your aunt the way you can. You need to be there for her. Help her. You can be an ear when she needs to talk, a shoulder when she needs to cry.”

  He was serious.

  “I know that you wouldn't abandon your aunt, who has raised you since you were a small child, when she needs you the most,” he said again. “I know you wouldn’t be so thoughtless.”

  He had such faith in her. Guilt brought heat to Kate’s cheeks. Could her aunt actually need her now? Would she rely on her?

  She hadn’t even thought of what losing her powers might do to her aunt, aside from driving her even further into madness. Perhaps Kate could be a stabilizing factor. Perhaps she could help.

  She’d only thought of herself and her need to escape. But perhaps she’d been wrong.

  Chapter Nineteen

  THE TEARS IN Miss Cherington’s eyes pulled at his heart. He understood too well what she must go through every day.

  Lady Vallentyn was a tyrant. He’d figured that out for himself over the past two weeks. But today she’d shown too much of her true self and it wasn’t pleasant.

  Yet here he was making Miss Cherington feel guilty for wanting to leave this terrible situation. But he couldn’t take her with him. He couldn’t allow himself to become anymore attached to her. It had been difficult enough to keep his heart clear of such emotions during his stay. It would be absolutely impossible if she came with him.

  And then what would he do with her? She said she wanted to see South America, but that was innocence speaking. The girl knew nothing of the world, let alone how to make her way in it without any guidance, without any assistance or knowledge. What did this sweet, naïve thing know of the world?

  No, it would be entirely up to him to see her settled happily and taken care of. She deserved no less.

  But he didn’t have the time to do that. He needed to find a cure. He needed to be on that expedition, especially now that there was little hope of asking either Lady or Lord Vallentyn for their assistance. Not after what happened today.

  No, he needed
to continue on with his quest—unencumbered.

  “I’m sorry, Miss Cherington. Truly. But I cannot take you with me. If you think this through, I know you will quickly see the folly of your decision to leave Vallentyn.

  “My aunt…”

  “Is difficult, I know.”

  “She’s more than difficult, sir. She’s mad. I honestly fear for her sanity at times! And the children being ill has only made it worse,” Miss Cherington said. Her eyes darted back toward the house, making sure that she wasn’t overheard.

  “I don’t think…”

  “You’ve only seen a small portion of it, I assure you. She must always be in control. She must have things go as she intended and if they don’t it is usually my fault.” Tears welled up in her eyes again.

  “You have proven yourself to be invaluable here. You take care of her children. You support her in so many different ways,” he argued.

  “I do so in order to stay on her good side.”

  “And so she has come to rely on you.”

  “Yes.” It was said with such sadness, Dagonet almost wanted to take her with him, if only to make her happy again.

  “And now that she has lost her powers…”

  “She’s going to rely on me even more.” She turned away from him, burying her face in her hands.

  “You are a strong young woman, Miss Cherington. I know you can handle this.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t.”

  “Would it ease you mind if I agreed to stay for another few days, then?” He still hadn’t heard back yet from the men organizing his expedition. He didn’t actually need to leave right away. If it would make things easier for her…

  She looked up at him, her face flushed and her eyes red from stress and tears. “Would you?”

  He couldn’t help it. He brushed back her hair and caressed his hand across her downy cheek. “If it would help you, then yes.”

  “Thank you.”

  “But no more stolen kisses.” He smiled. “I don’t think I would truly be able to leave if you kept doing that.”

  “Then I should—” She stopped and let out a tremulous laugh. “Oh, all right. I promise, no more kisses.” She laughed again with true humor. “You should see your expression! You look so relieved! Are they so awful?”

  He laughed. “No. Just the opposite, and therein lies my problem. I…” he stopped. There were so many reasons why he shouldn’t love Kate — his own quest, his determination not to become attached to anyone, and her uncle who wanted her to marry a good steady man. There also was the fact that he was almost a thousand years older than she!

  “Is it because of your wife?” she asked gently.

  His wife? Were his feelings for Margaret involved in this as well? Yes, he supposed they were in a way. It was when she died that he began his quest. When she passed, he had seen no reason to go on living. It was then that he promised himself to never become so attached again. He gave a short nod. “I loved her very much,” he said. Oddly his throat felt thick, and the words had trouble coming out.

  “I’m so sorry.” She reached out and put her hand on his arm. “I promise not to tease you any longer with kisses or any unwanted attention.” She took a deep breath. “Friends?”

  He gave a short nod.

  Her sincerity touched him. She had such a kind heart. Oh, he was in such trouble!

  “THERE IS A person to see you, my lady,” Mrs. Worth, the housekeeper, said upon entering Tatiana’s bedroom. Both the tone of the woman’s voice and her choice of words told Tatiana it was a petitioner, a Vallen bringing a problem to the high priestess.

  Tatiana had received many such callers over the years. It had taken the staff of Vallentyn Abbey a while to get used to the odd assortment of people who came to her for help. It still tended to put the older retainers, such as Mrs. Worth, on edge to have such odd people coming, frequently at odd hours. Tatiana hadn’t even been out of bed yet this morning.

  “Tell him—”

  “Her,” the woman corrected, pursing her lips.

  “… that I will be down soon and show her into the petition room.” It was what they had come to call the ground floor drawing room. It was closest to the front door, an advantage if the petitioner had some sort of problem which only Tatiana’s more powerful magic could fix.

  The response had come out automatically, but after the woman had bobbed a curtsey and left, Tatiana realized there was nothing she could do. In a panic, she very nearly called the woman back.

  She couldn’t help anyone. She had no magic! It was all tied up in keeping her children alive. How would she carry out her duties? How could she… Tatiana’s heart pounded in her chest and her breathing came faster than normal.

  She couldn’t do this! She couldn’t stop being the one thing she had trained for, studied for and devoted her entire life to. She couldn’t stop being the high priestess. Her throat constricted, she couldn’t breathe.

  She climbed from bed and threw open the window. Air. She needed air.

  And powers.

  Powers she no longer had. Oh my God, what was she going to do?

  Breathe.

  She paused and took three deep gulps of the fresh morning air. It was hot and muggy, but air nonetheless.

  She would handle this. She had to handle this— without panicking.

  Breathe.

  Her hands still gripped the window edge when Kit came in.

  “Tatiana, what…?” he started.

  “There’s a petitioner.”

  “I heard. I came up to see what you were going to do.” He rubbed a soothing hand down her back.

  “I’ve got to send her away. I… I don’t know what else to do.” Tears burned her eyes. Never in her life had she turned away a petitioner. Never had she considered doing so. The thought she would have to do so now hurt her physically. It hurt in her stomach, in her mind, but most of all in her heart.

  She was the high priestess. It was all she’d ever known.

  She had trained for this position from the time she'd been old enough to wield her magic. It was her responsibility to assist those in need of her more powerful magic. To settle disputes. To stop Vallen from misusing their powers. And it was her task to bear the Seventh.

  Only the last of these was she able to do now. She ran a hand over her belly. She would become known throughout time as the only high priestess who abdicated her position.

  She couldn’t do this!

  A sob caught in her throat. She started to pant, unable to catch her breath.

  “No, no. You can’t allow yourself to get carried away here. You have to stop and think logically about this,” Kit said and continued to run his hand up and down her back, soothing her.

  Tatiana closed her eyes and forced herself into a calm state. She took a deep breath and held it in her lungs for a moment as she nodded. He was right. She couldn’t allow herself to get emotional. She had to keep a clear head to… what? The sob finally broke through.

  “I can’t,” she cried. “I… I…”

  “You can! Tatiana, stop. Just stop and breathe,” Kit instructed. “Let's think about this. We’ll figure something out, but you can’t think if you cry and allow your emotions to get the better of you.”

  “Yes.” She sniffed and took another deep breath

  She tried to compose herself. But there was no rain. No lightening. No thunder. These things had always accompanied her high emotions. It was the one thing she’d never mastered control over—bringing on the storm when she was upset. And after so many years, she now gained solace from the sounds of her storms.

  But today nothing could be heard but the sound of birdsong outside of her window. It nearly undid her once again, but she couldn’t allow herself the luxury. She had a problem to solve. She had a petitioner to see.

  Without magic.

  “What shall I do?” she whispered.

  “First, let's find out what the problem is. Then perhaps Kate or I can take care of it. Perhaps it will be
something simple that we can deal with.”

  Yes. Kit or Kate. They were both strong Vallen. If magic needed to be undone or stopped, Kit could handle it. If magic needed to do something, Kate was quite strong.

  They could handle this.

  Tatiana took another deep breath. They could handle this.

  “I’ll leave you to dress. Kate and I will join you in the petition room.”

  Tatiana started to nod but then said, “No! No, you mustn’t.”

  “What? But if we don’t hear what the problem is how will we know…”

  “If you are there with me, this woman will know that something’s wrong, that I’m not able to handle this on my own,” Tatiana told him. “No. The three of us will meet separately after I find out the situation. I can’t let it become known…” She didn’t even need to finish the thought.

  Kit nodded his understanding, as she knew he would. “Yes, you’re right. Then we’ll meet afterward.”

  Tatiana took another deep breath before allowing her maid’s assistance in dressing. She could do this; she just had to remain calm. Thank goodness she hadn’t eaten anything yet, or her stomach would have emptied itself some time ago.

  IT WAS TWENTY minutes later that she entered the petition room. The agitated woman was pacing furiously back and forth as Tatiana came into the room.

  “Oh, my lady!” the young woman said the moment she saw the high priestess. She practically fell to her knees in a deep curtsey.

  Tatiana nodded her greeting, and asked, “How may I help you today?” She held her hand out to indicate the woman could take a seat on the nearby sofa. She, herself, took the chair by the fireplace.

  But the woman didn’t sit. Instead, she stood, wringing her hands. “I beg your pardon, my lady, but we need your help.”

  “Of course.”

  “There’s a man.” The girl paused like she was trying to recall exactly what she had been told to say. “He’s raped five girls, my lady. Three’ve been killed, two are near… near…” The young woman began to lose her composure.

  As she herself had been so close to tears not long ago, Tatiana waited patiently while the girl pulled herself together.