Chapter Six #5
She smiled, meeting his gaze under the waning moon.
He winked at her. “Well,” she began to think aloud.
“After we take Lake to your mother, we must return to the Tower and pack quickly. No more than thirty minutes, and we must travel very light. Do you think you can obtain a horse from the stables for us to travel upon?”
He nodded. “I have a Belgian warmblood, a charger given to me by St. Alban.”
“What would a foot soldier need with a charger?”
“He was not so good in battle, so St. Alban bought another one.”
“Not so good?”
“He would rather stop and eat grass than charge the enemy.”
“Oh,” she grinned at the mental image of a big fat charger that did not like to charge. “But I am sure he is very strong and hearty. He will be perfect for travel.”
“Travel to where?”
She sighed. “I am not very familiar with the layout of the city. We must find a priest to marry us, but not at the bigger cathedrals. We must find a small church. Do you know of any?”
He shook his head. “I must ask St. Alban. He is a pious man and would know where there is a church suitable for us.”
She didn’t ask why he would not know of any churches. Perhaps he did not attend mass, which was of little concern to her. Given the man’s life, she doubted he had anything to thank God for.
The streets grew quieter as they reached the Thames and they crossed the bridge toward the Tower without incident.
A fog was starting to roll off of the water, blanketing the ground with an eerie mist. As they approached the mammoth structure of the Tower with the intention of skirting it, Avalyn paused.
Brogan also came to a halt, looking at her curiously.
“What is wrong?” he asked quietly. “Why do you stop?”
“Because,” she had an idea, perhaps not a very desirable one, but one she thought might be best for them all.
“The longer I am gone, the more chance there is for my absence to be discovered. Perhaps you should take Lake to your mother’s, alone, and I will meet you in the shadow of the White Tower in one hour. ”
It was evident that he did not like her suggestion. “I would see to your safety, lady. If you feel strongly you should return, then I will escort you to your apartments first.”
She shook her head. “Brogan, there is naught that can happen to me on the grounds of the Tower. There are soldiers everywhere. But I feel very strongly that I should return as soon as possible. Unlike you, there are many people that look for me, that expect my presence, and now a few who are suspicious of my activities. I would feel much more comfortable if I could return to make sure I’ve not been missed yet. ”
He sighed heavily; glancing up at the enormous walls that comprised the Tower of London.
Though he was uncomfortable with leaving her unescorted, he also knew she was more than likely correct.
He, too, was concerned that she had been missed.
The more the seconds ticked away, the more critical the situation became and the more determined they became to carry out their plan.
He dipped down, kissing her firmly. Avalyn’s fingers ached with the longing his kiss provoked, her hands on his cheeks as he suckled her lips.
There was excitement to the kiss, but there was also a great deal of fear. They both felt it.
“The White Tower in one hour,” he repeated. His blue eyes bore into her. “You had better be there or I will come looking for you.”
“Do not,” she shook her head. “If I am not there, then it is because something has happened. I will find my way out of it, have no doubt, but I do need you walking into the Lion’s Den with your eyes wide open. They will destroy you.”
He didn’t look happy in the least. “Avalyn…”
She put her fingers over his lips, feeling the sting of tears.
Something told her to not return to her apartments, to simply keep running with him until they were free and clear of all that would separate them.
But there were things she wanted to collect, the most important of which was coin.
They would need money to start their new life together.
“Don’t argue with me, my angel,” she removed her fingers and kissed his smooth lips.
“I must do as I must. And you must take Lake to your mother, collect the horse, and decide which church we will seek for our marriage. Beyond that, I will think of somewhere to go. I know a great many people. I’m sure someone will take us in until we can decide what to do. ”
He nodded in resignation. “I do not want to let you out of my sight.”
“I know. But it will only be for a short while, I promise.”
He caught her against him with his one free arm, hugging her fiercely to him.
To feel her sweet body against him, her warmth and life, was more than he could bear.
The first time he’d felt her, she’d been cold and gray.
But the woman in his arms now was vibrant and passionate and had given him more joy in a few short hours than he’d had in his entire lifetime.
His lips were against her neck, her ear. “One hour,” he murmured hotly. “I will be waiting.”
She nodded, the sting of tears transforming into small rivers on her cheeks. She wiped at them before he could see them, before he could see the fear in her heart. She had to pull away or risk never leaving his arms altogether.
“Take care of Lake,” she whispered, her gaze drifting over the sleeping face. “Tell your mother not to spoil her too much. I do not want her to be hard to handle.”
Brogan just shook his head, an ironic smirk on his lips. “My mother will spoil this child rotten,” he said. “Let us hope the damage can be undone.”
Avalyn smiled, too, but her smile faded as she gazed into his eyes. The time was upon them to separate, as much as her heart was aching.
“One hour,” she whispered.
“One hour.”
He kissed her again, with sadness and misery and hope.
Her eyes almost welled with tears again.
This time, Avalyn pulled away and walked quickly in the direction of the Traitor’s Gate.
It was a lesser used entry along the river.
A fitting entry point, considering the view her uncle now held on her.
Brogan watched her walk away, stealing into the shadows as she approached the gate.
After a few words exchanged with the sentries on watch, the gate slowly cranked open and Avalyn’s cloaked figure disappeared inside.
Brogan waited until the gate closed again before moving out of the shadows.
The trek to his mother’s shop was uneventful.
The moon was low in the sky and Lake slept soundly against him.
She was a warm little bundle and he kept gazing down at her, hardly believing the events of the night.
There was so much uncontrolled emotion within him that it was difficult to know what to feel.
All he knew was that, for the first time in as long as he could remember, he felt something other than bone-numbing grief.
He felt anticipation for his life to come with more excitement than he ever thought possible.
But they had to make it through the next few hours.
Mama Starke’s shop was dark, as he knew it would be.
He went around to the back entry, situated in a small alleyway that linked with other shops.
The door was bolted and he rapped softly, several times, hoping his mother could hear him from her chamber above the shop.
It was cold and dark as he continued to rap, wondering if he shouldn’t just break the door down.
It was a heavy door, but then again, he was a heavy man.
There wasn’t much he couldn’t break down.
Just when he was seriously considering smashing in the door, he heard the bolt slide and slowly, the door inched open. His mother’s big eyes were gazing back at him.
“Brogan?” she whispered.
He shoved the door in with his foot, basically barging into the room.
Before he could open his mouth, he saw a figure sitting at one of the bread tables near the front of the shop.
Curiosity, mingled with fear, crept into his veins.
Since his step father was away on business, he couldn’t imagine who the figure could be.
Until it stood up and stepped towards him.
St. Alban did not look pleased.