Music for My Soul (32 page)

He paused a moment and then said quietly, “I must see the grave. I must see it for myself.”

Chapter 26

The hour grew late, and much of the household had bedded down. She had comforted his mother as best she could before Edith excused herself and went to her room.

Madeleine scanned the Great Hall for one of the guards that had accompanied Garrett.

Ashby came up quietly and took her elbow. He wore a weary expression across his normally smiling face.

“Where’s Garrett?” she whispered as he drew her away from the hall.

He led her outside, where the air was briskly blowing. A full moon hung low in the sky, its golden tones bathing the inner bailey in soft light.

“Did you find Lynette’s grave?”

Ashby nodded. “Yes. ‘Twas just as Barth had described. Stephen put up quite a struggle and tried to break and run when we reached the site. Garrett sent him directly to the dungeon, even before we began to dig.” He shrugged. “Barth was quite helpful. Maybe he thought Garrett would go more easily on him if he cooperated.”

“And what will Garrett do with them?”

“I wish I knew.” He scanned the sky as if he could find the answers painted across the stars. “He’s been so angry, so bitter, for so long. Now it seems all the fight’s gone out of him.”

“Where is he, Ashby? I felt sure he’d come back to me.”

He frowned. “I don’t know. He supervised as the men dug up Lynnette’s body. He had her wrapped in linens and brought back inside the gates. He mentioned visiting with the priest. He wants a memorial mass first thing tomorrow for her soul.” Ashby wiped his hand across his brow drawing her attention to the fatigue lines edging his eyes and mouth. “I thought after that he would come to you.” He took her hand. “You have done him a world of good, Madeleine. The change in him is so great. If he didn’t have you right now, I don’t know how he’d make it through these next few days.” He brushed his lips against her brow in a brotherly gesture. “Help him, Madeleine. Keep him sane.” He turned to go back inside. “Coming?”

Madeleine shook her head. “No. I think I’ll sit here on the steps and think a bit.” She waited for Ashby to depart. She now knew where Garrett was, and she intended to go to him.

She wrapped her arms around her for warmth, regretting that she hadn’t thought to bring a cloak with her. The wind picked up as she made her way across the meadow, awash in bright moonlight. The field felt so strange now, empty of the stalls and tents that the mummer’s troupe had brought. Summer solstice seemed so long ago.

She picked up her pace as best she could and crossed the length of the grassland. As she approached their rock, she saw Garrett’s silhouette in the moonlight.

He must have heard her, for he lifted his head and met her gaze. Even in the dim light, she could tell his face was ravaged with grief.

Wordlessly, he slid from the rock’s surface and met her, enveloping her in the warmth of his arms. He held her close for many minutes, no words necessary between them.

At last he relaxed his embrace and cocked his head to one side and with a weary smile asked, “Will you never learn to put on a cloak?”

She half-laughed, half-sobbed. “I seem to have a knack of running into men with cloaks to spare.”

Garrett lifted her upon the rock and climbed up beside her, opening his cloak and wrapping the comforting fabric around them both. He smelled of the outdoors, the woods, the cold, and that very masculine scent she’d come to love. She felt utterly safe within his arms.

They stared over the empty field, neither breaking the silence that surrounded them.

“You know,” he finally said, “she was a gentle soul. Always kind to the servants. Always willing to please everyone.” His mouth tightened. “She didn’t deserve to die that way and lie in an unmarked grave all this time.” He paused. “She didn’t deserve my hateful thoughts all these years.”

“I’m sorry, Garrett.” She pressed his hand. “You know ‘twasn’t your fault.” She wiped the single tear trailing down his cheek. “And you’ve found her now. She’ll be buried properly. That’s got to be of some comfort.”

“Yes.” He sighed. “I must tell Lissa. Mayhap you can help me with that. I want everyone at Stanbury to attend the mass tomorrow. She’ll be buried in the family plot afterward.”

“And Barth? Stephen?”

“’Tis out of my hands.” He shook his head. “The royal circuit court will decide their fates. They’ll be held in the dungeon till the court comes ‘round the end of next month.” He sighed in the darkness. “Thank God I have you, my love.”

Madeleine snuggled close to him, his warmth like a siren’s call to her body.

He pressed his lips to hers tenderly. “I may have fallen in love with you at this very spot,” he told her. “I remember that kiss as if it were yesterday.”

Madeleine shivered. She had wanted him that night more than anything, but she’d run away instead. She took his hand in hers and pressed a kiss to each finger. “I doubt I’ll run from you this time, my lord. You see, I love you with all my heart, too.”

He stared deeply into her eyes. Even with the ache for Lynnette’s passing in his heart, Madeleine had brought him complete happiness for the first time in his life.

“Before you, sweetheart, I was empty. But you and your music filled me with love. You are the music for my soul.”