The Hawk and the Jewel (Kensington Chronicles 1) (21 page)

(Sunny didn't say anything for some moments. Miles was her I brother, and Sunny knew Holly loved him unreservedly. She also jf'knew that no one else in the house was aware of the problem. It had taken her contact with Cecil for Sunny to understand why Miles had ' stared at her at Christmastime. Now as she looked back, she strongly suspected that his parents had been aware of what was going on because he had made an effort to keep his distance.

This time was different. Miles was very careful about when he stole his glances. Sunny was sure if she explained things to Holly, Holly would tell her it was all in her imagination.

"I'm not leaving this room, Sunny," Holly said abruptly, in a rare show of sternness. "Not until you tell me what's going on."

Sunny sighed, thinking she was probably leaving Willows* End anyway, so what would it matter if Holly knew the truth?

"Did I ever tell you about Cecil?"

"Cecil? You mean Foster's brother Cecil?"

"Yes, he's the one. He moved to London not long after Christmas. I had never met him before, but well, he liked me quite a bit."

"Oh," Holly said in understanding. "You miss him. Well, Sunny, why didn't you say so? Mummy and Papa would love for him to visit. He could-"

Holly stopped chattering when she saw the look of absolute despair on Sunny's face.

"You don't miss him?"

"No."

Holly was silent for a moment. "I'm sorry I interrupted you,

Sunny. Please go on."

She did so in a quiet voice. "I didn't like him the way he liked me. I mean, he was very kind, but Heather thought he might have

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marriage in mind, and,** Sunny gave a small shudder, "I didn't for him in that way at all.

"I think I could have stood it, but he was always looking at n writing poems for me, and trying to talk to me when I wanted
to
b< alone. I could take just about everything but the staring. I just hate i| when people stare at me like I've got an extra eye or something." a

Sunny's voice had become quite heated, and Holly, who never] minded suitable male attention, knew that now was not the time tell Sunny she was stared at because she was beautiful.i

"Well, anyway,** Sunny went on, her voice now sounding reconciled, "it is happening all over again, only it's worse this time. At! least Cecil didn't live with us.**

"Sunny," Holly began, "I really want to understand, but I'm afraid I don't."

Sunny saw no hope for it. "I know you love your brother, Holly, but I can't take his constant staring at me."

Holly looked uncomprehending, and Sunny felt quite suddenly incensed.

"It's Miles!" she nearly spat at her niece. "Miles gawks at me, and I can't stand it!"

As quickly as the anger had kindled, it cooled, and Sunny felt defeated and as tired as a well-used rag. Holly's brow furrowed, and Sunny waited for the wrath that was sure to be directed toward her.

"He does stare at you, doesn't he?" Holly said the words almost to herself. "I've never given any thought to it, but he does; I've seen him." Holly's own anger began to mount, but Sunny finally recognized that it was not directed at herself. "And if he continues to stare at you, you're going to want to leave." Holly paused before saying, "Let's go!"

"Go where?"

"Come on," Holly strode to Sunny's wardrobe. "Get changed into your oldest dress. Then we'll go to my room, and I'll change."

"But why?" Sunny asked as Holly unbuttoned the back of her dress.

"Why? I'll tell you why. We're going to have a little talk with my brother."

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Miles walked from the stables, his steps dragging just a bit. He'd lined over an hour for Sunny to make an appearance, but she had : come. It seemed he couldn't see enough of her. He had thought beautiful at Christmas, but with the changes in her figure, she downright distracting. His disappointment over her failure to ppear was keen.

The stables at Willows' End were to the rear of the property, and ie closest way to enter the house was through the kitchen in the ick, but Miles liked to go in the front door. He took the path Dwly, enjoying the walk around the house. Everything was beautiful |jn June.

His mother loved evergreen bushes, and they grew in huge clus-! tcrs at all corners of the mansion. Miles was passing the bush that satat the corner of the library when he suddenly found himself set upon by bandits, their weight hurling him face first to the ground. Miles was so surprised by this charge against his person that at first he didn't react. He shook his head over the incongruity of an attack during daylight, but when he tried to rise up, a hand pushed the side of his face to the ground.

There had been a flurry of bodies and clothing with much scuffling and grunting, and now someone was calmly sitting on his back. This someone had his arm twisted high up behind him, so high he felt as if he could touch his own neck. Even at that he felt sure he could overtake whoever it was. He was on the verge of putting up a fight when his sister's cologne wafted through the air and hit his nostrils. "Can you hear me, Miles?" she said.

"I can hear you," he said in sudden anger over this ridiculous assault, thinking Holly was too old for such nonsense. "What are you playing at, Holly?"

"I want you to listen to what Sunny has to say." She twisted his arm up higher, and Miles grunted in real pain. "Are you listening?"

"Yes!" he barked at her, hurt and embarrassed to his soul over the tact that Sunny was not only witnessing this, but was a part of it. Not until Holly had said Sunny's name did he realize that the weight on his back felt so heavy because it was both his sister and his aunt.

His anger, now as full-blown as the girls', caused him to move without thinking. He rose and twisted violently at the same time, sending the girls flying. He spun on the balls of his feet, crouched low, and readied himself for another of their attacks. No attack came.

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Holly had Men free and unharmed. Sunny, on the other ha had gone back against the base of a tall stone statue. She was in i process of righting herself, but her hand had gone to the back of I head. Miles saw immediately that she had hurt herself.

His anger instantly drained from him, and as he watched he remorse over how violent he had been ran deep within him. It deeper still when he saw tears standing in her eyes.

"I shouldn't have jumped on you. This is your home, Miles, promise I'll be gone before the week is out, even if I have to w back to London." This said, Sunny stumbled to her feet and ran the house.

Miles dropped to his seat and then heard his sister crying. Nod quite so tolerant of her tears, he turned, ready to hush her, but evenf Holly's eyes were too much for him.f

"Please," she pleaded softly, her gaze holding his own. "Shej hates it when you stare at her, Miles. Please stop. I don't want her to: leave. She's like a sister, and I've never had a sister. I want her to stay; more than I've ever wanted anything."

Holly did not wait for him to answer, but pushed slowly to her feet and followed Sunny to the house.

The ground was damp, but Miles stayed seated. He was furious with Holly and Sunny both, but mostly with himself. He had determined not to make a fool of himself, but that's exactly what he had done. He didn't know how long he sat there, probably no more than a few minutes, before he heard steps behind him. Not caring if his sister was still bent on destruction, he stayed his ground. Surprisingly, his father stepped off the path and around him to sit on the pedestal of the statue where Sunny had fallen.

"The girls attacked me," Miles began, hoping for some sympathy. "So I saw."

Miles stared at his father before hanging his head in pure humiliation. He found he was no longer angry with anyone. He had acted like a child, and now his aunt had been hurt both emotionally and physically and his father had witnessed the whole affair.

"It means a lot for me to have my baby sister here, but you're my son and I love you.**

Miles raised his head.

"Unlike Christmas, I had no idea you were struggling with your feelings for Sunny this summer. I wish you had come to me. I love

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Miles," he repeated, "and if Sunny's presence here is that much burden, I'll return her to London in the morning. I must admit >u, I want it all. I want you both here. However, if you're going [make me choose, I choose you." Miles' agony increased. There was no reason for Sunny to leave,

he could get a hold of himself.

*i feel like I love her," the younger man admitted painfully. *Tm sure you do" was his father's understanding reply. "And I miss my guess, you've decided you'll be miserable without I would also guess that you've not gone to your heavenly Father help. He can see you through this. He will give you strength to itrol your feelings for a girl you can never have. "Sunny is a lovely person, and I think you would enjoy having as a friend. If you continue as you are, however, she won't know >w to deal with you, and to protect herself you'll know only ani-losity from her."

Miles stood then, and Rand put his arm around his son's shoul-;; ders. Both men headed for the house and into Rand's study. Rand 'had been correct in his guess, Miles had not prayed about his feelings. The men did so now. There were no miracles as they turned to God with this need, but Miles rose from his knees many minutes later knowing that he could fight this feeling, and would. With a new resolve he went to his room to freshen up and then to find Sunny. It was time to apologize for the way he had acted.

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G^mt^oAm

As june gave way TO july, Rand struck a bargain on Sunny's ocnattj with James Townsend for die sale of the roan filly. The moment he! had seen the young horse, he had agreed with her estimation of the animal. London Lady was a beauty. It was agreed that Lady, as Sunny called her, would be sold to her that summer and would come to live at Willows* End within six months* time, the proper time for weaning. In the meantime, Sunny rode Miles* horse, Windsor. He was Miles* favorite mount, but Miles had gladly given the fine gelding over to her as a type of peace offering after they had talked. And it had worked. Miles and Sunny had grown very dose in the days to follow, and Miles learned how prophetic his father's words had been. Sunny was a wonderful friend. He also began to understand why Holly had so desperately wanted her to stay.

There weren't many people who were as entertaining as Sunny. She was bright and cheerful, and even though they tried to talk her out of some things, she always had a wild scheme cooking in her head that meant fun or excitement for all. Today was just such a day. Weeks ago, Sunny had spotted what looked to be a small pond while she was standing in the south tower. Now she had two blankets and a picnic lunch all packed and sitting in Holly's buggy. Miles was on Jolly, and with Sunny astride Windsor, they were off.

"Are you sure you know the way, Miles?** Holly worried as the horse pulled her single-seater trap across the meadow. "I'm sure. What are you worried about?**

"I'm worried about what happened the last time. I refuse to ride Jthe back of your horse again. If this buggy can't get through, I'm jning back.**

Sunny laughed and called back to her. "You were white as the

>n while on the back of that horse."

"It's all well and good for you to be laughing, Sunny Gallagher,

: taking us into the swamp was all your fault."

"I know," the younger girl said, an unrepentant grin on her face.

Holly shook her head much like her mother would. Sunny's grin

; infectious, and even though Holly had been livid at the time, she

i very much over it now and found herself grinning in return.

"There it is," Sunny cried as they topped a small rise and saw a

:ctly round pond sitting off to the west. The sun glistened off ic surface, causing Sunny to heel Windsor into an easy lope and him in the direction of the water. Miles, on the other hand, ayed by Holly's horse and buggy.

Many changes had taken place in Miles since his talk with his ather. He was now 17, and without conscious thought, had become ivery protective of both Sunny and his sister. Not completely certain of the terrain, he was hesitant to leave Holly on her own. Sunny oftentimes seemed more rugged and sure of herself. For the first time in his life, Miles did not feel impatience with Holly's fear of horses, only compassion for her.

"Am I going to make it?** Holly asked as they progressed slowly.

"I think so. Father wouldn't have let us come if he had thought it was dangerous."

Miles had not thought of this until just then, but saying the words out loud made them both feel better. Miles looked ahead to see that Sunny had already dismounted and was walking by the water. As they followed in her path, he wondered if there was anything of which she was afraid.

"How deep do you suppose this water is?"

*No!*
Miles and Holly shouted in unison, having learned the way Sunny's mind worked. Their aunt scowled at them.

"I didn't mean I'd go in right now, but I thought maybe I could come back-"

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"It's over your head, Sunny." Miles cut her off with what he sure would be the final word.