The Hawk and the Jewel (Kensington Chronicles 1) (26 page)

Marian chuckled. "She's Brandon's grandfather's sister." "The duke has a sister? I didn't know that. Why has no one ever spoken of her?"

"It's not because she's disliked; it's just that she hasn't been in England for five years, and she's simply dreadful when it comes to keeping in touch. We all have a tendency to forget she's alive."

"Where does she live?"

"Well, just now she has come from America, but before that she was several years in India.**

Sunny's eyes had gone quite round, but she couldn't manage a reply. Marian tucked her arm into Sunny's and turned toward the house.

**I think you'll find she's quite a character, with a story for every of the year." Marian paused a moment. "She says she's back in igland to stay. She has purchased a home on the outskirts of London I is moving back because this is where she wants to be buried." "What a horrid thing to say."

"Nevertheless, those were her words, and when you get to knowfrfceryou'll find they're not all that unusual."

Before pushing her in the direction of the stairs, Marian laughed again at the look on Sunny's face and told her that she had only 15 minutes to get cleaned up for tea.

Lady Lucy Hawkesbury was indeed a character. In the first moments of meeting her, Sunny thought her something of a wonder, | but in little time at all she noticed that her bright, dark eyes could be rather confused at times. Sunny had the impression that her mind was quite keen, but she really couldn't be bothered with the mundane details of life, such as keeping in touch with her brother or remembering that her spectacles were pinned to the lace bow that fell over her rather full bosom.

Aside from all of this, Sunny could see that she possessed a kind heart. Lucy loved Doug's children to distraction and was looking forward to seeing the rest of the family. She was thrilled when she learned that Doug would be returning Sunny to Willows' End the next week. Declaring in a no-nonsense voice that her own carriage would follow them, Lucy's smile beamed around the room as though the subject were settled.

"What if my house isn't ready?" the older woman wondered aloud, suddenly having second thoughts.

"Have you sent someone ahead to take care of it?" a very practical Harlan wanted to know.

"Well, I was going to, but somehow I think I forgot."

Sunny watched Marian's hand go to her mouth as she turned a laugh into a cough.

"Where is Tildy?" Lucy questioned.

"I'll find her for you," Lance offered.

"Who is Tildy?" Grace asked, but her question was never answered because Tildy, a woman who looked even older than her mistress, appeared in the door.

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"Yes, my lady," she said with a kind reverence. Aunt Li blinked at her in some confusion.

"Your house in London," Marian prompted. **Of course." Marian was gifted with the older woman's smfl) "Tildy dear, have we done anything about the house in London?: mean, is it being prepared for our arrival?**

"Yes, my lady, but you had planned on visiting Bracken for a weeks before moving in. You told your solicitor, Mr. Kent, that wouldn't need it until the first of April.**

"Oh, now I remember." The room watched as she suddei went from relief to looking very unsure of herself.

"You're going home next week, aren't you, Sunny?" "Yes, ma'am."

"I don't suppose my carriage could accompany yours?"j

Sunny blinked in surprise. Why less then ten minutes ago, she'

had not asked Sunny but rather
told
her that she was going north i

with her. To Sunny's relief, Doug chose that moment to come in for

tea, and the question was put to him.

He handled it with gentle aplomb, and in a few short moments the old girl had neatly maneuvered things to suit her. Sunny sat quietly and learned that she was to go home in two days* time, not the next | week. She then watched in silence as Aunt Lucy remembered she had j something for the children and ushered all of them out of the parlor and upstairs to her room.

The
room was utterly quiet after her departure. Sunny sat staring at Lucy's vacant chair, but a muffled sound caught her attention. She looked to see that Marian had her hands over her face in an attempt to stifle her laughter. Doug and Sunny joined her, staring at each other in helpless surprise.

Sunny, when she thought about it, found she was not at all upset about going home, or even about having Lucy accompany them, but Lucy was far and away the most eccentric bundle of humanity she had encountered in her life.

Doug's words, spoken without malice before they were once again joined by the children, stayed with Sunny for the long ride home, as well as any time she occasioned to come into contact with Aunt Lucy.

"I dare say she's quite harmless, but I'll tell you, Aunt Lucy is a hen-wit if ever I've seen one."

the calendar read may 3, 1846, when the
Flying Surprise
sailed up the Thames and into a London dock. Brandon had been off the shores of Morocco when he had felt such a need to return home that it nearly staggered him. Not a man given to flights of fancy, he tried to push the thought aside, but the feeling persisted. He started for London with a fraction of the ship's hold filled, his men thinking he'd taken leave of his senses. But Brandon had never felt this way in the past, and was not going to ignore the urging now.

After arriving and docking his ship, he headed straight for his town house, rousing his staff from their sleep to prepare his carriage. His staff was loyal to a fault, and in record time Brandon was bathed, fed, and headed out of London by 3:00 A.M. Two hours later the coach pulled into the courtyard in front of Bracken. The mansion was alight with candles, and Brandon, with a heavy heart, assumed he was too late. Parks met him at the door and put his fears to rest.

"You're in time, my lord," the trusted servant said softly. Brandon touched his shoulder by way of thanks and took the steps on swift, silent feet.

Brandon hesitated at the doorway of the duke's bedroom. His gaze quickly took in his mother, Dexter, Judith, Chelsea, and Rand before moving to the still form lying on the bed.

Andrea was the first of the group to spot him, and she rose and walked straight into his arms. The very sight of her oldest son was too much for her. So overcome with thankfulness that Brandon had made

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it in his grandfather's last hours, Andrea sobbed against his chest long moments.

"I prayed, Brandon," she finally managed. "The doctor says hcl probably headed into a coma now, but he's still with us, and I fcn you would want-" She couldn't go on, but there was no need. a

Keeping her hand within his own, Brandon approached the bedj He sat in the chair his mother had vacated and was vaguely aware Rand sending the doctor, nurse, and servants from the room.$

"I'm here, Papa," Brandon whispered. "I made it back to say! goodbye." His voice broke on these words as he placed his hand into his grandfather's.

The old duke didn't stir, but it was enough for Brandon to touch his warm hand and see him again before he left this earthly life. Brandon continued to speak to him in low, loving tones, thanking him for the man that he had been, the spiritual leader, the kind Papa, the wise mentor.

Andrea and Chelsea wept as Brandon spoke, but their tears subsided when he finished his goodbye. The room was quite still when suddenly the duke's chest gave a great heave. Rand immediately went for the doctor, who waited in the hall, but after the briefest of checks, he informed the family that the duke was still with them.

He lingered for a better pan of the morning, and only Brandon, Dexter, and Chelsea were with him when he quietly slipped into eternity.

The day of the old duke's funeral was hot and muggy. Still, over 300 mourners turned out for the service. There was no chance for the family to speak with each and every one, but the guests who crowded dose were able to speak with the new duke and his family.

After what seemed to be hours the crowd began to thin. Brandon, beginning to feel his exhaustion, turned at one point to find Dinah Hadley standing hesitantly nearby. His fatigue suddenly fell away and he turned to her without hesitation, drawing close enough to see the tears standing in her eyes.

"Thank you for coming," Brandon sighed when he stood directly before her.

Dinah nodded. "I'm praying for you Brandon, for you and your entire family."

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**Thank you," he said, feeling his words were grossly inadequate.Iehadn't seen her since Dcx's wedding, and her appearance here ay, as well as her tears on his account, meant more to him than he lid say. He wanted very much to reach for her hand, but knew it juld be improper.

"I won't keep you," Dinah rescued him, her tears finally clearing ad her heart showing in her beautiful eyes.

Brandon nodded, appreciating her thoughtfulness but reluctant Ito leave her. As he looked into her lovely face, he realized that she [was the first person in three days who had taken his mind from his1grandfather.

"May I call on you, Lady Dinah?" He asked softly, knowing that he couldn't just let her walk away.

"I would enjoy that, your Grace," she spoke sedately, but Brandon didn't miss the joyful smile that lit her eyes. Dinah turned then and moved toward the waiting carriages. Brandon watched her until he heard his sister calling his name. His heart was very full as he walked slowly back to his grandfather's graveside to stand with Chelsea and his mother.

"When I left on this last voyage, I wanted desperately to stay home," Brandon began. "In what seemed to be the blink of an eye, the sea lost its appeal for me."

Andrea shifted slightly to better see her son's face, but did not speak.

"I found myself daydreaming about how lovely it would be to stay home-in this home. And now, as ridiculous as this sounds, I feel like his death is my fault."

"Oh, Brandon, no."

"I know," he stopped her gently. "I know it was God's time, but the title has never meant more to me than Papa has, and I just wish he could still-" Brandon stopped as tears clogged his throat.

"Brandon," Rand said from his chair across the room, "don't forget that it was not only God's timing for your grandfather's death, it was also His perfect timing for you to inherit the title."

The younger man stared at him, and Rand went on.

"God knows very well that you are ready for this position. Your father died when you were very young. Dex was just a baby. Milton

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knew that you would be the next duke. As well as loving you to traction, his every word and action when he was with you was to help! prepare you for the title he knew would be yours someday."

"He's right, Brandon," Dex put in. "You're not as old as Father! would have been, but there isn't one of us who doubts you're more than ready to take on the responsibilities of the Duke of Briscoe.*

the duke or dci&coe

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brandon leaned back in his desk chair and studied the document before him. Sunny was spending money like a drunken sailor. She'd always been very good about recording her purchases, and although Brandon was thankful she was being so honest, her spendthrift ways were becoming preposterous. Brandon gawked at one entry of a saddle that cost a hundred pounds.

"One hundred pounds," he whistled softly. "It must be lined with gold."

There was a knock at the door, and Brandon looked up as Parks, who had remained as head of the domestic staff at Bracken, slipped quietly into the room.

"Yes, Parks?"

"Will you be wanting a carriage for your appointment at Mowry, your Grace?"

"Yes, Parks. Thank you. Does my mother know I won't be here for tea?"

Til inform her myself, your lordship. I believe she plans to go home this evening.''

"Tell her I'll be back before she leaves."

"Yes, my lord."

Brandon went back to his deskwork without another word. He opened a letter and saw that it was from Williams. The letter overflowed with praise for Brandon's generosity on his behalf. Williams had been with his grandfather from the time he had been a youth; in

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feet, Brandon thought the servant might have been older than his grandfather. He also knew it was long past time for him to be putting up his feet. Andrea had been sure that the suggestion of leaving Bracken would break the old servant's heart, but as Brandon had hoped, the man had been more than grateful.

"With all due respect, my lord,** Williams had said, "Bracken is just not the same place without the old duke, and I-" He'd been unable to go on.

"I quite agree with you." Brandon rescued him and then continued, "Although I do hope to make this place feel like home again, I think it's time you had a home of your own.**

As it was, Williams had a younger sister he had planned on living with someday. Brandon had not added to the inheritance his grandfather had lavished on this faithful servant, but had instead sent a swarm of workers to the home of Williams* sister with orders to paint and repair every crack and crevice.