For Castle and Crown by Sian Ann Bessey

Author:Sian Ann Bessey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: LDS;Love;Romance;Royalty;Tragedy;Ancestral;Battles;Fights
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: 2017-07-05T18:35:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Pippa pulled on the hood of her cloak, lowering her head against the blustery wind. November had arrived with bitterly cold temperatures, and the clouds overhead were low and dense, blocking all view of the sky or the sun. It was not the most inviting weather for a walk, but Pippa had decided she would rather face the stormy elements than the prospect of remaining indoors at the convent all evening.

It had been ten days since she’d last seen Edmund. After spending three days in seclusion, praying that God would direct her life, she’d spent seven days reading holy writ and helping the sisters with their work in the kitchen and infirmary. The friendship she shared with Sister Margaret, Sister Ruth, and Sister Constance was a precious gift. Making candles for the convent, along with bandages and ointments for the people of Hawksford, made her feel useful. But no matter how much she read or talked or worked, thoughts of Edmund were never far away.

Every day, she’d hoped he would come, and every night she’d retired to bed disappointed. Her father had visited twice. The first time was the day after her seclusion. He told her of a duel he’d fought with Edmund. She’d smiled as he’d recounted the experience, easily able to picture both men weaving across the courtyard brandishing their swords.

Her father’s second visit had been that morning, and he’d reported on a castle full of visitors, the air of festivity, and the growing anticipation for the banquet that night. Pippa had encouraged him to share all the details he could remember. She’d loved his descriptions of the servants’ excitement, the visiting nobility’s elegant clothing, and the great hall’s elaborate decorations, but after he’d left, she’d allowed herself a few tears. It was no wonder Edmund had not come.

Pinning her flapping cloak to her side with one gloved hand, she pushed on up the hill, skirting the edge of the woods until she reached the large rock where she and Edmund had rested their horses and practiced dancing. She lowered herself onto the boulder and looked out over the valley. Flags flew from all the castle towers, flapping furiously in the blustery air, and with twilight fast approaching, she could see the flicker of candlelight at a few windows.

From somewhere nearby, she heard the pounding of hooves. Straining to hear over the billowing gusts, she rose to her feet and stepped closer to the trees. Unless the wind was playing tricks on her, the horse was moving at full gallop, and rather than heading toward the castle, it was coming up the hill. Not wanting to be seen, she slipped farther into the woods, grateful for the protection afforded by the wide trunks and evergreen branches of the fir trees that grew amidst the now leafless oaks, ashes, and sycamores.

The hooves slowed, and Pippa heard the snap of twigs and branches as the horse and rider entered the woods. Then came a man’s voice, low and urgent. Her heartbeat quickened as another voice responded, this one coming from somewhere to her left.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.