Page 93 of Castle of Refuge

“Oh. Well, with so many brave men around us, we are perfectly safe.”

Of course Delia was trying to reassure Audrey, and probably herself as well. But it was true. They did have many brave men around them.

“I hate to say it,” Audrey confided, “but Maris’s advantage is that she is a woman, and no one suspects a woman of such vengeful intentions as trying to harm others and even kill them.”

“I know exactly what you mean. My stepmother—Edwin has probably told you about what she did?”

“Yes, a little. I don’t think he likes talking about it, though.”

“Edwin is quiet. But he is capable of talking about himself and about how he feels, so don’t let him get away with not telling you what is on his mind.”

“I won’t. He is a good man, and I am so very thankful he loves me.” Tears stung her eyes at the truth of what she had just said.

“And I’m so grateful my brother found someone as kind and good as you. I couldn’t be happier.”

Why did Delia have to say that? It did not help her teary-eyed situation.

“Delia, what are you saying to the poor girl?” Gerard asked, suddenly coming up behind them. “She looks fit to cry.”

He could have said the words in a way to embarrass her, but he said them so gently and with so much compassion in his voice, it only made it worse. Audrey had to flick away two tears that made their way out of the corners of her eyes. But she was determined to dry them up and took deep breaths while wiping her face.

“No, I am well.”

“Don’t worry.” Another brother came up beside Gerard. What was his name? Berenger? “Edwin is not so bad when you get used to him. He can be useful, if not very amusing.”

“Amusing like you?” Edwin had been listening to the conversation, and she suspected Berenger knew it, which was why he said it. But Edwin smiled, which put Audrey more at ease, and she smiled too, her tears completely gone.

“Can we tell the players to play and sing now?” a third brother said, one of the younger ones—David, she thought. Roland, the youngest, was picking at the cake that had just been set in the middle of the trestle table. He pulled off a subtlety, which the cooks had made with almond paste and sugar in the shape of a bird, and bit its head off, then smiled while he chewed.

Delia laughed. “Roland, you should at least wait untileveryone has had a chance to admire the cake before taking some.”

“It’s been out here for at least two minutes,” he said with his mouth full. “It’s not my fault everybody is too busy talking to look at it.”

Delia shook her head, but Audrey laughed. How good it was to be with people who reacted in a friendly fashion to what was said and done by those around them. She did not wish to be gloomy thinking of Maris. Besides, she should not envy Edwin’s sister and brothers. They had been through their own troubles, which had obviously made them closer.

Lively music began, and Edwin was suddenly standing beside her holding out his hand.

“Shall we dance?”

Audrey took his hand, and they and their guests stood up from the tables as the servants took away most of the food, moved the large cake to the dais, and pushed the trestle tables against the wall to make room for dancing in the Great Hall.

Audrey had more confidence in her dancing since she and Edwin practiced some of the dances he thought they’d be doing tonight. She found she remembered dances she thought she’d forgotten, and Edwin gained a bit of confidence too. He confessed he’d been worried he wouldn’t be able to dance at all or that dancing would be awkward. So they’d practiced and reassured each other.

Audrey learned to notice when Edwin was starting to lose his balance and help him compensate for it. She worried that might hurt his pride, but he reacted instead with patienceand humility, even letting himself lean on her in certain steps. And that touched her heart more than any amount of prideful competence.

Their scars were not things to hide and be ashamed of. Their scars kept them humble, which was pleasing to God, and kept their hearts soft. And it was a bond between them that she was confident would never break.

Lady Delia danced with her husband, Lord Strachleigh. Gerard invited a young woman, one of the guests who was related to Lady Delia’s husband, to dance. Several other guests also danced, but Audrey was enjoying herself too much and was too focused on her own partner to pay much attention to who was partnered with whom.

Edwin was wearing a white linen shirt that laced up at the top. The sleeves were generous, and he wore a brocaded, sleeveless velvet tunic of dark green over it that also laced up the front and allowed his sun-browned skin to be contrasted against his white shirt.

His blue eyes focused on her while they danced, and her heart thrilled at his gaze and the touch of his fingers on hers. They danced line dances and chain dances, hopping, twirling, and even skipping to the music, until Audrey was winded and giggling at the way Edwin was holding her.

Suddenly, Audrey heard shouting. It seemed to be coming from the corridor outside the Great Hall. Edwin tightened his grip on her waist and looked toward the sound. People all around them stopped dancing and stared at the doorway.

Someone holding out a torch in front of their face came intothe Great Hall. It was a woman, and Audrey knew immediately who it was.

“Stay away from me,” Maris said, waving the flaming torch in front of her. “Your men tried to grab me. Is that any way to treat the sister of the bride?” Maris was fairly screaming the words.