The Silent Songbird (Hagenheim #7)(81)
“Tell me what?” Evangeline asked.
Lady le Wyse wiped her lips with her cloth napkin and laid it in her lap. “We insist on you two having a wedding at the Glynval Church, where the villagers can be present for their young lord and lady’s wedding.”
Evangeline’s heart leapt at the thought. “Can it be just like a peasant’s wedding?”
“A peasant’s wedding?” Cate said.
“The same sort of festivities, with flowers and food for everyone?”
“Of course,” Lady le Wyse said, chuckling. “Just as you wish.”
The day dawned bright and clear, and the cool smell of autumn was in the air. The people all followed them in eager procession to the church door, where the priest had them repeat their vows.
When the priest’s blessing was done, the people followed them back to the courtyard, waving brightly colored ribbons and small boughs covered with flowers. They also brought cakes they had baked as gifts to add to the great feast the servants had prepared.
The festivities included music and dancing. In between songs, the people all insisted on hearing more stories about how their lord and his men had saved the king of England from the evil Earl of Shiveley, liberating Evangeline, the king’s ward, from his tyranny, and then how King Richard had bestowed upon Westley the title of Earl of Glynval.
Westley kissed his bride as everyone around them was smiling, singing, eating, and drinking.
“I am so glad you came to Glynval, Evangeline of Berkhamsted Castle.”
“I am also glad I came to Glynval, Westley le Wyse.”
“Don’t you mean, my lord, Earl of Glynval?”
She laughed and kissed him, aware that Lord and Lady le Wyse were looking on, as well as many others. Evangeline only hoped that the rest of them could be as full of joy as she was, could escape whatever evil fate the devil had planned for them, and could feel as grateful to God as she did for lifting her out of loneliness and pain and bringing her into the lovely life He had planned for her all along.
Acknowledgments
Many thanks to my editor, Becky Monds, who is amazing in her insights into my stories and the ways to improve them, along with all the other things she does to bless my publishing experience. You’re the best!
Also many thanks to Julee Schwarzburg, a wonderful line editor who goes above and beyond her duties. I feel so blessed to have you and Becky on my side!
My agent, Natasha Kern, is a powerhouse of knowledge, tact, and friendship. She is an award-winning agent with an award-winning attitude and capabilities. Thanks for all you do, Natasha! God is blessing you.
I want to thank Jenny Sherwood, chairman of the Berkhamsted Local History and Museum Society, for helping me with my research on Berkhamsted Castle. It is one of the oldest motte-and-bailey castles in England, which disappeared, for the most part, from the landscape but will never be forgotten thanks to historians like Mrs. Sherwood. Thank you for your helpfulness and for sharing your knowledge with me.
I want to thank Kathy Bone, Mary Freeman, and Terry Bell for their brainstorming help, as well as Joe, Grace, and Faith Dickerson for listening and helping when I’m in the throes of plotting a story.
I am extremely grateful to God for giving me this wonderful task to do, which I love so much, and for you wonderful readers out there. Thanks for supporting and encouraging me! You are very much loved. I hope you enjoyed my Little Mermaid–inspired story.
Discussion Questions
Why did Evangeline wish she was a peasant instead of the ward of a king? Would you have felt the same way? Why or why not?
When Evangeline wanted to disguise herself and hide from Lord Shiveley, she pretended to be mute, since her voice was a big part of her identity. What kind of disguise would you use if you were trying to hide your identity?
When Evangeline encountered the poor woman at the market who was begging for food, she gave her money and some of her bread rolls. Muriel scolded Evangeline and said the woman would probably lose the money. Do you think Evangeline did the right thing? Why or why not?
When Evangeline tried to work as a servant, she found she wasn’t very good at some of her duties, but she still managed to make friends. What things did she do well? What things did she do badly?
Evangeline struggled with understanding the story of Ruth. Are there passages in the Bible that puzzle you? What do you do when you don’t understand something? How do you express or deal with confusion or doubt? Is it possible to understand everything in the Bible? Why or why not?
Evangeline feared that no one could love her if they thought she was selfish. Have you ever feared people couldn’t love you if they discovered something about you or something you have done? Have you ever tried to hide a part of yourself from others?
Evangeline wondered how she could get absolved from the sin of deceiving Westley into thinking she was mute. Have you ever struggled with guilt over something you’ve done? How did you, or how can you, overcome your guilt?
Why did Evangeline carve “Absolve me” and three crosses into the wall of the church? What do you do when you want to get God’s attention?