Lacybourne Manor (Ghosts and Reincarnation #3)(165)

“What?” Colin uttered that one word in a low and even voice.

“I think, and I’ll have to check the Book of Shadows because I’m sure Esmeralda will tell me more, but I think that Sibyl was destined to save Royce and Beatrice and this is why history has shifted without calamity for what was actually meant to be has now happened. They simply had to wait for her to be born so she could go back to Royce and warn him. Then they could live their lives together. Which, by the way, they both lived to be a ripe old age and Royce sired four children by his Beatrice.”

Colin, clearly not listening to these additional words, patiently repeated himself, “What?”

Sibyl felt the stirring of unease.

Marian turned her eyes to Colin. “What I mean to say is, they weren’t actually supposed to die but they had to wait for Sibyl to be born, for you two to meet and your love to bloom, so she could save them. I don’t think Japan has fallen into the ocean because that was not the way it was supposed to be, this is!” she finished triumphantly.

Colin was not getting the answers he desired. “I understand that but what I’d like to know, Marian, is more about the part where Sibyl goes to Royce to warn him. When did that happen?”

Sibyl tensed and Colin’s arm around her tightened significantly, pinning her in place by his side.

“The book doesn’t spend much time on specifics of the legend, just facts as they were known. The Book of Shadows will tell me more but the legend does say, rather romantically, the witch from another time came to Royce, inhabiting Beatrice’s body directly after Beatrice and Royce consummated their marriage.”

Colin’s arm became a steel band.

“Oh my,” Mags uttered, her voice filled with humour.

Sibyl shot off the couch and whirled and looked down at Colin. The muscle in his jaw was back to jumping spasmodically.

“Colin,” she said soothingly.

He slowly rose.

“Did you go back to him?” he growled.

She took a step back.

Colin took a step forward.

Then she admitted, “Kind of.”

He took another step forward.

She took another step back.

“Exactly what do you mean by ‘kind of’?” His voice was more than a little peeved.

She tried to smile at him.

He ignored her smile and took another step forward.

“When did this happen? Did it happen tonight? Did it happen after we’d –?”

She took another step back.

“Um… kind of.” She drew out the words as long as she could.

His eyes flashed.

He took another step forward.

She turned and ran from the room, thinking this was her best course of action.

Colin strode quickly from the room, following Sibyl and muttering distractedly to the assemblage, “If you’ll excuse us.”

“Not at all,” Phoebe told the space where his tall departing frame was only moments before.

The three women who were left in the room looked at each other and then they burst out laughing.

Then Colin came back into the room and their laughter died.

He strode to Marian’s chair and looked down at her.

She looked up.

Then, quietly he told her, “You should know, that thing had its blade at her throat, it glanced off, didn’t even come near it.”

Marian’s mouth parted in surprise. Even she didn’t know she was that good.

“Thank you,” Colin went on softly, his eyes on the woman warm and shining with gratitude.

Then without another word, he strode back out of the room.

“You’re welcome,” Marian whispered to the space where his body was only moments before.

* * * * *

Royce Morgan descended the stairs in the dead of night, leaving Beatrice exhausted and sleeping peacefully in their bed.

As he moved down the steps, he saw Esmeralda Crane stood in one of the semi-circular windows, staring thoughtfully out into the night.

Instead of her making the trip back to her cottage in the dark after the events of that eve, Beatrice had insisted the witch stay at Lacybourne with them. Also at Beatrice’s stubborn demand, Old Lady Griffin was there, Royce heard her loud snores as he walked by her chamber moments before.

He quietly strode across the Great Hall and stopped to stand beside the witch, looking out into the dark night and joining her for a moment in her silent reverie.

After some time, he spoke.

“Is she safe?” he asked softly, his deep voice rumbling low.

Esmeralda knew exactly to whom he was referring. “Yes, I believe she is.”

She was watching him and she could swear to the goddess that she could actually see the tension leave his powerful frame.

“And her betrothed?” he enquired.

“Yes,” she answered quietly.

Royce Morgan nodded.

Then he turned and walked back across the room with wide, ground-eating strides and ascended the stairs, two at a time, to rejoin his bride.

It was then Esmeralda Crane turned back to regard the night and when she did she allowed herself to smile.

Epilogue

Mallory had been caught by a sunbeam of which there were a great deal in doggie heaven.

Being thus, he immediately deposited his big body on a soft bed of grass and took a snooze.

This was rather irritatingly interrupted by a Chihuahua.