Mary squeezed his hand. “It is my turn to save you and yours as you once did for me.”
“I did not rescue you so that one day you would rescue me.”
“Perhaps you did. Perhaps this is what was meant to be all along. Perhaps my destiny has always been with Decimus.”
“That is not a thought I wish to consider.”
“Do not worry yourself, Magnus. I am resigned to my destiny. I could not have it any other way. To think that Reena, you, Brigid, Thomas, or anyone here at the keep would suffer because of me is not acceptable to me.”
“I want you to know that I will never stop trying to free you of Decimus.”
She smiled. “That is a good thought for then I will always hope.”
“Reena has hope. She feels there is something more to you wedding Decimus than anyone knows.” Magnus shook his head. “When my wife gets an idea in her head, there is no stopping her.”
“We have talked and what she says does make sense. Why would Decimus hunt me all these years? How did he suddenly find me? And why wed me? There are many other sinners he can reform.”
“Reena believes the man who contacted the Dark One holds the answer. Unfortunately we have not been able to discover his identity.”
Mary threw her hands up in the air in frustration. “That is what I wished to ask him.”
“Ask who what?’
Mary realized her mistake. Magnus knew nothing of her love for Michael. Reena had given her word that she would tell no one and had kept it, though Mary never doubted she would.
“There is something important you are not telling me.”
Mary hesitated, wondering how wise it was for anyone to know of her love for the Dark One. It would place them in jeopardy, which she had already done with Reena. Could she chance doing the same to Magnus?
She chose her words carefully. “The Dark One visits with me to see how I fair. I thought to ask him the identity of the man who requested his help.”
“The Dark One is a good man and was upset when he heard the news that Decimus demanded to wed you.”
She smiled. “He wished to see me safe.”
“He has guided many to safety with no regard to his own well-being. He visits you here in the keep?”
She nodded.
“He should be more careful sneaking in under Decimus’s watchful eye. The man seems to see and know everything.”
“The Dark One seems to know more.”
“Still,” Magnus shook his head. “There is always a chance of him getting caught. Decimus’s men just requested a meeting. They appeared anxious over something. One of them could have spotted the Dark One and they, at this moment, could be setting a trap for him.”
Mary stood. “We should find out.”
“Not an easy task. They are well trained in keeping their own counsel.”
“We can try,” she said, intending to protect the man she loved from harm. If Decimus’s men were out to capture the Dark One, she would see their plans foiled.
By evening nothing had been learned. Decimus’s men remained tight-lipped, sharing nothing with anyone in the village nor were they overheard discussing any news.
Mary wanted the Dark One to visit again soon, and then she did not want him to visit at all. She was selfish in her desire for him, yet concerned for his safety, which meant it would be wiser for him to keep his distance from her.
Then there was her question. Who was the mysterious man who requested the Dark One’s help with Mary? Was he friend or foe? And could he answer her many questions?
The next few days were a whirlwind of activities. Plans for the wedding took priority and everyone in the keep was busy preparing for the ceremony and celebration.
Decimus had given strict orders that the affair be a joyous celebration. Magnus saw no point in arguing that few saw the wedding as a cheerful occasion of Mary’s good fortune. Mary was the reason he agreed to a festive celebration, and the villagers would attend out of duty, fear, and respect for her.
Mary did the best she could to keep her spirits up as her wedding day drew closer, but it was not an easy task. Her thoughts lingered on Michael, who had not visited with her since she had been ill. She wondered over his health and safety and if he was risking his life to help others.
When she could, she would sneak away to the woods and sit in the solitude of the trees and the blossoming spring growth. Spring was in full bloom. The trees and flowers were vibrant with color, the earth’s soil rich and ripe with plants.
Here amongst nature’s beauty she would settle, relax and sing a gentle tune. Her singing calmed her and brought her peace, and no one but the animals and birds could hear her.
She sat today, the spring air warm, the sweet scent of freshly bloomed flowers strong in the air, and her thoughts chaotic. In two days she would wed Decimus and be bound to him for life.
She had not thought to ask him where they would make their home and it concerned her. How would Michael visit with her if he did not know where she was? She thought to ask if she could visit with Reena and Brigid on occasion and then perhaps Michael could visit her there. She tended to believe, however, that Decimus would keep her isolated and that her life would be a solitary one.
The burden of her thoughts weighted her shoulders and she sat with her head drooped and her legs folded beneath her on the hard ground. She purposely wore her plain skirt and blouse, thinking this would probably be the last time she dressed simply.
It would be the last time she would simply be Mary.
In two days she would be wife to Decimus and lose her freedom.
Arms draped in black wrapped around her so quickly, yet gently, that she jumped.
“I have missed you,” Michael said, squeezing her back tightly to his chest.
Mary firmly grasped the arm wrapped around her waist. “I had so hoped you would come to me again. But it is selfish of me for you may be in danger.”
“Worry not,” he whispered, his shroud-covered face pressed next to hers. “They are led on a wild goose chase.”
“You have been well and safe, then?”
“And I will continue to be well and safe.”
“I wed in two days,” she said with sorrow. “And I know not where I will live.”
“Listen to me well, Mary,” he said with a firm gruffness. “I will always know your whereabouts and I will never be far from you.”
“You have no idea how your words relieve my worry.”
“And you,” he murmured, “have no idea how much I wish to make love to you.”
She sighed. “I had so hoped that we could love once more before I wed Decimus.”
“We can, we will, we must,” he said, turning her face to slip his lips over hers and kiss her with a contained passion that ached to be released. “There is a secluded spot a short distance from here, but you must—”
“Keep my eyes closed,” she said with a soft laugh. “But someday,” she warned with a poke to his arm, “I will discover your secret.”
She felt his body stiffen.
“God help us both, when you do.”
She turned in his arms. “I pray that God will help and that one day we will be together.”
They walked to an area draped with vines and tree branches that had formed a secluded hut. Michael spread the branches apart and she entered. It was small with only a dapple of light shining through, a perfect haven for them to make love.