“Come, Bracken,” Megan now urged. “The children are most anxious.”
He did not need to be asked twice. Within minutes Bracken’s children were swarming him, and he held and kissed each one in turn. He couldn’t stop staring at them. They all seemed so much taller and more grownup. He had two hours with them before the time grew late and they were ushered off to bed with promises of a special outing in the morning.
Bracken then ate a hasty meal and rushed to be alone with Megan as soon as they were able. They sat before the fire in the bedchamber for many minutes, not speaking but getting silently reacquainted.
Finally Megan said, “What is to become of us, Bracken? In truth, I am frightened.”
“There is no need. God makes kings, Megan, and He is still in control of England. The monasteries have been dissolved, and Henry’s push to restore what he calls the true church of England is crushing many innocent people beneath his political heels, but our God is the king of the universe.”
“Then you are never afraid, Bracken,” she stated, her face turned up to see him.
“I would be a fool not to be alert, my love, but I fear not for tomorrow. Has God not proven to us repeatedly that He will see to our every need? Has God not proven His love over and over?”
“Yes, Bracken, He has. I am not trusting.”
“Then I will pray that your trust increases.”
Megan smiled at him again and put her head back against his arm. He never made light of her shortcomings or rebuked her harshly, but with love and tenderness led the way by word and example.
“You’ve grown rather quiet,” Bracken commented.
“I was confessing my sin of faithlessness and then thinking about the future.”
“Worrying?”
“No, not this time. This time I must leave it with God. This time I must trust completely.”
Bracken turned her so she was in his arms and he could look down into her face. “In the Holy Scripture a dove is at times the symbol of peace. You’re my dove; did you know that, Megan?”
“Oh, Bracken.” Her eyes sparkled at his praise. “I love you so.”
His head lowered to better place a gentle kiss upon her lips, but he stopped to say one more thing.
“There are no guarantees concerning tomorrow, Megan, but believe as I do, my dove. God alone holds England in the palm of His hand, and as long as He gives me breath I shall be here for you.”
“Thank you, Bracken.”
“For what?”
Megan smiled, thinking that God had outdone Himself the day He had created her knight, but she didn’t answer and Bracken knew that enough had been said. The duke’s head lowered once again and this time he kissed his precious wife so tenderly that words were no longer necessary.
Lori Wick, The Knight and the Dove
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