Page 170 of Feathers in the Wind
Luke turned his horse back. “Sir John?”
“By God, you’d better take good care of her.”
Luke smiled. “One thing I have learned, Sir John, is that she is quite capable of taking care of herself.”
“Father, I will be a far better camp follower than I would ever be a housewife,” Deliverance said. “Please give us your blessing?”
Sir John Felton looked around the courtyard. The unsmiling faces of the garrison glared back at him. He cleared his throat.
“It seems I have little choice,” he said. “You will go with or without my blessing?”
“Father, please,” Penitence added her entreaty to her Father.
Sir John shook his head. “Then God speed and God bless,” he said, raising his right hand, “and for His sake, if not mine, marry her, Collyer.”
“At the first preacher I can find, Sir John,” Luke said with a grin.
Luke nodded to Hale and, with Luke at their head, the defenders of Kinton Lacey marched out for the last time. As they passed under the gatehouse, Deliverance twisted to look back.
“Not too late to change your mind,” he said.
Her arms slid around his waist. “You know me. When I make my mind up, it takes a lot to change it. I love you, Luke Collyer.”
Luke smiled. Whatever lay ahead of them would not be easy but no one could ever say it would be dull.
Author’s Note
While Kinton Lacey Castle and its inhabitants are fictional, this story was inspired by the extraordinary bravery of two women, Brilliana Harley, who held her husband’s castle (Brampton Bryan in the county of Herefordshire) against a besieging force for many months. Sadly her story did not have a happy ever after as she died of pneumonia shortly after the end of the siege. The second woman was Charlotte, Countess of Derby, nicknamed “Babylon” by the besieging force. The Countess of Derby held Lathom House in Lancashire for her royalist husband against the forces of parliament. Lathom House eventually fell and, like Brampton Bryan was slighted.
The fate of the garrison at the fictional Byton Castle is based on the very real fate of another Herefordshire Castle, Hopton Castle.
Cover Photographs: Reproduced under license from Hot Damn Stock and Barry Wilson
This book is dedicated to the love of my life, DJB.
My partner of many years now, we met doing officer training in the army and, like Luke and Deliverance, have enjoyed many interesting discussions about the correct placement of defensive works and the siting guns… just like any normal couple!
Acknowledgments
There are always so many people to thank. Books just don’t write themselves and I could never have this story without the ongoing input and support of my wonderful writing group, The Saturday Ladies Bridge Club. From frantic please not to eat the horses through to suggestions for titles, this group has been with this book from the beginning. I am particularly grateful to those members who agreed to ‘beta rad’ the draft. Their input was invaluable.
And, of course, my wonderful husband, to whom I dedicated this story, who is more than happy to discuss the characteristics of siege guns with me… at length.
SECRETS IN TIME
Is love enough to overcome time…?
England 1995: Dr. Jessica Shepherd's peaceful summer afternoon is shattered by the abrupt arrival of a wounded soldier claiming to be from the seventeenth century.
If he is to be believed, Nathaniel Preston has crossed three hundred years bringing with him the turmoil of civil war and a request for help that Jess can’t ignore.
Falling in love with this dashing cavalier is destined to end in heartbreak as Jess discovers the price of his love is the knowledge that he will die in battle in just a few short days.
Can their love survive a bloody battle…and overcome time?
Chapter 1 - OVER THE WALL
Chesham, Northamptonshire, June third, 1645
