A Thin Line (25 page)

“Yes,” Kala replied wistfully, being reminded of their youthful carefree days when he and Derek would come home after the end of the school year.
 
Gabe had always been allowed by his father to spend a month with them before returning home.

“Mikala, it is your job as his wife, to bring back that carefree spirit, or he will put himself into an early grave.”
 
Kala’s heart plummeted at the words.
 
“If only my son had done more for the dukedom, then perhaps Gabriel could be more like his old self.
 
I believe Andrew’s death tore that family apart in ways I will never fully comprehend,” the older woman sighed.
 
“Now he finds himself saddled with estates that are not producing as they should, and tenants relying on his guidance, and very little money in the coffers.”

“I didn’t realize.”

“Please don’t let on that you know.
 
It would wound Gabriel’s pride.”

“I promise, Judith.
 
I don’t know how I’ll do it, but I promise.”

“Also, don’t let him break your spirit, child.
 
He can be hard and cold, but inside of him the boy that you once loved is still there.
 
You just have to find him and coax him back into the world of the living.”

“I will, Judith, I will,” she promised with all her heart.

***

Late that afternoon Mikala sat in the parlor lost in thought.
 
Light streamed through the west-facing parlor windows casting her shadow world in shades of grey rather than total darkness.
 
She found herself quite tired of this half world of not quite seeing and not quite being blind.
 
Sometimes the shadows that she saw were eerier than not being able to see anything.
 
Mikala had not yet shared that news with anyone.
 
She also hated the feeling of uselessness and being in the way.
 
She missed being active.

She was so lost in thought she failed to hear heavy footsteps enter the room.
 
Only when she felt the heat of the sun blocked from her did she realize someone else had joined her.
 
She paused a moment and inhaled deeply, smelling the familiar scent of cinnamon with just a hint of something she could not quite name, but indicated Gabe nonetheless.

“Gabe, you startled me,” she said.

“How did you recognize me?” She could hear the suspicion in his tone.

“I have not regained my sight if that is what you are getting at.
 
You have a particular scent, a cinnamon undertone.”

“Ah, my cologne.
 
Yes, I came across it when I was in the Navy at some exotic port we stopped at.”

“I would love to travel and see the world,” she said wistfully.

“Perhaps someday.
 
Now, tell my why you turned the modiste away.”

“There is no use spending money on a wedding gown that I can’t even see.
 
There will only be a few in attendance and I have plenty of gowns upstairs that will serve the occasion just fine.”

“Perhaps I wanted to see you in a fine gown.”

“And you will.
 
That is all I am going to say on the matter.”
 
She heard him muttering under his breath and thought she could make out the words stubborn and women.
 
“What was that, Your Grace?”

“Nothing,
Miss Simmons
, I merely wondered if you would like to join grandmother and me for supper.”

“I would love to.”
 
She held out her hand and allowed him to assist her up out of the chair and guided her to the dining room.
 
They enjoyed a pleasant meal together, none of them mentioning his mother who had remained secluded in her bedchamber.

“Mikala, I wondered if you would care to join me in my study.
 
I am intrigued by King Arthur and heard you are quite the expert.”

“I didn’t know that you had any interest in that sort of thing.”

“Call it a recent intrigue if you will.”

“I would love to share with you what I know.”

“Grandmother, if you will excuse us.”

“Of course, and you two behave.”

“Always.”

“Hmph,” the old woman said but shot him a knowing grin, which he attempted to ignore.
 
He led Mikala into his study and placed her in a chair near the fireplace.
 

“Are you comfortable?
 
Would you like something to drink?”

“Gabe, I am fine.
 
Now, please sit and tell me why you are so interested about Camelot and Arthur all of a sudden,” she grinned.

“Curiosity.”

“And I am Guinevere herself.
 
Try again.”
 
The pregnant silence spoke for itself.
 
“Gabe, you know that I can be trusted with your secrets.
 
It might even help speed the story along if I know what in particular you are looking for.”

“The Holy Grail.”

“What?”

“We have suspicions there is someone amongst us, and by that I mean a member of the
ton,
that is searching for the sacred chalice.”

“Whatever for?” She asked, clearly intrigued.

“Some believe that the grail holds a certain amount of power for anyone who possesses it.
 
Evidently, someone is in support of Bonaparte’s war and wants to assist the Little Tyrant in his thirst for power.”

“Oh my.
 
But why?”

“Perhaps they are hoping that the gift will be returned by gifts of titles, land, and money.
 
Who truly knows why people do what they do?
 
I just know that I have to be one step ahead of them.”

“I see.
 
Well, Cadbury Castle is thought to be the training ground of Arthur and his knights.
 
Of course, nothing remains on the spot, but it is said that you can see outlines of the foundation.
 
About a half day’s walk north, you can find Glastonbury Tor and near that Glastonbury Abbey.
 
It is thought that one of Jesus’ first churches was established at Glastonbury Abbey upon arriving with His uncle, Joseph of Arimathea.
 
Many believe that Joseph brought the grail back after Jesus’ death, and it is buried somewhere in the Abbey.”

“And you?”

“I don’t know.
 
You see, the land around the area was at one time covered with water, making Glastobury Tor one of the only high places in the area.
 
Up on the top is St. Michael’s Tower, the only remaining part of a church christened with the same name.”

“What makes this place so unique in your opinion?”

“You will think this silly, but I and many others, think this is King Arthur’s Avalon.
 
You see, Avalon was an island and at one time so was Glastonbury Tor.
 
At Glastonbury Abbey, they believe they have found the bones of Arthur and Guinevere, long removed of course.
 
But, Arthur had been the most powerful ruler up to that time, perhaps even since.
 
If the grail does have power, wouldn’t it make sense that it is somewhere on Avalon where Arthur would have left it in safe keeping before riding into his final battle?”

“I do see what you mean.
 
But surely it would have been found by now.”

“Not if hidden well enough.”

“What do you mean?”

“Arthur had a number of trusted advisers.
 
Any one of them could have taken the chalice and hidden it.”

“Why not use it for their own gains?”

“These men worshiped Arthur.
 
They believed in him and would have done anything to keep the chalice out of enemy hands.”

“Even destroying it?”

“Possibly.”

“If you were one of Arthur’s advisors, where would you have hidden it?”

“Hmmm,” she thought quietly for some time, recalling all that she had read of the area.
 
Just when he thought she would not answer him, she began talking once more.
 
“A half day’s ride from Glastonbury is Cheddar.
 
There is a rather deep gorge that runs near the village.
 
There are supposedly all sorts of caves located within it.
 
I imagine some have not been seen in hundreds of years if not longer.
 
I think that is where I would have put it.”

“What is your reasoning?”

“Well, it would be within a day’s ride to what had been his castle in Cadbury as well as his final resting place at Glastonbury Abbey.
 
And if the Tor had been Avalon, it would be near it as well.
 
If I had been one of Arthur’s men and believed that someday he would return to lead once more, I would have wanted to place the chalice near enough to him that he could find it but make it difficult enough for anyone else.”

“What about the talk that it had been secreted off to Wales after Glastonbury Abbey burned down?”

“You have been doing research, haven’t you?”

“Some.”

“Then why did you bother to ask me?”

“Curiosity.
 
Your brother also told me that you were quite the expert on all things Arthurian.”

“Well, did he also tell you I thought Guinevere a complete and utter fool to choose Lancelot over Arthur, if she truly did?”

“No.”

“Well, I like to believe that she loved Arthur until her dying breath.”

“You are quite the romantic.”

“Hmph.”

“Wales.”

“Oh yes.
 
I think it a ruse to detract attention from its true hiding spot.”

“You seem certain of yourself.”

“I might be, but then again, what are the chances that anyone ever saw it after its one and only use?”

“True.”

“Have I helped you at all?”

“I believe you have given me some areas to speak with McKenzie about posting guards.”

“Speaking of Stuart McKenzie, I have not seen him since before my accident.”

“He had to leave town unexpectedly.
 
Why?”

“Just curious.
 

“I will not have that name spoken in this house, do you understand me?” A shrill voice questioned from the doorway.
 
“And what is that little slut doing here at this time of night?”

The relaxed peace they had enjoyed for the first time in a very long while evaporated in a matter of seconds.

Gabe saw Mikala jump out of her seat and her foot catch in the hem of her dress.
 
She would have fallen into the fire if it hadn’t been for his quick reflexes.
 
He could feel his heartbeat pounding through his body as he grabbed her and held her tightly for a few seconds before putting her back in the chair she had vacated.

“Stay here, I will deal with this.”

“Gabriel James Hawke, did you hear me?
 
I will not have that harlot under this roof!”

“I believe all of London heard you, Mother,” he said, sounding much calmer than he felt.

“Do not take that tone of voice with me, young man.
 
I want her gone now!”

“She is not going anywhere.”

“This is my house.”

“No, Mother, it is
my
house,” he took a deep breath before going on.
 
“Mikala and I are to be married in the morning.”

“No!” The shriek could have been mistaken for a banshee’s wail.
 
Footsteps could be heard rushing down the stairs.
 
“I would sooner kill myself than see her as the next Duchess of Hawkescliffe!”

“What is going on?” Judith asked breathlessly.

“Grandmother, I just informed Mother that Mikala and I would be married in the morning.
 
She was just sharing her joy with us.”

“I refuse to have that slut as part of our family!
 
Not after what she did!
 
How could you Gabriel?
 
I thought you loved me!”

“Mother, that is enough.”
 
Mikala heard a scuffle from the direction of the door, but feared moving from her spot.
 
She did not know this house well enough yet, and could cause herself more harm if she were not careful.
 
“Kala, I will return in a moment,” Gabe sounded a bit breathless.

***

Upstairs, in his mother’s bedroom, Gabe found himself holding her down while his grandmother forced laudanum laced tea down her throat.
 
His mother fought against the sedative until she could no longer keep from being pulled under.
 
He felt her muscles slowly relax under his grip.

“Why would you do this to me?” She slurred before falling into a deep sleep.

“Gabriel, I am so sorry,” his grandmother said, laying a gentle hand on his shoulder.
 
“I don’t know why Mikala sets her off.