Chapter twenty-two - Gilbert

Gilbert wished he could crow aloud with delight. Beatrice would marry him. He was so thrilled he actually spun her about in his arms. She giggled when he finally released her lips and set her back down. Then he grabbed her hand and ran for the church.

He heard the crowd laughing and shouting in their wake but ignored them all. Beatrice stumbled after him but he only slowed once they breached the opening which served as the building entrance. Together, hand in hand, they walked inside in search of the priest. The enclosed area had been transformed since the meeting last evening.

The nave had been reorganized into a makeshift hospital and it was filled with patients and attendants alike. When he had left the unconscious Narwhal in the care of the priest and his capable assistants early this morning there hadn't been so many. Now they seemed to be lined along the stone walls like kindling, stretched out on pallets made from all kinds of odd bits of discarded clothing, soft grass and fallen leaves in an attempt to protect them from the dampness of bare ground. A few older women were moving about, changing bandages and passing out food and water.

They finally caught sight of the clergyman standing across the room, speaking with one of the patients.

"Father O'Brian. We have need of your services." A familiar voice called out.

Gilbert turned to find Sumter standing at the front of the small crowd that were gathering in the open doorway. The skinny clerk was grinning ear-to-ear, thoroughly pleased. Gilbert tossed a grin in return. But he wasn't the only one who stood there behind them. It seemed like the entire village had trailed after them to the church.

Most of the people gathered there were smiling broadly, some even giggling with excitement. Martine, Felicia and Teddy wriggled their way through the crowd of villagers and raced toward them, each one grinning happily. He grinned back and then down at Beatrice who smiled up at him in return.

Felicia wordlessly held the cloak out for her aunt and Beatrice smiled brilliantly as she accepted the garment but instead of securing it around her neck as he expected, she pulled the material over her hips and tied it into place like a makeshift skirt. Again, he was impressed by her ingenuity. The silky cloth was a bit long, dancing about her heels but worked well enough as a skirt. At least now she was more modestly covered.

"What's this now?" The priest moved to meet them, his calm gaze sliding from face to face.

Gilbert recognized the elderly man who stepped forward and clapped him on the arm with a friendly grin and addressed the clergyman.

"These two young people want to take their vows."

"Oh?" The little priest inquired with a benevolent smile. "How lovely.  Come to the alter and we will see about the ceremony." He turned and led the way down the aisle to the front of the church.

Gilbert and Beatrice followed, with the three children excitedly dancing about them as they moved along up the center.  Sunlight streamed in through the break in the stonework as they approached and lit up the face of the alter, as if welcoming them all. The priest moved to take his place behind the stone and opened one of the large leather-bound ledgers sitting there. Gilbert noticed a Bible, a small silver cross and a wooden bowl set out nearby.  Probably all the little priest had managed to retrieve from the small village priory before the fire forced him to evacuate.

"Does this mean we can call Mr. Lourson 'Uncle' now, Aunt Bea?" Martine asked dancing excitedly by her aunt's side.

"Yes, I think he would like that." Beatrice answered, meeting Gilbert's eye and blushing prettily when he winked.

"Uncle Lourson?" Felicia frowned doubtfully.

"I think he would be much happier if you call him Uncle Gilbert." Beatrice answered with a laugh.

"Uncle Jill-bear? Is that really what you want us to call you?" Teddy asked, pinning Gilbert with earnest scrutiny.

He smiled at the boy and nodded.

"Are you really a bear?" Martine piped, tugging at his free arm.

Gilbert grinned. The little imp squinted up at him and flashed her brilliant smile.

A querulous voice suddenly barked angrily, "You!"

Gilbert felt Beatrice stiffen at his side as he turned to find the rotund Narwhal struggling to get up off his makeshift bed.

"Now I have your! I knew you kidnapped her. Where's Daimler? I will see you arrested."

Beatrice pressed herself closer to Gilbert's side and he could feel her trembling. He encircled her in his arms and pulled her in close. The three children crowded in, enclosing her inside their circle. Teddy hugged his aunt from behind while Felicia curled up to her hip. Martine gripped Gilbert's pants leg and pressed her face into her aunt's skirts. Beatrice didn't seem to be aware of the children as she turned her face against his ribcage.

All his protective instincts leaped to the fore and anger began to roil in his chest, replacing the happy excitement of just a moment ago. He glared daggers at the obnoxious shopkeeper. It was obvious Narwhal's very presence was upsetting Beatrice. Gilbert had a strong urge to drag the slimy gorgon outside and beat him senseless. Let him experience all the pain and fear he had inflicted on others. Maybe then the portly merchant would better comprehend the concept of consequences, but Gilbert highly doubted it. That kind of man would never be capable of empathy. He saw only what he wanted and the easiest path to achieve his goals, no matter who he had to eliminate along the way.

"Arrest the man who saved your life?" Mr. Sumter exclaimed in outrage as he moved to the front of the crowd.

"Narwhal, you are an ungrateful wretch." The elderly gentleman scolded.

Narwhal glanced from one to the other in complete confusion.

"What?" He demanded in a near screech which must have aggravated his raw throat and started him coughing.

No one stepped forward to offer anything to soothe his throat. Not even the kindly priest who simply stood by the alter, quietly waiting. Eventually the ragged cough eased and Narwhal glared at his former employee as if everything was his fault.

"What nonsense are you spouting, Sumter?"

"It's not nonsense. We all saw him carry you in here early this morning." A matronly woman insisted, before the clerk could reply.

"That's right. He did." Another woman agreed.

"I was there when he dug you out from under all that wreckage." A young man quickly added.

"At no small risk to himself, I might add." Sumter pointed out as other voices chimed in with their accord.

"I would like to know what you were doing inside that burned-out building, Narwhal."

Sheriff Daimler demanded, his gruff, commanding voice echoing over the crowd.

A hush fell over them all as the lawman stalked towards the portly merchant.

Narwhal seemed startled at the Sheriff's attitude. His beady eyes widened with fear as they darted from the Sheriff to Gilbert and Beatrice and then over the crowded church. Gilbert was willing to bet the pompous fool was seeking an escape. He had no doubt Narwhal was up to no good back there in that burned-out building. Now that the focus was on him and his activities, he was feeling cornered. He was looking for any means to shift the blame, or at least shunt suspicion away from himself.

Those beady eyes returned to him and Gilbert saw the malicious gleam in them.

"Daimler, I'm glad you're here. I told you this hulking brute kidnapped my fiancée and here's the proof." Narwhal blustered, climbing shakily to his feet. "I want him arrested."

Sheriff Daimler glanced at Gilbert, his stern gaze taking in the way Gilbert and the children held Beatrice between them, sheltering her. It was obvious from the way Beatrice hid her face against his chest, clinging fretfully to his shirt front she was terrified. She was visibly shaking and clung to Gilbert for protection and comfort.

"Do you have anything to say about this, Lady Smail?" The Sheriff asked quietly.

Gilbert felt Beatrice still in his embrace. Her chest expanded under his touch as she took a deep breath before lifting her head to meet the older man's gaze. He saw the look of surprise on her face. She hadn't been expecting the Sheriff to address her, let alone ask for her opinion. Gilbert gently  rubbed his palm over her spine, silently offering comfort and encouragement.

She glanced up at him for a long moment, her gaze searching. Obviously, she was struggling to find her courage and he tried to impart some of his strength to her through his touch. He watched her swallow hard, then resolve stiffened her back. She straightened her shoulders and moved stiffly out of his hold. She gently disengaged the children's grip and held one hand up to indicate they stay where they were.

Gilbert felt his chest swell with pride as she bravely conquered her fear. She stood there, ram-rod straight, facing down the beast who had caused her so much pain and anguish and Gilbert was bursting with admiration. The children all shuffled closer to him in her absence but Gilbert noticed they all watched her proudly as she bravely turned to face the Sheriff.

"I am not now, nor have I ever been, Mr. Narwhal's fiancée." Her voice was quiet but her tone firm and resolute.

"You are mine." Narwhal insisted. "I have an agreement signed by the Baroness, your guardian." He added with a condescending sniff.

Gilbert saw Beatrice deflate for a moment. He had to do something to rally her flagging spirit. The idea leaped to his mind that such an agreement had to be put into writing for it to be legally binding, especially now that one of the agreeing parties was deceased. He laid a soft hand on her shoulder and caught her attention. Then he pointed to Narwhal and rubbed his fingers and thumb together.

As usual, she quickly caught on to his meaning. She straightened again, throwing her head back as she challenged, "If such a document exists, produce it." Her voice grew in confidence as she contradicted the blustery merchant.

Narwhal sputtered for a few moments but came back with, "It doesn't matter. You are still underage and you need your guardian's permission to wed."

Beatrice didn't even flinch.

"My guardian is dead. I am nineteen and I will wed as I please."

This seemed to take Narwhal aback. He had obviously been under the mistaken impression that Beatrice was still obligated to obey her Sister-in-law's wishes. He hadn't expected to discover the woman was dead.

"Dead?" He repeated, completely flummoxed. "How?"

"She succumbed to the fever that ran through the household. First Teddy caught it, then I became ill and then Sissy, the Baroness. We rallied. Unfortunately, she did not." Beatrice replied truthfully.

She allowed the implication that she never left home the whole time stand between them.

"But, she didn't look ill." Narwhal insisted. Then he mustered his temper and growled, "You weren't even there. She told me you never returned home after that day."

Gilbert held back a growl of his own. His fingers itched to get a stranglehold on the gorgon but he managed to control his temper, barely. He needn't have worried though.

"I had no wish to see you." Beatrice told him plainly. "I was out of my head with fever for nearly three whole days."

"I think I've heard enough. Narwhal, you wasted your time and mine, accused an innocent man and now you are trying my patience." The Sheriff berated him. "Now, I want to know what was so important in that building that you felt it worth risking your life for. But first, I believe there is to be a wedding." The grey haired fellow winked at Beatrice and bowed graciously. "I would consider it an honor to give the bride away."