The Shadowy Mystery and Stunning Suspense Onslaught Continues!
GATEHAVEN a Christian Historical Suspense
e-book
ISBN: 1621364003
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Reg: $9.99
Book Launch Sale Price: $2.99
Excerpt by Molly
Noble Bull
Part Five of Ten
A frosty spring followed the winter the earl arrived in
Scotland, and spring melted into early summer. Shannon spent her days and many
nights helping her mother with the new baby—rarely seeing the earl except at
church on Sunday mornings. He must have stayed away because he knew how her
parents felt about him. Yet his loyalty to Shannon made her love him all the
more, and he never failed to mention their approaching marriage each time they
met.
But now it was mid-June. The arrangements for her journey to
England were completed. Shannon sat by a window in the sitting room owned by
Ian’s parents, gazing out at the Loch. All that was left to do was say good-bye
to her friends and loved ones.
On the morrow, she would be leaving for England, and though
she still dreamed of going there, leaving those she loved made a part of her
feel sad. Somehow, looking out at the Loch gave her the strength she needed to
say good-bye to her best friend—Kate Colquhoun.
Kate leaned toward her. “Do you truly love the earl that
much?”
Shannon heard a creaking sound nearby. “What was that?”
“Maybe it was the wind.” Kate shrugged. “It is often windy
here—probably because we live so near the Loch.” She paused briefly. “You have
yet to answer my question.”
Seated on the settee with Kate beside her, Shannon whispered
her reply in case Kate’s younger sisters happened to be within earshot. She had
heard something, and she didn’t think it was the wind.
The younger Colquhoun girls often listened to conversations
while hidden from view, and when she first came in, Shannon had thought she
heard the creak of a wooden floor plank near where they sat now.
“Do you love the earl, Shannon, or not?”
Shannon blinked and nodded. “I love him as much as you love
my brother, Peter. Maybe more.”
“Well, if you are sure, that is all I really wanted to know.”
Kate smiled. “I want you to be happy. You are my oldest and dearest friend. I
only want the best for you.”
“Kate, I love you, too. You know that. I just hope my brother
is the man you really want to spend the rest of your life with. He can be a
little—”
“I know you and Peter have never gotten along,” Kate said
softly. “But I love him and always will.”
“Then I am happy for you and glad that one day you will be my
sister.”
“I am honored to be your future sister as well as Peter’s
wife.”
Shannon released a deep breath. “I wish I could stay longer,
but I must go.” She got up and glanced toward the door. “I promised to help
Mama bathe my baby brother before she puts him down for his afternoon nap.
Besides, I have last minute packing to do.”
Kate smiled as she got up and stood beside Shannon.
“How is the baby doing?”
“Thriving. I think he’s going to be as tall as Peter. Maybe
even as tall as Ian.” Shannon reached out and embraced her friend. “I’m going
to miss you, Kate Colquhoun.”
“As I will miss you and Ian. Please, Shannon, promise to
write often. I know Ian will not, and I want to keep informed on the doings of
my brother and my best friend.”
Their good-bye was an emotional one—at least for Shannon.
Afraid she might break down and weep if she said more, Shannon reached out and
hugged Kate again.
#
Ian was the one who had been standing in the shadows
listening, but he never meant to do it. He’d come in the back way about the
time Shannon entered through the front door of the cottage.
He’d read all of Pastor Petit’s letters and longed to share
them with Shannon, but she was too devoted to the earl to listen to his
concerns. He also had news for Kate.
He hadn’t counted on Shannon coming over to visit his sister,
and he hadn’t wanted to spoil their emotional farewell. However, he was tired
of standing there, waiting. If Shannon hadn’t left when she did, he would have
made himself known to them.
Peter was on his way over to speak to Kate. It was important
that Shannon not know what Peter had to say.
Kate shut the door and crossed to the archway leading to the
dining room. Ian stepped out from behind a large china cabinet and stood in her
path.
“Well, Ian. How long have you been here?”
“Long enough. I came in to tell you that Peter is on his way
over.”
Kate smiled. “Peter is coming here?”
“Yes.”
Kate pushed back a lock of her curly brown hair that had
fallen across her forehead. “What is this all about, Ian?”
“That is what I planned to tell you. But when I saw that
Shannon was here, I decided to wait until she left. I did not wish to interrupt
your conversation, and if I had moved an inch, you would have known I was
here.”
“And all this time I thought our little sisters were the
eavesdroppers in the family.”
“I’m sorry, but it was necessary.” He motioned toward the
settee in the sitting room where Kate and Shannon were seated earlier. “Let us
sit down, and I will explain.”
Kate sat down stiffly, her arms across her chest. “Now, what
is this all about?”
“Peter’s parents do not feel comfortable having Shannon go to
England with a group of strangers. They were pleased that I took the mentoring
position Shannon mentioned and that I will be going to England. But they want a
member of their family to go along as well. Therefore, Peter is also going.”
“My Peter is going to England, and he never told me. I
do not believe it.”
“It is true, Kate. Peter will be here shortly to tell you
himself.”
“If Peter was going to England, Shannon would have told me.”
“Shannon doesn’t know.”
“You mean his own sister was never told?”
“Her parents thought it best that she not know, and you must
promise not to tell her.”
“We share everything. Of course I will tell her.”
“Peter and I believe that the earl is not the noble soul
Shannon thinks he is, but we have no proof of that. Therefore, Peter will be
trailing us to England—staying at inns near the earl’s estate but out of sight.
He will also be seeking temporary employment there, and together, we will
continue our investigation of the earl Shannon is so fond of.”
“Shannon is in love with the earl, Ian,” Kate said softly.
“You must face that truth before you are hurt more than you already are.”
“I know she thinks she is in love with him. As our
pastor would say, we will see how she feels once the scales are removed from
her eyes.”
#
Early
the next morning, Ian climbed in the second carriage behind the one that
Shannon, the chaperone, and the earl would be riding in. The earl’s valet and
Miss Foster’s maid sat stiffly, facing each other on the opposite side of the
carriage.
The three of them met briefly a week ago, so there was no
need for introductions. Ian greeted them cordially, sitting down beside
Dickson, the valet, but close to the window. Dickson and Polly, the maid, were
about Ian’s age.
Polly looked scared to death until she and Dickson realized
they came from the same village not far from Luss and that they knew each other
as children. All at once the two of them were chattering between themselves
like a couple of crows on a fencepost. But Ian probably wouldn’t have known
them when he was a child even if they were from Luss.
He’d attended a school for rich young gentleman in England
when he was a boy—except he wasn’t rich or English. Ian’s father was the second
son of the Laird of the village, meaning his uncle got the title, the family
home, and all monies the family had. Ian’s father got nothing. Perhaps Uncle
George paid for Ian’s schooling in England to mute a guilty conscious.
Ian had several conferences with his pastor since the one he
had on the day Shannon told him of her plans to marry the earl. In each meeting
he learned something new about the Bible he’d never known previously. But some
of the things they discussed were about the dark forces of this world and how
to combat them. His chores on the farm and other family duties kept his mind
and body occupied, and the long journey ahead would give him time to think on
the things he’d learned and how to apply them in his daily life.
For now, he would sit here and wait. Shannon and her
chaperone would be arriving soon, and he hoped to watch as she and the earl
entered the head carriage in front of them.
#
At daybreak on that same morning—before the cock crowed—Peter
Aimee had mounted his brown-colored horse and galloped to the edge of the
village. He hid behind an abandoned mill and watched as his younger sister
climbed into the carriage with the Earl of Northon and his maiden aunt, Miss
Foster.
Their little brother, Andre, was born on the day Shannon told
Mama and Papa that she wanted to go to England. Later that same day, as Shannon
helped their mother with the baby, Peter sat with his father in the sitting
room of their small cottage.
“Your sister is a strong-willed young woman, Peter, just like
your mama was at her age, and that can be a good thing. It can also be
dangerous. I know my daughter. We will not be able to talk Shannon out of going
to England to meet the earl’s family—no matter how hard we might try. She will
run away if we refuse to give our permission, and we will lose her forever.
Therefore, your mother and I devised a plan. We want you to follow your sister
to England without being noticed. And you must promise not to tell anyone
of our plan—even Kate. You will eat in out-of-the-way places—sleep on the
ground in mild weather. I have a little money saved which I will give you to
pay for your keep until you find employment.”
“No, Papa, I cannot take your money. You planned to use it to
pay for passage to the land across the sea and to buy a farm once we arrive.”
“We will worry about money for boat passages and a farm when
the time comes. Now we must protect your sister from a dangerous young earl who
thinks she is as beautiful as her mother.”
Peter had no intentions of spending all of his father’s
hard-earned money. He would take any job he could get once he reached the
village near the earl’s estate in England.
At the time he made that decision, he’d thought he would be
the only one going to England other than those in the earl’s party and the only
one with Shannon’s best interest at heart. But after his friend Ian accepted
the position Shannon found for him, Peter realized that he would have a comrade
in his quest to protect his sister from the British earl.
Still, he regretted having to say good-bye to Kate.
They had walked down to the Loch. Kate wore a blue dress that
matched her eyes. A summer breeze whipped her long brown hair in all
directions, and he’d kissed her before he told her he was leaving. But she
already knew.
“It’s all right, Dear One,” she had said. “Go. I love your
sister, too. And I will be waiting here at the Loch when you return.”
If he hadn’t already planned to make her his wife, he would
have known Kate was the one when she said those words.
If you would like more, view the
Book Trailer: http://bit.ly/1c2HJf1
Molly
Noble Bull is a Christian novelist, a native Texan, and a graduate of Texas
A&M University at Kingsville, Texas. Her first two novels, For Always and
The Rogue's Daughter were published by Zondervan, and later reprinted as
promise romances from Guideposts.
She has also been published by Love Inspired, and is the author of The Overcomers:
Christian Authors Who Conquered Learning Disabilities. She is a mother of three
and grandmother of six.
You can follow Molly and learn more about her writing here:
Website
link: mollynoblebull.com
Facebook
link: facebook.com/molly.n.bull
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Enjoy! Carol A. Brown
Holy Spirit has been shedding light on something,
putting things together in a way I never really thought about before. 
