The Darkest Hour chapter 22

Epilogue

- Let me get this straight, - Meg shook her head at Guy as she rummaged through the chest in her bedroom at her father's house in Linby. Her hairpin had to be there somewhere... – You are saying that just because your mother married young to escape from her father's rule, you are afraid that you could be a tyrant father?!

They had been over this already in these past two weeks, Meg repeatedly waving aside Guy's reservations about what sort of a father he would make. Meg herself had reconciled with her own father a month before - just after Guy had received his pardon – and at Guy's insistence, at that. Yeoman Linby had, in fact, rued his wrathful outburst that had taken his daughter to dungeon and had nearly ended her life on the executioner's block. He had intended to give the wilful Meg a good lesson, and maybe frighten her into submission, but it had not occurred to him that by doing so he would be putting her life in danger, and was infinitely grateful to finally see his daughter alive and well. Who would have thought that she would come out of her ordeal with a much better opinion of men, and as the future Baroness of Thornton, no less?

Anyway, with Meg's opinion of her own father recently improved, and with what she had been gradually able to glean of Guy's family history, with his parents having always treated each other with love and respect and their children with care, she was convinced that her betrothed would make a great father. True, he still showed an angry, even violent side at times, but it was never directed at her and, Meg was certain, would never be directed at children, his own or otherwise. In fact, she probably had more fears for Guy himself: having seen him fight, she could not help admiring his grace and skill, but was terrified for his well-being.

- I only say that it worries me, - Guy's eventual response shook her out of her thoughts, - but I suppose it is too late to worry about that too much. Let us just pray that when the baby is due, it is healthy and happy and that you are well.

There was a knock at the door as a maid entered.

- My lord... the barber is here.

- You will have to excuse me, my lady,- Guy moved to the door - I have to get my hair cut before the wedding.

- Oh, and it was growing so nice and long, - Meg teased, - I was so looking forward to your hair growing longer than mine! – Her laughter accompanied him downstairs.

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The wedding itself was a relatively quiet affair. Guy and Meg had agreed that they wanted a private ceremony in the village chapel, but one to be followed by a large reception in Nottingham open to townsfolk. When Meg had suggested also setting tables in the village for nearby peasants, Guy made a face but grudgingly agreed.

With the sumptuous banquet winding to a close, the newlyweds thought it best to slip away unnoticed back to Linby Manor to avoid the ceremonial circus that usually accompanied such proceedings.

They made their way back to the house just before midnight. As they neared the stairs leading to the bedchambers, Guy put a hand on his bride's arm.

- Wait... we should do this properly.

He lifted Meg in his arms and carried her upstairs all the way into the bedroom.

- Is there anything else I may do for my darling wife? – he purred seductively as he set her down on the bed.

Meg gave him a look of mock innocence that was disarming in its transparent pretence.

- Now that you are asking, my lord... you may remember a certain conversation we had before your royal audience. I have been thinking lately about the tying to the bed part… - she said, twisting a corner of her veil suggestively into a semblance of a rope, - and even though you did marry me, I feel like doing it anyway.

As Meg's eyes studied his face, Guy blushed, absolutely, positively, unmistakably blushed, as he shook his head, his eyes cast down, trying in vain to suppress a laugh.

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It was early dawn at the Portsmouth wharf, and there was only a faint breeze stirring the sails on the barges and cogs docked along the pier as Guy and Meg stood waiting for their chests to be loaded before boarding the ship for Calais.

They had resolved to use part of the rents from Thornton's land and Meg's dowry to buy an estate in Burgundy. With the political fortunes in England changing daily between Richard's wars and John's whims, and given Guy's rather eventful history with both royal brothers, it seemed a good idea to have a safe haven on the continent. The idea was to buy land with a manor and a vineyard, and spend their time between France and the baronial seat in Shropshire. It had not taken long for Guy to talk Allan into moving to Shropshire to manage his estate during his absences; with Allan's health restored, they had only to wait until his wedding to Sarah, who had hoped to get married with her Nottinghamshire family present.

- Will you not be sorry to spend half of your time away from England? – Guy asked, watching his wife's excited face.

- Well, it will only be for a few months at a time. I will miss Eleanor but I am sure we shall visit each other while we are in Shropshire. What about you, Guy? Is not there anyone you would miss back here?

- Of course there is. Now that you mention it… there is someone I would miss a lot…- Guy drawled as he took in the suspicious glint in his wife's eyes with a hint of amusement, - but I am taking her with me, - he added in a whisper as he drew Meg into another embrace.

- I still cannot believe how my life has changed in so little time, - Guy continued presently, his voice turning serious. -Just three months ago, I was waiting to be executed in the Nottingham dungeon, and looking forward to it. And it frightens me to think how close we were to never knowing each other. How close I was to losing you...

Meg squeezed her husband's hand as she looked away at the expanse of water beyond the harbour. Surely, she could not rival Guy as far as reversal of fortune was concerned, but her life had looked very different too back then, and a lot less fulfilling. She pressed her lips to his fingers before she responded:

.- You've heard what they say about the darkest hour, haven't you? That the darkest hour is just before the dawn?

Guy's answer was so quiet that she had to strain to hear it.

- Truer words have never been spoken, my love.

Meg lifted her gaze to her husband's face and felt her breath falter at his radiant smile that looked, for all the world, like the most glorious sunrise.

fin