JAVIER (24 page)

Javier kept on trying to guess all the way up the
stairs as they obeyed the summons of their mothers. Cassia hugged herself with
glee. He would never guess. She had come up with the idea two weeks ago after a
chance conversation with Bee’s adored Abuelita; or Elisa, as Cassia had come to
call Javier’s mother. Getting the present to the Island had taken much
clandestine planning and considerable expense. It would be worth it though.
Hera had happily gone to the airport in the daylight hours to supervise its
transportation across the bay and Elisa had taken over on the Island as soon as
the sun had set. There were, by necessity, quite a number of people in on the
secret but all of them were keeping their mouths firmly shut. Cassia could
hardly wait.

Over the next two hours the chateau resounded with the
sounds of people getting ready. Doors slammed, voices called to each other and
every now and then there would be the sound of over excited children racing
down corridors. As the time grew closer, knocks on Cassia’s door were followed
by a head being poked round accompanied by a waft of expensive scent and the
rustle of a silk gown as, one by one Ysabeau, Katie and Hera wished her luck on
their way downstairs.

 Flavia kissed her and left with Beatriz.  Cassia
stood in front of the long antique mirror as her mother fastened her gown then
stood with her hands on her shoulders as their eyes met in their reflection.
They were so alike in every way, Cassia thought, as she looked at the tall
striking figure of her mother in her midnight blue silk with her black hair
swept up. That had always been the problem.

“You look beautiful Cassia,” her mother said quietly,
“Sit down, I’ll brush your hair for you, make it shine.”

Cassia was about to protest when she sensed her
mother’s mood and sat on the dressing stool obediently.

As her hair was brushed with long gentle strokes she
felt a lump in her throat and blinked hard. The last time her mother had
brushed her hair for her had been just before her father died; that had been
more than eighteen decades ago. A very long time, even for her kind.

“I want you to know something.” her mother began;
Cassia held her breath. She and her mother were not accustomed to sharing
confidences.

“I loved your father with all my heart.” As Cassia
started to speak her mother stopped her with a gesture;

“Wait…I loved him dearly and when he died I never
thought I’d love like that again. Then Owain came along and I found that my
heart was bigger than I ever thought possible. I love him passionately,
completely and deeply. He makes me very happy. I’ve seen the picture of Javier
and Charlotte in Beatriz’s room; it’s obvious he loved her like that too but
I’ve seen the way he looks at you, the way he is with you. Cassia, I don’t want
you to ever doubt that he loves you. I don’t want you to ever feel that you are
second best. You are not. Oh Cassia, no crying now my girl.”

Her mother raised her to her feet and carefully dabbed
away the tears that had spilled down Cassia’s cheeks; the two women stood eye
to eye, hand in hand;

“Your father would be proud. I am proud and always
have been though I fear I have often come across as judgmental. I wanted a
different life for you, my daughter; an easier and more carefree life.”

“Mam, you know that things are going to be different;
I’m never going back to what I did before.”

Her mother smiled;

“I know. I also know that you may be doing something
far more risky. I had a long chat with that gorgeous man of yours. Be careful
my brave girl and don’t forget you have little Beatriz to think of as well.
Now, let’s tuck that rose in just there and you’re ready to go. Your father
would have walked with you; I’ll leave you to it.”

She leaned forward and kissed Cassia’s forehead then
turned to go. Cassia made up her mind.

“We could go down together Mam, you and me. I’d like
that. I’m sure there’s nothing to say a mother can’t bestow the hand of her
daughter.”

Her mother turned back to face her and a smile lit up
the midnight blue eyes so much like her daughter’s; then she reached out and
took Cassia’s hand.

Down in the hall Javier stood completely still with
his hand resting on the large red stone that was set into the pommel of his
sword. He wore his sword at his hip in the ceremonial position as did all his
fellow warriors today. He glanced at his father and LaSalle; heads together and
deep in conversation. His father slotted right back into place whenever he
visited the Island and LaSalle, consciously or not, deferred to him as he had
in the old days when Alejandro had been Supreme Commander and LaSalle his most
trusted right hand man. Javier smiled to himself; Ysabeau wasn’t wearing her
sword today, she probably didn’t want to spoil the line of that gorgeous dress
she had on.

The women were a sight to see as they congregated in
the hall like a flock of colourful, exotic and beautiful birds of paradise. The
air was heavy with their perfume and the scent of the flowers that decorated
the hall. The children shifted uncomfortably in their finery and whined when
their mothers smoothed down a stray lock of hair or scrubbed at a tiny speck of
dirt. Madame Lemond emerged from her kitchen in sparkling starched chef’s
whites shooing her staff back into the kitchen; she left the door open though,
Javier noticed as heads poked round it. They were all waiting for their first
glimpse of the bride. His bride, thought Javier, his Cassia.

Suddenly the room seemed to recede and he felt
light-headed as his heart hammered and his mouth dried. Why hadn’t he suggested
eloping like he had with Charlotte? That would have been so much simpler. He
already knew the answer to that one. He had wanted this joining to be a public
declaration; to his family, to his friends and most importantly, to Cassia. A
declaration that he loved Cassia, that he was ready to embrace her and his
future. There was a movement at his side and a hand discreetly grasped his arm
as a quiet voice murmured;

“Your colour’s gone Javier. How are you holding up?”
It was Gabriel, staring straight ahead as if he wasn’t propping up his friend
who looked as if he was about to keel over.

“Absolutely terrified to tell you the truth.” Javier
murmured back;

“Yes, I remember the feeling.” Gabriel replied,
smiling as Javier’s head whipped round to stare at him in disbelief.

There was a sound at the top of the staircase and
everyone hushed each other but it was Flavia coming down with Beatriz. Javier
instantly felt better as his daughter rushed towards him and took his hand. He
noticed how Flavia made her way unerringly towards Chronus almost as though she
could see him. Who knew what was happening there?

There was a chorus of sighs and gasps and Javier’s
head snapped back to the staircase. It was as if all the breath had been sucked
out of his lungs; everything and everybody disappeared and all he could see was
Cassia walking down towards him holding her mother’s hand. She wore a stunning
red gown that clung to her body then flared out at the hem in obvious homage to
the flamenco tradition in the region he came from. Round her neck was the gold
and ruby necklace he had given her and her long black hair was loose just the
way he liked it; the only adornment being a red rose fixed at one side. The
thing he noticed most of all was her smile and the way her eyes looked only at
him. Beatriz gave him a little push; tradition demanded that Cassia come to him
but who cared about that? Javier walked towards her as if in a dream and they
embraced in the middle of the hall.

He held her tightly in his arms and shut his eyes,
breathing in her scent.

“You look so beautiful.” they both said at the same
time then laughed as they gazed at one another. All around them there were
discreet snuffles and a chorus of manly throat clearing then Ysabeau, always
the one who could be relied upon to keep everyone organized said;

“Javier, Cassia, the Notary is ready. You lead the
way, we’ll all follow.”

Now, almost three hours later, Javier watched as his
mother and sisters danced a spirited stately flamenco under the stars as his
brother-in-law played the guitar. The scene was magical and he found that he
was reassuring himself from time to time that this was really happening; that
it wasn’t some wishful dream. He jumped as Cassia hugged him from behind and
squeezed tight;

“You’re doing it too aren’t you? Pinching yourself.
When this dance is finished we’re all taking you to show you your present.”

Javier pulled her into his arms; he had forgotten
about this mysterious present. They were all in on the surprise it seemed. He
looked round; this was the kind of night that needed to be remembered and
stored away ready to be brought out when life was colder and harder and you needed
something to sustain you. He wished Rafe looked happier though; there was a
brooding sadness and barely suppressed aggression about him that made Javier
wonder whether his apparently casual flirting with Cassia had been something
deeper.

The dance finished and, as if there had been a silent
signal he was suddenly surrounded by his friends and family as they steered him
towards the ancient castle forecourt. The children skipped along in front
barely able to contain themselves. As they entered the cobbled square and
headed towards the old stables Javier stopped and scented the air;

“Horses, there’s a horse here.” His pulse raced as the
long forgotten excitement came upon him.

His mother and Cassia disappeared then, seconds later
his mother appeared leading a horse. And what a horse.  Javier’s heart almost
stopped.

“Your mother told me you could ride before you could
walk Javier but that you haven’t ridden for many years.”

Eight years, thought Javier as he moved slowly towards
the beautiful beast and it moved towards him as he spoke to it softly in
Spanish.

“It is one of our own Javier.” said his mother, “I
named him Duende, a fitting name for such a splendid creature filled with life
and passion.”

“Duende.” whispered Javier as he reached out to the
tall black Andalusian stallion. A horse fit for a king. The horse came to him
as horses always did. Javier rested his head against it and turned to smile at
Cassia as she stood with Beatriz surrounded by family and friends.

Life was for living vividly; he had turned the page
and his story wasn’t over yet.

THE STORY
CONTINUES IN

RAFE

BOOK THREE OF THE
TRILOGY

COMING SOON