Page 8 of Haunted Hearts

“Uncle Arthur, thank you for staying and helping us through these hard times.” Lillith sat at the dais at Alderwood Castle during the meal that followed her father’s funeral. She was still devastated by his passing and also shaken because of seeing Blaze today. Her stomach twisted into a huge knot. She had no desire to eat. Instead, she used her spoon to push her food around her trencher, stuck in her thoughts of the past.

“My pleasure,” said Arthur, sitting in her father’s chair, next to her mother who was still weeping and dabbing at her eyes. Serena sat next to Lillith, not seeming very hungry either. The storm had started to let up outside, thankfully. The occupants in the great hall remained in a quiet and sullen mood over the death of their lord. “After all, Henri was my brother and it’s the least I can do,” continued Arthur.

Out of six boys, Arthur was the only Bonnel brother still alive. All the rest had died over the years in battles or accidents of one kind or another.

“My lord, the horses as well as the livestock are all secured now, should the storm continue,” said one of the guards, walking to the front of the dais and bowing his head.

“Good, good,” said Arthur, picking up his cup and taking a sip of wine. “Ask the steward to bring the tally books to my solar immediately so I can go over them as soon as the meal is finished.”

“Aye, my lord.”

“Thank you, that’ll be all.”

“Uncle, do you really think that is necessary right now?” asked Lillith. “Before the estate is tended to, we need to properly let everyone mourn my father’s passing.”

“Yes, Arthur. Lillith is right,” agreed her mother, Beatrice. “We need to take time to mourn our loss.”

“Excuse me, my lord, but the undertaker still needs to be paid for your brother’s burial,” said Sir Barnaby, the steward of the castle.

Huntley, the undertaker, was also the castle’s carpenter. He was the one who made the wooden coffins. Huntley also prepared the dead bodies for burial from all the surrounding areas.

“Ah, yes, I suppose so.” Arthur’s hand went to his waist but then he shook his head. “I don’t seem to have my money pouch on me. He’ll just have to wait until the morrow to get paid.”

“But he is at the graveyard now, awaiting his payment,” said Barnaby. “Shall I send a page with your message?”

Arthur snorted, focusing on his food. “Nay, don’t bother. If he wants to be a fool and wait out in the rain, then let him. He’ll figure it out eventually. I am eating my meal now and won’t be disturbed. As I said, he can wait.”

“Aye, my lord,” said the steward, looking concerned, and heading away from the table.

“Serena,” Lillith whispered to her sister. “It’s not right to make the undertaker wait in the rain for his fee when Uncle Arthur has no intention of paying him until the morrow.”

“I agree,” said Serena with a nod. “Father would never have agreed to such a thing. He always saw to matters anon and didn’t like unfinished deals.”

“He’s probably turning in his grave right now,” said Lillith. “Father never did agree with the way Arthur handles things.” Arthur was often impetuous, acting too fast and not thinking things through before acting.

“Huntley should at least be told that no one is coming,” whispered Serena.

“I agree. I’ll go to the graveyard and pay him myself.” Lillith got up from her seat. “Don’t tell Uncle or he’ll forbid me to leave.”

“Lillith, where are you going?” asked Arthur, looking up and then taking a big bite of bread. “Your mother told me that you are concerned about your upcoming betrothal and I wanted to talk to you about it.” He chewed and spoke at the same time. “After all, I’ll be assuming my brother’s position as head of the family now, as well as claiming everything that was his.”

“You’re taking Father’s place?” Lillith’s eyes shot over to her sister. Serena looked just as surprised as she felt. “Father only died last night and already you are claiming his title, his castle, and his land? Can you even do that?”

“He can, daughter,” answered her mother with a sniffle. “Arthur is the last of the Bonnel brothers. Since Henri’s heir was Robert and he is dead, everything will pass to Arthur now.”

“Including his wife,” said Arthur with a smile, placing his hand over Beatrice’s. Lust already leaked from his dark eyes.

“What?” gasped Lillith and Serena together.

“Mother, is this true?” asked Serena. “Are you going to marry Uncle Arthur?”

“I – I suppose so,” said Beatrice, pulling her hand back slowly. “I’m a widow now and need a husband. Plus, I don’t want to leave Alderwood. Your father had it set up in writing that if anything ever happened to him, Arthur would take his place. That included being my husband, and also father to you girls, if Arthur wasn’t already married.”

Arthur had never married, and Lillith believed it was because the man didn’t have much to offer. That is, not until now.

“Lillith, Henri and I were talking about your betrothal just before he left on the hunt. He hadn’t had the chance to tell you yet, but a missive arrived before you and Serena even got home,” said Arthur, taking a big bite of a chicken leg.

“What kind of missive?” asked Lillith curiously.