I had put Dale on the lookout for Gwen. He was to let me know as soon as he saw her outside of her room. I was anxious to talk to her, but I did not want to disturb her rest. In the meantime, it was business as usual.
Kyle Darby and his father showed up at their appointed time as nervous as a couple of wild colts. I explained to them that although Rian was in the wrong, he was still a prince of this kingdom. I informed them that I had spoken with my brother, and now I was telling Kyle—if it happened again, both boys would be punished.
It was getting close to dinner time when Dale came running in to tell me that Gwen was headed toward my family’s suite, probably to check on Mother. I started in that direction myself. I had not expected that she would be sitting on the side of my mother’s bed, already deep in conversation. She seemed to have a more personal relationship with the queen than I had, and I was her son. I was not jealous. Mother seemed to be flourishing under Gwen’s care, and I could only be grateful because of it.
“Reagan.” Mother had noticed me first and reached out across the bed toward me. I sat down on the opposite side of the bed from where Gwen was perched. She looked at me and grinned. I took it as a good sign.
“How are you feeling today, Mother?”
“According to my healer, I am doing better every day.”
“That is great, but how do you feel?”
She studied my face for a moment. “I have been hearing great things about the good job you are doing in running this kingdom. It gives me hope for the future. That along with Gwen’s healing methods has me doing much better. Do you not think our healer is looking especially beautiful today?”
The way Mother skipped from one subject to the next so abruptly still had me worried, but I could not agree more with the last part. Gwen kept her sight focused on Mother, but she could not hide the slight blush creeping up her neck.
“Yes, beautiful.”
She finally glanced my way with her lips pursed, trying not to smile. “I will take my leave now. Gwen, when you are done with your examination, could you please meet me in the chapel?”
“Yes, Your Highness. I will not be long.”
I nodded my head and then left. No doubt the Your Highness had been for the sake of my mother, but there was no need. Mother knew she used my given name, and if I was not mistaken, I had overheard her calling the queen Finelle on more than one occasion. Surely it was at my mother’s request.
Just as I had hoped, the chapel was empty when I entered. I made my way to the front pew and sat down. I used my time while waiting for Gwen in prayer. I was about to bare my very soul to the woman I loved and was not sure how I would be received. After a few minutes, Gwen joined me on the wooden pew. She sat at an angle toward me, and I turned to face her.
“How are you feeling today?”
“Much better, thank you. I hope you did not bring me in here to talk about Arlana. I would rather just forget what happened and put it behind me.”
“Actually, I wanted to talk to you about what happened in the garden, for starters.”
Her eyes went large before looking around the room, avoiding eye contact. “And you brought me to the chapel for that?”
“I thought there was less likelihood of us being disturbed, and if by chance someone was to see us here talking, they would not have anything to tell.”
She looked down at her hands folded in her lap. “Go ahead then.”
Suddenly, all of the words I had rehearsed for this moment were gone. We sat there in silence with me looking at her while she studied her lap. She finally looked up when I covered her hands with one of my own.
“Thoughts of you have taken up just about every minute of every day since I left Aisling. I know I took things too far, too fast, but I really want to build a relationship with you.”
“Reagan . . .” She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “You are very charming, but I promise you that I am not your type. I know I returned your kiss when I should have pushed you away. Maybe I was caught up in the moment. It was a first for me, but it cannot happen again. I am sorry.”
“Are you telling me that you have never been kissed before?”
“That is not what I am saying. I have been kissed, but only after courting for a while and never like the one you and I shared. Kisses like that lead to . . . to other things, things that only married people should do. I am not that kind of girl.”
She was leaning away from me with frown lines gathered across her brow. This was not how I had hoped this conversation would go. Telling her that I wanted to marry her would probably not go over the way I had imagined, at least not at this moment.
“Gwen, I know you are not that kind of girl, and I am truly sorry for making you feel that way. That is not the kind of relationship I am after either. I know I have a reputation. It was brought to my attention last June and I have been trying to do better since then. Can you please give me a chance?”
Queen Brianna had come to Gilvary in June looking for a husband. She ended up marrying Garrett. It was the right choice, but I had been shaken to hear that one of the reasons she had against choosing me as a spouse was because of my reputation as a flirt. She had actually called me a skirt chaser.
I had just come to know Christ as my savior six months before. After taking a hard look at myself, I saw a need to change my ways. I wanted to be the kind of man that God might be proud to call his own.
Gwen turned her hand up toward mine before she spoke, and I twined my fingers with hers. “I think we should just go back to where our friendship was before the kiss and see where it leads.”
She had not said yes, but this was not a rejection either. I would take it. I would try not to put too much pressure on her, but my intentions had not changed. I would do whatever it took to make her mine.
“I admit I had hoped to begin a more serious relationship starting today, but I can live with being a close friend—for now.”
“Good.” At least she was smiling, and she had not pulled her hand away.
“Well, Friend, I need a favor. Can you meet me here tomorrow morning at ten o’clock?”
“I would be happy to meet you, Friend. What are we meeting here for?”
The tension from earlier seemed to have disappeared. “I have been looking for someone to lead the church services here, and I am expecting a candidate in the morning. His name is Conroy Dunham. Have you ever heard of him?”
“Not that I remember. We have had guest speakers at our church in Aisling, but that name does not sound familiar.”
I reached in my pocket, taking out the latest message I had received from him just that morning and handed it to her. He was visiting a church just outside of Gilvary and planned to be here the next morning.
“I know you have had a lot more experience with church leaders than I have. I just want you to listen to what he has to say and tell me what you think.”
She folded the letter and gave it back to me. “It would be great to be able to hear good preaching again. I hope it works out. I will be happy to hear what he has to say. In the meantime, we can pray that God leads you to make the right decision.”
Asking for guidance from God was a fairly new concept for me. I was sure I did not ask for it nearly often enough. “That sounds like a great plan.”
Just as I reached for her hand again, she stood to go. “I fear I have been away from my duties long enough. If a need arose, Clare would never think to look for me here. I will see you in the morning.”
“I thought you were taking the week off.”
She looked at me askance. “Actually, I would be happier to just get back into my life. I appreciate the offer, but I never was one to sit idle for long.”
I stood, searching my mind for some excuse to see her before morning. “It must be dinner time by now. Will you join me for a meal? We both have to eat.”
She placed her hand over her midsection and took a deep breath. “I had a huge, late breakfast just before coming here. There is no way I could eat again so soon. Maybe some other time.”
I took her hand, pulling it up to my lips, and kissed the back of her fingers. “I will be taking you up on that offer, Miss Alexander. Until next time.” I gave her an elaborate bow while still holding her hand.
I could tell she was trying not to smile as she curtsied in front of me. “Oh Gracious One, I hope you enjoy your dinner without me.”
She was flirting with me, or at least it seemed that way. This gave me so much hope. I winked at her. “I am sure the food will not taste the same without your presence.”
The smile she had been trying to hide was full blown as she walked away without saying anything more.
I watched until she was completely out the door, but she never looked back. After she was gone, I sat back down and allowed myself a few moments to think over our conversation and to make a plan, one that would end with me happily married to Gwendolyn Alexander.