Bartley was preparing a surprise for his little sweet pea. My my, Olivia would be proud of them both. That thought in itself makes him tearful. The sound of hooves jolts him back to reality and he runs into the barn.
Elsa slows down and gets off diablo wondering if there was a special ocassion she might have missed with the barn so colourfully decorated.
"Ah! There yah are!" Says Bartley as he takes the sacks from her back.
"What's going on pa?" Asks Elsa.
With a wide grin, he says, "Come, I have something for yah, I hope yah like it."
He then goes into his room and comes out with a tiny box then he gives it to Elsa.
Elsa then with tears in her eyes asks, "Is that...."
"Aye sweet pea. I thought for yah fourteenth yah should have it." He says smiling sadly.
She then runs into his arms and thanks him profusely for giving it to her. It was indeed the best gift he had given to her, her mother's pendant.
Olivia then letting out a sigh of relief and listening in on their conversation smiles and mutters under her breath 'happy birthday my love' before running off into the forest where she had left her horse.
***
"Oh good grief yah highness, yah scared me out of me wits! What would the duke say if he found yah gone?" Asks the seamstress.
"No need to worry Merideth, I am quite alright and Gerald isn't due another day.Besides, I could not miss my baby's special day." Replies Olivia.
"What is she like?" She asks.
"Well she has my nose and my long legs but she has the character of her father." Says Olivia as she chuckles a bit.
"Well, any daughter of yours is a daughter of mine yah highness. Come, yah dress is ready. Do yah want see it?" Asks Merideth.
"No. I want it to be a surprise to everyone including myself." She says.
The seamstress bows and goes back to her chambers. Olivia sits down thinking about her love and their child. What a happy bunch they are even in her absence, but that is how infectious Bartley's happiness was. She loved him then when he was just a village boy, when he became the most wanted man and still now when he is living in a different kingdom.
Then, Gerald walks in exhausted but satisfied.
"You're early." Says Olivia startled.
"Quite. Things are moving hastily." He says taking off his coat and sitting down opposite her. He then looks at her keenly and frowns, "What is that look?" He asks.
"Which look?" She asks back.
"That happy face you are ma... you were out of the castle were you not?" He asks.
"I had to, I could not miss this day for the world." Says Olivia.
"Are you out of your mind? You could have been seen or worse...captured. We need to be careful cousin." He says holding his temples.
"I know, I know the last phase of the plan needs to be carried out." She says.
YOU ARE READING
Destined Hope
Narrativa Storica"Go! They will surely have our heads if they know of this!" She says handing the baby to him. The guards are catching on and there is no time left. With one last look, she says, "Promise me you will never let her out of your sight." "But..." he sta...
