A tear splashed onto his hand, and he wasn’t sure if it was his or Annabel’s. He lifted his eyes and caught her watching him. She scooted forward on her knees and took his face in her hands. His heart pounded faster. Slowly, reverently, her eyes half closed, she kissed his eyelid, brushed her cheek against his, then kissed his chin and jawline, her lips igniting a burning deep inside him. He pulled her close and their lips met.
What could be more miraculous than that?
Justice and love had both won this day.
Epilogue
“Adam shall carry the bridecup,” Mistress Eustacia declared as they prepared to walk to the church. Adam smiled.
Ranulf’s shoulders were erect and his head high as he watched the lad pass through the massive wooden door. Annabel took Ranulf’s arm and they followed Adam out onto the top step.
A large gathering of villagers stood on the lawn before them. As soon as they stepped out, the crowd saw them and fell silent.
Ranulf’s whole body tensed, and Annabel took a step back.
The scene brought back the memory of the morning, three weeks ago, when the villagers stood defiant and angry, holding up weapons, yelling and cursing as they followed Tom atte Water across the yard.
“What is it you want?” Ranulf asked them.
A carter named Henry in the Lane stepped forward, pulling off his tippet to bare his head. “If it please you, my lord, we have come to ask forgiveness for what we did, or were about to do, when we followed Tom.” He kept his head half bowed, not daring to lift his eyes.
“It was a grave sin to come to our lord with intent to harm.” The group around him kept their heads bowed as well, most of them nodding quietly to agree with his words. “We all know that the merchant’s daughter, Annabel Chapman, was right in all that she said. We were led astray by Tom atte Water, who has now reaped the just reward for his sin.” He crossed himself then added, “May God have mercy on his soul.”
Ranulf asked, “What happened to Tom?”
“He was taken ill of a sudden, my lord. A fit of rage came over him after everyone went home, and he fell down as though dead. He never moved again, and this morning the breath of life left him. He’s dead.”
So Tom was gone forever, and the people were sorry for what they’d done. O God, let me not rejoice in anyone’s suffering, but I thank you for the peace this news brings to our wedding day.
“You are forgiven,” Ranulf said evenly.
“You are most kind, my lord.” Henry in the Lane crushed his cloth hat between his hands, bowing low.
The people randomly offered words of thanks. “Thank you, my lord.” “May our lord be ever blessed.” “May you live long and have many children!” A cheer rose up from the crowd at this last shouted sentiment.
Gilbert Carpenter stepped forward and announced in a loud voice, “Your lord is getting married today. Let us give honor to Lord Ranulf le Wyse and his new bride!”
A much louder cheer arose. All the people’s faces had changed from fearful submission to joyful exultation. Ranulf held out his hand to acknowledge their expressions of elation.
“Long live our lord’s bride, the most beautiful maiden in the land!”
Another cheer. Annabel seemed unable to stop smiling as she curtsied to the crowd. Ranulf turned to her and elegantly kissed her hand.
They made their way down the steps, Annabel being careful of the hem of her dress, and the crowd parted for them.
Soon they were on the road to the church. Some of Ranulf’s men played instruments, including the lute and shawm, as they followed them down the road. Adam, holding the bridecup out in front, led the entire procession.
As they neared the village, young children, both boys and girls, fell into line in front of the couple, skipping and dancing, twirling ribbons in the air. But Ranulf hardly noticed anything except the maiden on his arm. She looked so striking in his mother’s court dress. The soft blue color brought out the creamy tone of her skin and golden hair, which hung in ringlets about her face.
Soon she would belong to him, and he would cherish her with every beat of his heart.
The stone church loomed ahead of them. Sir Matefrid stood on the steps, waiting to bless their union and to celebrate Mass with the wedding party. He wore the white wool tunic Ranulf had sent to him for the wedding, along with a white stole embroidered with red, gold, and green thread around his neck, hanging to his knees, and a great hat more than a foot tall.
Their vows to love and honor and obey, in sickness and in health, in wealth or in want, in good times and bad, were spoken before the silent throng behind them. Then the priest blessed them and led them all into the church for Mass.
Emerging from the church with Annabel beside him, he stared for a long time into her eyes. The overcast sky hung low and was strangely gray. But the lack of brilliance in the sky did not dim her beauty in the least. She seemed to glow with a light from within.
He felt moved to declare, “God is good.”