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The other one sighed. ‘We’re never allowed to do anything interesting, are we, Orlagh?’
‘No. Are you the Great Guardian then?’ Orlagh asked, leaning towards me, and cupping her mouth with her hand, as if by doing so no one else would be able to hear her, even though she hadn’t lowered her voice.
‘I am,’ I said. ‘I’m going home now, but I want you to know that everything’s all right. You needn’t be afraid because Orlagh’s parents and my friends and I have sorted things out between us, and there will be peace.’
‘Aengus told us there would be war soon,’ Ailill said doubtfully.
‘Not any more. The danger has passed. You can trust me.’ Carefully, I took hold of their hands and smiled at them. ‘Everything’s going to be okay. I’m very glad to have met you both.’
They exchanged glances, then to my surprise, Orlagh put her arms around my neck and hugged me. ‘One day,’ she whispered in my ear, ‘I’ll have to oversee all this. Will you help me when I do?’
‘Always,’ I promised.
I got to my feet. ‘I must go home now,’ I said. ‘We’ll meet again, never fear. In the meantime, be happy, and be kind to each other.’ I began to descend the stairs when a thought struck me, and I turned my head to face them. ‘Oh, and one more thing. Witches have the same feelings as we do, you know. Having one of them, or even two of them, in your family wouldn’t be such a bad thing.’
As they exchanged puzzled glances I smiled to myself and headed downstairs where Wren and Phoenix were waiting for me.
Job done. Time to go home.
Chapter 54
Wulfram 1673
‘Where is he?’ Wren fretted, pacing up and down the living room. ‘He said he wouldn’t be long, but he’s been ages. Do you think something’s happened to him?’
‘I’m sure he’s fine,’ I reassured her, knowing full well what was taking Phoenix so long but unable to tell her because it would spoil the surprise.
‘We said the wedding would be at two,’ she reminded me. ‘It’s half past one now.’
‘Don’t worry about that,’ I said, smiling. ‘It’s not as if the vicar won’t wait, is it?’
I’d been given the great honour of marrying Phoenix and Wren in our little island chapel. Emrick had agreed to be a witness and we were all looking forward to the ceremony. I wasn’t so nervous this time. I had, after all, previously married Killian and Harley.
‘You definitely left him in Gerrenporth?’
‘I told you I did,’ I said. ‘He’s gone to buy your wedding ring. Once I’d dropped him off there I left him to it.’
Despite her best efforts, Wren hadn’t managed to find her fede ring, which she feared had somehow dropped off her finger in the journey from the twenty-first to the seventeenth century. She was understandably upset, as it was all she had of Meri, but Phoenix had promised to buy her the best wedding ring he could find in Gerrenporth as compensation.
Emrick grinned at me. ‘I do like your hair like that,’ he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
I tossed my long curls and gave him a haughty look. ‘It’s the latest fashion. Well, sort of. Better than wearing a periwig anyway. Thank goodness the powdered wigs aren’t fashionable yet. Are you sure about wearing these clothes, Wren?’ I added, glancing down at my period breeches and coat. ‘I thought you were going to stick to comfort.’
Although, I had to admit, she looked lovely in her bridal gown of blue and gold silk brocade, adorned with silk taffeta ribbon.
‘We are,’ she said, ‘but obviously when we’re not on the island we’ll have to dress for the times, and we thought for formal occasions… Well, it is our wedding day, and since we’re getting married in 1673 I feel we should look the part.’ She blushed a little. ‘Besides, I must admit I like seeing Phoenix in the sort of clothes he would have worn as Blaise. He does look rather dashing in them, don’t you think?’
Emrick and I rolled our eyes, then exchanged looks of relief as Phoenix arrived back in the house.
‘Where have you been?’ Wren squealed, throwing her arms around him. ‘I was so worried about you! I was going to send Wulfram to look for you.’
Phoenix stepped back and gazed at her in amazement. ‘You look beautiful,’ he told her. ‘I’m so lucky to have you in my life. I don’t think there has ever been a lovelier bride in any century.’
Wren looked at him shyly, then recovered herself. ‘Never mind that. Have you any idea how frantic I’ve been? What took you so long?’
Phoenix gave me a grateful look. ‘You didn’t tell her then?’
‘Of course not,’ I said indignantly. ‘I made a promise.’
