Royal Feud

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Lucy rocked Hermione in her arms, whispering words of comfort and praying

silently. After a long, long time, Hermione quieted and fell asleep. Lucy remained by

her side as the afternoon turned to evening.

When Hermione woke several hours later, Lucy left stool she had been sitting

on and sat on the bed next to Hermione.

"How are you, my dear?" Lucy stroked Hermione's hair, pushing it back from her face, filled with tenderness for this poor, downtrodden girl.

"I am all right," Hermione said but would not meet Margarer's eyes.

"My dear, please look at me. You are safe now. Delvin will never let anyone hun you. He will not let anything like this happen ever again." She nodded, still not looking at Lucy.

"Hermione, none of the a***e you have suffered is your fault. Only a sick, cowardly

man would hurt someone smaller and weaker than himself. The shame belongs to Wulfric and to your father, not to you.

Hermione raised her eyes to look at Lucy's face. "Aye." Lucy could tell from her tentative, desultory response that Hermione did not really

believe her words. "It might help if you talk about what your father did to you." "Nay." Her eyes darted away from Lucy's. "I do not want to talk about it." Clearly agitated, her voice rose in panic. "Ssshhh, 'tis all right. You do not have to speak of it now, if you do not wish to do

so. But "tis harmful to keep something like this bottled up inside you. Whenever you

are ready to talk about it, I will be here to listen. All right?"

Hermione slowly nodded.

Lucy cupped Hermione's face. "My dear, do you know how much you are loved? Already, I love you as a daughter. And, of course, God loves you with a love that is everlasting, ever faithful and unfailing." "Nay, He does not. He has forsaken me."

"Hermione, God never forsakes us. 'Tis we who push Him away...we who reject and

rebuff Him. God is our heavenly Father, and He never abandons us." "God abandoned me to my father. The priests tell us that He is a God of mercy. He

showed no mercy to me when He allowed my father to beat me."

"I know you have endured a tremendous amount of pain, Hermione. But God is not to blame for your suffering. 'Tis your father who is to blame." Lucy shook her head. "Hermione, the world is a fallen and corrupt place. The earth is decaying and dying more every day. Tis not the paradise God originally created for us. God gave each of us free will, and that includes the freedom to do evil. But through all the suffering we endure, the Lord is always with us to uphold and sustain us, so great is His love for us.

Lucy could tell by Hermione's downcast eyes and pinched mouth that Hermione did not believe her or accept her explanation. Sighing, Lucy dropped a kiss on Hermione's forehead before withdrawing her hands from the younger woman's face. "We shall talk of this again another time. Now, tell me. Are you hungry?"

"Aye."

"I will go get you some food. I will be right back."

Lucy sar with Hermione while she are a light supper of cold venison pic. Then Lucy arranged a warm bath, sprinkling the water with soothing lavender, lemon balm, and passionflower. She remained with Hermione until she fell asleep, then went to Delvin's solar, where she found him sitting by the warm brazier, a gobler in his hand.

"How is Hermione?" Delvin stood from his chair as she entered the room. The crease between his brows and the lines around his mouth were evidence of his concern. Wondering if he had been brooding the entire afternoon, she lightly touched his forearm. "She has calmed down and is now asleep."

"Aye, please."

"That is good. May I pour you some wine, Mother?" Lucy dropped on to the settle. It had always been her favorite piece of furniture

in the room, and she had often occupied it when she and Gavin had been closeted together in the solar. How she missed him. Resolutely shaking off her melancholy, she accepted the goblet Delvin handed her and took a sip of the wine, letting the thick, warm liquid coat her throat.

Tis a good thing you told me what Hermione's father had done to her," Lucy said. "If you had not, I would not have known what was wrong with her. "Tis obvious Hermione has been deeply traumatized by her father's a***e. This incident with Wulfric seems to have triggered her memories of Morety's beatings and intensified her fears."

"Aye." Delvin stared down into the goblet in his hands.

Lucy silently offered up a prayer: Gracious Lord, help me speak to Delvin with love and gentleness. "My dear, I fear we are partly to blame for Wulfric's conduct," she said. Delvin looked at her but held his tongue. She knew her son, knew that he wanted to

argue the point, but that he would respect her and hear her out in silence.

"Ever since the wedding I have let her shut herself away in her chamber. It has become obvious to everyone that your marriage to Hermione is not a marriage at all. 'Tis no wonder Wulfric assumed you would not care if he beat her. You need to show an interest in her, and let everyone know she is under your protection."

"Aye. You are right as usual." Delvin rolled his cup slowly between his hands. "I should take my own advice as well. From now on, I will try to draw her out and include her in the daily routine of the castle."

"That is a good idea. Wyham said that Henry likes to travel widely in his domain. It may be several weeks before he can locate the king and bring back a reply. Even if Banchester agrees to take Hermione, I cannot convey her there until I have the king's permission to annul the marriage."

Lucy took a sip of her wine, contemplating her son, love for him flooding her heart. It had been so much simpler when he was younger. Then she could just tell him what he must do. Now she could only offer her advice and hope he would seriously consider it.

"Have you considered letting your marriage to Hermione stand? Even if Henry does agree to an annulment, it will take years to secure one from the Pope. And in the meantime you are left in limbo, without a wife or an heir. Delvin, I believe God has sent Hermione to us for a purpose. I believe 'tis His will that she be your wife."

Delvin lifted his goblet and tossed back the remainder of his wine before answering. "She is the daughter of my enemy. I feel nothing for her but pity. I have no desire to bed her, so how would I be able to sire an heir? I do not see how a marriage between us can succeed."

"Delvin, have not your father and I taught you better than that?" Lucy sadly shook her head. "You are judging Hermione by her looks and by her ancestry, neither of which she can change. You need to get to know her as a person and look beyond her scarred face."

"I will try, Mother. I will try."

Lucy looked at her only child. He had always been strong-willed, a trait that had been intensified by the duties and obligations of leadership. Delvin's need to be in control was taking him further and further away from the only One who truly had authority and dominion over his life. Until Delvin learned to submit his will to his Creator, he would be lost.

Oh, most gracious Lord, she prayed silently, I surrender Ala and lena to You and Your everlasting love. Lord, I ask that Your good and perfect will be done in their lives, and in mine as well. Dear Lord, give me the discernment to see how I can help them. And give me Your peace. Amen.