The Hawk and the Jewel (Kensington Chronicles 1) by Lori Wick
Authors: Lori Wick
Tags: Fiction, General, Romance, Historical, Regency, England, Love Stories, Religious, Christian, INSPIRATIONAL ROMANCE, captivity, Survival After Airplane Accidents; Shipwrecks; Etc, Arab Countries
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too.
"When mother went, she allowed me to accompany her. You were so tiny," Brandon smiled. "While my mother held you, I put my finger in your hand. You clutched onto it with a surprising grip. I had a new appreciation for babies after that. I couldn't see enough of you. It was awfully fun to watch you grow that first year. I missed you terribly when you went away; we all did."
Sunny smiled at him, loving the mental pictures he painted. Brandon gave her a little squeeze, kissed her brow, and went back to his desk, leaving Sunny to finish her hair. He did so hoping she felt a little easier about who she was and where she was headed.
Brandon noticed that Sunny regained more control of her emotions with the passing of each new day. He knew that the family would love her no matter what she was like, but Brandon still wondered if any of them would ever see her eyes pool with tears, or if anyone would see the frightened, vulnerable fece he'd seen when Sunny realized she had been underhandedly sent away by the only father she'd ever known.
Brandon had a sense that by the time they came into port, these feelings and many more would be well hidden from any and all seeking eyes. He had seen them all and praised God for this feet. They had given him a love and tenderness for this girl that he couldn't have put into words if he had tried.
"Sometimes I hate him all day, and sometimes I wish I could wake up in my bed in the palace," Sunny said softly one night.
58
59
"Did it help to reread his letter?" Brandon asked, having seen her doing so just that morning.
"No,** she told him flatly. "He said I am loved, but then I am sent away." Sunny, who was sitting across the cabin from Brandon, looked into his eyes. "This is not love."
"I don't know about that," Brandon told her thoughtfully. "When I think of the loving family that awaits you in England, and how hard it must have been to send you away, I think he might love you deeply."
Not having considered this, Sunny frowned, but a moment later the hardness returned to her eyes. She was not ready to be so understanding. Brandon sighed mentally. If she was not careful, the bitterness would eat her alive.
Brandon believed that if anyone had reason to be bitter, it was the family who had been lied to and robbed of her company for so many years. As it was, no one felt that way. They certainly didn't condone the emir's actions, but they praised God for the return of Sunny, and were determined not to let bitterness ruin that praise.
Sunny, now able to spend time away from Brandon, left the cabin just after breakfast the next morning. As had become her routine in the past week, she headed for the galley. Connie, the ship's cook, was standing over a large pot, and Sunny knew that lunch was on the stove.
"Good day to you, lass. Did you sleep well?"
"Yes," Sunny told him with wide-eyed innocence. It was beyond her why people asked such a thing. In her youth, she had yet to experience a poor night's sleep.
"What are you cooking, Connie?**
"Bean soup.** The rotund cook raised his ladle so Sunny could see his fere. She smiled at his obvious pride, and they talked about the ingredients for some minutes until Sunny heard Brandon's voice in the companionway,
"We'll be in port in the morning. I'll be going ashore and can take care of it then."
Sunny left the galley in a hurry, and Connie, having heard the captain's voice and knowing why she left, smiled after her departure.
"We are to be in England tomorrow?*' Sunny was out of breath at the prospect.
"No, Sunny," Brandon explained. "We're docking in Freeport, Sierra Leone, for water and supplies."
"You will go on land?"
**Yes, I'll be going ashore, but only briefly. I will not-" Brandon continued swiftly when he saw that Sunny was about to speak, "be taking you with me. I must leave early and will probably return before you're awake."
Sunny was crushed. Brandon saw the disappointment in her eyes, but knew it was best to leave well-enough
"When mother went, she allowed me to accompany her. You were so tiny," Brandon smiled. "While my mother held you, I put my finger in your hand. You clutched onto it with a surprising grip. I had a new appreciation for babies after that. I couldn't see enough of you. It was awfully fun to watch you grow that first year. I missed you terribly when you went away; we all did."
Sunny smiled at him, loving the mental pictures he painted. Brandon gave her a little squeeze, kissed her brow, and went back to his desk, leaving Sunny to finish her hair. He did so hoping she felt a little easier about who she was and where she was headed.
Brandon noticed that Sunny regained more control of her emotions with the passing of each new day. He knew that the family would love her no matter what she was like, but Brandon still wondered if any of them would ever see her eyes pool with tears, or if anyone would see the frightened, vulnerable fece he'd seen when Sunny realized she had been underhandedly sent away by the only father she'd ever known.
Brandon had a sense that by the time they came into port, these feelings and many more would be well hidden from any and all seeking eyes. He had seen them all and praised God for this feet. They had given him a love and tenderness for this girl that he couldn't have put into words if he had tried.
"Sometimes I hate him all day, and sometimes I wish I could wake up in my bed in the palace," Sunny said softly one night.
58
59
"Did it help to reread his letter?" Brandon asked, having seen her doing so just that morning.
"No,** she told him flatly. "He said I am loved, but then I am sent away." Sunny, who was sitting across the cabin from Brandon, looked into his eyes. "This is not love."
"I don't know about that," Brandon told her thoughtfully. "When I think of the loving family that awaits you in England, and how hard it must have been to send you away, I think he might love you deeply."
Not having considered this, Sunny frowned, but a moment later the hardness returned to her eyes. She was not ready to be so understanding. Brandon sighed mentally. If she was not careful, the bitterness would eat her alive.
Brandon believed that if anyone had reason to be bitter, it was the family who had been lied to and robbed of her company for so many years. As it was, no one felt that way. They certainly didn't condone the emir's actions, but they praised God for the return of Sunny, and were determined not to let bitterness ruin that praise.
Sunny, now able to spend time away from Brandon, left the cabin just after breakfast the next morning. As had become her routine in the past week, she headed for the galley. Connie, the ship's cook, was standing over a large pot, and Sunny knew that lunch was on the stove.
"Good day to you, lass. Did you sleep well?"
"Yes," Sunny told him with wide-eyed innocence. It was beyond her why people asked such a thing. In her youth, she had yet to experience a poor night's sleep.
"What are you cooking, Connie?**
"Bean soup.** The rotund cook raised his ladle so Sunny could see his fere. She smiled at his obvious pride, and they talked about the ingredients for some minutes until Sunny heard Brandon's voice in the companionway,
"We'll be in port in the morning. I'll be going ashore and can take care of it then."
Sunny left the galley in a hurry, and Connie, having heard the captain's voice and knowing why she left, smiled after her departure.
"We are to be in England tomorrow?*' Sunny was out of breath at the prospect.
"No, Sunny," Brandon explained. "We're docking in Freeport, Sierra Leone, for water and supplies."
"You will go on land?"
**Yes, I'll be going ashore, but only briefly. I will not-" Brandon continued swiftly when he saw that Sunny was about to speak, "be taking you with me. I must leave early and will probably return before you're awake."
Sunny was crushed. Brandon saw the disappointment in her eyes, but knew it was best to leave well-enough
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