PUBLISHED TO YOUTUBE BY THE TENORS VEVO ON OCTOBER 7, 2015.
When I heard this song a couple of weeks ago, a short scene from Listen to Your Heart sprang to mind. It’s only a few paragraphs long and comes at the end of Chapter 14. Because this is nearing the end of the book (the novel has 17 chapters) and, therefore, contains spoilers, and because it is a rather long chapter, I have only excerpted a portion of the beginning of the chapter, then indicated a break with three dots and continued with the short but sweet reunion between Cranfield and Lady Catherine. Hopefully, I have kept the most critical spoilers from appearing here, but as always, read at your own risk. (And remember, this book is on sale everywhere for 99c or so until February 15, 2020.)
Listen to Your Heart, Chapter 14 Excerpt
“Cranfield.” Lord Matlock clapped the man on the shoulder in a welcoming fashion as he entered the dower house. “A word, if you do not mind.” Noting the look of suspicion on the man’s face, he added, “A friendly word.” He chuckled. “My wife constantly reminds me I need to spend time on small talk and pleasantries. She says neglecting them makes people uneasy.”
“She would be right.” The right side of Cranfield’s mouth curved up into a half smile.
“My apologies.” Lord Matlock motioned for Cranfield to enter the room ahead of him before turning to Bingley and Darcy. “I believe you will find your ladies, as well as the rest of the guests, in the garden.” Bingley took a step toward the sitting room, but Lord Matlock held up his hand and lowered his voice. “You have nothing to fear, my boy. I have a family apology to make, and I believe a reunion would be better in private.”
“Right,” agreed Bingley and followed Darcy toward the garden.
Lord Matlock closed the door gently. “My father was wrong.”
Cranfield gave a small snort of laughter. “You do not circle a topic, do you?”
Lord Matlock smiled. “I see very little need of fluffing the subject unless I need to convince the other party that my position on a topic is right and theirs is wrong. But, I believe on this fact we are in agreement. What my father and his cohorts did to you and to my sister was wrong ─ unpardonable really ─ though I do hope you will not hold his actions against me.” Lord Matlock took a seat next to Cranfield. “He received no support from either John or me in this decision, and he only garnered Catherine’s cooperation through threat of dire consequences ─ not even de Bourgh entered the arrangement willingly. As I am sure you are aware, my father could be very persuasive in his arguments.” He straightened the sleeves of his jacket, the only sign of his unease with the topic being discussed. “I must ask what his demands were of you. I know there must have been an agreement for you have been quite prosperous in your business.”
Cranfield cocked his head to the side and narrowed his eyes. “I am to believe you know naught of his arrangement with me?”
“Whether you believe me or not will make it no less true.” Lord Matlock fidgeted with the cuff of his left sleeve. “I ceased communication with my father after he refused to hear my pleas on my sister’s behalf. I was never meant to be his heir, and when John died suddenly, many secrets died with him. An agreement as must have existed between you and my father was surely not one which would have been recorded in his important documents and passed down to me. Your dealings were too close to our family. A written record may have fallen into the wrong hands and brought more scandal than even my father would have been able to quell.”
Cranfield sighed. “Very well.” He rose and paced the room. “I am never to speak her name. I am never to contact her or any of her family. I am allowed to have contact with her family only if they first contact me.” He counted off the regulations on his fingers. “I am never to set foot on Matlock or de Bourgh property unless invited. I am never to speak of this arrangement unless granted permission by the Earl of Matlock.”
“And if you do not comply?”
“If I break any of these rules, no matter how small the infraction might be, I will be branded a traitor. There are men even now who may be arranging things so that it will look as though I not only transport illegal goods but also provide passage on my ships for those who would support our enemy. It will be made to look as if I am aiding the French.”
Matlock let out a slow whistle. “So your penalty would harm not only you but all associated with you.”
Cranfield nodded. “Your father knew that to threaten to do harm only to me would not have been effective. He tried.”
Lord Matlock closed his eyes and grimaced. “What did he do to you?”
Cranfield removed his jacket and his waistcoat. “I prefer to show you a portion.” He lifted his shirt. White raised scars streaked across his back and a knotted white patch of skin stood out against his side. He pointed to his side. “My leg has another scar similar to this.”
For a few moments, Lord Matlock could not do more than stare at Cranfield in horror. “You were beaten?” he finally managed to ask.
“Flogged might be a more accurate term, my lord─ a lash for every refusal” Cranfield tucked his shirt back into his breeches. “Since I still refused one term of my agreement no matter the number of lashes, I was given the opportunity to fight to retain the right to say her name. Wielding a sword after such a beating is not an easy task and the scar on my side and a matching one on my leg and a smaller slash on my arm are from that battle. I did not win.”
“You dueled for the right to say her name?” Matlock shook his head in disbelief.
“I did. I believe your father was afraid I might use that right to circumvent the other restrictions in some way, and I am certain he would have been correct in that assumption. I love your sister with a love that will only die when I do, my lord.”
…
There was a series of three soft knocks at the door. Kellet looked nervously from the door to Lord Matlock.
“My wife,” he said, “and I would assume my sister.” He rose and straightened his jacket. “I will speak to them in the hall.” He paused before leaving the room and turned to Cranfield. “You have always had my approval.”
Cranfield stared at the door after it closed behind Lord Matlock. He tugged at his cravat and tried to breathe deeply to steady his nerves. His heart beat a rapid rhythm. He shifted from foot to foot. He sat down only to stand again. Finally, the door opened, and there she was, standing beside her brother.
Lord Matlock gave her a small nudge to enter the room. “If you need me, I will be out here for the next half hour, after which time I will rejoin you along with my wife, niece, and son.” He gave Catherine one more nudge and closed the door softly behind her.
It was silent in the room for a few minutes before Cranfield laughed nervously. “I have dreamt of the day I should see you again, but in all my dreaming, I never once considered a proper greeting.” He stepped toward her. “I could say it is good to see you, and it would be true, or I could say I missed you, for I did so very much.” He shook his head and stepped closer. “But those greetings do not begin to convey my joy at this moment ─ a moment I never thought would happen, but the hope of which has kept me alive all these years.” He took her hand and brought it to his lips.
She reached up and placed a hand on his cheek. “You do know it was not my choice to marry?”
He nodded. “And you must know I would have stopped it if I were able.”
“And you never contacted me because you were prevented?”
“Ah, my love, I could never have stayed away from you willingly.” He kissed her hand once again before pulling her into his embrace. “Please do not ask me to leave you, for I do not have the strength to be separated from you again.”
She pulled back slightly to look up at him. “Never. I would never ask you to leave.” A smile lit her face despite the tears which flowed down her cheeks. “Adrian?” She reached up to touch his cheek once again. “Kiss me.” She placed a finger on his lips as he lowered his head to do as she had asked. “But first say my name as you used to.”
“Ah, Kate,” he whispered against her lips before claiming them with all the sweetness and passion he had been denied for so long.
Can you see why this song made me think of this reunion? *sigh* Of course, to know the full story of what happened with these two so many years before this reunion, you’ll have to read the book. 😉
Wish I was sitting around that fire. That was lovely. Whew! The elder Lord Matlock was a piece of work. This story was amazing and so much scandal and wickness. I still shudder at some of the secrets revealed. Hope you have a great rest of the week.
Thanks. I hope you have a good week as well.
Yes, the elder Lord Matlock was just plain evil — power and money hungry. I’m glad you enjoyed the song.