The Miracle at St. Bruno's

 "They wouldn't dare harm anyone from the Abbey, Mother. They would be afraid of what my father would do." When she spoke his name a beautiful smile touched her lips. "It is wonderful to have a saint for a father.”

I turned aside impatiently. I was asking myself often whether I was jealous of Catherine's devotion to her father.

I left Catherine and went back to Honey's room. I waited there anxiously until she came back.

"Honey," I cried. "Where have you been?”

"To see my grandmother.”

"Mother Salter?”

"I call her Grandmother. She is my grandmother, you know.”

I recalled the time when Honey had run away from me because she thought I cared more for Catherine than for her.

"I always go to her when something important happens. She wishes me to.”

"And something important has happened?”

"Is it not important that we should be asked to Grebblesworth?”

"It could be, Honey.”

"It is. I know it is.”

"Honey, my dear child, does it make you happy... that they have asked you?”

"As happy as I never hoped to be," she answered.

Lord Calperton received us warmly. He was a widower of some years' standing and it was clear to me that this great mansion lacked a mistress. They were a good Catholic family and as Kate said "unworldly" but I for one liked them none the less for that.

I fancied Lord Calperton, like most men, was a little in love with Kate; perhaps that was one of the reasons why he had taken so kindly to the family.

It was not a large house party, which perhaps made it all the more enjoyable. We rode through the countryside; we danced a little; we played games and there were dinner parties when we met the local families. Carey sought out pretty Mary's company and that left Honey to Edward. Catherine and Thomas, the younger son of the household, played rather rough games together, and it was a very jolly party.

Kate was amused by the rapidly advancing friendship between Edward and Honey.

She whispered to me: "I verily believe that Calperton is so enchanted with us that he would ask a very small dowry for Honey.”

"Do you really think they would consider her?”

Kate laughed at me. "How excited you are! Why, Damask, you are a matchmaking Mamma.

I am surprised.”

"I want Honey to be happy. She is very taken with Edward.”

"And he with her.”

"Oh," I cried, "I believe she would be so happy. She has always felt that she was not of the same importance as Catherine. Heaven knows I have done my best to convince her. But if this in truth became a marriage... Oh, I can see her mistress of this house.”

"If Calperton does not marry again of course.”

"Kate, you are not thinking...”

"I have refused a Duke and two Earls. Do you think I should succumb to my Lord Calperton?”

"You might possibly love the man more than a great title.”

"There speaks the old sentimental Damask. I do declare you amaze me. A scheming matchmaking mother one moment, gloating over the fine match her daughter will make, and then sentimentally talking of love. Let me tell you this, Damask. I have no intention of taking Calperton. As far as I am concerned Honey shall have the scene all to herself.

But I know my Calperton. He wishes Edward to marry. He wants a grandson. Young Edward is completely enamored of Mistress Honey-and I am not surprised. My Lord will reason that he is more likely to get healthy sons with a young woman who so enthralls him.

I'll wager you that ere long there will be a discreet offer for Honey's hand.”

I was so delighted, because I knew the state of Honey's feelings.

And when the offer came, I myself saw Lord Calperton. I told him that Honey was my adopted daughter; I myself would provide her dowry. She was well educated, a lady in every sense. She was the daughter of a woman who had served me but been a friend; and her father had worked for Thomas Cromwell.

He was satisfied.

Honey was married on that June day in the year 1557 when war was declared on France.

The marriage was celebrated at the chapel in Caseman Court. I had chosen this because after all it was my home and I made the excuse that it would do my mother good to supervise the celebrations. And it did; bustling about her garden, gathering herbs for this and that, practicing with her new salads and giving orders in the kitchen seemed to bring her alive again.

Bruno attended the wedding but he was aloof. As for Honey she had little to say to him; she had always avoided him...

We had the usual ceremonies with the bridecake and the mummers came in and performed.

I was gratified to see my mother laughing merrily at their antics, and happy to pass Honey on to Edward Ennis, for it had given me the utmost pleasure to see her happily settled.

After the wedding we all seemed faintly depressed. My mother, deprived of all the tasks which the wedding had entailed, sank into melancholy once more; what surprised me most was how much Catherine missed Honey, far more than I had believed possible.

She became moody-very different from the girl who had danced so gaily and teased Carey as Queen of Misrule.