"Oh, he's f-fine." The young man ran his hand down the cat's glossy back. "L-lovely animal. All G.o.d's creatures."

"Yes, we are," Tess agreed proudly. No one would have recognized the Miles of today from the scrawny animal she and Brenn had rescued. Between field mice and sc.r.a.ps from Banon's meals, he was almost fat and very satisfied.

That Vicar Rackham echoed her own sentiments toward animals pleased her greatly. "Have you seen the

church?"

He hadn't, so the two of them walked over to St. David's. As they left the house, Tess caught Banon sliding a glance of interest at the young vicar from beneath her lashes.

"Would you like to come with us, Banon?" she asked.

"May I, my lady?"

Tess couldn't help but smile at the girl's eagerness. "Of course. Fetch your bonnet."

As they walked to the village, Tess noticed what a handsome couple the two of them made. Cedric

Pughe would be pleased to have a vicar for a son-in-law.

Crossing the bridge, Tess shared with him her growing collection of fairy stories. Being a Welshman, he didn't laugh at her and even told her one she hadn't heard before.

He was going to be the perfect vicar for Erwynn Keep.

The church itself was a disappointment. "Nothing is sadder than an empty church," Tess said, brushing

aside cobwebs.

"It isn't bad," he a.s.sured her enthusiastically in Welsh. "I'll recruit some of the village women and we'l have it cleaned in no time."

Banon quickly volunteered to organize the women.

In the back room, they found a wooden chest containing pewter candlesticks, altar cloths, and the like.

The yellowed linens were hopelessly ruined by age and insects.

"These would have dressed the altar up a bit," Vicar Rackham said. "But we can sew more."

Tess had a flash of an idea. "Wait." She sent Banon back to the cottage with instructions to fetch the

petticoat and dress she had worn for her presentation at Court.

While waiting for Banon, she and Vicar Rackham investigated the cottage that served as the vicarage. It had been let over the years but was empty now. Its condition was worse than the church's. However, John Carne and his wife, who ran the alehouse at the other end of the village, came by. After introducing

themselves to the vicar, they pledged the help of the village in repairing the cottage."...With the earl's help, of course."

"Of course," Tess agreed with a small smile. But in truth, it made her feel good to see the renewed life in

the village.

Banon returned with the clothing. "Here," Tess said. "This should make a lovely altar cloth."

Mrs. Carne exclaimed over the silver lace that sparkled in the afternoon sun. "I've a good hand with a

needle." She began measuring the petticoat skirt off her nose.

"But this dress must have cost a fortune," Vicar Rackham protested.

"All the more reason it should go to a good cause," Tess answered. Her days in London seemed almost

a lifetime ago. But she did not miss her former life. It lacked substance compared to how she lived now.

Tess was ready to go. Banon looked as if she could spend the afternoon helping with the plans to repairthe vicarage and Tess let her.She had started for home, when Vicar Rackham came running after her."One m-moment p-please, m-my I-lady."Tess stopped. They stood in the middle of the road, not far from Pughe's smithy."M-my I-lady, th-there is one t-topic I m-must b-bring up in m-my role as s-spiritual I-leader.""What is that?" she asked him in Welsh.He answered in his tortured English. "Your husband b-begged me to b-bring th-this to your attention."Tess felt a tingle of warning on the short hairs of her neck. "What topic is that, sir?""A wife's m-marital duties to her husband-""Say no more," Tess replied, but she was smiling. Touche, Brenn, touche!

"Tell my husband if he should ask that I've taken the matter to heart."She turned and made her way back to the cottage. The emptiness she'd been nursing was starting tofade.

Brenn came home in the middle of the next day unsure of his reception.

He expected her to like the horse and the vicar, but he wasn't certain she would appreciate his pointed messages.

He found Tess by the house playing with a rope on the ground. She was so involved, he walked up to

her without her being aware of his presence.

"What are you doing?"

She jumped, startled by his question. "You're home."

He made a short bow to fill the awkward moment when they would have greeted each other with more

warmth. His high hopes plummeted a bit. He repeated his question.

"I'm laying on a line for the stone wall. Gerald-" She referred to one of the men working on the

repairing of the stone floor inside. "-said he would build one for my rose garden if I decided what Iwant. Did you find the carpenter?""He'll take the commission. He should be here in a day or two."For a second, there was silence between them. He wondered what she was thinking-and if she wanted to kiss him as much as he did her.

"I like the new vicar," she said abruptly. "He's young but full of good intentions."

"Like ourselves?"

Tess didn't answer but brushed the dirt from her hands. What was going through her mind?"Vicar Rackham and I are going to open a school for the children."He didn't want to talk about schools. He wanted to talk about them. But instead, he said, "It would be worthwhile.""We'll be able to teach the children to read in English and Welsh. He really is a find, Brenn."Brenn didn't want to talk about the virtues of another man either. He changed the subject. "Did you like the filly?""She's perfect. Absolutely one of the sweetest horses I've ever ridden.""And the saddle?""I thank you for the saddle," she replied dutifully.Again silence."Is there any possibility I could receive a kiss for my generosity?" he asked.He'd caught her off guard but then she laughed. "No," she said candidly, "because I also received your messages."

But there was no heat in her words and the terrible sadness that had lingered around her no longer seemed to be present.

Perhaps...?

"I'm not the best man in the world, Tess. I've made mistakes and, perhaps by wanting too much, I've

hurt you-but that was never my intent. Do you think you could forgive me?"She crossed her arms, hugging her middle. "I already have."Brenn almost couldn't believe his ears. "You have-!""But it's not enough, Brenn. I want something more. Something I'm not sure you can give me.""I'd give you anything," he declared. "I'd hang the moon for you."Her expression saddened. "I don't know if it would be enough."What did the woman want? For the life of him, he would never understand her."You don't understand, do you?" she said, echoing his thoughts."No, I don't. Tell me what I must do and I'll do it!"She came down to him so that they stood inches from each other. "If I must tell you, then it isn't worth having."

With that riddle she walked on to the cottage.

Brenn ripped his hat off his head. He could have thrown it on the ground and stomped on it out of

frustration. Was there any man alive that understood women?

"Tess!"

She turned to him.

"I want you." He felt silly making such a declaration. One of the workmen stuck his head out the door at

the noise, only adding to his sense of foolishness. Brenn waved him back in.

But his words didn't soften Tess. With a shake of her head, she continued on her way.

At that moment, Cedric Pughe came up the drive in a wagon. Four able-bodied men rode with him. They

were followed on foot by what appeared to be the whole village-including the vicar.

Pughe pulled the horse to a stop between the house and the cottage. "I've got something for you, my lord," he told Brenn.

Jumping down, he gave a quiet order to the other men and together they lifted something off the bottom

of the wagon.

Tess gave a small cry and Brenn couldn't help but feel pride.

It was his dragon weathervane.

Pughe had hammered it out of the copper Brenn had purchased during his first trip to Swansea. Metal

flames of fire breathed from its mouth. Pughe had even managed to hammer scales into its coiled body."It's beautiful," Tess said."Aye." Brenn hopped up in the wagon with it. It was a good three feet in length. "You've done a fine job, Pughe.""I'm pleased," the blacksmith said."Do you think we can put it up now?" Brenn asked."It's why I brought the lads," Pughe answered.The air was festive as they marched to the house with the weathervane. The wooden scaffolding used during the wall repairs on the back of the house was carried to the front. The timbers were lashed

together with rawhide strips.

Pughe wouldn't climb it-he claimed he was just too old-but Brenn and Carne did. One of the workmen also climbed onto the roof to help secure the weathervane to the cupola.