Read Kirkland Revels for Free Online
Authors: Victoria Holt
he began to speak; then it was as though he were reciting a piece he had learned by heart.
” It was built in the middle of the sixteenth century. When Kirkland Abbey was dissolved, it was given to my ancestors. They took stones from the Abbey and with them built a house. Because it was used as a house in which to make merry … I must have had very merry ancestors it was called Kirk- land Revels in contrast to Kirkland Abbey.”
” So the stones which built your house were once those of an ancient abbey?”
” Tons and tons of stone,” he murmured. ” There’s still much of the old Abbey in existence. When I stand on my balcony I can look across to those grey and ancient arches. In certain lights you can imagine that they are not merely ruins … in fact it is difficult to believe they are. Then you can almost see the monks in their habits moving silently among the stones.”
” How attractive it must be. You love it, do you not?”
” It has a fascination for all who see it. Don’t all things as old as that? Imagine, although the house is a mere three hundred years old, the stones of which it is built date back to the twelfth century.
Naturally everyone’s impressed. You will be when . “
He stopped and I saw the slow smile curve his delicate lips.
I am forthright and had never been able to hedge, so I said: ” Are you suggesting that I shall see it?”
The smile about his lips expanded. ” I have been a guest in your home.
I should like you to be one in mine. “
Then it came bursting out: ” Miss Corder, I shall nave to go home soon.”
” You don’t want to, do you, Mr. Rockwell?”
“We are great friends, I believe.” he said.
“At least I feel we are.”
” We have known each other but three weeks,” I reminded him.
” But the circumstances were exceptional. Please call me Gabriel.”
I hesitated, then I laughed.
“What’s in a name?” I asked. ” Our friendship cannot be greater or less, whether I call you by your Christian or surname. What were you going to say to me, Gabriel?”
” Catherine!” he almost whispered my name as he turned on his side and leaned on his elbow to look at me. ” You are right, I don’t want to go back.”
I did not look at him because I feared my next question was impertinent, but I could not prevent myself from asking it. ” Why are you afraid to go back?”
He had turned away. ” Afraid?” His voice sounded high pitched. ” Who said I was afraid?”
” Then I imagined it.”
Silence fell between us for a few seconds, then he said:
“I wish I could make you see the Revels … the Abbey. I wish …”
” Tell me about it,” I said and added: ” If you want to … but only if you want to.”
” It’s about myself I want to tell you, Catherine.”
” Then please do.”
” These have been the most interesting and happiest weeks of my life, and it is because of you. The reason I do not want to go back to the Revels is because it would mean saying good-bye to you.”
” Perhaps we should meet again.”
He turned to me. ” When?” he asked almost angrily.
” Some time perhaps.”
“Some time! How do we know what time is left to us?”
” How strangely you talk … as though you thought that one … or both of us … might die tomorrow.”
There was a faint flush in his cheeks which seemed to make his eyes burn brightly.
“Who can say when death shall come?”
” How morbid you have grown. I am nineteen. You have told me that you are twenty-three. People of our ages do not talk of dying.”
” One evidently does. Catherine, will you marry me?”
I must have looked shocked by this unexpected outburst because he laughed and said: “You are looking at me as 28 though I am crazy. Is it so strange that someone should want to marry you.”
” But I cannot take this seriously.”
” You must, Catherine. I ask with the utmost seriousness.”
” But how can you speak of
” It was built in the middle of the sixteenth century. When Kirkland Abbey was dissolved, it was given to my ancestors. They took stones from the Abbey and with them built a house. Because it was used as a house in which to make merry … I must have had very merry ancestors it was called Kirk- land Revels in contrast to Kirkland Abbey.”
” So the stones which built your house were once those of an ancient abbey?”
” Tons and tons of stone,” he murmured. ” There’s still much of the old Abbey in existence. When I stand on my balcony I can look across to those grey and ancient arches. In certain lights you can imagine that they are not merely ruins … in fact it is difficult to believe they are. Then you can almost see the monks in their habits moving silently among the stones.”
” How attractive it must be. You love it, do you not?”
” It has a fascination for all who see it. Don’t all things as old as that? Imagine, although the house is a mere three hundred years old, the stones of which it is built date back to the twelfth century.
Naturally everyone’s impressed. You will be when . “
He stopped and I saw the slow smile curve his delicate lips.
I am forthright and had never been able to hedge, so I said: ” Are you suggesting that I shall see it?”
The smile about his lips expanded. ” I have been a guest in your home.
I should like you to be one in mine. “
Then it came bursting out: ” Miss Corder, I shall nave to go home soon.”
” You don’t want to, do you, Mr. Rockwell?”
“We are great friends, I believe.” he said.
“At least I feel we are.”
” We have known each other but three weeks,” I reminded him.
” But the circumstances were exceptional. Please call me Gabriel.”
I hesitated, then I laughed.
“What’s in a name?” I asked. ” Our friendship cannot be greater or less, whether I call you by your Christian or surname. What were you going to say to me, Gabriel?”
” Catherine!” he almost whispered my name as he turned on his side and leaned on his elbow to look at me. ” You are right, I don’t want to go back.”
I did not look at him because I feared my next question was impertinent, but I could not prevent myself from asking it. ” Why are you afraid to go back?”
He had turned away. ” Afraid?” His voice sounded high pitched. ” Who said I was afraid?”
” Then I imagined it.”
Silence fell between us for a few seconds, then he said:
“I wish I could make you see the Revels … the Abbey. I wish …”
” Tell me about it,” I said and added: ” If you want to … but only if you want to.”
” It’s about myself I want to tell you, Catherine.”
” Then please do.”
” These have been the most interesting and happiest weeks of my life, and it is because of you. The reason I do not want to go back to the Revels is because it would mean saying good-bye to you.”
” Perhaps we should meet again.”
He turned to me. ” When?” he asked almost angrily.
” Some time perhaps.”
“Some time! How do we know what time is left to us?”
” How strangely you talk … as though you thought that one … or both of us … might die tomorrow.”
There was a faint flush in his cheeks which seemed to make his eyes burn brightly.
“Who can say when death shall come?”
” How morbid you have grown. I am nineteen. You have told me that you are twenty-three. People of our ages do not talk of dying.”
” One evidently does. Catherine, will you marry me?”
I must have looked shocked by this unexpected outburst because he laughed and said: “You are looking at me as 28 though I am crazy. Is it so strange that someone should want to marry you.”
” But I cannot take this seriously.”
” You must, Catherine. I ask with the utmost seriousness.”
” But how can you speak of
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