Return - Hansel and Gretel Retold

Part 3

THREE

The moment Grieve saw her, he knew he was in love.

Bedelia, Lord Calum's only daughter, a dark-haired girl ripe with curves in the all the right places. She blushed rosily as she offered a curtsey to Grieve and his older brother, Mahon.

Lord Lewis, their father, talked of marriage alliances and taking the girl on a tour of the island. Both brothers had heartily agreed to take Bedelia on the tour, and so it was settled.

Yet they had scarcely set out before a rider came galloping up to speak to Mahon on an urgent matter that simply would not wait. With a curse and an apology to Bedelia, Mahon turned his horse around and headed to where he was needed most. One day, he would succeed Lord Lewis as the lord of Myroy Isle, and he shouldered many of his father's duties in the meantime.

But that left Bedelia to Grieve, who thanked fate profusely, as he proceeded to show the girl the beauties of the northernmost of the Southern Isles. None of the views he presented to her compared to his own view, though – of the rosy cheeked maiden smiling at all she surveyed.

She spoke of her brothers, and how different life was at Langroy Isle, far to the south, so close to Alba you could see it across the water on a clear day. If Grieve sometimes lost track of her words, he blamed the lovely lilt of her voice, that turned his mind into a blissful fog of possibilities.

If he could persuade this girl to fall in love with him as readily as he'd fallen for her, the marriage alliance Father had spoken of would be more than just talk.

And he would have all those lovely curves in his bed...

Grieve daydreamed until dusk, when they returned home again, for the welcome feast Father had promised Bedelia.

She had the place of honour at Father's side, displacing Mahon, who sat between Bedelia and Grieve.

Grieve comforted himself with the thought that the next day, he would have her all to himself again, as they toured the western shores of Myroy, for Mahon would surely be called away for more important things again, leaving Bedelia and Grieve alone for love to blossom.

Father must have planned it this way, Grieve was certain of it.

Mahon was at least five years her senior, while Grieve was only a few months younger than Bedelia. Young for marriage, but not too young.

And Bedelia liked him, while she scarcely said a word to Mahon. Why, she could not even look at him for more than a moment. Whereas she'd shared plenty of smiles with Grieve while they rode together.

Yes, Grieve thought as he looked at her. Bedelia was his happily ever after, and nothing fate could do would change that.