By Love Divided by Elizabeth St.John

Author:Elizabeth St.John
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Elizabeth St.John
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Allen rose early the next morning. Walking into the scullery in search of ale and bread, he found Sarah carving great slices of ham. His head pounded, and he gratefully accepted a chunk of bread and washed it down with a mug of cool ale.

“Your mother said to be sure to pack food for you and Master Edward,” she said. “As if I’d let you go off to them heathen parts on an empty stomach.”

Allen hugged her. “Sarah, you have always looked after us, as long as I remember.”

“Aye, and I’ll be here until they carry me out, so you come back from your adventures safe, otherwise you’ll have me to answer to.”

“I will. I promise. And you look out for my mother and Luce, please.”

“You’s got Mr. Hutchinson looking after them, now.” Sarah nodded to the garden. “And he’s up early hisself. He’s a restless one as well.”

Following her gesture, Allen blinked a few times, clearing his eyesight. John stood in the early morning sunshine, wrapped up in a greatcoat and brimmed hat. He was staring up at the chestnut trees, whose bare branches laced against the white morning sky. There was time before Allen left. Pulling on a cloak from the peg and lifting the latch, he walked outside into the frosty air.

His boots crunched on the gravel as he approached John. He stopped a few paces short, his breath clouding before him. The cold air cleared his thoughts. “I must talk with you, John.”

John brought his gaze from the sky to Allen and smiled. “Do you feel better this morning, Brother?”

“I did not feel bad last night.” Allen’s words rushed to defend, as they did so often. “John, I have no personal grief with you. Lord knows you respect the right of our king as much as anyone. But I am sworn to serve the king, and that I will, just as my father did before me.”

“Just as my father served, and as I serve too,” replied John. He took a step toward Allen and held out his hand. “You caused no insult to me, Allen. Your time here is too brief for us to argue. And Luce needs no protection from me in your debates. She held her own long before I appeared.”

Allen laughed and grasped John’s hand in return. “That she has. You have married a fierce intellect there, and one well trained from a young age. I swear, when we were at our lessons, she would run rings around our tutors, putting James and me to shame many a time.”

John smiled. “And that’s why I love her. I would not quench that spirit for any family squabble.” His face grew serious. “Walk with me a while. I would hear more of your view on the king’s troubles. Last night, you said war. How could this escalate?”

They walked to a narrow door cut in the wall at the end of the garden and let themselves out into the passage beyond. London was just stirring, the first cattle and carts being driven up the Holborn Hill to Smithfield Market.

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