Honoring his Lady: A Medieval Romance (Norfolk Knights Book 5) by Saskia Knight

Author:Saskia Knight [Knight, Saskia]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2020-01-13T16:00:00+00:00

A night and a day passed with Alice barely having left Lora’s side, pressing warm cloths to her brow, and feeding her brews of herbs to bring out the fever. It wasn’t until early evening of the second day that Lora’s breathing became quieter, and Alice felt her forehead and noted the fever had burned out. Lora fell into an easy sleep, and Alice left her in the care of a servant to give the news to the family.

Outside the bright sputtering fire and torch and candlelight of the Hall, a storm raged. But inside was a haven of peace. Katherine worked at a table by the fire, Celestria strummed a lute, while William talked with the steward. At another table, Warin and another squire played dice. Besides them, there was a constant flow of servants moving between the outbuildings and the Hall.

They all looked up as Alice entered the Hall. William jumped up and was beside her in an instant. He took her arm and brought her into the warmth of the fire and family circle. He poured her a cup of wine and bade her sit.

“How is Lora?” asked Katherine anxiously.

“The fever has broken,” she said.

Sighs of relief were followed by muttered prayers and laughter. Celestria jumped up and ran upstairs to see Lora, despite Katherine’s admonishment to leave her to sleep. William followed Celestria to the solar, leaving Alice alone with Katherine by the fireside.

“We’ve missed you, Alice,” said Katherine over her piece of embroidery.

Alice felt heart-warmed by Katherine’s comment. “I’ve only been gone a few weeks.”

“But it felt like forever; we thought it would be forever.”

Alice looked away quickly. “I must return to the Priory. I’m only here because you asked me to come for Lora’s sake.”

Katherine’s brow gathered into a frown. “But…” She trailed off with a shrug.

“But what?”

“Surely it was the Abbess who said you wished to come to help Lora. I tried to tell her that she would be well shortly. But she said you insisted.”

Alice’s eyes widened with surprise. “I…” She swallowed. She couldn’t bring herself to suggest that, for all her talk of truth, the Abbess had lied to return her to Wanham Castle. She shrugged and busied herself with her medicines.

She stilled as Katherine laid her hand upon her. “William was surprised you came.”

She looked up but could think of nothing to say in return.

“I’m not sure he knew what to make of it,” continued Katherine. “Nor do I, to be honest.”

“I’m sorry to have given you such confusion. It was not my intention.” She screwed up her face as she tried to work out how she could tell Katherine the truth without suggesting the Abbess had lied. She couldn’t. “Please, tell me, how has William been? I thought he looked tired. Is he well?”

“When have you ever known William not to be well?”

It was an answer of sorts, but it told Alice nothing of what she wanted to hear. “Is he happy? I want him to be happy.”

“There’s only one way he’ll ever be happy,” said Katherine quietly.

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