The Overlord's Bride by Margaret Moore

Author:Margaret Moore
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2001-11-28T23:00:00+00:00

“My lady?”

Elizabeth poked her head out of the buttery where she had been counting the butts of ale intended for the servants. Raymond had been gone only a few days, but it was as if the essence of Donhallow had gone with him, leaving it half empty. The days dragged, so to while away the time, she busied herself with any and every task she could think of.

There was also another distraction, but she kept that to herself, and would until he returned.

“Yes?” she said to Rual.

“There is a woman here, my lady, who says she must speak to you.”

Elizabeth stepped out from the buttery and wiped her hands on her makeshift apron. “A woman?”

“She says she is Erick’s mother and that she needs your help.”

Elizabeth had been thinking of the peddler’s family often over the past days and wondering how they fared. “I’ll see her at once. Where is she?”

“At the gatehouse. She will not come any farther.”

Understandable after the way her husband had ordered them to leave, Elizabeth thought as she tore off her apron and handed it to Rual.

“You are going to speak with her?” Rual asked warily.

“Of course,” Elizabeth replied.

“Lord Kirkheathe is not here to stop you,” Rual agreed.

Elizabeth paused. Now that she knew why Raymond had treated them as she had, she did not fear his anger. “I see no harm talking to the woman at the gatehouse, and perhaps providing her with a little aid. She must be desperate to seek me out after the way my husband treated them. Please take a count of the ale casks for me while I am with her.”

As she hurried out of the building toward the imposing gatehouse, she hoped Rual could count.

She spotted the distraught and shivering woman pacing uneasily near the bossed gates.

“Oh, my lady,” the woman wailed, sinking to her knees as Elizabeth hurried to her.

“What is it?” Elizabeth cried, helping her to her feet. “Are you ill?”

“No, I’m not ill, my lady.”

“Thank God. But what is the matter? Where is Erick?”

“With his father in a ruined hut not far from here. I…I came because we are starving, my lady. My husband doesn’t know I’ve come here. He thinks I’m foraging for food in the wood, but we can’t live off what I can find. My milk is nearly gone and I…I—”

She began to sob.

Whatever Raymond thought and despite her promise to consult with him about charitable gifts, Elizabeth could not send her away empty-handed.

“Say no more for now,” Elizabeth urged softly. “Come with me to the kitchen. I will get you some food.”

“Oh, thank you, my lady!”

“What is your name?”

She wiped her eyes. “Hildagard, my lady.”

Elizabeth gave her a warm smile. “I will get you some food.”

Anxiously twisting the cuff of the sleeve of her simple homespun gown, she said, “Your husband will not approve.”

“He may not be pleased, but he will not be angry once I explain,” Elizabeth assured her.

“I…that is, I’ve hurt my arm. I don’t think I can carry anything much.

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