The Stolen Bride by Susan Spencer Paul

Author:Susan Spencer Paul
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Sofia was in awe of Lady Katharine Gaillard, wife of Sir Senet Gaillard, the lord of Lomas. But she supposed that everyone, even Lady Katharine’s own husband, must be as well. She was very beautiful, with red-gold hair the color of a glorious sunset, and was taller than almost any woman that Sofia had ever seen. She had a regal manner and bearing that made her as commanding as a queen might be, and all those in her presence reacted accordingly. When Lady Katharine spoke, every eye turned immediately toward her, and when she gave commands, servants raced to fulfill her bidding.

“You will not walk at any faster pace than this, Sofia. I will speak to Kayne and make certain of it. Your back will not be strong for many weeks, and any more rapid step will cause you to suffer such spasms as you had yesterday morn, and a like incident must be fully avoided. Apart from the pain and distress it gives, ’twill also diminish any improvements you have made. You must take every care to allow that no further damage be done by walking at a greater pace.”

Sofia, who was slowly moving in a very unsteady line, being held up on one side by Lady Katharine and on the other by a young serving maid, replied, “Yes, my lady.” Such docility and obedience were strange to her, but thus it was when Lady Katharine spoke. It would have been impossible to do anything but agree.

In the far corner of the chamber, Mistress Magan, the wife of Sir Aric, looked up from nursing her infant son. “I pray you, my lady, do not overtire Mistress Sofia, else she may fall ill again.”

“And if she lies abed all day,” said Lady Katharine, “she will entirely lose the use of her limbs. Nay, though she is wretched and bruised, she must walk every third hour, for a quarter of an hour. Mark me well, ’tis the quickest way for her to regain the balance of all her humours. Do you not feel better for the exercise, Sofia, despite the discomfort?”

Sofia was simply glad to be walking at all. Yesterday morn, when she’d come awake from her stuporous slumber to find Kayne asleep in his chair beside her, she’d felt so stiff and sore that she’d had not the least desire to move—ever again. But from her own experience in healing the wounds of others, she had known that she must face the unpleasantness of sitting up, getting out of bed, standing and walking. The greatest difficulty, apart from her physical pain, would be in opening her eyelids enough to see where she would be walking to. They were swollen nearly shut, and it would be several days more before that swelling lessened in any great measure. But that could not be helped.

Sofia had lain silently for a long time, not letting herself remember what had happened the day before, gazing only at Kayne through the thin slits that her eyes were allowed.

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