Wessex Weddings 05 - Her Banished Lord by Carol Townend

Author:Carol Townend [Townend, Carol]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises
Published: 2010-11-01T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Gil lay unmoving. Hugh was at her side, his eyes grey and intent. Gently, Aude laid her fingers at Gil’s throat and let out her breath on a sigh. ‘Merci à Dieu. His pulse is weak, but steady.’

‘Yes, thank God.’ Hugh looked earnestly at her. ‘He lost much blood.’

‘A leg wound, you said?’

‘Fool of a boy should have told me how bad it was. The first I knew that it was a real hurt was when he slid off his horse.’

‘He was lucky he didn’t crack his skull open,’ she murmured, frowning at some bruising on the side of his head.

‘Yes.’

Briskly, she peeled back the blankets. ‘Pass me your knife, I need to examine the wound. His chausses will have to come off and it sounds as though he may need stitching. I hope he doesn’t need cauterising.’

‘You can do that?’ Hugh asked as he hunkered down at her side and handed her his knife.

‘I often used to assist at Beaumont, and before that my father needed mending from time to time.’

Hugh grunted; he knew about Aude’s past life with her father, acting as Sir Hamon’s squire because that was the only way they could stay together after her mother had died. ‘Lord, what a world.’

‘Hmm?’ She bent over Gil, the knife blade glinting.

‘I never thought to be pleased that your father dragged you round half of Normandy with him.’

Looking at the dark wetness on Gil’s leg, she sucked in a breath.

‘Aude?’

‘As you said, there has been much blood loss. Did you put this binding on?’

‘Yes.’

‘I shall be needing water.’

‘Of course.’

Warm fingers squeezed Aude’s shoulder as, with infinite care, she began peeling back fabric from Gil’s thigh. It was soaked. ‘Hugh, I am honoured by your trust in me. Now be silent, if you please, while I see to poor Gil. You bound this cloth so tight it is a wonder you didn’t stop his blood-flow altogether.’

‘You see how he was bleeding—I had to.’ Hugh’s voice was tight with anxiety. ‘Did I make it worse?’

‘Most likely you saved him. But if you do not let me work in peace, you might very well make it worse.’

Hugh pushed to his feet. ‘There’s a spring nearby, I’ll fetch water.’

‘My thanks.’

‘And then I’ll get the horses into shelter, we can’t leave them where they are. I won’t be long.’

Aude murmured in response, but Hugh could see that her thoughts were all for Gil. Leaving her to it, he spread her cloak out to dry and went to find the brook.

Another tumble down building was set at right angles to their hideaway, perfect for a stable, and Hugh had ear marked it as such some days ago. The entire roof had collapsed as well as a wall, but enough remained to keep the horses from sight of the path. Hugh thought it was highly unlikely that anyone would come this way, but if they did, he was determined they would see nothing. Doubtless, these ruins had once formed part of a prosperous Roman villa and the room in which Aude was tending Gil was all that was left of the main residence.

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