Gilliane (RC 4) by Gellis Roberta

Author:Gellis, Roberta [Gellis, Roberta]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Romance, Historical
ISBN: 9781419931819
Publisher: Ellora's Cave Publishing Inc
Published: 2011-04-14T07:00:00+00:00

Osbert de Cercy told his troop to camp about half a mile north of the abbey. They had just passed a village, so the men raised no demur. They had their own methods of making themselves comfortable, and their master, if he did not make any attempt to see to their welfare, did not question what they did when he left them to their own devices. Osbert himself, with Jean and Pierre, rode on and passed through the abbey gates just before they were closed for the night. Dinner was long past and the abbot at his evening devotions, but the prior welcomed Osbert and saw that something was found for him to eat.

Disturbed because the dark and cheerless refectory offered so little comfort, the prior chatted amiably, deploring the lack of company. Few traveled in winter, he remarked, especially in these uneasy times, but they did have other guests. It was a shame Osbert had not come a few hours earlier; then he could have accompanied Sir Adam, Sir Richard, and Sir Andrew when they had gone hunting. The dim light of two candles, which made eating possible, was not sufficient to show the prior that Osbert had turned white as a lily. To begin with, Adam was not a common name for a nobleman, and in conjunction with Richard and Andrew in this area, it could only be Adam Lemagne. Between chewing and swallowing, however, Osbert had time to recover from the shock and recall that the prior had said Adam was away hunting.

He even managed to ask when the prior expected his other guests to return. The prior did notice that Osbert’s voice had changed, but assumed he was a little choked with what he was eating and said, regretfully, that he was afraid they would not come back until midmorning of the next day. He assumed, since they had not come in before dark, that they would sleep in the lodge and hunt again in the dawn. Osbert’s sigh of relief was misunderstood by the kindly man as a sign of regret and he cast about in his mind for something to assuage Osbert’s disappointment. His eyes brightened.

“The lady is here, in the women’s house by the south gate,” he offered hopefully. “I am sure Lady Gilliane would be glad to speak with you if you wish for company.”

“Lady Gilliane?” Osbert choked. “I…I do not wish to impose myself upon… You see, it is dark already…I am cold and tired and the lady…she must be tired also and wish to go early to bed.”

Gilliane! Gilliane here! A hundred different notions danced in Osbert’s head, but he needed a few minutes alone to think about what to do. The prior was sorry his guest did not like the treat he had offered, but he had nothing else to suggest. He was sorry he had spoken about the lady at all. Osbert was plainly embarrassed and awkward now. It seemed best to excuse himself and go away so that his guest could recover his composure.

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