“His color looks better this day, Lecie.”
Blinking awake, Lecie waited for Winifred’s words to penetrate her sleep-deprived mind. Once they did, she sat straight up. His chest rising and falling in a more even pattern, Albin’s face was indeed a shade lighter than the ashen gray of yesterday.
“Has he stirred?” Lightly running her hand through Albin’s tangled locks, she willed him to open his eyes to assure her all would be well.
“He needs rest while his body heals,” Winifred replied. “He is strong, Lecie. If anyone could survive such as this, it is he.”
“Aye,” she agreed. “He is the strongest and kindest man I have ever met.”
“How far a ride is it to Castell Maen?”
“Albin said owing to good weather, it is a full day’s journey with little by the way of rest.” Noting the gray billowous clouds through the shutters, she raked her teeth along her lower lip. “They are bound to be delayed if the weather turns foul.”
“We cannot turn our minds to such things,” Winifred replied. “Go refresh yourself. I shall tend to Sir Albin.”
On her way out Lecie noted Tugger’s absence and paused by the door. “Where is Tugger?”
“I let him out when I came in.” Inspecting Albin’s wound Winifred glanced up. “He seemed quite pleased to get out this morn, no doubt to chase an early rabbit or two.”
“I believe he was after larger prey this morn,” Lecie spoke half to herself.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Nothing,” Lecie brushed it off with a slight smile as she retrieved a clean chemise and kirtle from the wardrobe. The last thing she wanted was to scare the elder woman. “I would like someone to stay with Albin at all times. Regardless of what the sheriff may think, what happened to him was no accident.”
“It shall be as you say, Lecie. We shall take shifts in order to complete our other tasks.”
“Thank you, Winifred.” With a last worried glance at Albin, she headed for the bathing room.
Dressed in a gold kirtle with white chemise, Lecie combed her wet hair and left it to dry as she peered in to check on Albin.
“Do not tell me you have already broken your fast,” Winifred chastised her from beside the bed. “You left here but moments ago.”
“I am going now,” Lecie assured her scrutinizing Albin’s face for any change. “I just wanted to check on him.”
“He will pull through,” Winifred responded softly. “He knows what it is he is fighting for.”
Meeting Winifred’s comforting gaze, Lecie sighed. “I pray you are right.”
“We are all praying.” Rising, Winifred wrapped her arm around Lecie’s waist to guide her to the door. “Anne is taking a turn in the kitchen and will fix something for you. Do not come back until you have eaten.”
“Are you sure you are not a mother?” Lecie glanced askance at the woman she had grown fond of in so short a time. “You have all the qualities of one.”
“Aye, I am sure.” Winifred ushered her through the door with a pleased smile. “Now be off with you.”
William was tending the few patrons in the common room as Lecie passed through.
She paused as he dipped his head to her in greeting. “Has any word come from Castell Maen?”
“No, my lady, I shall tell you at once if there is.”
Tall and wiry with a fringe of gray hair and full white beard, she pictured the soft-spoken man with Winifred. “Thank you. I am praying it shan’t be much longer.”
“We all are, my lady.”
Passing into the kitchen, Mary had the children seated around the worktable, rolling out dough in shapes of animals to bake. Dusting off her hands on her apron, she stood to greet her. “Good morn to you, Lecie.”
“Good morning,” she replied, glancing at Anne as she removed rolls from above the fire. “Anne.”
“Good morning, Lecie.” Setting down the tray, Anne gestured for her to take a seat beside the children. “I am not near as skilled as Winifred, yet managed a decent enough porridge this morn.”
“It was very tasty,” Clayton affirmed as Lecie slid onto the stool beside him.
“Why thank you, Master Clayton,” Anne replied with a smile. “That is very kind of you to say.”
Accepting the bowl of steaming porridge, Lecie began eating the moment it cooled.
“Is Sir Albin going to be alright, Lecie?” Sabina leaned past Osana to catch her eye. “I like him very much.”
“As do I,” Clayton piped in.
“I already told you, he will be fine,” Osana spoke up. “Someone as big as Sir Albin could not be felled by only one arrow.”
“Well there you have it.” Lecie forced a smile. “He just needs some time to heal.”
Anne slid a glass of cider in front of Lecie as she cleared away the children’s bowls. “If you do not mind me saying, you need to be taking better care of yourself.”
“Now you sound like, Winifred,” Lecie responded scooping up the last bite of porridge. Downing the cup of cider she stood. “I cannot tell you how grateful I am that you and Mary are seeing to the children.”
Acknowledging with a smile, Anne called after her, “At least try to get some rest?”
“I shall promise to try,” she replied without glancing back.
Her eyes immediately went to the bed upon entering the master chamber and she let out a gasp of sheer surprise and joy when Albin turned his head to look at her.
“Why did not you summon me the moment he awakened?” Chastising Winifred, she rushed to the bed. “How are you feeling?”
Albin reached for her hand with a smile as Winifred took a cup from his other. “It was my doing.” His voice a hoarse shadow of its usual baritone, he drew Lecie down onto the bed beside him. “You are often lax when it comes to caring for yourself. Have you properly broken your fast?”
“I consumed a full bowl of porridge.” Kissing his brow, she cupped his cheek. “How are you faring?”
“Much better now that you are with me.” Glancing at Winifred, he added, “No offense meant. I am grateful for your care.”
“None taken, Sir Albin,” Winifred replied with a smile. “Since you are now in capable hands, with your permission I shall return to my duties.”
Without taking her eyes from Albin, Lecie nodded. “Thank you, Winifred. I shall send for you shall there be a need.”
Once they were alone, tears filled Lecie’s eyes. “I was most worried about you, Albin.”
“I am sorry for it, lass.” Reaching up, he brushed away a tear with the back of his finger. “Had it been possible, I would have returned to you sooner.”
“It was Hamon, was it not?” Her eyes darkening with rage, she slightly stiffened. “The sheriff and his sons are searching for him as we speak.”
“I know not,” Albin replied with a frown. “Yet I would wager it was he.”
“Rest with me a while.” Yawning, Albin’s eyes began to droop. “I do not like the shadows I see beneath your eyes.”
Curling up beside him, she met his tender gaze. “I love you, Albin.”
“It is about time you said it.” Holding her tight against him, he fell asleep with a smile on his face.
* * *
Lecie woke as the sun began to set with her cheek burning hot. Rising from her place on Albin’s shoulder, her heart began to pound as she stared at his fevered face.
Panic stealing the breath from her body, she managed a choked, “Albin?”
Moaning in response, Albin briefly opened his eyes without locking on her.
“Winifred,” she shouted loud enough to carry below steps. “Winifred!”
Pounding on the steps preceded Winifred rushing through the door followed by Mary, William, Merek and Anne.
“He burns with fever.” Lecie’s gaze took in the group’s grim reaction as all eyes rested on Albin. “He shall not die,” she spoke with conviction. “Talan will return with her ladyship and she will know what to do to save him.”
“I know of something better,” Lecie entered the conversation. “Young Warin told me of how her ladyship saved a young lad’s life stricken with fever.” Her eyes darted to Albin as he moaned. “Lady Reina cooled the fever by soaking the lad in a cold stream.” Lecie redirected her gaze to Winifred. “Call the men back. We need to get Albin into the bathing chamber.” Addressing Anne, she said, “Fill the tub with as much water as it will hold.”
“Aye, Lecie,” Anne responded as Winifred bobbed her head and rushed from the room.
“We shall make you well again soon, my husband.” She was placing a kiss on Albin’s fevered brow when William and Merek came rushing back in with Winifred on their heels.
Stepping back from the bed, Lecie rushed forward as Albin began to struggle against the men attempting to lift him from the bed. “It is alright, husband,” she soothed. “We need to get you to the bathing room to cool your fever.”
“Have a care for the bandaged wound.” She nodded to the men as Albin relaxed.
Slipping a sheet over his nakedness, Lecie led the way down the narrow passageway as the men struggled to keep a grip on Albin. Winifred was waiting with Anne when they finally made it into the bathing chamber.
“Gently,” Winifred urged as the men strained to lift Albin over the high lip of the tub.
Slipping the sheet from him Winifred and Anne averted their eyes as the men eased Albin into the cold water.
Albin moaned in relief laying his head against the side of the tub as Lecie knelt beside him to bathe his fevered brow with a cloth. “You shall feel better soon, my heart.”
“Is there anything else you need, my lady?” Merek spoke softly from behind Lecie.
“I shall summon you should there be a need.” Her eyes resting on Albin’s unshaven face she smiled tenderly. “Thank you all for your assist.”
“Aye, my lady.”
Lecie’s smile faltered as the solemn group left the room. Albin moaned softly as she ran the cool cloth along his brow.
“I love you, Albin.” Lightly running a fingertip along his jaw line, tears filled Lecie’s eyes. “I loved you from the first moment I saw you.”
“Tell…” Albin hoarsely whispered without opening his eyes.
“I did not take you for a knight who enjoys romantic stories,” she teased. “I thought that was more of Sir Guy’s leanings.”
“Wife,” Albin muttered.
“Very well.” Pleased he was once again responding to her, she drew up a stool to perch on. “It was the first time his lordship came to Rochester. The village was abuzz with news of his impending arrival.” Lecie smiled in remembrance. “My Da had to turn away some folk at the door lest there be no room for his lordship and men.” Wringing out the cloth, she held it to the back of Albin’s neck. “I had just come from the kitchen when you strode in just behind his lordship. While all other eyes rested on Baron Erlegh, I had eyes only for you.” Taking a deep unsteady breath, she smiled slightly to find his half-open eyes resting on her. “You were jesting about something with Sir Gervase and did not even notice my regard.”
“Not true.” Reaching up, Albin captured her hand to hold it against his flushed cheek. “You were wearing an amber kirtle that so matched your eyes I was held spellbound by your beauty.”
“You remember?” Surprised and pleased, Lecie searched his eyes.
“Aye, I remember.” He closed his eyes. “More so I remember the crushing disappointment I felt when Gervase informed me you were Edric’s wife.”
“It was Sir Gervase who told you I was married?”
“Aye, it was he.” Albin scowled. “I should have known better than to trust the word of such a bumble-headed dolt.”
Picturing Gervase with his handsome looks and courtly manners, Lecie smiled. “You must admit, he does have a way with women.”
Albin’s eyes popped open to study her. “Had he known you were not Edric’s wife, he would have wooed you himself.”
Lecie hid a smile to nod thoughtfully at his jealous tone. “Mayhap, he would have. Were he to learn a sonnet or two from Sir Guy, even more maidens would fall for his courtly charms.”
“Mayhap even you?”
“Me? I know not of what you speak as I am no longer a maiden, husband.”
“Lecie,” Albin grumbled.
“If you recall correctly, Sir Gervase also happened to be on that trip.” Lecie bent to cup his cheeks. “And still, I had eyes only for you.”
“Well…good. I would hate to call out a man I consider brother, even if he is a bumble-headed dolt.”
“The water has loosened the linen.” Lecie laughed as she began to remove the bandages from Albin’s shoulder. “I shall have to fetch more to bind the wound after I cleanse it.”
Albin clasped her hand to stop her. “Have Winifred tend to me, lass.”
“I will do no such thing.” Lecie straightened away from him. “You are my husband and I shall tend you.”
“No.” Albin replied with a frown. “Send for Winifred.”
“Fine.” Hurt, Lecie stood to shake out her skirts. “I shall summon her.”
“Thank you.”
“No thanks are needed,” Lecie snapped on her way out the door. “As your wife, I am bound to obey you.”
“Saucy wench,” Albin called after her.
* * *
Albin pasted a smile on his face until he recognized Winfred in the doorway with an arm full of clean linen.
His features slipping into a grimace of pain, Albin nodded for her to enter. “I fear I cannot hold out much longer acting the able-bodied husband to my wife.”
“How bad is it, Sir Albin?” Kneeling beside the tub, Winifred peeled back the bloodied linen to expose the infected pus-filled lesion. Streaks of red had begun their deadly trail from the center of the oozing wound.
“Aye,” he answered Winifred’s unspoken question. “It festers. I would spare my wife the grisly sight of it so soon after losing her father.”
“Sir Albin.” Winifred eyed the wound with dread. “I must summon Dr. Rayburn at once if you are to stand a chance.”
“No.” Albin refused with a shake of his head. “The leech would drain the last drop of blood from me and still not heel what ails me.”
“What would you have us do?” Winifred wrung her hands nervously in her kirtle. “This is beyond anything I have ever seen before.”
“My last hope is on her ladyship Reina.” Taking a deep unsteady breath, Albin closed his eyes. “I hear they are past due.”
“I pray her ladyship arrives in time to help you, Sir Albin.”
Dipping his head in acknowledgement, Albin pushed against the bottom of the tub to expose more of his shoulder. “Please dry and bind the wound before my wife sees it. Then send for the men to lend assist in returning me to my bed.”
Albin held onto consciousness through the pain of having his wound lightly bound. Supported by William and Merek, he fought against the darkness threatening to claim him as he made the walk from the bathing room to the master chamber. Shaking from the effort, he climbed into the center of the bed as Winifred slid pillows beneath his head.
“Rest now, Sir Albin.” Winifred opened the shutters to allow the cool breeze to enter the stagnant room. “Lecie will no doubt be in soon to check on you.”
“My wife is in a fit of temper at the moment.” Closing his eyes with a slight smile, Albin allowed himself to relax.
“That she is,” Winifred admitted. “She is also beset with worry about you, as we all are.”
“It would take more than this to defeat my will.” Albin felt himself slipping into unconsciousness. “Besides, I have too much to live for to die now.”
FIFTEEN
Passing through the crowded common room during the evening meal, Lecie headed straight for the brewing shed. She nearly pulled the door from the iron h
inges as she stormed inside to the startled surprise of Betta.
“By all that is holy, you gave me a fright.” Clutching the neckline of her worn kirtle, Betta straightened from a barrel of hops.
“Forgive me, Betta,” Lecie murmured. “I thought I would make myself useful and check on the stores of barley.”
Eyeing Lecie with worry, Betta gestured to the full barrels. “The new men Sir Albin hired are seeing well to the stores.”
“I am glad to hear it.” Not in the mood to talk, Lecie turned for the door. “I am going for a walk.”
“I am praying for his recovery,” Betta spoke softly.
Without turning, Lecie hung her head as she paused on her way out. “Thank you. I fear I am worried despite my husband’s assurances.”
“Then perhaps taking a walk is not what you should be doing right now.”
“You are right,” Lecie agreed. “Despite the fact he has the ability to infuriate me, my place is with Albin.” Glancing over her shoulder, she smiled. “Thank you for reminding me of that fact.”
“I am not such a lost soul as some might think.”
“No, you most certainly are not.”
Pausing in the kitchen, Lecie poured a cup of ale and grabbed a loaf of fresh baked bread for Albin.
Briefly stopping to return a greeting to an acquaintance in the common room, she asked Simon if a messenger had arrived from Castell Maen. Acknowledging the negative reply with a weary nod, she headed up the steps.
Tugger anxiously scratching and growling at the closed master chamber’s door had her dropping the cup and bread she held as she rushed the rest of the way down the passageway.
The fine hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as the massive dog turned soulful eyes to her as if pleading with her to hurry.
Her heart pounding, Lecie twisted the latch to the master chamber. As Tugger lunged inside, it took a moment for her mind to catch up to what she was witnessing.
Hamon stood hovering over an unconscious Albin with a pillow poised only inches above his face.
Lecie’s eyes flew to Albin’s chest to confirm he still lived. Her eyes moving to the pillow a flashback image of the pillow she picked up from the floor on the day of her father’s death assailed her.
Candace C. Bowen - A Knight Series 02 Page 18
