“If you will excuse me,” she said, standing up, her tone courteous and mild, although for some inexplicable reason her heart raced as fast as a horse galloping across an empty field. “I shall be leaving for the chapel.”
“Is it necessary for you to go now, my lady?” Margery asked, looking up from her spoon. “There is still two hours before the afternoon mass begins.”
“I am very well aware of that,” she said. “However I need somewhere peaceful to think.”
“Now why would you need a peaceful place I wonder?” Sir Derrik looked innocently around him. “As far as I can see we aren’t in the middle of a war.”
She started to glare at him, but then stopped herself, choosing instead to show him her teeth. “Perhaps we are in the middle of a different kind of war, sire.”
The bold knight merely smiled back and lifted the goblet of wine to his lips.
“I will accompany you, my lady,” her nursemaid said, sighing resignedly. She pushed away her trencher and moved to get up.
“Nay, finish your meal, Margery,” Amelie said, her tone final and authoritative. “I do not require that you go with me.”
Her nursemaid opened her mouth to argue with her, but then seemed to think better of it.
Her mother, on the other hand, was more vocal. “We have visitors, Amelie,” she said, her voice raising an octave. She watched helplessly as Amelie pushed her stool under the trestle table. “And our dinner has just begun. Can you not wait until after our repast?”
“Our visitors are not here to see me,” she said, flashing her mother a tight smile. When her mother still looked doubtful, Amelie added, “Also I find that I am no longer hungry.”
Her mother fell silent.
“Perhaps Lady Amelie must make an urgent confession,” Sir Derrik suggested conversationally. “’Tis understandable under the circumstances.”
Amelie saw an amused gleam in his eyes, and an immediate surge of angry heat rose to her chest. Why was he baiting her?
“I am afraid that any sin I commit would be nowhere comparable —” she smiled sweetly at him “— to those made by a knight of your caliber, sire.”
“Retract your claws, my lady,” he said, the corners of his mouth quivering slightly, and he raised his hands in mock defeat. “I was merely teasing.”
“And I was not,” Amelie declared.
She nodded her head to the ladies at the high table and turned to leave. Both Lady Edeline and Margery looked at her; one with displeasure and the other was disapproval, but Amelie avoided their eyes.
Setting a rapid pace, she exited from the hall, well aware that Derrik’s eyes followed her. She knew that she acted childishly, although she couldn’t stop the reactions that he evoked in her. This knight seemed to bring out the worst side of her.
Pausing outside the oak doors, she shielded her eyes from the bright morning light before she made her way down the stairs and into the courtyard. Somehow she had to escape the notice of the king’s men, and leave for Wykeham. And she had to think of something soon…
Chapter 6
The courtyard was relatively quiet since everyone was taking their mid-morning repast in the great hall. The snorting pigs fed in their pens while the pheasants and peacocks roamed free, pecking at the seeds and grains that a servant had cast on the ground.
It was a seasonally warm day in June, and the humid air combined with the smells from the pigsties and stables, created an unpleasant mix. Perhaps leaving the confines of the great hall wasn’t such a good idea after all, Amelie thought, as she raised a hand to cover her nose.
But it was too late to go back to the hall now after her dramatic exit. She would hate to meet Derrik’s mocking blue eyes, or hear one of his sardonic comments if she returned too early.
She made her way toward the chapel which was situated near the east side of the outer wall. At Lord Stanbury’s request, the chapel was built in the shape of a cylinder. It sat oddly in the courtyard as it was one of the few castle constructions that had no straight edges. It was also the largest structure in the bailey. Few people ventured to the chapel during times when mass wasn’t in session. And other than to preach the sermons during mass, the priest rarely stayed in the place of worship.
But the empty place suited Amelie’s purposes just fine. The round structure was the epitome of solitude. No matter how chaotic things were outside the chapel walls, she was assured to find a refuge, a solace from her everyday burdens.
Still, she felt guilty at times as she didn’t always go there to pray. But no one needed to know that. Margery left her alone when she decided to visit the chapel. In fact, everyone knew that she liked to go to the chapel, and people rarely disturbed her there.
It was only in the past three years that she had visited the chapel often. This tied in with the fact that her mother had fallen seriously ill, and her father frequently went away to his other estates. At times she wished that she had a sibling to share in the castle responsibilities. But her parents had failed in their attempts to produce another child, or more specifically a male heir. Her mother had lost four babes in her womb, and she became increasingly weak and despondent with each subsequent loss. None of Margery’s potions seemed to help either with keeping the babes in the womb, or in alleviating Lady Edeline’s headaches and increasing lethargy.
It was no secret that Lord Stanbury was severely disappointed in his failure to produce a son. When he disappeared, Amelie and everyone else had assumed that the latest loss had something to do with it. Amelie had seen him gaze at her during rare moments when his guard was down. It was during those times that she sensed disappointment and sadness coming from him. This made her wish that she could make him happy again and become the son that he always wanted. She tried her best to emulate him, but she knew that in truth, she was just a female, and there wasn’t anything that could change that. And during these modern times, a woman had only so much power.
The chapel loomed in front of her, and the sight of the round stone building prompted her to quicken her pace.
Her brow creased as she thought back to the incident in the hall. Usually Margery didn’t question her motives for going to the place of worship, but she did so this morning. Why? Was the woman trying to dazzle the king’s men with her chaperoning abilities? Amelie shook her head, and tried to dispel the annoying thought from her mind. She really needed to be free of her nursemaid. But there were other worries on her mind, and thinking about her nursemaid wasn’t something that she wanted to add to her basket.
She was almost at the entrance to the building when a movement caught the corner of her eye. Her steps faltered and she craned her neck, peering into the area where the sun cast a long shadow. She looked all around and confirmed that a handful of guards were stationed on the battlements. There were also a couple of men-at-arms that walked in the courtyard, although the castle grounds were largely empty. It was odd to think that someone lurked outside without reason and especially when dinner was in progress.
Then a new idea occurred to her, and the irritation that was simmering within her breast began to grow anew. It was likely Derrik or one of his men spying on her. Ever since they arrived at the castle, she could feel their eyes on her, watching her every move. She disliked that feeling immensely, and hated to feel like she was a prisoner in her own home. She wished that she had the power to bar them from the castle. But this wasn’t possible, since banning these knights out would be tantamount to casting out the king. And she knew there would be repercussions. Still, their presence caused uneasiness among her people; they stumbled and made more mistakes than usual while doing their daily chores. And more than once, she had to reprimand the servants’ carelessness, although she knew that they weren’t fully at fault. That fault she placed at Derrik’s feet. And while she knew that the king’s men were here for her father, they acted as if everyone at the castle was somehow involved in Lord Stanbury’s disappearance.
Amelie rounded the corner, ready to chastise whoev
er it was that hid in the shadows. But her eyebrows rose in surprise when she found a woman hovering there.
“Ester,” she said, recognizing the older servant instantly. “What are you doing here?”
“Not so loud, my lady,” she hissed in alarm as she nervously looked over her shoulder.
“What do you expect?” Amelie said, exasperated. “I did not think to find someone here at this hour.”
“Begging your pardon, my lady,” Ester’s face blanched as she realized that she had caused annoyance in her mistress. “My intentions are not to upset you. I saw you heading toward the chapel, and I wanted to intercept you.” She looked around again as if someone followed her.
“Who are you searching for?” It was cooler in the shaded area. Amelie edged closer to the servant and braced one hand on the wall. She glanced in the direction of where the servant looked and her frown deepened. “Is someone accosting you? If there is someone, tell me who ‘tis, and I will put an end to this.”
“There is no one accosting me, my lady,” Ester said, shaking her head in denial, although her voice trembled slightly. “I can see that you don’t believe me. But ‘tis not me that you should be concerned about.” She hesitated and then said in a rush. “I’ve been sent to warn you of danger. The castle has many ears. I’m to tell you not to ask too many questions.”
“Who has sent this warning?” Amelie asked, looking sharply at the woman.
“I cannot say, my lady.” She winced as if Amelie had physically struck her. She opened her mouth to speak, but she flattened herself against the wall when she saw a guard walking several feet from them. She placed a palm to her heart as if to stop it from jumping out of her rib cage. Her eyes were wide, her face pale. “I — I only agreed to do this because I owe her a favor.”
“Her?” Amelie repeated.
The guard glanced back at them briefly before continuing on his way.
“I am a dead woman,” Ester said, letting out a small moan. The dark shadow that the wall cast on her face wasn’t enough to hide her fear.
Amelie heard the blood rushing between her ears. Someone felt it necessary to warn her of danger. This meant that she was close to finding answers. Grabbing the woman by the upper arms, almost shaking her, she said eagerly, “I will protect you, Ester. Tell me who has told you to relay this message.”
When the servant looked at her mutely, Amelie gave her a severe look. “You will tell me who sent this message,” she commanded.
Ester cringed at her tone. “’Twas Mistress May,” she said, her voice barely audible. She closed her eyes as if she expected lightning to strike her for revealing this information.
“The Healer?” Amelie asked incredulously. Everyone knew of Mistress May. She was the local healer. There were rumors that she was a noblewoman disguised as a simple villein. And Amelie could believe it too. In many subtle ways, the Healer was much too refined to be a mere serf. One Market Day in town she had simply appeared, and demonstrated her amazing curative potions and powders. One man who bought a potion from her had suffered from an itchy scalp that plagued him for a decade, and with her medicine, he was instantly cured. He sang praise up and down the dirt streets of Stanbury, and each subsequent person who bought her herbal remedies confirmed that her potions and tonics were magical and powerful. From then on, she was dubbed as the Healer. And while the cost of herbal medication was usually high, Mistress May made her treatments affordable for everyone. Even Amelie had used her cures on occasions when Margery’s remedies weren’t effective enough to alleviate something that affected the castle inhabitants. In most cases the herbal preparation worked. The only ailment that seemed incurable was her mother’s.
The guard disappeared around the corner.
“Thank God,” the servant muttered, and shrank back, clearly looking uncomfortable, and wanting to flee now that her task was finished.
“Tell me more, Ester.”
“I must go, my lady,” she said, shaking her head miserably all the while looking fearfully in the direction that the guard had disappeared. She swallowed hard. “I’m afraid that I have already said too much.”
Amelie wanted to shake the servant for more answers, although she seemed determined not to say anything more. But why or how the Healer knew of Amelie’s dilemma, she couldn’t guess. The only people in the vicinity who were aware of Lord Stanbury’s treasonous charge were her mother, Clarisse, Margery, John, and two of his most trusted men. According to everyone else, Lord Stanbury had simply vanished.
But before Amelie had a chance to demand more answers from the woman, the servant started to back away. Seeing the guard re-emerge from around the corner, she took flight across the courtyard, disappearing as quickly as she had appeared.
Amelie stood still, blinking at the spot where the servant had stood only a moment ago. Suddenly her desire to go to the chapel no longer seemed urgent. However, her need to find the Healer, and visit Wykeham increased tenfold.
Chapter 7
After a futile search for Ester, Amelie made her way back through the great hall. The repast was finished, and the servants were busy stacking the trestle tables along the wall. The king’s men had dispersed to wherever Derrik had sent them, but the man himself sat at one of the low tables with his friend. They were in deep conversation, and didn’t seem to notice her. Glad that they were distracted with one another, she picked up her pace. Unfortunately her relief was short-lived.
As if Derrik had a sixth sense, he looked up as soon as she took one step beyond the threshold. To her surprise he only nodded to her in acknowledgment and continued his discussion with Egbert. Not wanting to press her luck, Amelie hurried to the other side of the hall and headed toward the private suites. The ladies, she knew, would be in the solar.
“You are back early,” Lady Edeline observed, looking up as Amelie entered the small room. Her face was still pale, although her demeanor seemed better.
“I did not go into the chapel,” Amelie said, pushing the solar door closed behind her. “A servant waylaid me.”
“What happened?” Clarisse asked, scanning Amelie’s face. She set down the book of poetry that she was reading to Lady Edeline. “You seem a little shaken.”
“The servant Ester — she told me that I am being watched.”
“Watched?” Clarisse repeated, not fully comprehending Amelie’s concern.
“Of course you’re being watched, my lady,” Margery interjected. “The king’s men are watching all of us.”
“’Tis my belief also,” Clarisse said, nodding her head. “The guards seem to be everywhere we turn. ‘Tis almost a relief to be in the solar where there is no one to look over our shoulders. I really wonder why they are observing us so closely. Do they fear that we are involved somehow with this criminal act against the king?”
“Perhaps they think that one of us will lead us to Lord Stanbury,” Margery suggested.
“But we do not know where Lord Stanbury has gone,” Lady Edeline protested.
Clarisse leveled her gaze onto Amelie. “What else did the servant say?”
“Ester said that the castle has ears, and ‘tis dangerous to ask too many questions.” Amelie’s brow creased as she recalled the strange incident. “After she delivered her warning, she fled from me as if wolves nipped at her heels. By the time I thought to detain her, she had vanished. I tried tracking her, but I was unsuccessful in finding her.”
“Do you believe that something has happened to her?” Clarisse asked, her eyes wide.
Amelie nodded. “I believe so,” she said, sitting heavily on the stool next to her cousin. “I saw extreme fear in her eyes.” The image of Ester’s face floated in front of her. “She risked her life to warn me, and now her life may be in danger.” She exhaled slowly. “However ‘tis impossible to help someone who cannot be found.”
“Perhaps she will show up again soon,” Lady Edeline said reasonably. “Servants are forever running errands and doing chores. This castle is rather large, so she jus
t may be at the other end of the stronghold.”
“Perhaps,” Amelie said, although her voice was filled with doubt. “Or more likely Ester is in hiding.”
Lady Edeline sighed. “I wish your father were here to put an end to this intrigue.” She winced suddenly and began to rub at her temples.
“Are your headaches bothering you again, my lady?” Clarisse asked, touching her mistress lightly on the arm. Her forehead wrinkled in concern. “Perhaps you need your herbal concoction.”
“Aye,” she said tiredly. “I can use the concoction.”
“Margery?” Clarisse said, looking over at the nursemaid.
The woman nodded and quickly went to the small table that was pushed up against the wall. She moved as someone who was sure of her abilities as a healer. The nursemaid picked up the small vial that sat next to the leather flagon of wine. She poured a few drops of the liquid into a cup before topping it up with the spiced wine. Swirling it carefully, she then brought over the drink.
“’Tis a good thing that you learned so much about herbal potions from your mother, Margery,” Lady Edeline said, accepting the drink. She took a small sip. Her lips pulled back briefly at the bitterness, but she then closed her eyes and let out a long sigh. “Even though this brew is not my most favorite, I do not know how else I can cope with these terrible headaches.”
“Perhaps you should lie down, my lady,” Clarisse said, indicating to an elongated chair that was topped with a large, ornately embroidered cushion.
At Lady Edeline’s nod, Clarisse helped her up from her stool. Her attendant put an arm around her waist, allowing her mistress to lean heavily on her as they walked over to the chair.
“Did the servant really say that the castle has ears, Amelie?” Lady Edeline asked as she settled into her seat. Her face had turned pale. “I wonder if I misunderstand her meaning.”
“There is no mistaking what the servant meant,” Margery declared. “’Tis obvious that she convey to tell Lady Amelie that a spy hides among us.”
A Knight's Duty (The Knights of Honor Trilogy, Book 2) Page 4
