the lady’s
chair. Bonnie pointed to the spots she missed. She was thorough, making sure
that if the lady’s skin touched anywhere on the chair, she’d be itching by the
end of the night.
The
day wore on, and Kate was grateful it went by quickly. Her stomach fluttered
madly. She wanted to retire and have the morning come. Supper became a
tumultuous affair because Lord Richard had returned. He sat at the end of the
table, sending peculiar glances at her. She ignored him as best she could. At
last, supper ended with Lord Richard’s departure. She took Bonnie’s hand and
stood to leave, but Lady D stopped them. Blotches of redness streaked her hands
and arms, making her scratch. Not only that, but her face was blotchy, too.
“Are
ye well, Lady de Morris?” Kate feigned concern.
“Oh,
aye, I seem to be itchy, must be this new material. My dear husband brought
this fabric from Londontown, and I had it made into this gown. I believe I’ll
go and have a bath.”
Kate
smiled. She knew as soon as her body touched water, the rash would spread and
she would itch all over, but she kept that thought to herself. “Aye, a nice warm bath.”
“I
need the young one to go to the kitchens and peel onions for tomorrow’s stew.”
“I’ll
help her.” Kate took Bonnie’s hand, but Lady D pulled her away.
“Nay,
you rest. You’ve been with the child all day. It won’t take her long, there are
not many to peel, and cook cut himself this morn so he could use the help.”
Kate
nodded. “All right, don’t be too long, Bonnie.”
Bonnie
nodded, because she’d never spoke in the lady’s presence. Kate knew Bonnie
would be hesitant in leaving her side, but what could she do? She had to obey
Lady D, and send her to the kitchens.
Light
faded quickly, she knew Bonnie would have to walk back in the dark. She decided
to retrieve her when she finished her tasks. Kate went to her chamber and
gathered the items they would need for the journey. She pulled out a satchel,
placing inside: a dagger she’d taken from the hall, a small bow her father had
given her when she was younger, arrows, and a few garments for them both. Once
the large satchel was crammed with her belongings, she set the satchel by the
door.
Kate
positioned her rope on the floor, set the candles in place, and then sat. She
folded her legs beneath her, closed her eyes and waited. Trixie took her place
beside her. Kate hummed a light tune and tried to ease the tension from her
body.
And
then it came, the vision of the gray-eyed, dark-haired warrior. Kate shook her
head. “Please, Goddess, send me a vision about the journey. Will we be safe?
Will I get the child home?” She began to hum again, but the warrior’s
silhouette framed in sunlight, came to her. Answers wouldn’t come this night,
not with his vision intruding. Was he trying to tell her something with his
austere frown? She couldn’t figure it out why he looked at her so.
Kate
jumped when her door suddenly banged open. Lord Richard stepped inside and
closed the door behind him, looking at her indignantly.
She
froze.
“What
do ye want?” She looked up at him from her position on the floor.
“What
every man wants, my wife suggested you might enjoy it. Lord knows she’s no good
at it. You’ll make me a fine wife, once I rid myself of—”
“S-surely
you don’t m-mean what you just s-said,” she stammered. She quickly picked up
the rope, doused the candles, and set them aside.
“Aye,
I do, Kaitlin. You will remove your garments and do my bidding. You are
indebted to me for letting you come here. As your guardian, I command you to do
it.”
Kate’s
face reddened. “Nay, I’ll do no such thing. I don’t understand what … you mean
by this. I shall never submit to you. I will never marry you, and besides, the
king has betrothed me.”
He
laughed coarsely. “A betrothal that shall be set aside. You’ll obey me or the
child will suffer. I’ve seen how fond you are of her.” Richard
chair. Bonnie pointed to the spots she missed. She was thorough, making sure
that if the lady’s skin touched anywhere on the chair, she’d be itching by the
end of the night.
The
day wore on, and Kate was grateful it went by quickly. Her stomach fluttered
madly. She wanted to retire and have the morning come. Supper became a
tumultuous affair because Lord Richard had returned. He sat at the end of the
table, sending peculiar glances at her. She ignored him as best she could. At
last, supper ended with Lord Richard’s departure. She took Bonnie’s hand and
stood to leave, but Lady D stopped them. Blotches of redness streaked her hands
and arms, making her scratch. Not only that, but her face was blotchy, too.
“Are
ye well, Lady de Morris?” Kate feigned concern.
“Oh,
aye, I seem to be itchy, must be this new material. My dear husband brought
this fabric from Londontown, and I had it made into this gown. I believe I’ll
go and have a bath.”
Kate
smiled. She knew as soon as her body touched water, the rash would spread and
she would itch all over, but she kept that thought to herself. “Aye, a nice warm bath.”
“I
need the young one to go to the kitchens and peel onions for tomorrow’s stew.”
“I’ll
help her.” Kate took Bonnie’s hand, but Lady D pulled her away.
“Nay,
you rest. You’ve been with the child all day. It won’t take her long, there are
not many to peel, and cook cut himself this morn so he could use the help.”
Kate
nodded. “All right, don’t be too long, Bonnie.”
Bonnie
nodded, because she’d never spoke in the lady’s presence. Kate knew Bonnie
would be hesitant in leaving her side, but what could she do? She had to obey
Lady D, and send her to the kitchens.
Light
faded quickly, she knew Bonnie would have to walk back in the dark. She decided
to retrieve her when she finished her tasks. Kate went to her chamber and
gathered the items they would need for the journey. She pulled out a satchel,
placing inside: a dagger she’d taken from the hall, a small bow her father had
given her when she was younger, arrows, and a few garments for them both. Once
the large satchel was crammed with her belongings, she set the satchel by the
door.
Kate
positioned her rope on the floor, set the candles in place, and then sat. She
folded her legs beneath her, closed her eyes and waited. Trixie took her place
beside her. Kate hummed a light tune and tried to ease the tension from her
body.
And
then it came, the vision of the gray-eyed, dark-haired warrior. Kate shook her
head. “Please, Goddess, send me a vision about the journey. Will we be safe?
Will I get the child home?” She began to hum again, but the warrior’s
silhouette framed in sunlight, came to her. Answers wouldn’t come this night,
not with his vision intruding. Was he trying to tell her something with his
austere frown? She couldn’t figure it out why he looked at her so.
Kate
jumped when her door suddenly banged open. Lord Richard stepped inside and
closed the door behind him, looking at her indignantly.
She
froze.
“What
do ye want?” She looked up at him from her position on the floor.
“What
every man wants, my wife suggested you might enjoy it. Lord knows she’s no good
at it. You’ll make me a fine wife, once I rid myself of—”
“S-surely
you don’t m-mean what you just s-said,” she stammered. She quickly picked up
the rope, doused the candles, and set them aside.
“Aye,
I do, Kaitlin. You will remove your garments and do my bidding. You are
indebted to me for letting you come here. As your guardian, I command you to do
it.”
Kate’s
face reddened. “Nay, I’ll do no such thing. I don’t understand what … you mean
by this. I shall never submit to you. I will never marry you, and besides, the
king has betrothed me.”
He
laughed coarsely. “A betrothal that shall be set aside. You’ll obey me or the
child will suffer. I’ve seen how fond you are of her.” Richard
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