Ella, the guard
said, “Allow me to escort ye to the hall, Milady.”
Although, she did
not want to go to the hall, she allowed the guard to escort her to the bailey,
where Paen and Tavish waited.
The bailey filled
with curious men and woman, all wanting to know if their laird returned with
Lady Ella’s family.
“We should wait in
the hall,” Tavish suggested.
Neither Paen nor
Ella moved as they stared at the battlements, waiting for the guards in the
gatehouse to confirm the identity of the riders.
Paen left their
company briefly, and then returned with disappointment in his eyes. “’Tis nae
Gavin. They are from Greystone with a message for Lady Ella.”
Fear, stark and
vivid, glittered in her eyes. She choked back a cry as a cold knot formed in
her stomach. A spasmodic trembling overtook her body when two Greystone
soldiers rode under the raised portcullis.
After dismounting,
they walked over to her and Gavin’s brothers. With contrite expression, the
English soldiers handed her a written missive.
She unrolled the
missive and read:
My Dearest Niece,
It is my deepest
regret to inform you of the death of Lady Eleanor of Greystone and Sir James.
After word arrived that you broke your betrothal to Baron Montgomery and
married against your guardian’s wishes, profound grief consumed my dear wife
and she tried to run away.
As for Sir James,
instead of returning to King Henry’s service, he attempted to aid Lady
Eleanor’s folly. We caught them on the cliff above spitting caves. James forced
me to stab him when he would not relinquish his hold on my wife. Unfortunately,
before I was able to get my wife out of harm’s way, the cliff ledge gave out
and both Eleanor and James fell to their death.
I hope you will
not blame yourself for their death or let the loss of your only family mar your
newfound happiness in your marriage. I have sent your belongings, along with
Eleanor’s favorite tapestry, to give you comfort while you grieve. I will keep
you in my prayers and heart always.
Until Our Paths
Cross Again,
Philip Canbury,
Baron of Greystone
Acute pain, so raw
and primitive, overwhelmed Ella. As if burned, she dropped the parchment, and
watched it float to the ground. She felt hands try to pull her into an embrace,
but she broke free and bolted from the bailey. Tears blurred her vision as ran
away from everyone and everything. Her need to be alone outweighed all else.
Paen watched her
disappear through a postern gate, knowing she headed to the loch to grieve in
solitude. After he read the missive, one of the Greystone soldiers handed him a
sack containing the remnants of a shredded tapestry. He cursed viciously at the
devastating blow while his mother rushed over to him.
“What has
happened?”
Paen faced his
mother and Tavish, and then relayed the contents of the missive.
“Dear God and
heaven! Where is she? She canna be alone,” Lady Esme cried.
Taking hold of his
mother’s shoulders, Paen stated, “She went to the loch, Arth followed. Dinna go
to her. We must allow her to mourn in private. I will watch over her from a
distance and keep her safe.”
His fierce gaze
turned to Tavish. “I want Greystone’s men escorted off our land immediately.
Also, assign men to wait on the southern border for Gavin.” Handing the missive
to Tavish, he added, “I want Gavin to read this before he arrives, and inform
him that his wife has already done so.”
“Aye, the latter I
will see to personally.” Tavish started to walk away, then turned and said, “Do
ye think Gavin kens of their death?”
“Aye, and I
believe he will be here verra soon.”
After Tavish left,
Lady Esme cried to Paen, “What can I do to help? Dear Lord, all I want to do is
hold her, to take away her pain.”
“There will be
time for that later, for now, just make sure there is plenty of food ready for
Gavin and the others.”
She nodded, hugged
her son, and then rushed off to the kitchens.
Before
said, “Allow me to escort ye to the hall, Milady.”
Although, she did
not want to go to the hall, she allowed the guard to escort her to the bailey,
where Paen and Tavish waited.
The bailey filled
with curious men and woman, all wanting to know if their laird returned with
Lady Ella’s family.
“We should wait in
the hall,” Tavish suggested.
Neither Paen nor
Ella moved as they stared at the battlements, waiting for the guards in the
gatehouse to confirm the identity of the riders.
Paen left their
company briefly, and then returned with disappointment in his eyes. “’Tis nae
Gavin. They are from Greystone with a message for Lady Ella.”
Fear, stark and
vivid, glittered in her eyes. She choked back a cry as a cold knot formed in
her stomach. A spasmodic trembling overtook her body when two Greystone
soldiers rode under the raised portcullis.
After dismounting,
they walked over to her and Gavin’s brothers. With contrite expression, the
English soldiers handed her a written missive.
She unrolled the
missive and read:
My Dearest Niece,
It is my deepest
regret to inform you of the death of Lady Eleanor of Greystone and Sir James.
After word arrived that you broke your betrothal to Baron Montgomery and
married against your guardian’s wishes, profound grief consumed my dear wife
and she tried to run away.
As for Sir James,
instead of returning to King Henry’s service, he attempted to aid Lady
Eleanor’s folly. We caught them on the cliff above spitting caves. James forced
me to stab him when he would not relinquish his hold on my wife. Unfortunately,
before I was able to get my wife out of harm’s way, the cliff ledge gave out
and both Eleanor and James fell to their death.
I hope you will
not blame yourself for their death or let the loss of your only family mar your
newfound happiness in your marriage. I have sent your belongings, along with
Eleanor’s favorite tapestry, to give you comfort while you grieve. I will keep
you in my prayers and heart always.
Until Our Paths
Cross Again,
Philip Canbury,
Baron of Greystone
Acute pain, so raw
and primitive, overwhelmed Ella. As if burned, she dropped the parchment, and
watched it float to the ground. She felt hands try to pull her into an embrace,
but she broke free and bolted from the bailey. Tears blurred her vision as ran
away from everyone and everything. Her need to be alone outweighed all else.
Paen watched her
disappear through a postern gate, knowing she headed to the loch to grieve in
solitude. After he read the missive, one of the Greystone soldiers handed him a
sack containing the remnants of a shredded tapestry. He cursed viciously at the
devastating blow while his mother rushed over to him.
“What has
happened?”
Paen faced his
mother and Tavish, and then relayed the contents of the missive.
“Dear God and
heaven! Where is she? She canna be alone,” Lady Esme cried.
Taking hold of his
mother’s shoulders, Paen stated, “She went to the loch, Arth followed. Dinna go
to her. We must allow her to mourn in private. I will watch over her from a
distance and keep her safe.”
His fierce gaze
turned to Tavish. “I want Greystone’s men escorted off our land immediately.
Also, assign men to wait on the southern border for Gavin.” Handing the missive
to Tavish, he added, “I want Gavin to read this before he arrives, and inform
him that his wife has already done so.”
“Aye, the latter I
will see to personally.” Tavish started to walk away, then turned and said, “Do
ye think Gavin kens of their death?”
“Aye, and I
believe he will be here verra soon.”
After Tavish left,
Lady Esme cried to Paen, “What can I do to help? Dear Lord, all I want to do is
hold her, to take away her pain.”
“There will be
time for that later, for now, just make sure there is plenty of food ready for
Gavin and the others.”
She nodded, hugged
her son, and then rushed off to the kitchens.
Before
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