The Captive Heart by Bertrice Small Page A

coverlet back over her cold body. He was a cruel and stupid creature. She was going to pray to the Blessed Virgin that he got her with child quickly, for the thought of having to bear his cruel attentions night after night was too terrible to even contemplate. Alix instinctively knew that her husband would never treat her any other way than he had treated her tonight. Hayle hated her for being what his beloved Maida couldn’t be. And he would continue to punish her for it.
    He came again just before the dawn, when Alix could see just the faintest sliver of light beginning to creep along the edges of the shutters, but the room was still in darkness. He woke her roughly, shaking her hard. “Take the position you were taught earlier,” he ordered her. “Legs spread, arms about your head. Do not speak, and this time make no noise at all, whore. I know you could not prevent your earlier scream, and I forgive you for it. But I will have no sound from you.” He penetrated her once again without further ado, riding her until the inevitable conclusion. Then he left her, telling her, “I will be back tomorrow night.”
    When she was certain he was gone, Alix crept from her bed and went to the small hearth. There in a little round container was a live coal. She put it into the midst of the wood kindling and blew upon it until a small flame leaped up to catch at the wood. Soon the fire was blazing merrily and the chill was leaving the chamber. Alix placed the earthenware pitcher of water into the edge of the hearth to warm. Then she climbed back into her bed to sleep for a short while more.
    Bab awoke her at dawn, opening the shutters to allow the light of day into the room. Alix took the now-hot water from the fireplace and bathed herself thoroughly.
    “Well, he did his duty by you, I see,” Bab said, yanking the sheet from the bed. “The old lord will be pleased, mistress.”
    “Yes,” Alix said. “He will be pleased, I’m certain.” She pulled on a clean camise, and then her nut-brown jersey gown. After pulling on a pair of woolen socks, she put her feet into her sollerets. Then, sitting on the edge of the bed, she took up her hairbrush and brushed her hair out, plaiting it into a single thick braid and tying off the end of it with a bit of white ribbon.
    “I’ll be in the hall seeing to the meal and the royal departure,” Alix said to her servant, and then she left the chamber. She found her father up and in the company of Sir Udolf. Alix greeted them pleasantly, avoiding their questioning looks, and then sought out the steward. “Donald,” she said, “have you told the cook to prepare food for the royal party’s trip today? And send to the stables to make certain their horses are ready and that the creatures’ feet are healthy. It will not do for them to be caught on this side of the border by the Yorkists.”
    “The cook has been advised, and I’ll go to the stables myself, mistress,” he told her. The steward was no kin of Maida’s and was loyal to Sir Udolf.
    “And will you see that a chamber with a hearth is prepared for my father today? He cannot continue to sleep in the hall,” Alix continued.
    “I will, mistress,” the steward replied with a small bow.
    “Thank you,” Alix said.
    The queen came into the hall prepared for travel. Her little son was with her. He ran to Alix and put his arms about her waist. She embraced him, tousling his hair and smiling down at him. “So, my lord Edward, you are leaving us,” Alix said to him. “You are going into Scotland today.”
    “King James is a boy like me,” Edward Plantagenet replied. “Do you think he likes to play, Alix?” His small face looked up at her. “I will miss you so much! You are much more fun than Edmee. She never lets me do anything, and is always running after me. I wish she had married the baron’s son. Then you could come with us.”
    I wish she had married Hayle too, Alix thought silently to herself. Then she said, “Well, I