milady," Alice answered. "He told Baron Royce it was you who took care of him, you who sat by his side during the dark nights when he was so fevered, you who held a damp cloth to his brow and offered him comfort—"
"I did not offer him comfort," Nicholaa interrupted, her voice emphatic. "I was just helping Sister Felicity. You know how old and tired she is, Alice. And since I was sitting up at night by Justin's side, I only added Hugh to my duties. That's all."
"Baron Hugh says you've got a kind heart. Now, don't take to frowning, mistress. It's the truth. Hugh also said you beat him fair and fast at chess time and again."
Nicholaa smiled. "Hugh was bored with his confinement," she explained, "and giving the abbess one tantrum after another, demanding to be let up. I played chess to help her, not to entertain the Norman."
"Baron Hugh smiled when he spoke of you, but he frowned fierce whenever Justin's name cropped up. He told how your brother threw the tray of food at you. Then Baron Royce took to frowning, too. He's a pure fright when he scowls, isn't he?"
"I didn't notice," Nicholaa replied. "Neither of the Normans could possibly understand the torment Justin is going through," she whispered. "Now, please, tell me all about Ulric. How is my dear nephew doing?"
Alice smiled. "He's a handful, that one is, now that he's taken to crawling. Another tooth poked through just the day before yesterday."
"Isn't it too soon?" Nicholaa asked.
"No, no," Alice answered. "Ulric's doing just what he's supposed to be doing at his tender age. You haven't had much experience with babies, so you'll have to be taking my word on this."
Nicholaa nodded. "I wish I'd brought him here with me. I worry about him, Alice. Oh, I know you and Clarise are doing a fine job of caring for him, but I—"
"You made the right decision," Alice interjected. "You had no way of knowing if you'd make it to the abbey without being caught," she reminded her mistress. "And the weather would have chilled Ulric through to his bones. Besides, what would you have told your escort? They thought you were Sister Danielle, remember? Rest your frown, milady. Ulric's safe at Rosewood. It's just as we predicted it would be," she added with a nod. "The Normans don't pay any attention to the babe. They're still believing your lie that he's just the son of a servant. Clarise keeps him abovestairs all the time. Why, I'm thinking Baron Royce doesn't even remember he's there."
"I pray to God his father's still alive," Nicholaa whispered. "The longer we go without word, the more convinced I become that Thurston's dead, Alice."
"Don't think such dour thoughts," Alice ordered. She used the hem of her bliaut to mop at the corners of her eyes. "You've had a time of it, haven't you? Now listen to me. God wouldn't be so cruel as to take both
Ulric's mama and his papa. Your older brother must still be alive. You mustn't give up hope."
Nicholaa nodded. "No, I mustn't give up hope."
Alice patted her mistress's hand. "Baron Royce believes you've been married," she announced. "That fool, James, thinks the wedding to Roulf took place. We're all snickering over that one, we are. That know-it-all traitor doesn't know everything, does he? I'm hoping Baron Royce will toss James out on his backside when he finds out the truth."
Bennett and Oscar, two of the stable hands, came to escort Alice back to the holding. As soon as the three loyal servants took their leave, Nicholaa hurried back up to the sickroom to sit by Justin's side.
Her brother's mood was as stormy as the weather. When he finally fell asleep, Nicholaa leaned over him to pull the covers up around his shoulders. His right hand slammed into the side of her face—quite by accident, for he was sleeping now, but the blow was still powerful enough to knock Nicholaa to the floor.
Justin had caught her below the right eye, and she knew from the horrid throbbing she was feeling that she would wear a dark bruise by nightfall.
She
"I did not offer him comfort," Nicholaa interrupted, her voice emphatic. "I was just helping Sister Felicity. You know how old and tired she is, Alice. And since I was sitting up at night by Justin's side, I only added Hugh to my duties. That's all."
"Baron Hugh says you've got a kind heart. Now, don't take to frowning, mistress. It's the truth. Hugh also said you beat him fair and fast at chess time and again."
Nicholaa smiled. "Hugh was bored with his confinement," she explained, "and giving the abbess one tantrum after another, demanding to be let up. I played chess to help her, not to entertain the Norman."
"Baron Hugh smiled when he spoke of you, but he frowned fierce whenever Justin's name cropped up. He told how your brother threw the tray of food at you. Then Baron Royce took to frowning, too. He's a pure fright when he scowls, isn't he?"
"I didn't notice," Nicholaa replied. "Neither of the Normans could possibly understand the torment Justin is going through," she whispered. "Now, please, tell me all about Ulric. How is my dear nephew doing?"
Alice smiled. "He's a handful, that one is, now that he's taken to crawling. Another tooth poked through just the day before yesterday."
"Isn't it too soon?" Nicholaa asked.
"No, no," Alice answered. "Ulric's doing just what he's supposed to be doing at his tender age. You haven't had much experience with babies, so you'll have to be taking my word on this."
Nicholaa nodded. "I wish I'd brought him here with me. I worry about him, Alice. Oh, I know you and Clarise are doing a fine job of caring for him, but I—"
"You made the right decision," Alice interjected. "You had no way of knowing if you'd make it to the abbey without being caught," she reminded her mistress. "And the weather would have chilled Ulric through to his bones. Besides, what would you have told your escort? They thought you were Sister Danielle, remember? Rest your frown, milady. Ulric's safe at Rosewood. It's just as we predicted it would be," she added with a nod. "The Normans don't pay any attention to the babe. They're still believing your lie that he's just the son of a servant. Clarise keeps him abovestairs all the time. Why, I'm thinking Baron Royce doesn't even remember he's there."
"I pray to God his father's still alive," Nicholaa whispered. "The longer we go without word, the more convinced I become that Thurston's dead, Alice."
"Don't think such dour thoughts," Alice ordered. She used the hem of her bliaut to mop at the corners of her eyes. "You've had a time of it, haven't you? Now listen to me. God wouldn't be so cruel as to take both
Ulric's mama and his papa. Your older brother must still be alive. You mustn't give up hope."
Nicholaa nodded. "No, I mustn't give up hope."
Alice patted her mistress's hand. "Baron Royce believes you've been married," she announced. "That fool, James, thinks the wedding to Roulf took place. We're all snickering over that one, we are. That know-it-all traitor doesn't know everything, does he? I'm hoping Baron Royce will toss James out on his backside when he finds out the truth."
Bennett and Oscar, two of the stable hands, came to escort Alice back to the holding. As soon as the three loyal servants took their leave, Nicholaa hurried back up to the sickroom to sit by Justin's side.
Her brother's mood was as stormy as the weather. When he finally fell asleep, Nicholaa leaned over him to pull the covers up around his shoulders. His right hand slammed into the side of her face—quite by accident, for he was sleeping now, but the blow was still powerful enough to knock Nicholaa to the floor.
Justin had caught her below the right eye, and she knew from the horrid throbbing she was feeling that she would wear a dark bruise by nightfall.
She