[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
Kristen looked away, out over the hall, which was dark now except for a few remaining
torches. While she had sat there with her dejected thoughts, nearly everyone had retired.
Pallets were spread everywhere, for not only Royce's retainers and servants slept here, but
those of the guests as well. She had not seen Royce leave, or his lady.
"Does she stay the night?" Kristen asked Eda.
The old woman grunted, knowing exactly whom she meant. "Aye, they would not ride home
in the dark. And I have talked enough to have my words fall on deaf ears. Come, you sleep
with me tonight."
A new rush of pain filled Kristen, but she hid behind a stoical expression. "She sleeps with
him, then?"
"For shame, such thoughts!" Eda scolded. "You know we have only the six chambers above.
The ladies have been put with Lady Darrelle and Meghan. Lord Alden gave up his own room
for the King and is crowded in with the lordlings who have the other two chambers."
"Then why "
"Shush," Eda hissed. "Milord did not like it, but with Lord Averill and his son come today, he
could no longer keep his own chamber to himself. There was just no more room above."
Kristen pictured Royce sharing his bed with his future in-laws, and she almost smiled. But
not quite.
Chapter Thirty
O
ne torch sputtered out, leaving only the one by the stairs still burning. The noises in the
hall were sporadic: loud and soft snoring, a cough, a few grunts and groans. Eda was one of
those snoring softly.
She had led Kristen to the spot that was hers by the cold hearth, a coveted place, as it was
cool in summer but warm in winter. There was no pallet for Kristen, all the extra ones already
in use by the guests. A thin blanket and the hard floor made her bed, the discomfort of it
helping to keep her awake. But she would not have fallen asleep tonight anyway.
Kristen sat up slowly and looked around her. Only a few women slept nearby, but not close
enough that she might disturb them. She had waited only until Eda fell asleep. She would
have liked to wait a little longer on the chance that someone else could still be awake, but
she could not afford to waste that much time.
She was leaving. The decision had been easy, for this was the only chance she was likely to
have. She had asked Royce last eve how long his King would stay. It was the only thing she
said to him after he made love to her, and he had been unable to give her an answer. It
could be on the morrow, or a week from now, but when Alfred did leave, Kristen would be
fettered again. She was also likely to be ensconced back in Royce's chamber, and it would
be harder and much more risky to try to leave his side, if he even left the door unlocked, than
it would be to slip out of this crowded hall.
Here, the windows were left open, and there was only a slight jump to reach the ground
outside. And she had plenty of time to get far away before the morn when she would be
missed.
The decision had indeed been easy. Kristen just hadn't counted on the heavy feeling of
gloom that accompanied it. Even though she knew she had no hopes here, she still felt
heartsick in thinking she would never see Royce again.
She glanced one last time at Eda, who lay on her back in weary slumber. She would miss
this old woman, too, with her crankiness and her gruff concern. And little Meghan, whose
curiosity and silent appeal for friendship had managed to make Kristen forget her troubles
for a while today.
However, these thoughts did not stop Kristen from making her way toward the window next
to the cooking area. No call rang out as she eased her legs over to sit on the ledge. But it
was a mark of her dejection that she hesitated for several long moments. And at last it was
pride that gave her the final push.
A nearly full moon bathed the yard on this side of the hall. Kristen landed on her feet and
jumped back immediately to the shadows by the wall. Cautiously, she worked her way
behind the hall and over to the side where the stable was, and the storehouse, and the hut
that housed her cousin and the others.
She had not seen their shelter herself since it had been finished, but knew it was only a
narrow, windowless room. How miserable it must be to sleep there after the stout door was
locked at night. But no more miserable than sleeping out in the rain as they had done before
that. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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Kristen looked away, out over the hall, which was dark now except for a few remaining
torches. While she had sat there with her dejected thoughts, nearly everyone had retired.
Pallets were spread everywhere, for not only Royce's retainers and servants slept here, but
those of the guests as well. She had not seen Royce leave, or his lady.
"Does she stay the night?" Kristen asked Eda.
The old woman grunted, knowing exactly whom she meant. "Aye, they would not ride home
in the dark. And I have talked enough to have my words fall on deaf ears. Come, you sleep
with me tonight."
A new rush of pain filled Kristen, but she hid behind a stoical expression. "She sleeps with
him, then?"
"For shame, such thoughts!" Eda scolded. "You know we have only the six chambers above.
The ladies have been put with Lady Darrelle and Meghan. Lord Alden gave up his own room
for the King and is crowded in with the lordlings who have the other two chambers."
"Then why "
"Shush," Eda hissed. "Milord did not like it, but with Lord Averill and his son come today, he
could no longer keep his own chamber to himself. There was just no more room above."
Kristen pictured Royce sharing his bed with his future in-laws, and she almost smiled. But
not quite.
Chapter Thirty
O
ne torch sputtered out, leaving only the one by the stairs still burning. The noises in the
hall were sporadic: loud and soft snoring, a cough, a few grunts and groans. Eda was one of
those snoring softly.
She had led Kristen to the spot that was hers by the cold hearth, a coveted place, as it was
cool in summer but warm in winter. There was no pallet for Kristen, all the extra ones already
in use by the guests. A thin blanket and the hard floor made her bed, the discomfort of it
helping to keep her awake. But she would not have fallen asleep tonight anyway.
Kristen sat up slowly and looked around her. Only a few women slept nearby, but not close
enough that she might disturb them. She had waited only until Eda fell asleep. She would
have liked to wait a little longer on the chance that someone else could still be awake, but
she could not afford to waste that much time.
She was leaving. The decision had been easy, for this was the only chance she was likely to
have. She had asked Royce last eve how long his King would stay. It was the only thing she
said to him after he made love to her, and he had been unable to give her an answer. It
could be on the morrow, or a week from now, but when Alfred did leave, Kristen would be
fettered again. She was also likely to be ensconced back in Royce's chamber, and it would
be harder and much more risky to try to leave his side, if he even left the door unlocked, than
it would be to slip out of this crowded hall.
Here, the windows were left open, and there was only a slight jump to reach the ground
outside. And she had plenty of time to get far away before the morn when she would be
missed.
The decision had indeed been easy. Kristen just hadn't counted on the heavy feeling of
gloom that accompanied it. Even though she knew she had no hopes here, she still felt
heartsick in thinking she would never see Royce again.
She glanced one last time at Eda, who lay on her back in weary slumber. She would miss
this old woman, too, with her crankiness and her gruff concern. And little Meghan, whose
curiosity and silent appeal for friendship had managed to make Kristen forget her troubles
for a while today.
However, these thoughts did not stop Kristen from making her way toward the window next
to the cooking area. No call rang out as she eased her legs over to sit on the ledge. But it
was a mark of her dejection that she hesitated for several long moments. And at last it was
pride that gave her the final push.
A nearly full moon bathed the yard on this side of the hall. Kristen landed on her feet and
jumped back immediately to the shadows by the wall. Cautiously, she worked her way
behind the hall and over to the side where the stable was, and the storehouse, and the hut
that housed her cousin and the others.
She had not seen their shelter herself since it had been finished, but knew it was only a
narrow, windowless room. How miserable it must be to sleep there after the stout door was
locked at night. But no more miserable than sleeping out in the rain as they had done before
that. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]