Debra Kay Leland (20 page)

She looked at him with
lost worried eyes at his words.  The ladies maid came up aside them and curtsied low.  “M’lord.”

“Amelia, take the lady to William’s chamber and see to her comfort please.  A bath perhaps, a tray, and what
ever else her needs may be...”

The girls nodded and motioned Miranda to the side, taking her towards the stairs beyond them.  Her soft pleasant voice murmured quietly as they went.  “These are usually the men’s quarters, my lady.  The other stairs…”  She pointed behind them to the stairs that across the room.  “…lead to the women’s quarter
s.”

And Miranda only blushed.

“But the Earl is the only one here now, his chamber are at the far end of the hall.”  She stopped at the first door.  “And this is William’s chamber.  Nothing has been touched since the day he left.  The Earl loved the boy and would come in here just to be near to him.”

Miranda looked at her with lost eyes hardly able to comprehend the words she was speaking.  Then s
he opened the door and Miranda walked into the large clean room before her.  She paused then, almost feeling as if he were in this place…  She circled around with wide teary eyes, his cloak still lay on the bed as if he had merely set it there that morning,  A missive lay open on the table by the window, the lid to his chest of drawers was slightly ajar, and a pair of boots were carelessly thrown on the floor by the fire…  It even smelled like him, like wood and leather—as if he would walk back in the room at any moment...  She closed her eyes against the tears that over took her then from mere grief and exhaustion—and joy.

Her maid noticed the frail girl
’s anguish and pressed her into a chair aside the massive bed with velvet curtains and covering of deep burgundy.  “Oh my lady, come sit.”  She poured her a cup of water wine and held it to her.  “Here drink this.”

Miranda took a sip, her eyes still traveling around the room
, that warmed her and comforted her more than she could have imagined.

The girl glanced around her, then back at her mistresses pale face.  “This was the young lord’s chamber since he was a small boy.  ‘Twas good of Lord Sheridan to give it to thee.  Now then, a bath has been ordered for thee, and a tray.  I did not see a chest of garments come in with thee, but never ye mind, we shall find a gown for thee to wear.”

Miranda looked down at her simple dress which was not even as grand as her maid’s and felt a blush take her.

“Do not fret so, my lady, all shall be taken care of. 
Ah… and here is thy bath now.”

The door opened and a large wooden tub was brought up and set near the fire, a few young lads carried buckets of steaming water, and began to fill it.  She wasn’t used to such
grandeur; they had always bathed with a bucket of warm water and a cloth behind the privacy of a curtain.   Never had she seen such things in her life…  The bath full, the door closed, and her maid helped her make ready for it.  “I shall do thy hair, then ye may soak.  And I shall set a drying sheet for thee here, and unless ye would that I help ye—I shall go.”

Miranda bl
ushed even more.  “Nay—I shall be fine.”

“Very well, m’lady.”  The girl silently washed and combed through her hair, then left without a word.  Miranda sank into the warm waters of the tub, her teary eyes on the chamber around her. 
William, would ye have that I had come here? 
She wasn’t sure what his answer would have been.  Yet, she couldn’t deny that somehow she felt close to him here…  And maybe, just maybe this was where she was supposed to be…

Edmund sank down into his chair with a sigh; the captain of the guard, a tall giant of a man with red hair sat opposite of him a cup of ale in his hand.  “I was surprised ye were able to convince the lass to come back with ye.  She’s with child I take it.”

“
Aye, nigh six months or so I believe from what she has told me.”  He took a sip of his cup and set it down thoughtfully.  “Actually, it took less to convince her than I had thought.  Though truth be told, I did not give her much choice but to comply.  The lass does not yet realize that she in no longer just a peasant girl or even the widow of a simple farmer—she is titled also, and the her child is William’s only heir whether it be a boy or not, it does not matter!  I have lost everything John, and I shall not lose William’s only child too!  The girl shall learn to like it here, but even if she doesn’t—I shall not let her go…  She belongs to this place now and here she shall stay.”

His friend raised a curious brow and tilted h
is head coyly.  “She is young…”

“Aye, Phillip said not yet
seven and ten.”

“Too young to be a widow, and if something happens to thee she shall be left unprotected from those who might try to take the lands and title through her or her child.”

The Earl swirled his drink in his hand.  “’Tis true…  But then, I suppose a proper suitor must be found, one who shall lay no claim to the land or title—yet can be trusted to see to my interests…”

His friend laughed and finished his cup.  “Ye may be able to convince the lass to stay willingly, but to accept a husband of thy choosing is another thing all together.  And how do y
e intend to find such a man?”

Edmund met his smiling face with a dark frown.  “What do ye propose I do then?
  My hands are tied in this!”

His friend leaned back casually and crossed one booted foot over his knee. 
“Well, I would bring a man here, one ye trust…  Bring him even before the child is born and see if she finds him to her liking.  If she were to fall in love before ye have to take her to task—well then, all the better for thee.”

“And ye think that is wise?”

“Aye, I do.  She shall want to protect her child and her husband’s interest, and may well choose a husband of her own who shall be the perfect answer.  Perhaps, ye shall not find thyself forcing her hand into a marriage at all.”

“Aye, well and good, I suppose—if she finds the
right man agreeable that is.”

“And if she does not, then another could be found or ye could insist on the marriage regardless of her feeling; though I do
not think she would be any too happy for it.”

He nodded silently, truly he didn’t want to hurt the girl—somehow
, she had wound her way around his heart as she had done to his son; but yet, he still would find her a husband in case anything happened to him whether she agreed or not!  He knew she had no idea how very vulnerable she was now, nor how dangerous things could become for her and her child now that the truth be known that she herself carried his heir, but he did…!

Though,
he was sure she wouldn’t understand it, out of love and concern he began to set in motion the plans that would change her life yet again…  And with that, find a man to protect her and his interests too…

“There is one last thing…the
girl is not to be allowed to leave.  Under no circumstances is she allowed to walk the grounds without either myself or Nigel at her side.  Nor is she allowed in the courtyard or bailey without one of us.  For I shall not allow her to just wander off or meet with a stranger without my knowledge! Though, I do not intend to tell her of such rules, for it would only make her wary of us all, but have thy men keep watch, for I shall not lose her!”

The man nodded solemnly.  “Aye, I
understand.” 

It was nigh evening when Miranda awoke in William’s room, in his bed, staring up at the ornate ceiling above her.  She blinked away sleep for a moment not knowing where she was…and yet, even as she remembered somehow she felt as if she was meant to be here.  She couldn’t explain it; it was just a feeling in the depths of her heart, as if William himself had bid her to come…

The soft knock at the door brought her attention back again as she raised herself on an elbow and answered it quietly.  The young maid peered in with a soft contented smile.  “My lady, Lord Sheridan requests thy company at the high table this evening if ye
are well enough to come down.”

Miranda blushed and sat up hes
itantly.  “I—I am not sure...”

Amelia
carried a beautiful lavender dress in her arms and laid it next to her on the bed.  “Lord Sheridan also sent this, and has instructed that new gowns be made for thee on the morrow.  It was William’s mother’s gown…”

Miranda blushed even harder at her
words.  “I—I cannot wear it…”

The young maid just smiled and undid the small buttons that ran along the back of the gown.  “Aye, I think his lordship would be most put out if ye refused…  Come now, m’lady, I shall help ye with it.”  She gently took Miranda’s hand
, and then helped her into the most beautiful dress she had ever seen.  She stood with her hands laid flat on the soft material of the skirt, and a soft blush on her cheeks as her maid brushed her long hair and placed a circlet of gold over it to hold it away from her pretty face.  The young woman smiled and stepped back admiring her work.  “There, I think ye are more than presentable now, come look, m’lady.”

Miranda allowed herself to be led to the polished silver mirror and peered into the reflection with wide eyes; she’d never seen her refection in anything other than the waters at the edge of the stream that slowly meandered through the glen near her father’s farm.  She stood for a long moment, and then dropped her eyes away
uncertainly from the image of the beautiful woman before her that she hardly recognized…

The young
girl laughed softly.  “Ye are most lovely, m’lady.”

But then, she
let her eyes move to the soft roundness of her abdomen that now lay beneath the rich lavender material and smiled as the child moved within her softly taking her mind off her wayward thoughts yet again…

“Come now, my lady, Lord Sheri
dan must surely be waiting for thee.”  Amelia said and gently took her elbow urging the young girl to come with her.  Miranda hesitated but her maid urged her on with a gentle hand and reassuring words.  She walked Miranda through the heavy doorway and down the hall to the large curved staircase and then stopped.  “Go on now, ye are not a servant here.”

Miranda glanced at her as she thought on her words and wondered if
perhaps a servant would be less fearful going down the dine with the Earl than she was.  She lifted a hand and noticed that it trembled; her maid saw it too and merely smiled and took her hand gently.  “Come, m’lady, I shall walk with ye then…”

Edmund lifted his eyes as the girl came down the stairs with the grace of a lady even if it be a hesitant one; he smiled and let his eyes linger on her softly for truly she did please him.  William had chosen well—knowing somehow she held within her the grace of royalty even i
f there was none in her blood.

The men at the table all turned at their lord’s lingering gaze, and Miranda blushed under their curious stares, and yet her timid steps never faltered.  He stood and held out a hand to her.  She lowered her gaze as she appro
ached him and curtsied low, then lifted shy eyes and looked at his strong hand held out to her, then took it slowly.  “…M’lord…”

He smiled, raised her gently. 
“Come, my lady, sit beside me.”

Her cheeks held a soft blush as she settled herself hesitantly to his right glancing around herself shyly
as she did so, knowing all the while that she was not the lady he addressed her as.  He smiled and then motioned to his men, wanting to make it clear from the start the position the girl now held in his home.  “This—is the lady Miranda, William’s widow.”

His men nodded in a cordial greeting, and with
soft words they welcomed her.

She blushed, and then looked up into the Earl smiling ey
es.  “I trust ye rested well?”

She nodded softly and lowered her ey
es again.  “…I—I did, m’lord.”

He smiled again at the lovely girl to his right.  “Good.  Did ye or the chil
d suffer much on the journey?”

She shook her head softly.
“…The child is well, m’lord.”

He took her thin hand and squeezed it gently before he released it again.  “I would see that ye are both well taken care of here, Miranda.”

She did not answer him as he lifted his cup and took a slow drink knowing he had unnerved the girl though he hadn’t meant to.  Indeed, she was sweet and soft spoken, and exceptionally lovely; it wouldn’t be hard to find a man who would have her for his wife, regardless of the fact that she was a widow and with child by another—or that she was Welsh...  He had no doubt she would win the affection of any suitor he brought.

He glanced to John, the Captain of his guard again, and smiled.  The man lifted his cup and glanced at the girl across the table from him with a discreet eye an
d then gave him a gentle nod.

Edmund looked at her again, a plan in hand for his young daughter-in-law even before the meal was done.

As they finished, the men wandered over to the hearth to talk and tell tales and amuse themselves.  He stood and took her hand placing it on top of his own as a lady would do; she paused and looked at it, then at him and blushed as she lowered her head, her voice a mere whisper.  “…My—m’lord… I—I am not a lady…  Nor do I how t
o be so in front of yur men…”

He placed a long tanned finger under her chin and lifted it, then smiled down into her lovely face.  “No one asked ye to be something ye are not.  William made a fine choice in thee—and I myself am pleased with thee also.”

She gave him a tentative smile mixed with a soft frown as he drew her towards the stairs again.  “It has been a long day for thee.  Go to thy chambers, m’lady.  Amelia shall be there waiting for thee.”

She nodded wordlessly and then looked at him with weary eyes before she lifted her skirt and walked up the stair again.  He knew she was worn and weary, he could see it in her face and the way she held herself, and knew she had been through enough for one day.  He watched as she took the last step then turned and looked at him one last time, her hand on the slight swell of her stomach and tears lingering in her sad eye
as she looked at the man who reminded her so of William that it made her heart break.  He nodded to her again, and she lowered her eyes and turned towards William’s chamber once more. 

The girl was thin and frail and he worried after the child she carried, all his hopes rested on that
one small babe and its mother...  He motioned for his steward with a frown.  “Nigel, tell Amelia that the girl is to be allowed to sleep in on the morrow.  Have a tray of fresh fruit, cheese and bread taken to her room when she is awake.”

The older man nodded. 
“Yes, m’lord.  She is kindly sort, is she not?”

“Aye, she is…”

She glance
d down the long candle lit hall as she walked towards the chamber that had once had been her husband’s.  The tears she had held back throughout the long meal now tumbled down her flushed cheeks easily from sheer exhaustion and grief.  She paused before the door, wishing to see him on the other side, his smile bright, his tall muscular frame leaning casually against the mantle, arms cross and one leg cocked like he always did… but instead when she opened the door he was not there…

Then s
omehow Amelia was beside her, helping her into a chemise, and brushing her long hair before she braided it into a single braid down the middle of her back, murmuring to her gently if only to try to soothe away the hurt inside her.  She took the girl’s hand and led her to the big ornate bed, noticing that she hadn’t spoken a word since she had come into the room, her face numb with weariness and loss as she sat staring ahead into the darkening night.  She helped her into the bed, and the girl followed wordlessly.   She pressed her down and drew the covers up over her gently; and yet, the girl still stared off as if she weren’t even there.  It worried her as she touched her hand lightly, whispering to her gently.  “
All is well, m’lady, sleep now.  I shall be in the antechambers through that small door just beyond, if ye need me during the night ye need only call my name.”

She blew out the few candles that remained lit before she walked softly to the door and went th
rough, hesitating a mere second before she closed it.  It was quiet as she herself readied for bed and then lay down, and yet she could hear the faint voice of despair and the hushed sobs that now threaded through the darkness whispering the name that they all here held so dear. 
“…William…”

She sighed knowing there was nothing anyone could do or say to take the grief and pain from the tender girl’s heart, only time would heal the wounds that sorrow had left behind; but being here would do her good, she was sure
of it.

Miranda woke in the night, the smell of wood and leather made her smile. 
…William…
  She felt his child stir again and laid her thin hand over it lovingly as she closed her eyes again and somewhere between sleep and wake she could almost hear him call her name…

When she woke next it was not night, but midday, she opened her eyes and was met with the comforting scent of her husband…  Wood and leather…  And she smiled and raised herself on elbows peering around the chamber.  William’s chamber…   The sight of it made her feel warm and loved—and somehow as if all would b
e well.

Amelia heard her stirring and came in with a soft smile.  “Ah, m’lady, did ye sleep well?”

Miranda blushed slightly and ran a thin hand through her tussled hair that had somehow lost its braid during the night.  “Aye, but Amelia, I—I am not a lady.  Ye—ye need not serve me.”

The girl, not much older than she merely laughed and brought the tray of food that Lord Sheridan had ordered for her.  “Ye may not have been a lady before, but ye most certainly are one now.  Would ye rather I go and slop the hogs than be a ladies maid?”

“…Well nay, but—truly, I am not used to such things.”

The girl pulled back the soft linen napkin from the tray of food that now rested on her lap.  “Lord Sheridan ordered this for thee himself.  Come now, m’lady, enjoy.”

She looked at the food on the tray and smiled softly, knowing how very hungry she was this day.  “’Tis a feast.”

“Aye, now eat, m’lady.  I shall lay out thy gown, nothing as regal as what ye dined in and when ye are ready the seamstresses shall measure thee for thy new gowns.”

Miranda took a bite of the small soft sweet apple in her hand and smiled shyly.  “I—I have always helped sew my own dresses.”

“Well—if ye would like to help ye may, but only if it pleases thee.  Lord Sheridan would not have thee over taxed.”

The five women sat in the comfortable sewing room before the large window stitching together the fabric for five new gowns for her, royal gowns, gowns that a lady would wear and not something she herself would have chosen.  But despite her arguments, the seamstresses were adamant to do just as Lord Sheridan had ordered.  And he, himself was more than pleased to see her putting her hand to something when he peaked in the door unannounced.  Amelia nodded to him, knowing of his concern for the girl as he raised a finger to his lips and watched her work, then smiled and closed it quietly again not wanting his presence to be know.

Edmund made his way back down to his solar pleased at what he saw.  Truly, he had been worried that she would not adjust to life here, but he knew she felt as close to William here as he did.  He took out parchment, quill and ink and paused only a moment before he laid it to paper, he had thought long and hard as to what he and John had talked about, and he believed he had come up with not only one but two acceptable suitors, both single and handsome and titled lords in their own right.  And that in itself was foremost on his mind, the man he would pick for the girl would have to relinquish all claims to Whittington, though the man would be more than compensated for it all…  He glanced at the missives in his hands and set his seal on them before he call for his messenger to deliver them.  The future of Whittington had to be secured, as did the title of Earl; and God forgive him, but he would make sure it was done…

It had been nearly a fortnight, and finally the girl had begun to adjust to life at Whittington and it did his heart good to see it.  Despite all, he wanted her safe, but more than that he wanted to see her smile, a thing he had not seen much of since he’d brought her here.  Edmund glanced up from the documents in front of him at the soft sound of her voice.  He smiled and set it aside and leaned back
in his chair.  “Well now, to what do I owe the pleasure?”

She blushed and drew down in a reverent curtsy.  “…M’lord, the w
oman have just finished my gown—and have bid me to show thee.”

He laughed softly and motioned with his
hand.  “Then show me, m’lady.”

She straightened and turned slowly, his eyes swept over her loveliness in the flaxen colored gown, ending at the swell of William’s child within her that gave him such pleasure.  “Alas, ’tis fine, very fine, and it does thee justice.  A
re ye happy with it, Miranda?”

She smiled as a soft blushed crept up her cheeks
; and then suddenly, she brightened and dimples graced her fair cheeks as she swept her hand over the soft material.  The sight of her almost took his breath away.  It was the face of an angel and the kind of smile that made a man want to slay dragons just to see it again.  “…I—I have never had such lovely things… but really they are not necessary, though I do thank ye for all the kindness ye have shown me.”