The gown she wore would make her blend with the surroundings. It would be difficult to find her. Lightning flashed again and he caught sight of Eleanor’s alabaster skin.
Quickly, he moved Aries across the stream. As he jumped down, she reached out for him. Her hands were alarmingly cold.
“Y—you f—found me.” Her words came out in sobbed relief between chattering teeth. Her whole body shook from the cold.
“Thanks to Ethan,” he shouted above the storm. He knew if he didn’t get her out soon, she would drown or die from exposure. "Are you injured? “When she shook her head "no", the knot in his chest loosened, and he put his hands underneath her arms and tried to pull her out.
She let out a loud yelp. “Dominick, it’s not working you’re going to pull me in half!”
He released her immediately then looked down at the trunk of the tree. “I will lift this log, and you can push your way out from under it.”
She nodded.
His great arms circled the large limb. But when he lifted it, he sank deeper in the mud and the trunk rose only slightly. Even if the tree could be raised, he was sure she didn’t have the strength to get out of the sucking mud.
“Damnation!” he shouted.
Eleanor held up her hands to keep the rain from pelting her face. Leaning over her, he shielded her from the assault. “Randolf should be here soon.” His heart beat frantically in his chest, as he hoped it would be soon enough.
Taking her shivering hands, he placed them under his tunic against his chest to warm them. The frozen fingers reminded him of Isolde’s ghostly touch.
"Turn your head sideways," he said, and then let the side of her face rest in his palm, which he used to keep her head out of the mud and water. Over the roar of the storm he heard Randolf’s call, and overwhelming relief rushed through him.
He shouted back, then looked at Eleanor. “We will have you out of here soon.” Continuing to shield her from the rain, Randolf and Erik made their way toward them.
His brother kneeled over her. “How on earth did this happen?”
Eleanor’s teeth chattered. “L—lightning sp—split the tree.”
Dominick quickly moved into action. “Erik, I think if you and I lifted the trunk, Randolf could pull her out of the mud.
Without a word Erik crossed to the other side of the trunk, positioning himself on the opposite side of Dominick. Randolf wrapped his arms around Eleanor, readying himself to drag her out as soon as the log was lifted.
With both arms around the tree, Dominick braced himself. “On the count of three. One . . . two . . . three.”
The trunk slowly lifted off Eleanor’s middle. Randolf pulled her from under it, then Dominick and Erik let go.
Dominick leapt over to her, taking her hands. “We have to get you back to the castle.” Dominick whistled to his horse, and mounted when Aries walked over to them. Randolf lifted Eleanor into his arms. He placed her in front of him, holding her tight, hoping his warmth would penetrate the chill.
Randolf and Erik led the way back to Godwin. The storm had gotten stronger by the time they reached the castle gate. Once inside, Martha and Zenon met them with blankets, wrapping them tightly around the rescue party.
“A warm bath has been sent up to your chambers,” Martha said.
“Thank you.” Dominick carried Eleanor upstairs. A fire glowed brightly in the hearth, and the bed robes had been turned down.
He started to unlace her mud-soaked gown when she began to protest. “Dominick, I’m not a child. I can undress myself.” She raised her shaking hands to the laces, but her fingers were too numb to untie them.
Impatiently, Dominick pushed her hands away. “You’re half frozen to death. It will be quicker if I help.”
She stilled her resistance. Her body shook violently.
He no longer had the patience to unravel the complicated lacing. “Eleanor, your gown is too wet to come undone.” With that he tore it down the back and unwrapped the cold rag from her.
Eleanor let out a small yelp but felt relieved the garment was finally off. What was left was her chemise. Its saturated material clung to her like a second skin. When Dominick bent to pull the garment off her, she said, “Dominick, no,” in protest.
He ignored her and slipped the soggy gown over her head. Her hands quickly covered her breasts. Picking her up, he lowered her into the tub. While she settled into the warm water, he added more logs to the fire. Her shaking stopped, and her body began to relax. Gently, he washed the mud out of her hair.
“Let’s get you to bed.” He wrapped her in the sable mantle, then carried her to the bed, pulling the robes over her and tucked them in tight.
There was a knock at the door. Dominick opened it to Martha, who carried a pot of hot cider and two bowls of steaming stew.
“I thought the two of you could use some nice hot food to warm you up.”
“Thank you, Martha,” he said.
“It’s I that should be thankin',” the older woman stated, moving directly to Eleanor.
She touched her mistress’s face to check for fever then took one of the drying cloths from the back of a chair sitting near the hearth and wrapped it around Eleanor’s wet hair.
“You have a spot of cider and food to warm up your insides, and you will be good as new.”
“I will. I just need to get a little warmer before I move.” Eleanor said, her teeth still clenched.
Martha turned toward Dominick. “You better get yourself out of those wet clothes, my lord, before you catch yer death.”
Dominick appreciated that the elder woman’s protectiveness for Eleanor had spread to him. “I will. I’m just going to make sure Eleanor is settled.”
“A lot of good yer going to do for her. Cold and dripping all over.” She pointed toward a bundle of clothes folded near the hearth. “There is a warm tunic and breeches over there. I suggest the next thing you do is change your clothes and eat that stew before it gets cold.” She started out. “I will check on you later this evening.” Then she closed the door behind her.
After she was gone, Dominick gave in to the cold that seeped through his skin. He quickly peeled his wet clothes off, used a drying cloth, and dressed in the warm clothing. Once dry and warm he poured both of them cider. Carrying the mugs to the bed, he helped Eleanor to sit and take a cup.
Gratefully, she sipped the steamy liquid. Her eyes glowed with appreciation. “Thank you.” She looked at him in a way that he could feel in the pit of his stomach. “Thank you for coming after me. If you hadn’t found me, I would have perished.”
As if to emphasize her point the wind rattled the shuttered windows.
“You’re most welcome. Why were you out there in the forest anyway?”
“Ruth’s children managed to get themselves lost. I went with her to help find them.” She took another sip of her cider. “When we found them the storm was getting worse. And you know the rest.”
“I swear I’m going to tie those children to their mother so they never get lost again.”
“It wasn’t her fault. They were supposed to be taking a nap, not exploring the stream.”
“Curiosity that nearly got you killed.”
“I’m sure that wasn’t their plan.”
He said with some frustration. “I’m going to have to make those boys pages just to keep them where they can be seen,”
“Oh Dominick, that would be wonderful. They need a man to guide them.”
“That leaves little Abigail. Hopefully Ruth will be able to keep an eye on her.”
“That girl won’t keep herself out of trouble. As long as I can remember, she has always been up to mischief. I’ve seen her run Ruth ragged.”
“Well, together we should be able to think of something.” He strode to the table and brought back the stew. “Here, eat this. It might put some color back into your cheeks.”
“Do I look that appalling?”
“You could never look anything but beautiful to me, but I’
m afraid the cold has robbed you of your pallor.”
Eleanor smiled and looked down into her stew. He watched her as she began delicately eating. He knew he was making her self-conscious but he had to reassure himself that she was well.
After a while she said, “Dominick, thank you again for coming after me.”
Dominick looked puzzled “What else would I have done?"
She stirred her stew thoughtfully. “Many noblemen consider their horses more important than their wives. If a cow or a sheep were to wonder off in a storm, the master would go after it. Not so with their wife.”
“I don’t consider you cattle, and I would leave no one behind in a storm, especially my wife. Besides, I have acted only as nobly as you have. You ran out into a storm to save three children. Would you not consider that an act of bravery?”
“It’s not the same.”
“It’s exactly the same. Most noblewomen would not have done what you did. You have a great heart.”
She reached out and touched his arm. “Thank you for saying such a thing.”
His hand covered hers. “I only speak the truth. “ He saw her lids droop slightly as she stifled a yawn. The hot food and warm fire were working their magic and making her drowsy. “Are you finished with this?” he said, as she handed him the bowl.
He helped her lie down and tucked her back into bed. Soon she was sound asleep.
The weight of the day and the fright of nearly losing her to the storm were taking its toll. Exhausted he climbed underneath the bed robes beside her. He tried not to think further about her being trapped in the storm, but the images of her lying underneath the tree kept coming to the forefront of his mind, twisting his insides. Isolde had warned him a third time. He prayed he would not see her apparition again, but as long as McPhearson and his spies were out there he hoped Eleanor’s mother would stay close.
Chapter Sixteen
At the sound of Dominick shuffling around in their chamber, Eleanor fought her way awake. Her body felt heavy, and gray mists of fog muddled her thinking
He opened the shutters to reveal a sky shrouded in a cloak of gray. But the worst of the storm had passed.
“I will be going out today to see the damage,” he said. “Little work can be done today due to the rain.”
“I—” Eleanor’s voice croaked. She swallowed to clear her throat, but pain slid down it like the edges of a knife. She tried again. “I will see what needs to be done on the inside,” she rasped hoarsely.
Dominick furrowed his brows. “You should stay in bed today.”
She waved off the idea. “Nonsense. It’s but a sore throat.”
“Stay in bed, Eleanor. There is nothing that needs to be done today that can’t be done tomorrow.” He grabbed his mantle off a hook. “I will send Martha up with some tea and honey. That may ease your throat a bit.”
“Thank you.”
Then Dominick walked out the door.
Eleanor lay for a moment, her body begging to stay in bed, but she knew she should check the damage, too. She wondered if her seedlings had managed to survive the storm's onslaught. By sheer will she pulled herself out of bed. Her muscles protested the act with an ache in every part of her body. Just as she was putting on her gown, Martha entered with a tray of tea and biscuits.
“Lord Dominick said you might be needin’ this.” Her eyes widened when she looked at Eleanor. “My lady, you are not well enough to be out of bed this morning.”
“I’m fine, Martha,” she said as her shoulders slumped. “I’m just a little tired is all.”
The older woman felt Eleanor’s forehead. “You’ve a fever coming, my dear.”
“It’s because I only just got out of bed.” She took Martha’s hand in hers. “Don’t fret over me. I just need some of your wonderful herb tea, to feel good as new.”
The servant eyed her suspiciously. “You must take care today. We nearly lost you in that storm. If it hadn’t been for the master—” Martha choked on her tears.
“Don’t worry about me, I will take care of myself.” She gave the tearful servant a reassuring hug. “I promise. I was thinking today would be a good day to thoroughly clean the kitchen and bakery.”
“That will be quite a task. Are you sure you’re up to it?”
Eleanor shrugged. “It has to be done some time. We might as well take care of it while nothing can be done outside. We will need all of the kitchen servants to help.”
“That will not be a problem since the storm has driven everyone inside.”
The first few sips of tea were painful, but soon the hot liquid soothed Eleanor’s raw throat. After finishing the tea and barely touching the biscuits, she felt fortified enough to tackle the job of cleaning the kitchens. Her knees were a little shaky as she climbed down the stairs, but she ignored it and moved forward.
Soon she was knee deep in ashes and soot, cleaning out the cooking pit, sweeping ashes from the oven, scrubbing tables down to new wood. She and two scullery maids swept and scrubbed the stone floors. When she was satisfied with the kitchen, she and Martha moved on to the pantry.
Since Dominick’s arrival, it was full to the rafters with bags of grain, salted meat and barrels of ale and wine. It took the rest of the afternoon to organize it.
By the end of the day, Eleanor could not go on. She sat in a chair in the kitchen, unable to move. Laying her head on the table, she fought the urge to fall asleep. Waves of fatigue washed over her.
Ruth touched her shoulder. “My lady, you must rest. Martha and I can finish up what is left to be done here.”
Eleanor didn’t have the strength to argue. “I will lie down for a little while.”
Ruth escorted her up the stairs to her chambers and helped her to bed before quietly leaving the room. Never had Eleanor felt so tired. The dagger of pain in her throat still tormented her. Her eyes burned even upon closing them. Sleep, that was what she needed. She gave herself up to it and fell deep into sleep.
Dominick returned at dusk after having spent the day with Randolf and Erik, pulling broken limbs from trees, stones that came loose off the gatehouse walls, and boards from make-shift lean-tos the day after the storm.
Dominick surveyed the area, thankful the damage from the storm had been minimal. Fortunately, the fields were still too young to cause much concern. Light rain fell much of the day after the storm, but people were still able to clean up most of the damage.
He noticed some shingles had broken free from the castle roof. They would have to be repaired once it was dry enough to climb up there safely. To his overwhelming relief, things were still pretty sound in Godwin.
As he entered his chambers he was surprised to see Eleanor sleeping. He wondered if she’d been there all day, but the gown draped across a chair suggested otherwise.
Choosing not to disturb her, he changed out of his damp clothes. Then he built a fire in the hearth to take out the chill in the chambers. He then left to join Randolf and Erik for the evening meal, and sent Martha up with a plate for Eleanor.
As the meal was served, he turned to Erik. “Has there been any sign of McPhearson’s men near Godwin?”
“We haven’t found any. Maybe McPhearson has given up.”
“It wouldn’t be like him,” Dominick said. He is too arrogant to accept defeat and keep to his own borders.”
“Any problems at the gates?” he asked Randolf.
His brother shrugged. “One or two suspicious characters, but we turned them away.” He leaned back in his chair. “The only people who have been entering are tradesmen looking for work.
“I would like to think McPhearson has given up, but I know he hasn’t,” Dominick said, and took a drink his ale.
“We can stop him should he try another assault,” Randolf stated.
“We have seen the man’s treachery. What he cannot achieve with soldiers, he will try to accomplish with deception,” Erik said.
“Let’s just hope the dead man we sent him made him too wary to send more s
pies here.” Dominick said. The other two men agreed. “As soon as the weather clears, we will have to set up a field for training.” He looked toward Dominick. “You have been using your soldiers as farm hands and goat herders, but their fighting skills must be kept sharp in case McPhearson attacks.”
“We can set up the training field tomorrow, rain or not. Our men cannot be allowed to become soft.” Dominick stood to leave. “I will set up a rotation for training. There isn’t much to be done out in the fields. Enough people have been coming to Godwin. Many farmers have come to rent land. We should have enough people to care for the crops.”
After their plans were set for the next day Dominick bid Randolf and Erik good night and headed toward his chamber. He found Eleanor still sleeping soundly. The food Martha had placed on the table remained untouched. His eyes narrowed in concern. He listened to her breathing. It was deep and steady. He resisted the urge to touch her for fear of disturbing her sleep.
He climbed in to bed. His foot bumped the heavy metal of his sword. How much longer would this go on? She was learning to trust him, and he prayed it wouldn’t be too much longer. Her kiss was his last thought before he drifted off to sleep.
It seemed that he had only just closed his eyes when he felt the tremors. At first he thought he was dreaming, but the vibration persisted. Fully awake, the shaking came from Eleanor’s side of the bed. Rolling over, he saw her small body curled into a tight ball. She shook violently.
Alarmed, he touched her brow. It felt as though she were seated too near a fire.
“Eleanor,” he called out.
Her eyes opened, but they were vacant. Instantly he was out of bed he pulled on his breeches and ran down to the hall to his brother’s chamber.
Randolf opened the door before Dominick got there.
Dominick didn’t give him time to ask questions. “Eleanor is raging with fever. Go fetch Martha.”
Dominick didn’t wait for his brother. He ran back to Eleanor’s bedside. Feeling helpless, he pulled the robes up tighter over her and pressed his hands on her body to still its violent shaking. She began to thrash about, throwing the covers off. She spoke unintelligible words as her head moved from side to side. Dominick trapped both her hands in one of his, while stroking her forehead.
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