by Anne Herries
Piers looked at her, wondering at how calm and yet how pale she looked. ‘You need not fear that we shall shirk our duty, lady. What of the meat that was brought in from the hunt?’
‘Half of it is to be taken to the village,’ Elona instructed. ‘The rest will be salted for the winter. I shall go to the kitchens now myself and set the work in train.’
‘But you have other concerns…’
‘My lord is being cared for for the moment,’ Elona said. ‘I know what he would have me do, and I must do it.’
‘Yes, my lady—but he would not have you tire yourself.’
‘Trust me to know when I must rest,’ Elona said with a smile for his concern. ‘After I have set the kitchen to work salting the meat, I shall write a letter to Sir Ralph and you will arrange for someone to deliver it, please.’
‘A letter to Sir Stefan’s father…’ Piers looked at her uncertainly.
‘I know that my husband does not always see eye to eye with his father,’ Elona said, ‘but Sir Ralph must be informed, though he need not trouble himself to come if he does not wish.’
Piers inclined his head. ‘It shall be as you command, my lady.’
‘Good.’ Elona smiled wearily. ‘And now I must see to the meat.’
‘He is in fever,’ Mary told her when she returned to her husband’s chamber after washing and changing into a clean tunic and gown. ‘He has not woken since the wound was cauterised.’
‘Then he did not know I was not here,’ Elona said and looked at her serving woman. ‘And now you must rest, Mary, for I want you to share the nursing with me. Bethany and Melise will help where they can, but my poor nurse is old and cannot do much other than sit or prepare one of her cures, and Bethany would be afraid if his condition were to worsen and not know what to do. You have had experience of such nursing.’
‘I thought that my husband would recover,’ Mary told her, her face grave. ‘He seemed to heal and the fever eased, but then one day, he had an odd seizure and his death was sudden—as if something stopped his heart. The priest told me it was God’s hand, but I have wondered if there might have been a reason for it—something I could have done to prevent it if I had only known what…’ She shook her head sadly, for she had not done with grieving.
‘We must pray for guidance,’ Elona said. ‘Do not think that I shall blame you if my husband dies, Mary. I know that you will use all the skill you have to save him, as I shall—but his fate is in God’s hands.’
‘Did you find anything that might help him?’
‘Father Fernando is searching the manuscripts now. He says that there are several with remedies of treatment for wounds, and that Stefan brought them back with him from the Holy Land, intending to discover more about them. So far he had not had time to study them, but the priest will do so now.’
‘He did not disapprove or say that you should not try to usurp God’s privilege?’
‘Father Fernando is not of that ilk,’ Elona said. ‘We are fortunate to have him still with us, for he is to leave us very soon now, and I know that if something can be sent for that will help, we shall discover it. And now you must leave us for a while. Go to your couch and rest.’
After Mary had departed, Elona took her stool closer to the bed and reached out to hold Stefan’s hand as it lay on the coverlet.
‘I am here with you now, my dearest,’ she said. ‘Everything is being done as you would order it. There is nothing to worry you. We shall do all that we can to make you well and strong again.’
His hand moved restlessly in hers, twitching and jerking, his eyelids fluttering as he moaned with pain. Elona let go of his hand and picked up a cloth, rinsing it in the pan of cool water beside the bed. She bent over him, bathing his forehead and shoulders for he was very hot.
‘Don’t send me away…’
She was startled as she heard the feverish words and continued with her work of cooling him, slipping down the light coverlet to bathe more of his heated flesh.
‘No one will send you away, dearest.’
‘Killed my mother, but I did not mean to…’ Stefan muttered. ‘It wasn’t my fault, Father…forgive me…’
Had it hurt him so very much to be sent away from his home as a child? It must have done if he still felt it so strongly that it played upon his mind. Elona’s heart wrenched with pity for the child he had been, and for the man she loved lying so ill in his bed.
‘It wasn’t your fault, dearest,’ she told him soothingly. ‘The child is not to blame, for it does not ask to be born.’
‘Elona…’ Stefan’s head moved restlessly on the pillow. ‘Don’t leave me…love you…need you…don’t leave me…’
‘I shall never leave you, my love,’ Elona said and bent over him, placing her lips against his. Emotion caught at her throat and the tears ran down her cheeks, but she wiped them away. ‘Never in this life…’ Her voice caught on a sob. ‘Don’t leave me, my dearest. Fight…cling to life, for it can be so very sweet for us.’
She loved him so much and she did not know how she would bear it if he died. But he must not die. He should not die if there were any way to prevent it!
Elona sat with him throughout the night, and in the early hours Melise and Bethany came together and forced her to give up her place. She went to her chamber and allowed Julia to undress her and help her to bed, for in truth she was too weary to resist.
She slept for some hours and when she woke and broke her fast, Bethany told her that there was no change.
‘Your lord is still in fever, my lady,’ Bethany said. ‘Mary gave him some of the draught she had prepared for him and it seemed to ease him for a while, but the fever still rages.’
‘Yes, I am sure that it will,’ Elona said. ‘We must not expect a swift cure; my lord’s wounds are terrible and the cauterising robbed him of his strength.’
‘I do not know how Mary could have done it,’ Bethany said with a little shudder. ‘I should not have been able to face such a terrible thing.’
‘It is given to some of us to bear what others may not,’ Elona said. ‘Mary tried to save her husband’s life that way. It did not save him, but it has stopped the bleeding in Stefan’s case and for that we must be grateful.’
Yet had it brought about the fever that was making him so ill? How could she know? Elona felt a wave of helplessness wash over her. She had never had to deal with such hurts as Stefan’s and knew only what she had learned from Melise and her stepmother—but even Elizabeth would have been uncertain how to deal with such a wound.
Mary was dressing it when she entered the chamber, and she cried out as she saw the foul-smelling stuff that she was about to put on the puckered flesh.
‘What is that, Mary?’
‘It is something I learned from a wise woman once,’ Mary said. ‘It is merely herbs and roots, my lady. I know it hath a foul odour, but it will help to draw out the poisons and heal the flesh. I used it on my husband and the wound healed well.’
‘And yet your husband died.’ Elona hesitated, and then took a deep breath. ‘Very well, try it, Mary. You told me that your husband did not die of his wound, but some strange malady that came on him after he seemed to recover, and I will trust you in this.’
‘It was not Fredrich’s wound or the fever that killed him,’ Mary said. ‘I have pondered on it many times, for he was laughing when I was with him, and then I left for a few seconds; when I returned, it was as if he had a seizure that left him short of breath and he died in my arms quite suddenly.’
Elona nodded. ‘Perhaps one day the surgeons and apothecaries may understand many things that are not known now. All we can do is to use our skills and pray.’
She watched as Mary applied the salve, binding clean linen about Stefan’s thigh. The woman then took the stained bandage and threw it into the fire.
‘You burned that,’ Elona said with a puzzled frown. ‘Would it not have served again once it was washed?’
‘I believe that the bindings carry po
isons from a wound and that it is best to burn the disease in the fire, that way in the end it becomes weakened and dies.’
‘That sounds almost like witchcraft,’ Elona said and then, as she saw a flicker of fear in the other’s face, ‘No, no, I did not mean that you were a witch, Mary, of course I didn’t. I am grateful for your help. Do not fear me. I am your friend and know that you are mine. It just seems strange.’
‘I know only that bandages are best used fresh and burned afterwards,’ Mary said. ‘The wise woman who told me of this salve also told me that I must use only cloth that has first been boiled and dried, and that I must burn it afterwards or the poison will go back to the wound.’
Elona knew that some people would believe such rituals to be some kind of black art, and decided to tell no one else of Mary’s methods of nursing, for she did not want her serving woman accused of witchcraft when she was trying so hard to save Stefan’s life.
‘Do whatever you must,’ she said. ‘Your secrets will be safe with me, Mary, and do not fear that I shall blame you if my husband dies. I know that it may happen, but I would try everything possible to save him if I can.’
‘Pray for God’s help,’ Mary replied. ‘We can do so little, my lady—and He can do so much.’
Elona made the sign of the cross over her breast and Mary did the same.
Stefan’s fever went on for more than ten days, and then on the eleventh he opened his eyes and looked about him. Elona was fetching more water to bathe his heated body when she heard the sound of his voice and turned to look at him.
‘Elona…am I ill?’ He sounded hoarse and seemed puzzled to find himself lying in bed. ‘What happened?’
She went to him at once, gazing down at him, her throat tight with emotion as she saw that his eyes were clear. The fever had gone. God be praised!
‘We were hunting in the forest. I had found some filbert nuts and then a wounded boar attacked us. It would have charged at me, but you pushed me to one side and faced it yourself. You had a terrible wound in your thigh, which is still badly puckered and inflamed, but we cauterised it to stop the blood and have been tending you ever since.’
‘Have I been in a fever? I cannot remember…’ His voice trailed away and his eyes closed on a sighing breath. ‘So tired…’
Elona bent over him, afraid that something terrible had happened. Was he going to die as Mary’s husband had when it had seemed that he was recovering? She laid her hand on his brow and discovered that his skin was cool and dry. He was breathing easily, his sleep seeming natural and peaceful.
The door opened at that moment and Elona gave a cry of surprise when she saw who had entered the room.
‘Sir Ralph,’ she said. ‘I did not expect you to come…’
‘I came as soon as I could,’ he answered with a frown. ‘I parted on bad terms with my son, Elona, and I must put things right between us if I can. They tell me he is in fever—has he woken yet?’
‘Just a moment ago, but I think he is sleeping now.’
‘Then we shall leave him for a moment. Where may we talk, Elona? I have brought some things that may help him. There is a remedy for fever, which you may not need now, but also something that Alayne believes necessary for good recovery from wounds and serious illness of this kind.’
‘Lady Alayne knows something of these things?’ Elona stared at him in surprise, for she had not known that. She led him through to her chamber and invited him to sit, but he remained standing. ‘We have been using simple things, though Mary has some knowledge of healing.’
‘My wife is a natural healer,’ Ralph said. ‘We do not talk of it often, for there has been murmuring that she was a witch in the past and we have to be careful. She would have come herself, but she is needed at home. She gave me everything she thought necessary. There is a potion she would have Stefan drink once a day while he lies in bed—she says it prevents a reaction from too much inactivity and lying still. And she says that you should get him to move his legs as much as possible once he begins to recover.’
‘That sounds strange,’ Elona said. ‘Why should he move—is not rest the best thing for a sick person?’
‘Alayne says that she has observed a strange phenomena when a person has been ill and begins to recover, which leads to sudden death—but the risk of death is reduced with her cure and exercise.’
‘Then we shall do as she bids us,’ Elona said, ‘for that was what happened to Mary’s husband after he had recovered from the worst of his wound.’
‘And now I would talk with you,’ he said. ‘I think that perhaps you were not quite honest with me, Elona—and I would have the truth if I may?’
‘Yes, of course. It was always my intention to tell you one day. Did Alain tell you that there never was a child and that I had never lain with a man before my marriage?’
‘No, he said nothing, but I guessed that it was a lie concerning the child before you left Banewulf. There had been no miscarriage and yet you were not with child, therefore it was more likely that it had been a mistake on your part. I was not sure whether you had lied or merely been deceived by a lack of your womanly flow?’
A hot flush burned Elona’s cheeks, but she did not shirk from even so personal a question, for this time she must be completely honest with him.
‘It was a lie because I knew you would demand that Stefan married me,’ Elona confessed, a look of shame in her eyes. ‘Stefan behaved most honourably towards me the whole time. He would never have betrayed Lady Alayne’s trust in that way. He is far too honourable a man.’
‘That was what puzzled me afterwards,’ Ralph admitted. ‘I had always believed him so and yet he did not deny it. He allowed me to dictate to him when he knew his own men were more powerful than mine—that he could have defied me if he had chosen.’ His brows rose. ‘Why did he do that, Elona?’
‘Because…because he loved me,’ she said, a sob in her voice. ‘He may not have behaved thus towards me after the wedding, but he was so angry—so jealous of the man he believed had been my lover. It was a terrible thing I did, and I have begged his pardon—as I now beg yours for causing trouble between you.’
‘But why? If Stefan loved you…’
‘I thought he would go away from Banewulf and that I should never see him again, that I might be forced to marry a man I did not love. I believed that his honour would come between us.’
‘And you loved Stefan too much…’ Ralph nodded his head. ‘All is clear to me now. Alayne was sure it was so, but I was doubtful because my son showed no sign of loving you and I could not understand why he should wed you and leave you at Banewulf.’
‘You told Lady Alayne of my wickedness? Does she despise me now?’
Ralph laughed and shook his head. ‘My lady applauded your courage and said she would have done just the same in your place.’
Elona blushed and hung her head for a moment, then as she looked at him, she smiled. ‘He has forgiven me and we are happy—or we were until this happened…’ Her voice broke on a sob. ‘I have been so afraid that he might die.’
‘My son is a strong man. He has been wounded many times, though perhaps not as deeply as this—but you must continue to pray, Elona.’
‘And to use the cures you have brought for us,’ Elona said. ‘I thank you for bringing them to us, sir.’
‘I could do no less,’ Ralph told her. ‘I shall stay until my son is on his feet again, and do anything that I can to help you keep things running smoothly here.’
‘Piers has tried to keep all as it was,’ Elona told him. ‘But if you could make sure that the men train as they ought I would be grateful. I know Stefan would not like them to become neglectful of their duties.’
‘You may safely leave all to me,’ Ralph said. ‘But I keep you from your vigil. I have been told that you seldom leave his side except to rest or order the household.’
‘We shall talk later, sir. I hope I have your forgiveness?’
‘And my blessing, daughter.’
Ralph smiled at her as she turned away to return to Stefan’s chamber.
Elona hurried to the bedside, but Stefan was sleeping. She took her place by his side, ready for when he should wake and need her.
‘You should not have sent for my father,’ Stefan said a few days later. He looked at her as she brought him a small vial and held it to his lips. ‘Elona…ahhh.’
She smiled as he made a fuss about the medicine, which she knew tasted bitter, for she had tried a drop on her tongue.
‘I did not send for your father,’ she said. ‘I sent word that you had been injured and he came as soon as he was able. It was his wish to come, and he brought you things that have helped to ease you.’
‘Alayne was always a good healer,’ Stefan said with a grimace. ‘I remember being ill once as a child and having her tend me—but she never sweetens her dose with honey.’
‘You make too much fuss,’ Elona told him. ‘Are you doing the exercise I told you she advised?’
Stefan pulled a face at her. ‘Were I not so weak, I would get out of this bed and train with my men—if they train at all! I’ll have their hides if I discover they had been slacking while I was ill.’
‘You are a bad patient,’ Elona told him. ‘Indeed, you are not patient at all. Have I not told you that Piers has kept them working? Your father told me he was surprised to discover that the men have been training every day just as they ought. In fact, everything is in order and you have no need to concern yourself.’
‘Good, then he may go home and leave us to ourselves,’ Stefan said and she realised that he had trapped her again. ‘I do not know why he bothered to come.’
‘Because you are his son and he did not wish the quarrel between you to go on without attempting to mend it.’
‘It is mended,’ Stefan said. ‘He may go home with an easy conscience.’