Charles tilted his head to one side, studying Alex. “Are you Ralph’s son, perchance? You look quite like him.”
Alex nodded. “I am. He sent me here.”
“Roland was telling me. I see that Madelina is showing you around.” Charles offered his hand to shake. “It’s good to meet you, and I’ll enjoy getting to know you.”
“It’s good to meet you, sir.” Alex found he was nervous meeting the man who would decide whether or not he was allowed to marry Madelina. All of a sudden, it felt as if it had been his idea to marry the maiden, and he didn’t want anything to get in his way. His luck was proving true once again.
Charles looked back and forth between the two of them. “Enjoy yourselves.”
She didn’t take them upstairs, and she didn’t show him the kitchens, but she led him to the four sitting areas that were on the main floor of the castle as well as the great hall, where they had feasts and ate supper on a regular basis. “Would you care to see the grounds?”
Alex shrugged. “I’ve been traveling for three days, and I’m a bit weary. Would you mind if we sat down and just talked for a bit?”
“I’m so sorry. You should have said something sooner. I would have been happy to sit with you.” She led him to the closest sitting room and sat down on a window seat, tucking her legs under her. She knew it wasn’t a ladylike way to sit, but if he was going to get to know her, then he should know the real her and not just what she projected to strangers.
He sat in a chair perpendicular to her, not at all disappointed that she made herself comfortable in his presence. “What do you like to do?” he asked.
She shrugged. “When I was little, my siblings and cousins and I would play together a great deal. Now I spend my spare time learning from my mother. Her healing abilities fascinate me.”
“Do you sometimes wish you had her power instead of your own?” he asked. He couldn’t imagine having any power and wishing for another, but he could see it was possible in this woman.
She smiled at how astute he was. “Most definitely. I can make it snow indoors or rain when I am sad, but what use are such things? A power like healing is something that can do good for others.”
“I can see times when your ability to control the weather would come in handy.” How could she not see the benefits of controlling weather?
She frowned at him. “Such as?”
Alex smiled at her. “Imagine we are in our own castle, the one I’ll inherit as soon as I marry, and there are invaders coming. We could find out about them many hours before they arrive. A tornado or a strong thunderstorm or even a blizzard would stop them in their tracks.”
“Why did I never think of that?” Madelina asked. Her father had never even suggested her helping them in a battle. She could see where it would be very useful, though.
“Because you’re a gentle lady more interested in healing than in war, I’d wager. And remember, I am surrounded by luck.”
She smiled, delighted by this man and his company. Maybe it was time she married after all.
Chapter Two
Madelina spent the rest of the day with Alexander, chatting with him. She was careful to leave the door open, and quite often one of her aunts or her mother would stick their head in the room to check on them.
After several hours, her mother came into the room and sat down on the window seat beside her. “Supper will be served in an hour or so. Would you like to dress for the meal?”
Madelina hadn’t thought of that. They were usually casual for meals, but with a suitor there for her, she would be expected to be more formal. “Yes, Mother.” She stood, smiling at Alex. “Can you find your way back to your room? Or should I send someone with you?”
“I can make my own way.” He stood and bowed his head. “I will see you at supper.”
As soon as he was gone, her mother caught her hand and pulled her back down. “What do you think of him? I’ve never seen you spend so many hours with someone outside the family.”
“Oh, Mama, he’s a kind, gentle man. He said ‘thank you’ to Gerald for stabling his horse.” Madelina knew her mother would understand the import of her words. She knew their family was different from others.
Marina smiled. “I think that’s a very good sign indeed. Do you feel . . . attraction for him?”
Madelina blushed. “I feel like I would like for him to take my hand or kiss me. Is that attraction?”
“Very much so. I’m pleased for you, daughter. I will have your father hurry as he finds out all he can about his family and past.”
“Must he do that? It feels like we don’t trust him . . .”
“I only have one youngest daughter and one last unmarried daughter. I don’t trust anyone when it comes to my precious child.” Marina got to her feet. “We must dress for supper. Wear your green velvet.”
Madelina made a face. “But it’s so hot. I’ll have to constantly make a wind blow through the great hall to avoid sweating.”
“So? I see nothing wrong with that.”
“Mama, where is the child?” Madelina felt that she’d done something wrong not keeping the little girl within her sight. She’d all but forgotten her as she’d spent the day with Alexander.
“She’s sleeping on a pallet in your room. One of the servants is with her. I judge her age to be around three. She hasn’t spoken yet, but hopefully she’ll be able to give us her name.” Her mother tilted her head to one side, considering. “You want to keep her, don’t you?”
“If she has no other family, then yes, of course I do.”
“It wouldn’t be easy to start out a marriage raising a child that isn’t even yours.”
Madelina shrugged. “Honestly, Mama, if he doesn’t feel the way I do about raising a peasant child with no family, then he’s not the man I want to spend my life with.”
Her mother shook her head, a slight smile at her lips. “We may have raised you with just a little too much independence. You do realize that the final decision about whether or not you marry him will be made by your father and your uncle Roland.”
“Well, of course. But they’ll take my opinion on the matter into consideration because they love me. I’m valuable in their eyes.”
“I hope you realize just how fortunate you are to have people who watch over you like you do.”
“There’s no doubt in my mind.” Madelina sighed. “Now I will go and lace myself into my velvet dress and practice cooling winds.” She hurried from the room, glad no one was watching her. She needed to learn to act a bit more ladylike eventually, but that day wasn’t going to be the one where she accomplished it.
An hour later, she descended the stairs in her velvet gown, which weighed heavily on her. She was too hot, and she felt stifled in the thing, but her mother was right. It showed off all her assets beautifully.
When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she found Alexander waiting for her. He offered her his arm, and they walked to the table together. Her aunt had them sit beside one another, sharing a trencher. It was obvious she was in favor of a union between them, and from the look on her uncle Roland’s face, he believed they were a good match as well.
Through the very long meal, her uncle questioned him about his family. “How much land did your father receive from King William for his service?”
Alex answered everything to her uncle’s satisfaction, and her father just seemed to watch Alex, as if he was trying to take his measure.
Madelina understood it was her duty to sit quietly and let her elders question him, but it was very hard for her not to speak her mind. Finally, she questioned her aunt in her mind. “What do you think of him, Aunt Christiana? Does Uncle Roland like him?”
Her aunt’s lips quivered with amusement at the question. “I think he’s going to make you a good mate, Madelina. Your uncle is very impressed with him, and he was fond of his father when they fought together. I believe the only things that could halt a marriage at this point would be if the two of you realized you d
idn’t get along well.”
“I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
Christiana gave a slight nod to her head. “I don’t think so either. I hope he makes you as happy as you think he will.”
Alex continued answering questions, unaware that there was a mental conversation concerning him occurring right there in front of him.
Madelina sat quietly, but she couldn’t handle the heat for another moment. She closed her eyes and caused a cool breeze to blow through the great hall, smiling sweetly when her mother looked at her suspiciously.
Uncle Roland turned to her. “If you could make the breeze just a bit stronger and cooler, I’d appreciate it.”
Madelina bit her lip as she complied. “Is that better, Uncle?”
“Much.”
Alex turned to her with a smile. “I wondered if that was you causing the breeze. It was wonderful.”
“I’m always happy to oblige.” She took a bite of the meat from their shared trencher, a bit embarrassed, but very happy that he didn’t think something was wrong with her use of her powers.
After the meal, Alex asked her father formally, “May I take Madelina for a walk around the grounds, Sir Charles?”
Her father looked back and forth between the two of them, finally nodding. “Yes, but not too long.”
As they stepped outside, Alex looked at her. “Your father doesn’t trust me.”
Madelina shrugged. “He doesn’t distrust you. He just doesn’t know you, and you’re wanting to be alone with his youngest daughter. I’ve been coddled by sisters and brothers and cousins and aunts and uncles my entire life. It’s part of being the youngest in such a large family.”
“Your uncle Hugh . . . is he a Norman?” Alex asked.
Madelina was unsurprised by the question. Her uncle had neither the height nor the fair looks of a Norman. “No, he’s not. He was born a peasant, but he saved Uncle Roland’s life when he was but a boy and Uncle Roland could barely walk. After that he was raised with Roland as a member of his family, more to protect Roland than anything else. He married my aunt Eva, and the two of them have been very happy.”
“Does it bother you that he was a peasant at birth?”
She shook her head. “Why would it? He’s my uncle, and he loves me. Does it bother you?”
“Not at all. I believe that all men are equal but that some of us were privileged to be born into wealthy families. I know it’s not the way most believe, but I don’t really care if my opinions are popular.”
She smiled at that. “My family feels the same. Uncle Hugh didn’t feel as if he was good enough to marry Aunt Eva from what I understand. She changed his mind, though.”
Alex grinned. “I’m glad to hear it. No one should be married to someone who thinks less of them.” They’d circled the castle twice, but he hadn’t dared to go on the other side of the moat, where her family may not want her to be. He stopped under one of the windows, where they couldn’t be seen, and took her hands in his. “I believe it was my luck coming into play when I was sent here to meet you, Lina.”
She smiled. “I like that thought. I’m glad you’re here.”
“Would you mind . . . that is . . . may I kiss you? I want to see if it would be as wonderful as I imagine it would.”
Madelina stared up at him by the light of the moon. “I wonder the same things.”
“So may I?”
“Yes.” She raised her lips for his kiss, having seen many kisses in her life. Her family was demonstrative with their feelings.
Alex took a step closer to her, his hands going to her tiny waist. “This dress must be very hot.”
“Yes, but my mother said I needed to wear it, since it’s my best.” She shrugged. “The breeze in the great hall was the only thing that kept me going this evening.”
He laughed. “I like that you were obedient to your mother, yet you still made certain you were as comfortable as you needed to be. You’re a beautiful woman, Lina.” Slowly, he lowered his lips to hers, finding hers pursed tightly together. His tongue stroked along her lips, and she opened her mouth a bit, enjoying the taste of him.
After a moment, he lifted his lips from hers, his forehead leaning against her own. “I want to marry you, Lina.”
She smiled at that. “Give my father a few days to get used to the idea of losing me, and then ask for my hand.”
“You won’t refuse me?”
She shook her head, feeling the snow fall around them. “I won’t refuse you.” Her heart felt like it had just taken flight! Of course she wouldn’t refuse him.
“Why does that embarrass you?” he asked, confused.
“Because marrying a man includes certain intimacies, and they came into my mind, and it embarrassed me, and then the snow started to fall . . .” She sighed. She really had no idea what the intimacies were, but she knew they had made her sister’s blush. So she was embarrassed. “It’s not easy to spend your entire life with your emotions transparent to those around you.”
“It will certainly shock my father when I bring you home and there are snowstorms in the castle. We’ll see how quickly he adapts to having you for a daughter.”
“Do you have any sisters?” she asked.
He pulled her hand through his arm, and they resumed their walk around the castle. “No, I don’t. The seventh son in my family never has daughters. Only seven sons. If you marry me, you will have granddaughters, but no daughters. Will that bother you?”
Madelina frowned until she remembered the peasant girl, sleeping on a pallet in her room. “It would, but I have a feeling the little girl you helped save today will have no family. I have already told my mother I plan to raise her as my own.”
“What if I don’t want her?” He did, but he wanted to know how she felt about the matter. And she needed to remember that if they were marrying, she’d be making decisions for two, not one.
“I would be very disappointed in you, and I would think that perhaps I didn’t know you as I thought I did.” Surely he could see that they were the right choice for the child.
He smiled. “I do want her. I love the idea of her being a part of our family. I wonder how she’ll do with seven younger brothers.”
“I have no idea, but I have a feeling we’ll find out. Unless Father finds out something terrible about you, of course.” She said it that way to see if he’d tell her something terrible about him. If there was something that her father would object to, surely he’d tell her now.
“Am I being investigated?”
“Well, of course you are. My uncle sent out a messenger as soon as he told me to show you to your room. Do you really think he wouldn’t be careful about the man he allowed me to marry?”
Alexander smiled. “It seems like you’re already used to being treated as a precious gem. I’m glad because there will be no adjustment for you then.”
She smiled at him. “Are you saying you’ll treat me as a delicate flower?”
He laughed. “I have this feeling you don’t want to be treated like a delicate flower. Your hands are callused.”
She shrugged. “I help Mother with a healing garden on the roof of the castle. We grow herbs for healing. If my mother gives people herbs and then boosts their healing a little bit when they come to see her, it keeps her secret intact. Many know, of course, but most do not. That’s how we like it.”
“Do you enjoy helping her with the herbs and healing?”
“So much I could never express it. I feel like healing is a gift that should be passed down through the generations. If we are allowed to keep the peasant girl upstairs, she will be trained in healing, just as I was.”
“Did your sisters train in healing as well?”
She shook her head. “No, they all just enjoyed their own powers. None of them were fascinated by the healing arts as I was. If only I could mix in a bit of my mother’s magic and take it with us.”
“Is your mother a witch?” he asked. He knew many would consider the question rude,
but he hoped she understood that he meant it with an open heart. Being able to classify their powers would help him make decisions as they needed to be made.
“I would have to say no to that. We don’t know where our powers come from, but we have to assume they came from God.” She kicked up the wind a bit. The night was too balmy for her to be wearing such a heavy dress. It was July, and she was not a fan of being hot. “We all wear crosses, which we wouldn’t be able to do if our powers came from the evil one.”
He nodded, thinking about her words. “Many have questioned the power that runs through my family as well. It’s nothing like yours, but the luck that the seventh son receives is really quite remarkable at times.”
“Give me an example.”
“Well, I was in a burning house once, and I was trying to get some small children out. If I had stepped in one direction, I would have fallen through the floor to the cellar and my death. Instead I went the other way, and I was fine. I almost went the wrong way, but something inside me told me it was wrong.”
“I see.”
“And there was a business proposition made to me. A man was certain he was going to be able to earn a great deal of money off of a shipment coming into London. He wanted me to invest everything I had in this ship. A little voice in my head told me not to. I was sure it was a bad idea, and I tried to talk him out of it. The ship went down in the English Channel. He lost everything.”
“So if I marry you, I’ll never be a pauper. This is good to know.” She smiled at him cheekily, knowing he’d understand that she was joking. Somehow, she’d found in him a man who understood her and whom she understood. She had great feelings for him already. How had this happened?
“No, you should never be a pauper. I’ve never thought a great deal about my lucky ways, because they’ve always been a part of my life, but at this moment, I want to get down on my knees and kiss the ground, thanking God for the luck he has given me.”
“And why is that?” Madelina asked, stopping with him just before they reached the entrance to the castle.
Alexander_A Seventh Son Novel Page 2