Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine (english love story books .TXT) 📗

to look around, searching for Mattie, but the figures near her on the thundering horses were blurred by the streaming smoke and the bitter fumes.

Apart from one brief rest to water the horses, Sir Duncan did not draw rein until they reached Turnberry. The sweating, trembling animals trotted over the echoing drawbridge and stopped at last, their breath coming in clouds of steam as they drew up before the high keep. After sliding from his horse, he came and held out his hand to help Matilda dismount. He seemed unruffled by the long, wild ride and maintained his scrupulously polite manner. "Welcome, Lady Matilda. " He bowed low. "I trust you will think of yourself as my guest until we hear what His Grace would wish me to do with you. "

Matilda was shaking, half with fatigue and fear, half with anger. "You're no friend of mine, Sir Duncan. If I enter your house it will be as your prisoner, never as your guest, " she flashed at him, snatching her hand from his.

He smiled. "As you wish. " He turned abruptly on his heel, barking a command to his men, and ran ahead of them into the castle.

They were hustled into the keep and up into one of the high chambers under the roof. There was no furniture and the wooden floor was swept bare. All three babies were crying now and Matilda, in the light of the candle that burned on its pricket near the door, could see that Mattie was near tears herself. The nurse was white, her eyes enormous with terror. Will had been taken away from them out in the bailey and Matilda felt sick with fear for him. It was a moment before she felt Margaret's hand on her arm, steadying her. "Help me with the babies, Mother. We must quiet them. Perhaps nurse can give them all a little milk, if she can, even John. At least we're sheltered here, and it's warm. "

"He would have made us comfortable, if you'd let him, " Mattie flashed. "We could have been his guests. There would have been a fire and blankets and food. Why are you so stubborn and proud? Must we all suffer for it all the time?" She turned away petulantly as Matilda bent to pick up little John and hug him tightly in her arms.

"Hush, Mattie, " Margaret retorted warningly. "Mother did quite right to refuse. We don't need a fire. It's a hot night. "

The child was heavy in Matilda's arms and she could feel them beginning to ache already, but she continued to hold him, feeling the warmth and comfort of his little body as his arms crept around her neck. Margaret had given Egidia to the wet nurse and was rocking Mattie's little Richard, trying to quiet his fretful wails, gently loosening his swaddling bands. "There's one thing we must thank heaven for, Mother. Walter and the others have got away. The villagers who were watching will tell them what happened and they will come after us. Somehow they'll get us out of here. They'll think of something. "

Mattie looked up, a sudden ray of hope in her tear-reddened eyes. "Do you think so? Oh, yes, of course they will. They'll save us. Walter would never let you be taken a prisoner. They'll save us and find Will. "

Matilda forced herself to smile, though her lips were dry and cracked from salt and sun and fear. "Of course we'll all be all right. Don't worry. I'm sure they'll think of something before the king sends for us. "

Some time later as light was beginning to filter through the unshuttered windows they heard steps on the stone stairs outside. The door was unbarred and men appeared carrying mattresses and blankets. They brought in jugs of wine and plates of meat and oatcakes and a bowl of milksops for the babies, and set them down near the empty hearth. Then one of them turned to Matilda and saluted. "Sir Duncan sends his compliments, madam. If you and the ladies will accept his hospitality you will be most welcome to dine at his table tonight. "

Matilda felt her cheeks flame. "I thought I told Sir Duncan what I thought of his hospitality. Please tell him I haven't changed my mind. I will never willingly stay a guest under his roof. "

The man bowed without comment, his face carefully neutral, and withdrew with the others, barring the heavy door behind him. As soon as he had gone Mattie burst into loud sobs. "Why? Why did you refuse him? We could have tried to change his mind. We might have escaped if we had got out of this infernal room. We might have got away!" She flung herself at the door, beating her fists in anguish against the thick unyielding timbers.

Matilda looked at her, her face set. "And leave your babies as hostages?" was all she said.

Chapter 37

Nick stretched slowly on the bed and looked up at the sunlight sliding through the curtains and playing on the plaster frieze around the bedroom ceiling. He smiled. It was a long time since he had awoken at Jo's on a Monday morning. He brought his wrist up in front of his face and stared at his watch. Christ Almighty! It was eight-fifteen. He was due at the office at eight-thirty. He leapt to his feet, then he stopped in his tracks.

The bed beside him was empty, the bedspread still in place, save where it showed the imprint of his sleeping body. And he was fully dressed.

Slowly, with a leaden heart, Nick walked up the passage to the living room. Jo lay where he had left her, on the sofa, very still beneath the blanket he had tucked around her.

"Nick? What time is it?" She opened her eyes slowly.

"After eight. " He went and sat down beside her.

"What happened? Why did I sleep here? When did you arrive?" She pushed the hair out