Page 55 of The Daughters of Avalon
Elspeth snipped a piece and brought the cutting to her nose to smell. “Some would call it by that name. It works wonderfully for pain.”
“We use it to flavor our wine,” explained Alyss.
Elspeth smiled, enlightened now as to how and why she’d slept so heavily after she and Malcom traded vows. They’d left a full flagon of the flavored wine in their room.
Where was he now?she wondered.
Wistfully, she peered down at the ribbon that was tied about her wrist. The white cloth was dragging in the dirt, so she plucked up the ends, and tucked them quickly into the band beneath her sleeve.
Thankfully, if either of the ladies wondered over the ribbon, or recognized what it was, neither asked. Just for good measure, she slid a small sprig of meadowsweet into the band, and said with a smile, “An old Welsh legend claims that all women are divined by druid wizards from these blossoms, so, betimes they are placed in garlands for brides, to ensure peace and harmony in the home.”
“Oh! I will be sure to do that for mine,” said Lady Dominique. “Your wedding must have been so lovely. Will you tell us about it?”
“It was beautiful,” Elspeth said, averting her gaze. She pulled another small weed, tossing it aside, uncomfortable with the topic. And yet, in fact, for all that it had been a simple affair, she thought it was beautiful even so—that Malcom would sacrifice so much, just for her.
Thankfully, Dominique’s girlish buoyance saved her from having to say aught more. She gushed, “You’ll be a wonderful lady mother. I can see you with wee ones running about your skirts whilst you tend your beautiful garden.”
Elspeth smiled, though, in truth, she couldn’t envision any such a thing. She herself had never been much of a child to run about skirts, laughing or carrying on. Per force, she had been the one to care for all four of her sisters, and more than likely, it was her skirts they’d carried on about. And yet, she hadn’t any regrets—not about that.
“You must be so pleased to be breeding so soon. Quite certainly, ’tis a sign that God himself has blessed your union.”
“Aye,” said Elspeth, smiling. But the quickening in her belly wasn’t a babe; it was only the consequence of yet another lie.
“I am so pleased to meet you, Elspeth. If I had a sister I would wish her to be you.”
“Thank you,” Elspeth said, smiling, missing her own sisters so much.Would Malcom reach them in time?She prayed it would be so. “I would have been blessed to have you as a sister,” Elspeth told her. She peered up at Alyss, smiling. “In truth, we are all sisters in the eyes of God.”
“Oh! I think so too.” Dominique reached out to grasp Alyss by the hand. “My dear Alyss is as close to a sister as I will ever know and now I have two.”
Elspeth smiled again. And despite that the compliments left her ill at ease, she realized Dominique meant them sincerely. There was no guile in her words—no trace of malice in her aura. In fact, both girls had such a bright air about them that Elspeth sensed the pall cast over them even before the sun revealed the incoming shadow.
“Demoiselles,” said Beauchamp.
Elspeth gasped aloud as the lord of Amdel appeared. Wearing black from head to toe, it was difficult to say where his shadow ended and the man himself began.
It took a long moment to grow accustomed to the glint of sun in her eyes, in order for Elspeth to see that he was wearing the vestments of a falconer, with a falconer’s gauntlet on hisright hand and a white-necked raven perched upon his glove, and seeing that bird, Elspeth swallowed convulsively, for these were not common, and she knew them only too well. They were precisely the sort of birds they raised at Llanthony —suited to only one purpose, to convey messages to her mother. The realization sent a cold shiver down her spine, even despite the heat of the sun.
“My lord,” she said, forcing a smile. But her gaze settled on the bird and did not leave it.
“I trust you are enjoying the day.” Giving lie to his aura, his tone was ebullient—not the least bit ominous. “I myself could not bring myself to remain indoors when the sun shines so beauteously.”
With great effort, Elspeth shifted her gaze to Beauchamp’s face, only to find that, once again, he was staring at her bosom—or perhaps the necklace she’d fashioned for her ring. “I… am…” Instinctively, she adjusted the braid and tugged on her décolletage, lifting it to hide her natural gifts from prying eyes. Seeing that she had nothing else, Dominque had very generously loaned her a simple, pale-blue woolen dress so she wouldn’t soil her new finery whilst toiling in the garden, but perhaps it revealed more than Elspeth would have liked.
Dominique’s voice was full of delight. “Elspeth is teaching us about simples!”
“Is she now?”
“Aye,” Elspeth said, without looking at the man.
“Are you so well versed, Lady Aldergh?”
“Oh, yes, she is!” answered Dominque. And then she turned to Elspeth. “William has the most wonderful aviary—later, I will show you. He has quite the way with birds, and they are such good hunters. I am quite certain there is not another aviary in all of England to match it.”
Try as she might, Elspeth couldn’t take her eyes off the bird. But, indeed, there was. There was at least one more that she knew of, and probably more. Thanks to her mother’s efforts, those babbling birds were housed in every loyal house across Britain.
Beauchamp must have mistaken Elspeth’s interest in the bird, for he extended his hand to her, and he asked, “Would you care to hold him?”
“Hold him!” squealed the raven, and Elspeth gasped.
