Page 71 of The Forsaken
Hugh appeared a few moments later, out of breath from running up the steep spiral staircase. When he saw Aileen’s body, he sighed and shook his head in disbelief. He approached the girl and looked at her carefully, not appearing in the least revolted by the sight of her mutilated face.
“How did she die?” he asked at last. “I don’t see any signs of violence.”
“I think she meant to throw herself off,” Guy said, pointing to the lack of snow on the stone.
“Clearly, she didn’t. So how did she kill herself? I can’t imagine she sat here till she froze to death.”
Guy had known from the moment he saw Aileen’s body that she’d taken her own life, but it wasn’t until Hugh had spoken the words that the magnitude of what Aileen had done really sankin. She had committed suicide—a mortal sin in the eyes of God. Perhaps that was why she’d done it here, on the roof, where she’d hoped not to be found.
“We’ll have to inform Father Joseph,” Hugh said as he continued to stare at Aileen in heartless fascination.
“You know what he’ll say.”
“Yes. We’ll have to bury her at a crossroads at midnight with a stake through her heart.”
“I won’t do it, Hugh.”
“What do you suggest? There’s no place for her in consecrated ground. We must obey the Church in this.”
“Well, I won’t. She was an innocent girl who found her life too heavy a burden to carry. I won’t dishonor her in that way. Let’s bury her in the woods. No one need ever know. She has no family, aside from Jed, and he won’t tell anyone.”
Hugh turned around to look at Guy, an expression of pure contempt on his face. “You’ve grown soft, brother. No, let me rephrase that. You’ve always been soft.”
“Do as you wish,” Guy spat out and left the roof before his anger had a chance to overflow. “I’ll send Alf to help you with the body.”
“Did you see anything?” Kate asked as she came out of one of the bedchambers. She froze when she saw Guy’s face.
“Don’t go up there,” Guy replied.
“Why?” she whispered. “What’s happened to Aileen?”
“She’s killed herself, Kate.”
“Why?” Kate cried as her hand flew to her mouth in shock. “Why would she do that?”
“I don’t know. Perhaps she saw no good reason to go on.”
“She was eighteen,” Kate whispered, shaking her head as if she could chase away the truth. “She had her whole life ahead of her.”
She pressed herself against the wall when Hugh came awkwardly down the steps holding Aileen in his arms. Thankfully, her face was turned inward, so Kate couldn’t see the full ugliness of the girl’s death.
“Come away, Kate. Come away,” Guy said as he tried to pull her away from the staircase. But she wouldn’t budge. She stared at Aileen’s body in horror, her hand reaching toward the girl.
“Get her away from here,” Hugh barked as he reached the landing. “Move, you stupid woman.”
Kate reacted as if she’d been scalded by boiling water. She turned on her heel and fled, disappearing into the nearest bedchamber.
“You didn’t have to be so harsh,” Guy said. “Kate was overcome with shock.”
“If I need advice on how to treat my wife, I’ll be sure to ask for it. But for now, keep your own counsel, brother, since I have no need of it.” Hugh leaned against the wall and took a deep breath. “Help me get her down. She’s heavy and stiff.”
Guy took Aileen by the ankles while Hugh grasped her beneath the arms. They carried her down in silence, each lost in his own thoughts.
FORTY-THREE
Dinner was a subdued affair. Joan served cold meat and cheese, accompanied by yesterday’s bread and a jug of ale. She hadn’t had any time to prepare a hot meal, since it had fallen to her to see to Aileen’s body. Everyone was in shock, but Kate sensed Hugh seething beneath his quiet exterior, outraged that this shame had been brought on his household. Guy ate in silence, his gaze never meeting anyone’s, but Kate felt his warm hand on hers when no one was looking, a gesture of comfort and support. She was relieved when Joan came in to clear away the remnants of the meal.
“Well, what have you got to say for yourself, Nurse?” Hugh asked. He was normally more respectful to Joan, but at the moment, he couldn’t be bothered to control his temper.
