Page 51 of Feathers in the Wind
‘You have a wedding in a few days,’ Adam said, steering Simon in the direction of the gate. ‘Perdita will make quite sure you are well by then.’
‘Oh yes, the wedding.’ Simon hefted a sigh and looked up at Adam, his eyes bright with more than just fever. ‘I love her so much, Coulter.’
‘I’m sure she knows that,’ Adam forced the words out.
‘She’s so beautiful. Don’t you think?’
‘Yes,’ agreed Adam. ‘She is the most beautiful woman I have ever met.’
‘I’m a lucky man.’
You don’t know how lucky, Adam agreed.
* * *
After the rainof the previous day, a heavy winter fog enveloped the castle, giving it the impression of a mythological Camelot, rising out of the marsh. Perdita and Ludovic had been waiting nearly an hour, stamping their feet and moving as much as they could to stop from freezing to the spot.
‘I see them, mistress,’ Ludovic said at last.
Out of the fog, two figures emerged from the postilion gate, one tall and straight, his dark head bare, his arm around a shorter stooped figure. Perdita picked up her skirts and ran up the causeway, calling Simon’s name.
Adam released his grip on the prisoner and Simon stumbled toward her. She took him in her arms, filthy and reeking as he was.
‘Perdita,’ he mumbled. ‘How good you smell.’
‘I wish I could say the same of you,’ she chided.
Over Simon’s head, she caught Adam Coulter’s cold, hard gaze.
Hypocrite, his eyes seemed to say. How can you profess to love this man when it is me you want?
Abruptly he turned on his heel, swallowed up by the shadows of the gatehouse. Perdita turned her attention back to her betrothed. He looked appallingly ill, nearly two week’s growth of beard could not hide the hollowed cheeks and sunken eyes, and a quick touch of his forehead confirmed her worst fear. He had a fever.
‘Simon, are you well enough to ride?
He smiled at her, his finger tracing the line of her cheekbone. ‘I’m all the better for seeing you, Perdita. It’s just a chill.’ He cast a quick glance up at the forbidding walls of Warwick Castle. ‘Come let us get away from this place. I have a wedding to attend, I believe.’
They were greeted at Preswood by Bess, who must have been watching for them. She ran to her brother’s side as Simon slid off his horse and leaned against the animal’s flank.
‘It’s good to be home,’ he said with a smile for his sister.
‘Simon. How wonderful. Perdita, you did it!’
Ludovic lifted Perdita down from her horse and she crossed to Simon.
‘It is Adam Coulter we must thank,’ she said. ‘He released him without recourse to ransom.’
‘I should think so too.’ Bess put her arm around her brother, peering anxiously into his haggard face.
‘Are you all right, Simon?’
Simon gathered himself and took a few steps. He staggered and she caught his arm.
‘I’m fine,’ he said. ‘Just a little tired.’
Perdita touched his cheek and shook her head. ‘Simon, you’re burning up. I told you, you have a fever.’
His mouth drooped. ‘I'm sorry, Perdita I didn’t want to worry you. I do have a headache. It started yesterday and I do not seem able to shake it. In truth there were moments on the road when I doubted I would make it home.’
