Page 67 of The Tempest
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“There is aman in town who sells thread,” Elisiana said. “I asked him to get me a certain color a few weeks ago, so I must see if he has it now.”
Astria didn’t have one escort into the village, but two.
After Payne departed and Astria donned a simple blue surcoat over the shift she wore, she’d brushed and braided her hair and set out for Athdara’s cottage. What she walked into was a pack of young children running and playing as Athdara tried to feed them something before the day began. Her two older boys were fostering at Okehampton Castle nearby, but the younger three made it sound as if she had an entire pack of youngsters taking over her home.
The truth, however, was that this was a day of learning. St. Denis tutored the younger children of his trainers and had since Tay’s children, the first to be born, was old enough to learn. He adored the duty. While the older children went to Exmoor’s keep to begin their daily lesson with the earl, Astria told Athdara about her invitation from Maude and that Payne had requested an escort. Because Athdara did, indeed, want to meet the infamous Bloody Maude out of curiosity more than anything, she eagerly offered to escort Lady Lismore to town.
With one-year-old Lisabeth on her mother’s hip, Athdara and Astria began their journey to the gatehouse. They were met halfway by Elisiana, who also had her infant son with her. When she heard about the trek into the village, she invited herself to go along, so the three ladies set out to make a morning of it in the village.
The morning was soft and bright, and rabbits dashed across the road as they walked. Literally, the road from Blackchurch led straight into the village, so those at the gatehouse could watch the women almost until they got into town. It was a pleasant morning, with pleasant conversation, and Elisiana brought up the thread issue because she was sewing something new to wear.
Lovely, normal conversation.
Worlds away from being a captive of Bloody Maude.
Truthfully, Astria found that she had to keep reminding herself that her horrible captivity was all over. These days, she was on the verge of convincing herself that Maude had been a guardian angel and delivered her to the most perfect man imaginable. When Maude had first told her about the planned marriage, Astria well remembered her reaction. The fighting, the kicking. Maude had finally brained her with the butt end of a dagger. Everything had been chaotic up until the day she’d met Payne.
After that… well, the world just made more sense. All of it made sense.
And here she was, with lovely women on a lovely morning.
She could still hardly believe any of it.
“Astria?”
Hearing her name, Astria looked over at Athdara and Elisiana. “Aye?”
The women burst out laughing. “You did not hear a word I said, did you?” Elisiana said. “I suppose you are not to blame. Payne is quite worth dreaming over.”
Astria flushed to the roots of her hair. “I suppose I was doing that,” she admitted. “I am sorry. I did not mean to be an uninteresting companion.”
“You’re not uninteresting at all,” Athdara said. “In fact, my husband told me something about you.”
“What did he tell you?”
“That you are from the royal house of Portugal.”
Astria nodded. “That is true.”
“He said you are a princess.”
Astria sighed, fighting a smile. “Did Payne tell him that?”
Athdara nodded. “He told everyone that,” she said. “He was not bragging. He was simply telling them of your background, or so my husband said. Please do not be angry.”
Astria shook her head. “I am not,” she assured her. “And I was not trying to hide my identity. I suppose it had not occurred to me to tell you. I’ve been enjoying your companionship so very much and we’ve had so many other things to talk about. To be honest, I’ve never really had any friends.”
“Never?” Athdara frowned. “Why not?”
Astria shrugged. “I am the youngest of many children,” she said. “My life was dictated by duty and tutors and priests. I also married very young. Did you know I was married before Payne?”
Athdara nodded. “My husband told me that, too.”
“It’s true,” Astria said. “He was very old. We had no children. But I went straight from the royal court to his household, and it was very isolating. Being a duchess means I am at the pinnacle, socially. There was never any chance for close friends, not in the San Miguel household.”
“I am sorry,” Athdara said, shifting her daughter to her other hip. “I told you that my father was a duke, a title that now belongs to my younger brother. I know what it is like to grow up in a political household.”
