Page 294 of Historical Hotties
She nodded, but the tears were still threatening. “Aye.”
“And you know that I would never lie to you.”
Again, she nodded, wiping her nose. “Has… has everything I’ve been told been a lie, then?Everything?”
That was such an astute and painful question, one Darius was surprised to hear. That kind of question took great reasoning powers, but it also took a willingness to understand that everything she knew in life might not have been true. Everyone had been telling her the same thing, and now she was starting to question. She was starting to think.
Darius gave her hand a squeeze.
“Not everything,” he said. “Madam Madonna instilled a strong love of God in you. That is a good thing. But what she told you about preaching and your mother were lies. I know you are afraid of what to believe, but I promise you that if you believe what we tell you and allow yourself to at least come to know your mother a little, I think you will see what is truth and what is a lie with your own eyes. You are old enough to make that decision. All we are asking is that you not let Madam Madonna make it for you. She has no power over you anymore, Jane. It is time for you to find your voice and learn and grow.”
Jane looked at him, unable to stop the tears now. It was difficult to comprehend, but that was exactly what she was trying to do—comprehend. She wiped at her eyes with her free hand.
“But what should I do?” she asked, sniffling.
Darius smiled and kissed her small hand. “You should go into the keep and have lessons with your sisters,” he said. “You should be obedient to your mother. She is a kind woman, Janie. She only wants to love you. It would make me happy if you tried. Will you try?”
Jane looked at him, at the table, and at the half-built chicken bed. “But who will help you build the bed?” she asked.
He shrugged. “I will stop right now so you can go inside to your lessons,” he said. “When you are finished, I will resume and you can help me. I would not think of building this bed without you.”
He was nodding his head as he spoke, encouraging her, and Jane finally broke down and nodded with him. “If you think I should go,” she said.
“I think you should go,” he responded. “Would you like for me to walk to the keep with you?”
She nodded, wiping at more tears, and Darius set the hammer down. Still holding her hand, he led her out of the shed, through the kitchen yard, and to the keep. He led her right into the solar, where Caledonia was helping Janet write the letterAover and over. When Caledonia looked up and saw Jane, she stood quickly and went to her. Because Darius was holding her hand, Jane felt brave, but she also felt sad that she had behaved so poorly the last time she saw her mother.
“Greetings, Jane,” Caledonia said hesitantly. “Would you like to watch?”
Jane looked up at Darius, who took pity on the child and replied for her. “Jane would like to join the lessons,” he said. “She was helping me build a chicken bed, but we have decided that this is more important. Do you have a place where she can sit and join in?”
It was all Caledonia could to not to hug Darius. She was fairly certain he was instrumental in Jane’s change of heart, knowing how the girl had built a trust with him. After the harsh words with Jane earlier, Caledonia wasn’t honestly sure she would see her eldest daughter anytime soon.
But here she was.
And Caledonia was overjoyed.
“Of course,” she said. “Jane, you may sit next to Janet. We are writing our letters. Would you like to try?”
Jane nodded, but she didn’t let go of Darius’ hand. He was forced to walk her over to the table, and even when she sat down, she didn’t let go. Eventually, she did, but Darius and Caledonia decided it would be a good idea for him to remain. If he stayed, maybe she would, too.
It was a big step for Jane.
And a big step for Caledonia.
But one they were both ready, and willing, to make.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Fourteen days afterbeing summarily dismissed from Stafford Castle, Cristano and his cousins, along with Rotri and Domnall and about fifty men from Dordon Castle, were ready to move.
Those fourteen days had been full of planning, of discussions, and in the end, the scheme they came up with was a solid one. The only person not actively part of the scheming was the woman who called herself Madam Madonna, and she was more concerned with finding another position as a nurse or tutor to children of nobility. She didn’t seem to have the same sense of vengeance that the knights had. To be truthful, Rotri could see that there wasn’t any love lost between the knights and the old woman.
Hearing them discuss their respective positions at Stafford Castle led him to believe that there might have been a power struggle between Cristano and the woman. Now that Cristano was determined to seek vengeance, she didn’t seem interested. It was evident that she would rather look for another opportunity than try to reclaim what she had, so twelve days after her arrival at Dordon, Madam Madonna departed with a small escort for Whitby Abbey, where she had served as a postulate long ago.Whitby had connections with every noble family in Northern England, and she wanted to find another family through them.
And with that, Madam Madonna was gone.
Rotri didn’t care one way or the other. He sent the woman on her way, leaving him with the de Lucera cousins, who were more determined than ever to stage an ambush a means to their end. Their target for the action was the village of Millford, to the east of Stafford but in sight of the castle. The plan was to burn all they could, raise a ruckus, and then wait for the garrison at Stafford to come to the rescue of the villagers. Thor would undoubtedly be leading them and would walk right into an ambush.
