Page 331 of Historical Hotties
Sparrow regarded her friend. She, too, had been part of the performance in the great hall and had seen the fiasco caused by the nervous horse. When the horse had fled and the diners began wandering away, Sparrow had spied a pale-appearing Gisella being escorted by a tall, handsome knight who turned out to be her brother. When she ran to Gisella to see what the matter was, Gisella’s brother gave a brief summary of the evening’s events because Gisella seemed too upset to speak.
After that, Sparrow had accompanied them back to their shared bedchamber and once Gisella’s brother had departed, she had received even more of an explanation from Gisella once the woman had sufficiently calmed. It had been a shocking and somber tale.
So she had helped Gisella bathe and clean the horse dung from her hair, and then she had helped the woman dress in a dark blue woolen traveling dress that was both warm and practical. It had a snug bodice with a corded belt looped around her tiny waist, layered sleeves that could be buttoned back or left long depending on the weather, and a built-in hood that could be tightened for protection against the elements. Gisella’s wet hairhad been tightly braided in a thick, single braid that trailed down her back and ended at her thighs.
Gisella was, therefore, physically ready to travel but her mental state had been something altogether different. She moved slowly, methodically, packing her capcases with hardly a word of chatter, which was very unusual for her. Gisella was usually quite talkative and interesting, but not tonight. Sparrow’s heart ached for her friend and the life she was surely now facing. The more she thought about it, the more distressed she became.
“Gigi,” she said thoughtfully as she closed the lid to the smaller capcase. “Do you know what I think?”
Gisella shook her head as she began to pull on her soft, lamb’s skin gloves. “Nay.”
Sparrow slid the lock on the case into position, securing it. “I do not think I want to remain here at Bella Court after you depart,” she said frankly. “I would be left alone with Silly Lily and Giddy Bridget, and all the rest of the women in the duchess’ entourage. You were the only one who made it bearable. With you gone, I shall surely go mad.”
Gisella smiled weakly. “I am sorry, darling,” she said, fussing with the gloves. “If I could bring you with me, I would.”
“Why can’t you?”
Gisella looked up at her. “Because this is my burden to bear,” she said. “It is not your business to go with de Russe. It is mine.”
Sparrow cocked her head thoughtfully. “But you are now the wife of a great warlord,” she said. “You should have ladies, you know. It is your due. Besides, he is going to leave you and return to fight the wars in France, anyway. Do you want to be left all alone at his dreadful castle? I am sure it is a terrible place with great snake pits and packs of rabid dogs. You will need someone with you.”
Gisella’s smile grew at Sparrow’s description of de Russe’s residence. “Would that I could take you with me, my love,” she said softly. “I would do it for certain.”
Sparrow turned away from her and went to the carved oak wardrobe that held her belongings. Yanking open the door, she pulled out a sturdy capcase of her own and proceeded to yank out some garments hung upon pegs. It was evident she had something in mind as she moved with a purpose.
“I am going with you,” Sparrow said firmly. “You need me. I cannot let you go alone.”
Gisella’s smile faded. “You cannot go with me.”
“Why not?”
“Because you are part of the duchess’ entourage. What will she think to find you missing?”
Sparrow shrugged. “I do not care what she thinks,” she said. “I have learned all I can learn from the woman. I have learned what wines to serve, what languages to speak, how to manage a large banquet, and how to impress a suitor. I am going with you now and we will have great adventures together, you and I.”
Gisella wasn’t sure what more to say. She very much wanted Sparrow to come with her, a familiar face amidst the strangers she would be living with. She had no idea where she was going this night or even what the next few days held for her. Everything was so frightening and uncertain, so the lure of a friend to accompany her was great.
“I am not sure that is wise,” she said, one last attempt to discourage Sparrow. “I am facing the unknown. I do not know where we are going and, furthermore, I do not even know if de Russe will allow you to come.”
Sparrow began shoving her possession into the capcase. “He will allow it if you tell him I am your attendant,” she said. “You must be firm with him, Gigi. He is your husband. He must allowyou a few things of your own considering that he is uprooting you and spiriting you off into oblivion.”
Gisella thought on that, thinking that perhaps Sparrow was right. De Russe could not deny her a lady, an attendant to assist her. All fine married women had them.Married women.It made her stomach lurch to realize she was married. She wondered if she’d ever become accustomed to the idea. Unfortunately, she would have to. And Sparrow was coming with her. She would fight de Russe to the death on it. She needed that comfort, that link to all things kind and gentle. She needed that connection to her happy memories. Making her way over to where Sparrow was shoving garments into her case, she pushed the woman aside and began packing for her.
“Get your traveling clothing on,” she said, rolling up a shift to pack it. “Gannon will return any moment for me and we must be ready.”
Sparrow didn’t argue. Thrilled that she had convinced Gisella to take her along, she began untying her gown and, at the same time, digging in her wardrobe for a heavy woolen traveling dress that had been folded up at the bottom of the cabinet. As her party dress came off, the traveling dress went on.
“I will send my mother word of my whereabouts once we know where we are going,” Sparrow said, happy to be going with her friend and, frankly, more excited for the adventure than Gisella was. “I think she will be glad I am out of Bella Court. She does not care for the duchess much but she wanted me to be properly educated. Now that I am going with you… this will be a new life for us, Gigi. You must not look upon it as a terrible thing. Did you truly want to spend your entire life here at Bella Court with Gloucester chasing after you and performing every night in front of drunken guests? That is no life for you. There are better things out there than that.”
Gisella looked up from the capcase, reflecting on what Sparrow had said. It was true that Gloucester tried to be very secretive about chasing her and Gisella had mostly stopped his onslaught with the threat of telling Lady Gloucester of his advances, but it was an exhausting struggle against a man who did not like to be denied. If her marriage to de Russe had one benefit, it was the fact that Gloucester would more than likely leave her alone now that she was married to his muscle. At least, she hoped so.
“Better things?” she repeated. “Better things like de Russe?”
Sparrow shrugged. “You truly do not know the man,” she said. “Mayhap he is not all bad once you work through the layers of military protocol and knightly pomp.”
Gisella shrugged, looking back to the capcase. “Mayhap,” she said softly. “All I know is that he does not wish to be married as much as I do not wish to be. I am sure he already resents me.”
She paused in her packing when Sparrow turned her back and indicated her need for assistance in fastening the back of the dress. Gisella tightened the laces, securing the garment on Sparrow’s small frame.
