Page 67 of Once Upon A Haunted Castle
As the girl passed Isabel, she stumbled and the tray tilted. Several bowls and cups slid over its edge as the servant tried to right it. Isabel jumped to her feet to help while Evanna simply yelled out in anger.
“Are you daft?” she called out without ever trying to help.
“Evanna, that will do no good,” Isabel began as she grabbed on to the edges of the large, wooden tray to steady it. “Let me help you.”
The girl stuttered something as she gained her balance. As Isabel knelt to gather the spilled bowls and cups, she felt Lara slide something into her hand. The glance the girl gave told her to be silent about it. Isabel stood and stepped back, closing her fingers over the mysterious bit.
“Go! Get fresh food or send someone back who is not a clumsy fool if you cannot carry it yourself,” Evanna ordered.
For one so dependent on the whims of a man and who could face banishment or humiliation at any time, Evanna seemed to forget her true place and to revel in her momentary power. Isabel hid the smile that crept onto her own lips, knowing that this one would face a downfall.
Lara placed the bowls and cups on the table there and then made her way out of the chamber quickly, with a few more mumbled apologies and a wink at Isabel when Evanna had turned away. Isabel slipped the tiny packet inside her sleeve and thought on how best to open it in privacy. The place where Evanna hated the most and tended to drift away from constant observation was the chapel. Determined to seek it out, Isabel walked to the table and took a cup of ale and piece of bread.
“She had better bring more stew,” Evanna whispered with a nod at the closed door.
“I am not that hungry right now,” she said, holding up the bread. “This is enough for me.”
It took almost more patience than she thought existed within her to wait for more food to arrive and for her miserable overseer to finish it. Isabel bided quietly until she thought she had reached the perfect moment and then stood. Evanna frowned, watching her.
“Before I seek my rest, I wish to go to the chapel.”
She said it firmly and waited. Both she and Evanna had been present when her father had made it clear that being in the chapel, on her knees and begging God’s forgiveness for her headstrong ways was one of few acceptable behaviors he condoned right now.
“Can you not wait until the morn?” Evanna asked, crossing her arms over her meager chest.
“You need not attend me,” Isabel offered as she lifted the latch and pulled. “The guard will nip at my heels in your stead, if you prefer to wait for me here.”
The guard turned at her words and bowed, waiting on her word. Humiliated and whipped before all to see, she had expected more scorn and shame from those here. But this guard, as well as any others who attended or spoke to her, showed only respect.
“My lady?” he asked.
“I am going to the chapel to pray,” she explained, with a glance back over her shoulder at the displeased woman there.
“Have ye a cloak? The rains started earlier,” he offered.
With a nod, she lifted her hooded cloak from a peg on the wall and stepped out of the chamber. She may have to endure the leman’s constant company, but Isabel had not been made a prisoner. Just uncomfortable. Pausing for a moment, she waited for Evanna to speak or follow her. With a muttered curse, the woman came along.
Isabel must discover Alex’s plan. She must be ready for whatever happened. It took less time than she thought for Evanna to lose interest and wander outside of the damp, chill, stone room. With only one door to enter and leave, her guard remained just outside. The priest had already retired for the night, his snores echoed out from the small chamber behind the altar telling her she would not be disturbed by him.
It took little time to read his message and his plan and to understand her part in it. It took much longer and more effort to tamp down her anticipation and to appear well-prayed and ashamed when she left the chapel and returned to her chamber.
The night and next day took months to pass, or so it seemed. Finally, the sun slid below the horizon and no moon rose and Isabel did as Alex bade her do. When both the leman and the guard lay soundly and deeply asleep, she waited for his arrival.
