Part 39 (1/2)
He looked at Alisoun. Well, not rewarded, exactly. But he got to keep his wife.
Then she spoke. ”If I may be so bold as to ask, my liege, what tale did Osbern weave to explain the death of his wife?”
Her softly spoken question jerked David away from his blossoming sense of triumph and back to gritty reality. In sooth, he did have his wife, but his wife had lost her dearest friend and she could, in fairness, blame Philippa's death on his failure to challenge Osbern at Radcliffe.
Alisoun could blame him? h.e.l.l, he blamed himself.
”No tale. He simply said she was away on another of his estates.” Henry c.o.c.ked his head. ”So he killed the good woman I gave him, and the estate is not entailed to a male heir. Where shall I bestow it?”
David and Alisoun said it together. ”Osbern left a daughter.”
”Hazel resides with me at George's Cross,” Alisoun said.
”Excellent.” Henry rubbed his palms together. ”Another heiress to marry off.”
David barely restrained his groan. The king was, indeed, mad for marriage, and he doubted Hazel would pa.s.s her second birthday before she found herself betrothed. Then he remembered who had custody of the child.
Alisoun had experience in holding off unwanted suitors. Hazel would be safe until Alisoun decided she was ripe for marriage.
Holding out his hand, David asked, ”So shall we go, lady wife?”
”I beg you, husband, to allow me to first find Philippa's maid and inquire about the details of her death.”
David didn't want Alisoun to know. He didn't want her haunted by the gruesome details, but the king rose and said, ”A worthy plan, Lady Alisoun. It shall be as you wish. In the meantime, may I offer my cousin's hospitality to you both. You're hungry and no doubt weary, and now that Sir David is once again the king's champion I will require him to swear fealty to me.”
David didn't want to stay. He didn't care how hungry or tired he was, he just wanted to take Alisoun to a private place and ask if she would ever forgive his stupidity. Osbern's body had already been taken into the castle chapel, where he would rest and not disturb the royal activities. But Alisoun a.s.suredly wanted to say her prayers for Philippa, and so she followed Henry off the stand, and David followed her, up the stairs, into the keep, and up to the royal table set on the dais.
The other n.o.bles kept their distance, as the king had commanded, while the servants hurried to their duties. Osbern had died, but at this moment his pa.s.sing had little impact.
To Alisoun and David, Henry said, ”I'll have you each on one side of me when we dine. Appropriately, I think, for the countess of George's Cross and the king's two-time champion to flank the king while we toast your newlywed status.”
Alisoun agreed with composure, but David could scarcely speak. He had never eaten at the king's table before. He was only a knight, and although he could fight, no one had ever thought him as worthy of more than token respect. Now, because of Alisoun, the king had seated him at his right hand.
When the squire approached with a basin of water in which to wash, David plunged in his head and scrubbed until the salt of sweat and the dirt of the road had disappeared. When he turned, he realized an unusual silence gripped the hall. Wiping his hair with a towel, he moved to Alisoun's side. ”What's wrong?” he asked.
Alisoun gripped his hand as if nothing had ever come between them-or as if she didn't realize what she did. In a low tone, she said, ”The servants claim to know nothing of Philippa's death, and one of them-” Alisoun broke off as the door from the undercroft opened.
Watching her, David saw her eyes get big, then with a cry she flung herself at the battered figure in the doorway.
”Philippa.” She wrapped her friend in her arms. ”Philippa, you're alive!”
25.
”How's my babe?”
The pallor of the dungeon hung about Philippa, bruises marked her jaw, and one eye was swollen shut. But she was alive, Osbern was dead, and Alisoun resolved that nothing would threaten her friend ever again.
In an upper bedchamber, the two friends tried to realize that at last the threat to their lives and happiness had been destroyed.
”Hazel's healthy, but she misses you.” Alisoun didn't mention the hours she had spent rocking the crying baby, trying to comfort the child desolated by the loss of her mother.
”I long to hold her in my arms once more.” Philippa's voice trembled with eagerness, and the maids who fed and bathed her redoubled their efforts to please the mistress they had been forced to ignore.
”You'll have her soon,” Alisoun promised.
”Aye, I will. Soon I'll leave this place behind, and I'll never come back.”
Somewhere, somehow, Philippa had developed a steely determination to go with her earthy good nature. No one, Alisoun thought, would ever be given the chance to harm Philippa again. She might marry again-indeed, Alisoun thought Philippa was made to be married-but somehow Philippa would hold the balance of power. Going to her friend, Alisoun knelt at her side. ”The thought of you in Osbern's hands haunted me.”
Philippa touched her cheek. ”You should not have been troubled. He loved me, you know.”
”A dreadful, capricious love then.” Alisoun held Philippa's hand against her skin and thanked G.o.d again for her miraculous survival. ”Did he keep you in the dungeon the whole time?”
”He said he had to punish me for running away. I didn't care what he did, as long as I knew Hazel was safe.”
”She's fine,” Alisoun repeated.
”I'm leaving to see her as soon as a way can be prepared.” Philippa turned her face up and let the maid swab her swollen eye with cold water. ”Today. I'm leaving today.”
Briefly, Alisoun thought of the king and his court who waited below in the great hall. Then she dismissed them. ”I'll arrange a cart. I don't think you're strong enough to ride.”
Philippa started to argue, then thought better of it. ”Can we find me an escort?”
”Put on a clean gown, and I'll go speak to David about it. He'll find someone.” Alisoun opened the door.
Guy of the Archers fell in as if he'd been leaning against the wood. Straightening, he said, ”I'll do it.”
Puzzled, Alisoun asked, ”Do what?”
”I'll be the lady's escort. It would be an honor to reunite her with her babe.”
Alisoun stared at Guy, then at Philippa as she smiled tranquilly from her place by the fire. ”Have you been listening at the door?” she asked.
Guy didn't seem to hear Alisoun. He saw only Philippa, spoke only to Philippa. ”Would it please your ladys.h.i.+p if I escorted you?”
She held out her hand. ”My thanks, gentle knight. I would have no other.”
Rus.h.i.+ng to her side, he took her hand and knelt, and Alisoun felt suddenly superfluous. She stepped into the hallway and found David waiting, a peculiar expression on his face. Obviously he had been with Guy as he waited. ”Do they love each other?” he demanded.
”I never suspected, but it would seem they do...or at least that they know they might love.” Alisoun didn't know why, but after she said the words she blushed and lowered her gaze.
He sounded odd, also, his voice deeper and fraught with significance when he said, ”They seem an unlikely couple, but I suppose love blossoms where it will.”
Beneath his words lurked something unspoken which she didn't comprehend. Wouldn't comprehend. Instead she took refuge in briskness. ”Since you are now in the king's favor, could you explain to Henry that Philippa longs to embrace her child and seeks permission to leave immediately?”
”I'm in the king's favor?” David's voice had returned to normal, and she risked a glance at him. Although his mouth formed a serious line, his eyes watched her faithfully and seemed to a.n.a.lyze her every movement. ”You are also in the king's favor.”