Part 8 (1/2)
”The fever broke a little while ago. 'Tis not certain it won't return, but it is a favorable sign.”He tugged her gently to her feet and pulled her against his chest. ”Thank you,” he said.
The words rumbled in the ear she had pressed against him. ”I can't tell you how grateful I am.”
He was grateful now, but how would he feel when he learned the truth? As he would shortly.
Juliana looked up at him. ”Do not thank me yet. He's not entirely out of danger.” She stopped and gathered her courage. ”Thomas, we need to talk. Let me call Mary to sit with Ralf.”
He nodded and waited with her for the maid to appear, then they walked across the corridor to her quarters.
”Have you had any success finding who fired the bolt?” she asked him.He sighed. ”None. I questioned a number of people in the keep, but no one admits to knowing anything about it. It can't be so, but they will not betray one of their own to me.”
Juliana took a deep breath and stepped away from him. ”Thomas, there's something I need to-”A sharp rapping sounded at the closed door, followed by a man yelling, ”Lady Juliana! My lady! Are you within! Your mother-she's collapsed. We need you!”
She forgot what she was saying to Thomas, whirled, and went to the door. ”What has happened to my mother?”Three people stood there and all began to speak at once.”Lady Ardsley fell-””Your mother had a-”
”She went very pale and-”With all of them speaking rapidly, at the same time, she was at a loss to follow. ”A moment, please. Hush.” She looked at the man she thought most likely to give her a coherent answer. ”George, what has happened to my mother?”
”She collapsed in the hall, my lady.” Even the usually calm George sounded breathless. ”We've taken her to her bed.””Is she awake? Has she said anything?”
”Nay, my lady. Her breathing... It doesn't sound right.”Juliana's stomach twisted into a tight, hard knot. She'd known it would be coming, but she'd hoped not so soon. She wasn't prepared.
”I'm coming.” She turned back to Thomas. The compa.s.sion in his expression almost undid her. After a brief but fierce struggle, she managed to control herself enough to say, ”We still must talk, but I hope you'll forgive and excuse me now.”
He nodded and came to her, put an arm around her shoulders, and hugged her to his side. ”Let's go see your mother.”The walk was a short one of just twenty feet or so down the corridor, but it seemed much longer to Juliana. Only Thomas's arm around her and the strength he lent kept her from breaking down. Even so she held her breath as they made their way to her mother's quarters, dreading what she would find there.
Chapter Ten.
Thomas held onto Juliana as they approached her mother's chamber. She trembled so hard, he feared she would collapse without his support. Most likely she wouldn't, though. She'd already been through much and dealt with it. She had a strength to equal the two other remarkable women he'd met, the two his friends had wed. But it pleased him to think he could give her some a.s.sistance.
The figure in the bed looked tiny and shrunken. With her eyes closed, skin pale, and features drained of all vitality, Lady Ardsley was just a tiny wisp of a woman. The spark of life burned low in her and would soon flicker out entirely.
Juliana jerked to a halt a few feet from the bed. Her startled gasp turned into a sob before she could suppress it. The sound cut off sharply, though, as she swallowed her reaction.
She finished the journey to the bed and said softly, ”Mother?”For some time nothing happened, though Juliana called softly several more times.
Finally, the old lady opened her eyes and tried hard to smile. ”Juliana.” The word was a harsh, labored croak. ”Come here, my love. I'm going home soon.””Mother, no!” An unsuppressed sob accompanied her protest.”Aye. 'Tis time. I'm tired, Juliana, and the pain... The flesh is...too much of a burden. I'd be quit of it. I only want...” Lady Ardsley had to take a moment to catch her breath. ”I have one more thing.”
The woman turned to look at him, and even that small movement cost her effort and pain.
”Sir Thomas.” She let out a small sigh. ”May I speak with you?” She glanced at Juliana and the servants in the room. ”In private? For a moment?””Of course, my lady.” He nodded for the servants to leave.Juliana hesitated, her features twisted into an agonized frown.”I'll not let her over-tax herself,” Thomas promised. ”And should she...get worse, I'll call you immediately.”Finally Juliana sighed and nodded. ”A moment or two only, please, Thomas.””A moment or two only.”She left the room, her normally light, quick step, slow and heavy.Lady Ardsley watched him steadily. A small, fragile spark animated her features as she reached out painfully, groping for his hand. He took hers and clasped it. It felt like holding a bundle of bones.
”Sir Thomas.”He moved closer to the bed, groping for the chair and moving it with his free hand. He sat. ”My lady?”
”I am at the end of my time. I would ask a favor of you.””If it's in my power, my lady, whatever you will.””Juliana,” Lady Ardsley answered. ”When I'm gone...she'll have no one. None to take care of her.””She seems well able to care for herself and those who depend on her.”The dying woman shook her head. ”It seems so, but, truly...Thomas...she needs someone. Love and companions.h.i.+p. She has suffered much. More than you know. And she is so alone.”
Again she had to pause to gather her strength.
”You care for her,” the lady said. ”I've seen it. And she cares for you.””Aye,” Thomas agreed. ”It should rest your spirit to know I would make her my wife, should the king approve. I have no reason to think he'll refuse.”
A small smile curved the thin, pale lips. ”Aye, it gladdens my heart. But...” Her chest rose and fell several times before she spoke again. ”Your oath, Sir Thomas. That you'll take care of Juliana. Would you swear it to me?”
The request stunned him so, it took a moment to answer. What she asked involved a considerable responsibility, yet it was not much different from the promises he hoped to make to Juliana herself in the form of wedding vows. ”My lady, if it gives you ease, I'll do so.”
She gripped his hand tighter. ”Please, Sir Thomas. Swear on your honor as a knight...that you'll guard and care for Juliana all the...days of your life.”He put his other hand on top of hers, so that her small, frail fingers hid between his much larger ones. ”My lady, I swear to you, on my honor as a knight, that I will protect and care for Juliana to the best of my ability, so long as I live.”Lady Ardsley tightened her grip on his hand, a gesture of grat.i.tude, he thought. The desperate worry in her expression eased to peace and contentment. She sighed lightly as she relaxed. ”Thank you, Sir Thomas. You...give my spirit peace. Take joy in...Juliana. With my blessing.”
Her eyelids slid down, but then rose again more slowly. ”Send Juliana to me now, if you will. But, if you please, do not tell her what...you've promised.””As you wish.” He stood up, gazing down on the slight figure. The animation had once again drained from her features. ”May your soul rest in G.o.d, my lady.”
Thomas left the room. Several servants loitered in the hall. Two of them returned to Lady Ardsley's quarters at his nod. ”Where is Lady Juliana?” he asked the woman who remained.
”With your squire, my lord.””How fares he?””I know not, but when I looked in-”She broke off as Juliana opened the door and joined him in the corridor. He met her fearful glance and nodded to indicate her mother yet lived. Relief softened her
expression. Thomas glanced toward the door through which she'd just exited.”He improves, I believe,” Juliana said, seeing his anxiety. ”The fever has not returned. His sleep is peaceful and his heartbeat is strong.”
Her expression quizzed him, but she didn't ask what her mother had wanted.”She's resting,” he said. ”She seems at ease.”A man rushed along the corridor toward them, long black robe flapping around him.
”Father Samuel,” Juliana said. ”I'm relieved you're here.””Your mother, my lady?”Juliana nodded.The priest bowed to her and then to Thomas. The man's ascetic features showed genuine concern as he pulled a bottle of holy oil from a pocket of his ca.s.sock. Thomas followed Father Samuel and Juliana back into the dying woman's room, watching as the priest gave Lady Ardsley the last rites, anointing her with oil and praying over her. When he asked for them all to join in prayer, Thomas knelt beside Juliana.
Once they concluded, he excused himself to check on Ralf. He found the young man sleeping peacefully, guarded by a tired servant who snapped to attention when Thomas entered. The man relaxed but showed a bit of guilt.
”Has he awakened yet?” Thomas asked.
”Nay, my lord, though he has stirred once or twice. I think 'twill not be long before he does.””Go rest a while,” Thomas ordered. ”I'll sit with him. Should Lady Ardsley grow worse, however, return forthwith so I may be with Lady Juliana.”
The man nodded, rose, and departed.
Thomas sat in his place, watching Ralf sleep. The squire stirred occasionally and even
muttered once or twice. As it wasn't the hysterical raving of delirium, nor did it suggest any discomfort, Thomas made no attempt to quiet him.The peace and quiet gave him time to think about many things: his relations.h.i.+p with Juliana and the future he hoped for with her; the mysterious a.s.sailant; Lord Groswick's disappearance; the attacks on him and Ralf.The warning bell for dinner roused him from his considerations. Since no one had come to him, he presumed no changes had occurred in Lady Ardsley's condition. But when the manservant returned to relieve him, Thomas went back to see if there was any news.