End of days

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Leah Rose roused from the stupor caused by her storm of weeping. The light of the candles bathed the chamber in a warm glow. Something had changed. What was it? Rayford's body was no longer a furnace burning beside her. Her heart froze as she reached a shaking hand to his throat, fearing that he had died. The slow, steady beat of his heart against her fingers sent blessed reassurance flooding through her.

She sat up in the bed and closely examined Rayford. His breathing was no longer laborious; his skin was neither cool nor hot to the touch. He appeared to be sleeping naturally.

"Thank You, Lord," she whispered. "O, gracious Lord, thank You. To You belongs all glory and honor and praise. Thank You for answering my prayer and sparing Rayford's life."

As she held her hand to Rayford's cheek the realization flooded her that she had not trusted in God at all during his illness. Pleading and cajoling, she had beseeched Him to spare Rayford and heal him, wanting only her own will to be done. She had not committed Rayford's life to God's loving care.

"Oh, Lord, forgive me for not trusting You, for not fully surrendering Rayford's life to You. I know You love him so much more than I ever could. I know You have a plan and a purpose for his life, as well as for my own. Please forgive me for not trusting in Your love or in Your plan. Most merciful Lord, help me to surrender my will to Yours and to seek to do Your will always, in every circumstance. Amen."

Leaving the bed, Leah Rose pulled up a chair next to it and closely observed Rayford as he slept. Finally freed from the awful burden of fear and worry, she relaxed enough be able to contemplate the danger still facing Rayford.

By the time the new day dawned, and the rising sun warmed the chamber, she was convinced that Rayford was out of danger. When Elizabeth quietly entered the chamber, Leah Rose turned to greet her with an ecstatic smile.

"How is he?" Elizabeth asked, as she had every morning for the last fortnight. "Elizabeth, I think the crisis has passed. See? Rayford is sleeping peacefully. The fever is gone."

Elizabeth felt Rayford's skin to see for herself. "Oh, Leah Rose, I think you are right. This is indeed cause for celebration."

"Elizabeth, I do not want anyone to know that Rayford is getting better."

"Why ever not?"

"I have been doing a lot of praying and thinking while I was watching Rayford this morning. I have an idea I need to discuss with Sir Hugh. Would you ask him to come here? And please do not let him or anyone else know that Rayford is out of danger now." "As you wish, Leah Rose, but I would like to hear your plan as well, if I may."

"Aye, aye, of course."

Within a few minutes Elizabeth returned to the chamber with her husband. Belwick's face was set. He was obviously preparing himself to hear the worst. "Sir Hugh, Rayford is much better," Leah Rose said without delay. "His fever has broken, and he has been sleeping naturally since the middle of the night."

Belwick's grim face dissolved into a broad smile. "That is very good news, milady." "I am now convinced that Rayford will recover, but I want everyone to think that he

will die." "What?" Belwick asked. "Why?"

"We have no evidence that my father is behind the attacks against Rayford. We need to have proof before we can arrest him and bring him to King Henry for justice."

"Aye," Belwick agreed, his eyes narrowing on Leah Rose's face. "Cardel's plan must be to kill Rayford and then take over Merclif."

"Aye, that is what Rayford and I have surmised."

"If we say Rayford is dead and hold a funeral for him, my father would be bound to hear about it. He would come to Merclif and try to take over the castle. I could confront him and get him to admit he ordered the attack on Rayford. With you and Lord Wyham as witnesses, we would be able to arrest him."

"Hmm. "Twould be risky for you, milady. You would be in danger, confronting Cardel by yourself."

"Nay," Leah Rose said. "I would be here in this chamber, supposedly prostrate with grief. You, Rayford, and Lord Wyham could listen in on the conversation from Margaret's room next door. With the door open and the tapestry down, you will not be seen, but you will be able to hear everything that is said in this chamber and be able to protect me if my father tries to harm me. I could also have a weapon-say a knife-to defend myself against him, if necessary. Sir Hugh, I have been doing a lot of praying this morning. I truly feel as that this idea is God's will."

Belwick nodded, stroking his beard. "Your plan has merit, milady. It goes against my grain to just sit back and let Cardel attack Rayford at will. 'Twould be good to flush him out, like the beast he is."

"Aye," Leah Rose agreed. "We cannot put my plan into action until Lord and Lady Wyham arrive. It would be cruel to let Lady Margaret think that Rayford has died." "Aye. They should arrive in the next few days."

"Good. Rayford will also need to recover and regain his strength before we confront Cardel."

Belwick nodded.

"So we should wait until Lord and Lady Wyham arrive. Then we will announce that Rayford has died. We will make sure the entire Mersted Valley knows about his death, so we will hold a funeral for him to make it look convincing. You and Elizabeth will tell everyone that I am prostrate with grief and that I will not leave this bedchamber. That will cover up the fact that Rayford is really alive and will allow food to be brought here."

""Tis a very clever plan, Leah Rose." Elizabeth spoke for the first time since bringing her husband upstairs. "We will need to maintain our current routine. Although Rayford may be out of danger, he will still need a lot of nursing." "Aye, Elizabeth," Leah Rose responded. "You are correct. And we must make sure that

no one besides you two, Renwold, Father Thomas, Margaret, and Lord Wyham know

the truth."

The next two days passed quietly. Leah Rose found she had the easiest job, since she never left the bedchamber and devoted all her energies to Rayford's continued recovery. Her co conspirators, on the other hand, had to contain their relief at Rayford's steadily improving health and instead had to act solemn and downcast around the other inhabitants of the castle. Rayford, who slept a tremendous amount, as he had when he recovered from his previous wounds, had not yet been informed of her plan.

Late in the afternoon, Elizabeth came into the chamber to inform Leah Rose that Margaret and Wyham were approaching the castle with a contingent of the king's troops. They were shown into Rayford's bedchamber as soon as they arrived. Leah Rose

rushed to greet Margaret, embracing her. "Mother, Rayford is better," Leah Rose said. "He will recover."

"Thanks be to God," Margaret breathed. She pulled out of Leah Rose's arms and went to Rayford, laying her hand on his cheek as he slept. "The way everyone was acting, I feared he was on his deathbed."

"He is," Leah Rose stated.

She explained her plan to Margaret and Wyham. Playing devil's advocate, Wyham probed and quizzed her, trying to find flaws in her strategy, but she was able to respond to every objection he threw at her.

"Leah Rose, I do believe your plan will succeed," Wyham finally concluded. "Aye, I hope so," Leah Rose replied. "My only concern is allowing enough time for Rayford to recover fully before we force the confrontation with my father."

"I do not think we should delay any longer," Wyham said. "It will take a few days for the news of Rayford's death to reach Cardel and for him to marshal his forces to take over the castle. "Tis best to announce Rayford's death right away."