End of days

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

"Have you specified they are to be brought to the chapel?" Father Thomas asked. He had left his prayers to listen to Belwick's account. When the castellan nodded, the priest turned to her. "Milady, if you will excuse me, I will go see to our dead."

"Aye, of course, Father."

"Milady, I will also say mass for Lord Merclif and arrange a prayer vigil around the

clock."

"Thank you, Father."

The priest touched Leah Rose's hand lying on the bed next to Rayford's inert body.

"Lord Merclif is in God's hands now, milady." Leah Rose nodded, her eyes resting on Rayford's white face.

"Milady," Belwick said after the priest left, "I have also instructed that the enemy dead be searched to see if they carry any identifying markings. I need to go now to see to the castle defenses."

Leah Rose raised her eyes to Belwick's. "Aye, Sir Hugh. Thank you. For everything." She did not have the words to express her gratitude to this man who loved Rayford as if he were his own son.

Time ceased to have meaning for Leah Rose, as she concentrated all her energies She stayed close to his side, monitoring him and administering medications. Elizabeth came in, offering to help, but Leah Rose declined. She could not bear to leave Rayford. Throughout the long night Leah Rose watched as Rayford's strength ebbed dangerously. She was helpless to do anything for him but pray. Over and over again, she pleaded for God to save him. on Rayford,

With the dawn a raging fever engulfed Rayford's tortured body. Leah Rose roused the servant sleeping outside the chamber, sending him for cold water and cloths. After stripping the sheets off Rayford, she bathed him endlessly with the water to cool him

"Milady," Belwick said, "how is Rayford?" Leah Rose raised burning eyes to the castellan. "I do not know if he will live. Please

send for Lady Margaret." "Aye." Belwick said. "I will send a messenger immediately."

Leah Rose's consciousness dwindled to Rayford. Her arms and hands ached with the strain of wringing out the wet cloths and plastering them to his body. She urged tinctures down his throat and bathed his wounds in wine to stop the infection.

"Leah Rose," Elizabeth said, "you must eat. You must rest.

Leah Rose looked up at the older woman who had become a good friend. "I cannot leave him." "Leah Rose, you have not eaten nor slept in more than two days. You must keep up

your own strength, or you will be useless to Rayford."

Leah Rose looked at Rayford. Despair and hopelessness filled her weary mind. She had ferociously battled the fever that ravaged him. She had prayed endlessly to God to heal Rayford.

"I am a skilled nurse," Elizabeth said. "I will take care of him while you sleep. If

there is the slightest change in his condition, I will wake you. Let Clare take you next

door to Margaret's old chamber."

"Aye." Leah Rose allowed Clare to lead her away from Rayford, Suddenly remembering the loss the other woman had suffered, she gripped the widow's hand. "Oh, Clare, I am so sorry for your loss. Sir Bernard was a valiant man, and I know that Rayford will grieve for his loss."

"Thank you, Leah Rose."

Clare settled Leah Rose into a chair and brought her cold venison, cheese, and bread. "You should not be waiting on me," Leah Rose protested. "You must take care "I would rather help you and Lord Merclif since I can do of

yourself."

Bernard. "Tis better to focus on helping others." "How is Ming Toy faring?"

nothing more to help my

"He is bearing up as well as can be expected." "Clare, please let me know if you need anything. Anything at all."

must eat."

Clare helped Leah Rose bathe, dressed her in a clean chemise and tucked her into bed,

then remained by Leah Rose's side as she slept.

"Aye, Leah Rose, I shall." She put a piece of bread in Leah Rose's hand. "For now, you Leah Rose, rung out and limp as a rag doll, mindlessly followed Clare's gentle orders.

"Rayford!" Leah Rose woke abruptly. "I must see Rayford,"

Leah Rose accepted Clare's assistance as she dressed before hurrying back to her husband's side.

"There has been no change," Elizabeth informed Leah Rose.

the bed to allow Leah Rose to minister to Rayford.

She stepped back from

At Elizabeth's insistence, the women fell into a routine. Leah Rose nursed Rayford through the long, dark nights, when his strength was at the lowest, and he was most in danger. Elizabeth nursed him during the morning hours when Leah Rose slept. Fever continued to devastate Rayford's weak body. He alternated between burning up and shaking with chills. He became delirious, thrashing about and speaking gibberish. Leah Rose held him to still his movements and to prevent his wounds from reopening.

"Sir Hugh, have you been able to identify the assailants?" Leah Rose asked during one of Belwick's regular visits to check on Rayford's condition.

"Nay, milady," Belwick replied. "Although they wore ragged clothing and did not wear armor, their weapons were such as only knights and men-at-arms would have. There is no doubt in my mind that Cardel ordered his men to disguise themselves as vagrants and to attack Merclif."

"But you have no proof?" Leah Rose asked.

"Nay, milady." Belwick shook his head, his mouth set in a grim line. "I do not." Desolation as black as the dead of the night filled Leah Rose's soul. Rayford's emaciated body was so weak and frail. How could he endure any more pain and agony?

"Dear God," Leah Rose pleaded for the hundredth time, "do not let Rayford die. Please

heal him."

Despair crushed her spirits. She laid her head against the pillow next to him. "I love you. I love you. I love you," she chanted. Tears wrenched her body as she sobbed out her misery and torment.