Royal Feud

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

"Hermione, you need at least three or four new kirtles." Lucy pulled a piece of tawny wool out of the chest. "Clare, what think you of this for Hermione?" "Hmm." Clare took the fabric and held it up to Hermione's face. "Aye, I think twill

be an excellent color for her." "Lady Hermione, do you sew much?" Elizabeth asked as she laid out the moss wool on

a table and began to cut it with shears.

"Please, Lady Elizabeth, just call me Hermione." Elizabeth glanced up at her with a smile. "Thank you, Hermione, I shall, but only if

you call me Elizabeth." "Aye," Clare said. "Lady this and Lady that gets to be a bit much after a while." The others laughed.

"Right you are, Clare." Lucy continued to sort through the fabric in the chest. "Ah, I have adequate skill with a needle," Hermione replied to Elizabeth's question. "Than we will have you concentrate on sewing the seams, if that is all right with

you?" Elizabeth responded. "Aye."

"Lucy and Clare are expert embroiderers. I am good at creating patterns, even if I do say so myself." "Aye, Hermione." Lucy stood, holding a piece of reddish brown wool. “Elizabeth has excellent fashion sense. I am very grateful that she agreed to come to Ishton with

me when I married Gavin."

"I am glad also since 'tis here that I met and married the love of my life." Hermione had never known any woman who had made a love match and was curious as to the relationship between Elizabeth and her husband but too shy to ask any

personal questions.

"Aye." Lucy smiled at Elizabeth. "I was so very pleased when you fell in love

with Hugh, not only for your sake, but for my own as well. Tis then I knew that you

would remain with me at Ishton."

"Dearest Lucy, how could I ever leave you?" Elizabeth turned to Hermione. "Lucy and I have been the best of friends since we were four years old." "Tis true," Lucy responded. "We have been closer than sisters born and bred.

Now, Clare, how about this russet?"

Clare took the wool from Lucy. "Aye, 'twill make an attractive kirtle for everyday use. Lucy, do you still have that gold silk? That would be stunning on Hermione."

"Oh, Clare, you are right. "Twould be extraordinary on Hermione, with her coloring. Lucy crossed to another chest, opened it, and carefully pulled out the material. Hermione followed Clare over to the chest and stood still as the beautiful silk was draped around her shoulders. With reverence, she fingered the luxurious fabric and looked up into Lucy's smiling face. She had to blink rapidly to still the tears that threatened. "Nay, milady, "Tis much too fine."

"I have had this silk for years now and never made use of it, since it did not flatter any of us. But on you, 'tis absolutely gorgeous." "Aye, 'tis perfect," Clare stated. "You might as well give in," Elizabeth said as she approached. "Lucy always gets

her way."

"Aye, I do," Lucy agreed.

"I...I do not know how to thank you, milady."

"You can thank me by wearing this kirtle and by calling me Lucy." "Thank you, Lucy." Hermione's smile was tremulous.

Delvin turned from the huge fireplace, where he was talking with Hugh and Bernard before supper, and took a drink of ale as he observed Hermione walk toward him. She followed behind his mother and her ladies. When the ladies joined the men, Clare went directly to her husband. Bernard, put her hand on his arm, and lifted her face. The seasoned knight lowered his head and kissed his wife's mouth lightly in greeting. Although Delvin was used to the open, natural affection the couple displayed, he could tell from Hermione's stare that she was not. When she looked away from Clare and Bernard, her eyes collided with his. He maintained eye contact with her for a few seconds, watching her face as a blush infused her cheeks, before she lowered her eyes.

"I hope you had a pleasant afternoon, Hermione," Delvin said. "Aye." "Twas quite productive," Lucy said as she stood beside them. "We decided on

four new kirtles for Hermione and have started to sew one of them. How did your hunt go, Delvin?" "We killed two deer, so that should keep us in meat for a few days." "Excellent," Lucy replied. "I really enjoy Cook's roast venison, which we will no

doubt have tomorrow for dinner."

Renwold came up to them and bowed. "Forgive me for interrupting, milord, miladies, but might I have a word with you, Lady Lucy?" "Of course. Pray excuse me, children." She and Renwold walked away.

"Milord," Hermione murmured.. Her voice was so soft that Delvin had to lean closer to hear her.

"I am afraid that my father will try to attack Ishton again. He is determined to capture your castle and very tenacious in pursuing his goals." "You do not need to be concerned, Hermione," Delvin answered as he straightened. “Ishton is almost impenetrable. It has never been captured in its fifty-year history."

"My father will not fight openly and honorably. He will use trickery, guile, and deceit." "Aye, I am well aware of his methods and am constantly on guard against them. You will be safe here as long as you remain under my protection."

"Thank you, milord." When she fell silent, Delvin racked his brain for another topic of conversation, well aware that this was only the second time she had voluntarily spoken to him-both times to warn him of her father's treachery. What did he usually talk to women He suddenly realized he rarely had conversations with women, except for his mother. Though he had always received plenty of attention from the opposite s*x, most of them had been avidly interested in either bedding him or snaring him as a husband, Never before had a woman actively avoided him. He knew only warfare and hunting, not subjects that usually appealed to ladies. Feeling completely at a loss, something to which he was not accustomed, Delvin drained his cup. abou?

"Hermione, you are in for a treat tonight," Lucy explained after supper as she settled into a chair by the fireplace. "We have a gifted jongleur here to entertain us. His name is Maximilian, and he has visited Ishton many times. We are always pleased when he entertains us.

Lucy gave a signal and a slim young man stepped into the middle of the floor. A hush fell over the hall as Maximilian began to strum his mandolin and started to sing a well-known song about King Arthur's court.

As the singing continued, Delvin found his gaze straying more and more often to Hermione. The look of rapture on her face as she listened was a revelation to him. He had never seen anyone become engrossed in music the way she did. The undamaged side of her face became almost pretty, and the scarred side lost its power to repel. He was disappointed when Maximilian finished performing, because the glow that had suffused Hermione's face dissipated.

Lucy graciously thanked Maximilian for his performance and introduced him to Hermione. "I hope you will be able to stay with us for a while," Lucy told the jongleur.

"Aye, milady." Maximilian smiled broadly and gave Lucy a polished bow. "If it pleases ye, I can stay the rest of the week. I've several new songs to share with ye." "That would be lovely. I am sure everyone is greatly looking forward to hearing them.

When the musician left them, Lucy turned to Hermione. "My dear, it has been a long day. Are you ready to retire to bed?"

"Aye, Margarer, I am."

"Delvin, would you escort Hermione to her chamber?"

"Aye, Mother."

Lucy lightly kissed Hermione on both checks before doing the same to Delvin. After his mother left them, he offered his hand to Hermione and led her upstairs, barely feeling the featherweight of her fingers as they perched on top of his closed fist. As they

walked along the gallery he broke the silence. "You appeared to enjoy the singing."

"Aye."

"When I came to your room earlier today, I heard the sound of a lute. Were you playing?" "Aye."

"Perhaps you will honor us by performing for us one evening." Delvin came to a stop in front of her door.

"Perhaps," she murmured.

"I would enjoy it very much if you would play for us some time. I am sure that Mother and the others would enjoy your music, as well."

Hermione did not respond and did not look at him. Pressuring her was not the way to win her trust. In the face of her obvious reluctance, he dropped the subject and opened

the door to her chamber. "Sleep well, Hermione."

Hermione stepped inside and shut the door behind her. Delvin heard her lower the bar

to secure the door before he turned and strode away.

"A laric, you should take Hermione for a walk on the crenellations," Lucy suggested. "Tis such a pleasant day today." "Aye, Mother." He set his goblet on the table and faced her. "Hermione, if

you are finished with dinner, we can go now." "Milord, 'tis not necessary for you to take me for a walk. I am sure you have much

you need to do." "Nothing that cannot wait." "There is a spectacular view from the allure, Hermione," Lucy said. "You will

enjoy the exercise and fresh air. "Tis not good for you to be cooped up inside all the time." Hermione hesitated. "If you are sure...

Delvin stood and pulled back her chair before doing the same for his mother. Lucy gave her a kiss on each cheek, then signaled to a servant, who brought a dark brown cloak. "Twill be fairly cold up there, so here is a warm mantle for you to use." She draped it around Hermione's shoulders. "Enjoy yourselves, children."

As Lucy walked away, Delvin held out his hand to Hermione with a direct look. She lifted her chin and placed her hand on his. They did not speak as he led her through the noisy hall. Once outside in the pale sunlight, Delvin released her hand and walked beside her across the inner bailey. She lifted her face to the breeze and took a deep breath. The warm smell of burning wood mixed with the cool sharp air tingled her nose.

As they strolled, Hermione looked around with interest. This was the first time she had been outside the donjon since their wedding, and she had not noticed much of anything that day. The ward was a hive of activity. Along the stone wall she saw a series of wooden buildings where men were diligently working. The powerful blacksmith had a roaring fire going, and she could hear the clang of his hammer as he pounded glowing iron into shape. Next was the agile cooper assembling staves inside a metal hoop that served as an assembly jig for the barrels he constructed. Then came the dexterous cordwainer, sitting with a board upon his lap, using a knife to cut leather into patterns for shoes. Two servants carried buckets from the well in the center of the bailey back toward the donjon.

Delvin led her out of the southwest gate, through the outer bailey, and to a turret on the outer curtain wall. He stood back to let her go first, and she began to climb the steep spiral staircase inside the tower, keeping her hand against the cold stone wall to

steady herself. She was glad of Delvin's comforting presence as he followed close behind

her.

Once at the top, Hermione felt the sting of the sharp breeze, now that they were no longer encased within the castle walls, and drew the cloak more securely about her. Delvin led her around the allure in a counterclockwise direction, nodding to each of the guards they passed. On the east side of the wall, Hermione had a good view on her left of the outer bailey where she saw the stables and the mews and, on her right, the moat with the forest beyond.

They paused on the north side to observe the men training in the lists. She watched one knight gallop his horse toward the quintain and skewer the wooden dummy directly in the chest with his lance. Several pairs of men were engaged in hand-to-hand combat, using double-edged swords, axes, and spears. When Delvin resumed walking, Hermione followed him around to the west side of the allure, where she could see a village in the distance, nestled close to the banks of the Mersted River.