Royal Feud

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

The next day, Hermione stayed in her room the entire morning, playing her lute and thinking about what Lucy had said about God. Was it true that she to push Him away? When she was a young girl, Hermione remembered being delighted in God. She had

loved going to mass, experiencing the elaborate symbolic rituals, and hearing that God

loved her and that Jesus had saved her from her sins. Everything had changed when her

father's knife slashed her face, and her faith had withered into bitterness. If her own

father did not love her enough not to hurt her, then she must be unworthy of love from everyone, even from God. Could Lucy be right? Did God love her unconditionally? Had she turned her

back on God and not the other way around? A loud knock on her door jolted her out of her reverie. She stilled the strings of the

lute and waited, hoping whoever it was would go away. A second knock reverberated against the closed door.

"Hermione, 'tis Delvin, I have come to escort you down to dinner."

"I am not hungry, milord."

"Hermione, the longer you hide in your chamber, the harder it will be to face everyone. You have nothing to fear. I will not leave your side." Silence stretched between them as Hermione considered his words, clutching her lute

protectively in her arms. He was right. She needed to face everyone with her head held

high. She was not to blame for that man's barbaric behavior. Delvin would protect her,

just as he had saved her yesterday.

Hermione stood, carried her lute to the chest, and laid the instrument inside. Squaring

her shoulders, she opened the door. Delvin mer her eyes and gave her a slight smile. He offered her his hand so she placed her hand on top of his. The touch of his skin against her fingers sent sizzles of awareness through her.

"Tis a lovely day today," Delvin remarked as they went downstairs. "The sun is shining and 'tis not too cold. I am going to take my falcon out hunting after dinner. I do not know if we will find anything, given 'tis the middle of winter, but Gaenor can use the exercise, You are welcome to come with us, if you would like."

"Ah, nay. Thank you."

"Perhaps you will join us another time."

When they reached the table, he drew back her chair and seated her. "Hello, Hermione," Lucy said as she approached them. She leaned over and kissed Hermione on both cheeks. "I hope you had a nice rest this morning."

"Aye, thank you."

After the people settled into their seats, the priest said grace and the meal began. Hermione held herself rigid and erect in her chair, hating being exposed to so many strangers. When Delvin touched her arm lightly, she flinched, and he immediately removed his hand from her.

"Would you care for some pork and apple pie?" Delvin asked. "Cook's pies are especially good." "Aye, thank you. A small portion, please." Her stomach seemed permanently

cinched and manacled.

"Hermione," Lucy said, "Elizabeth and Clare will be joining me after dinner in the ladies' solar. We often gather there to work on our sewing and needlework. There always seems to be so much that needs to be done."

"Uh-huh," Hermione muttered, staring at the food on her trencher.

"I would like you to join us. I have some lovely fabric that I think would make very

becoming kirtles for you." Hermione thought about her two old gowns the black one she had been married in and the gray one she wore today. "Thank you for your kindness, Lady Lucy," Hermione replied when she had subdued her shame, "Tis not necessary for you to go to the trouble and expense of making new kirtles for me, since I will be returning to Bamchester soon."

"Nonsense, my dear," Lucy stated. "A lady can always use new clothes. I insist. We will start on the new kirtles this afternoon." conceded.

"As you wish, milady," Hermione When the meal finished, Lucy immediately drew her upstairs to the solar, not allowing her to escape back to her chamber, as she wanted to do. Lady Elizabeth and Lady Clare joined them shortly afterwards. Lucy had introduced her to the other ladies the day after the wedding, but Hermione had not spent any time with them.

Elizabeth, like Lucy was tall, but unlike Lucy's willowy beauty, her frame was more full-figured and robust. Her square face, resolute chin, and broad shoulders. gave her a solid air of competence. About Lucy's age, with blue-green eyes under light brown eyebrows, Elizabeth was attractive in a sensible, down-to-earth way.

Hermione judged Clare to be somewhere between Lucy and Elizabeth's age and her own. About her height, Clare had an ample figure that most men would term buxom. Whenever Hermione had seen her she always seemed to be merry and cheerful.

"My dear," Lucy said, going to a chest at the side of the room, "I have a pretty moss green wool that I think will look lovely with your complexion." Lucy sorted through the fabric in the trunk until she located it. She shook out the wool and held it up to Hermione's shoulders. "Clare, what do you think?" "Aye, Lucy." Clare studied Hermione. "You are quite right. That shade of green goes very well with Lady Hermione's beautiful

brown eyes and ivory skin." "I know just the style for that wool," Elizabeth added. "I personally like tighter and shorter sleeves than is fashionable, Lady Hermione. I find those long full sleeves just get in the way. What would you say to having sleeves like mine?" She held out her arms for Hermione's inspection.

"Twould be fine," Hermione said, willing to go along with whatever decided.

these women

"The bodice of the gown should be fairly tight, and the skirt nice and full," Elizabeth continued, "Tis the newest fashion, according to my sister. She recently attended the king's coronation and all the elegant ladies of the court were wearing that style."

**Twill be so much fun to make a gown in the latest design," Lucy commented. "I think we should add a band of fur around the neck and the hem," Elizabeth suggested.

"That is an excellent idea, Elizabeth." Clare smiled, causing dimples to form in her plump cheeks. "A deep, warm brown will look particularly good with the green wool." "I have just the thing." Lucy announced, going over to another chest. After a few minutes of searching, she pulled out a length of brown fur. "Delvin brought back this bear pelt after one of his hunts last spring. 'Twas from a young cub, so the fur is

very soft and smooth." She offered it to Hermione for her to feel. "Aye, 'tis very soft," Hermione agreed as she stroked the fur. Tis perfect." Clare took the fur from Hermione and placed it against the green wool.

"An ivory linen chemise will look really good under this kirtle. Lucy, do you still

have some of that linen we wove in the fall?"

"I believe so." Lucy returned to the first chest. "Here it is." She pulled out a length of fine ivory linen, shook it out, and held it up to Hermione's neck, letting the fabric fall to the floor. "I think there should be enough left to make a chemise." "It looks like there is plenty," Elizabeth agreed.

"Now, what shall we use for the next kirtle?" Lucy pivoted back to the chest and started to go through the material again.

"Lady Lucy," Hermione objected. "one gown is more than enough."