Royal Feud

Chapter 41

Chapter 41

"I see." Hermione looked down at her hands clasped together at her waist. Apparently

she also was not allowed to question Delvin's orders. "Milady, please inform me immediately if Lord Ishton's condition worsens."

"Aye." Hermione raised her head to meet his eyes. "I will do so."

"Thank you, milady. I will return tomorrow morning to check on Lord Ishton." Belwick bowed to her. Hermione watched the castellan walk away, then silently opened the chamber door and went inside to resume her vigil at Delvin's side.

P ushing the bedding off, Hermione moved deliberately so as not to mattress. Once she was sitting up, she touched Delvin's forehead for what seemed the hundredth time during the long sleepless night. He continued to deeply. Hermione closed her eyes to pray silently. shake the sleep

Thank You, Lord, for Your healing power. Thank You that Delvin has no fever. Please continue to heal him and make him well. Gracious Lord, I know that you love Delvin much more than I ever could, and I know You hold him in your hands. Help me to You. I ask that Your will, not mine, be done in his life and in my own. keep trusting

A long, slow sigh escaped her lips as she exhaled. Dear Lord, please show me a way to help Damien. I know he did not do this horrible thing. Help me to convince Delvin of Damien's innocence. All these things I ask in Jesus' holy name. Amen.

She washed and dressed with as little noise as possible, glancing frequently to Delvin's still form in the bed. He slept as one dead, he was so still and quiet. After pinning the last strip of her wimple into place, she walked back to the bed. As she leaned down to touch Delvin's cheeks, he finally opened his eyes. "Delvin. I am so glad you are finally awake. How are you feeling?"

"Like I have been gored by a wild boar," he said, pulling himself to a sitting

osition.

"Thank God, you have not come down with a fever." Hermione smiled at him. "I need to see if the wounds on your side have stopped bleeding. And I should change your bandages."

"Aye. But first I need to use the garderobe." Delvin pushed off the covers and swung

his feet over the side of the bed.

"Delvin, I do not think you should walk that far in your condition," Hermione

protested. "Let me get the chamber pot for you." Delvin paused, sitting on the side of the bed. "Aye," he said with a grunt. "Mayhap

you are right." Hermione brought the empty chamber pot and set it on the floor

hovering uncertainly nearby.

in front of him,

"Do you plan to watch?" Delvin asked with a slight smirk. "Nay." Hermione felt the heat rush into her face. "I will go tell Renwold to bring some

breakfast."

Hermione hurried from the room. Before she was halfway down the stairs, Renwold and Belwick had both left their places in the hall below and were making their way toward her. Glancing down into the unnaturally quier hall and feeling all eyes on her, she paused on the steps and smiled, hoping to reassure the servants.

"Good morrow, everyone," she announced in a loud voice. "Lord Ishton is doing

well. He had a deep, restful sleep last night and is now awake. I expect him to recover

quickly and completely from his wounds."

Applause broke out after she delivered the news, and she saw several people cross themselves. She waited for Belwick and Renwold as they climbed the last few steps toward her. "Good morrow, Sir Hugh. And to you as well, Master Renwold." She smiled at

them. "Good morrow to you, milady," Belwick replied. "Tis indeed good news you

bring." "Aye." Hermione looked at the steward. "Renwold, please send some breakfast up to our chamber. Lord Ishton is hungry." After Renwold excused himself to see to her orders, Hermione looked at Belwick. "Sir Hugh, would you like to see the Earl now?"

"Aye, milady."

She led the castellan back to the bedchamber, pausing outside the door.

"Please wait here while I see if Delvin is ready to receive visitors." She opened the

door and slipped inside, where she found Delvin sitting in a chair by the brazier. "Delvin, Belwick said as he entered the chamber and walked

Sir Hugh would like to speak with you." "Let him in, Hermione."

"Good morrow, milord,"

toward Delvin. "How are you doing?"

"Twill take more than a knife and a boar to finish me off," Delvin said with a grin. "Aye, that it will. That it will," Belwick agreed. "Milord, I have some information to give you regarding the attack against you yesterday. Perhaps Lady Ishton would excuse us while I deliver my report." "You can speak freely in front of Lady Ishton, Hugh."

Hermione moved to stand behind Delvin, facing the castellan, and caught the glance he shot her. Placing her hands on the back of the chair, she returned his look. Belwick

nodded to her, then moved his gaze back to Delvin. "Aye, milord. I have questioned Langston and every other member of the hunting

party quite thoroughly. Langston vehemently denies trying to kill you.

"The men were aligned in a half-circle beside you as you approached the boar. Roger was to your right, with Bardulf just beyond him. Langston was on Bardulf's right. Geoffrey was immediately to your left, with Matthew on his other side. So Langston was the farthest away from you and had only Bardulf beside him.

"Each of the men said that when they heard your shout they rushed toward you. No one saw any one other than the men in the hunting party. Bardulf says that because of the dense foliage he lost sight of Langston while they were stalking the boar." "So," Delvin said, "there is no proof of either Langston's guilt or his innocence." "Nay, milord." Belwick paused, glancing again at Hermione. He brought his right

hand up to his mouth and stroked the beard covering his chin with his thumb and

forefinger. "May I speak freely, milord?"

"Aye."

"Milord, 'tis my opinion that Langston is telling the truth. The sincerity in his eyes and voice were most convincing."

"Could be he is just an excellent liar."

"Aye, 'tis possible," Belwick replied. "But I doubt it. You know that I am not easily fooled. Langston has been extremely diligent in his training. He never questions orders,

He readily takes on every task assigned to him, including the most menial. He is well

liked and respected by all the other men. None of the knights believes he is guilty."

"Thank you for your counsel, Hugh. I will take your information into consideration." Delvin shifted on the chair. "I will speak to Langston myself in a few days. Meanwhile, I want him confined to the prison. You may go now." "Aye, milord."

Belwick bowed and crossed the room to open the door, revealing the manservant waiting in the hall. The servant stood back to let Belwick leave, then entered the chamber carrying a tray stacked with food.

"Excuse me, milord and milady," the servant said, giving them a bow. "Master

Renwold told me not to disturb yer meeting with Sir Hugh." "That 'tis fine, Stephen. Thank you," Hermione said.

Moving around the chair, she noticed Delvin had closed his eyes, no doubt in

fatigue. She quietly instructed the servant where to set the tray. He left, taking the

chamber pot with him. "Delvin, I should check your injuries as soon as possible to make sure they are not still bleeding."

He did not open his eyes. "Go ahead, then."

She gathered up some cloths, as well as clean water, and set them down on the floor next to his chair. Carefully untying the knot she had used to secure the bandage around his waist, she gingerly pulled the blood-soaked dressing away from the wound. After cleaning the injury with warm water and wine to remove the dried blood, she examined the wound.

"The bleeding has stopped," she announced.

Hermione replaced the dressing with a clean one and secured it with a new bandage. After changing the bandage on his shoulder, she washed her hands, then served Delvin breakfast. They were both silent as they ate. Hermione watched Delvin closely, alert for any signs of distress. He looked up from his cup to catch her eyes on him.

"Are you not going to plead your friend's innocence? he asked.

"Nay. "Twould be a waste of breath. You do not have an open mind." Delvin grunted, setting down his cup. "I am going back to sleep." He pushed to his feet. Hermione followed him as he walked slowly to the bed and lay

down. She gathered up the blanket to cover him, but he pulled it out of her hands. "You do not have to stay with me. I am not an invalid."

"As you wish, milord."

She turned her back on him and gathered up the remnants of their breakfast, setting

them on the tray. When she had her anger and disappointment under control, she strolled over to the bed to look at Delvin, who was already fast asleep. Stubborn man, she thought. Why does he dislike and distrust Damien so much? Damien has never done anything to harm him.

"I wish to speak with Master Langston," Hermione announced to the guard stationed outside the prison.

"Aye, milady."

Hermione blinked, then endeavored to make her face impassive and hide her surprise. She had not expected her mission to be accomplished this easily, having fully anticipated a confrontation with Belwick over her plan to speak to Langston. But the guard banged on the door of the cell and called out loudly, "Langston, ye have a visitor."

Damien's face appeared in the open grill set in the top half of the door. The guard stepped back to allow Hermione access, then retreated to stand at attention several yards away, facing the door.

"Hermione, what are you doing here?" Langston exclaimed. "You should not have

come."

"Damien, I had to see if you were all right." Hermione tried to keep her voice low so the guard would not overhear her.

"I am as well as can be expected, being in prison and falsely accused of a crime I did

not commit."

"Oh, Damien, I know you are innocent. Ishton has not even a shred of evidence against you, but he still believes you tried to kill him." She shook her head. "I do not understand why he mistrusts you so.

"He is jealous of me." "What?"

"Tis true." Langston mer her eyes. "He knows I love you and want to protect you." "But you love me as if I were your sister," Hermione said, wanting it to be true. "Nay, Hermione. I love you as a man loves a woman."

"Damien, I do not feel that way about you. You are a good friend. You have been

closer to me than my own brothers. But I love my husband."

The sad smile he gave her rent her heart. "I know, Hermione. Do not worry. I am resigned to loving you from afar and serving you in whatever way I can."

"I am so sorry," she murmured. "Hermione, I did not confess my feelings for you to cause you hurt or grief, but to

explain Ishton's antagonism toward me."

She nodded. "I am sorry Ishton has locked you in this prison. Even Sir Hugh believes in your innocence and has tried to persuade Ishton to release you, but to no avail."

"I guess I will be here quite a while then."

"In a few days I will try again to convince Ishton of your innocence. In the meantime, do you need anything?"

"Some water in which to wash and some clean clothes would be most welcome."

"I will see that you get both." Hermione sighed. "I should go now, before I attract too

much attention."

"Aye. And thank you, Hermione."

"Take care, Damien. Do not lose hope. May God be with you."

"And also with you."