Chapter Twenty-five

D usk was a dismal bank of clouds threatening rain, but Reina made it back to the keep ere the first drops fell. She had spent the remainder of the afternoon in the village, tending to the ills and hurts she had neglected this past week. It was her custom to go every few days for an hour or two, unless someone was seriously ill, which fortunately no one was at this time.

Her baker’s sister, who had yet to carry a child full term, was pregnant again and needed a new supply of hollyhock. Old Delwyn needed gout weed for his swollen joints. Red Alma, the village light-skirt, had got her foot stepped on by her cow while milking it, and the small cut had become a large sore from infection. Reina left her enough horsetail for several applications, and also the beauty ointments made from cowslip Alma always managed to wheedle out of her, which kept down her freckles. There were the usual colds, sore throats, and fevers to see to, and a dog bite needing madweed, some running cankers and ringworm needing tetter berry. And while she was at it, she made up a mixture of sweet violet for herself, for its calming effect.

She stayed much longer than she was needed. Even after her neglect, she was too efficient for it to take more than two hours to see to everyone. She stayed longer to visit, to answer the many questions about the new lord—and to hide. Without wrapping it up neatly with excuses, she was suffering plain old cowardice, enough to desert her guests for the remainder of the day without the slightest twinge of conscience.

But who could blame her? Dinner had been late because she had been reluctant to come back to the hall earlier. And when she did, she had felt her face coloring every time she sensed Ranulf looking at her, knowing, just knowing he was silently laughing at her. She did not think she would ever get over the mortification of not having been aware that a very pertinent article of her clothing had been missing. But he had known, that devil, that miscreant of misplaced humor.

She had escaped as soon as was possible, and was reluctant to return even now. She could only hope that her husband would be gone, that Simon had done as she suggested and convinced Ranulf to leave with him.

She saw Aylmer watching her as she dismounted at the base of the forebuilding stairs and tossed the reins to a waiting groom. That he did not rush forward to greet her as was his custom made her realize she had not seen the boy recently, in fact, goodness, not since the day de Rochefort’s men had attacked. True, he did not normally come into the hall, and she had delegated many of her regular duties, in which she was likely to come across him, to other of her ladies to allow her more time with her guests. Even if he had come to the hall to try to gain her notice, ’twas not likely she would have seen him as crowded as it had been.

He was sitting on the side of a storage shed with his back braced against the wall. Once he saw he had her notice, however, he looked away. She knew then that something was definitely wrong, and rather than call him to her, she crossed the ward to him, in no great hurry to enter the keep even with the first drops of rain begun. Only when she reached him did she notice that he had company. Lady Ella was curled up in his lap.

She did not mention the cat, asking the boy, “Have you been avoiding me, Aylmer?”

He did not look up at her to reply. “You have been busy, my lady.”

“So I have.”

Reina squatted down next to him. The short eaves of the shed did naught to keep the rain away, and so she ignored it as the boy was doing, though why the cat was not running for cover she did not know. The thing was as stupid as it was ugly.

She said speculatively, “Did you think things would be different now I have married?”

“Are they not?”

He still would not look at her, and was not much able to conceal his gloomy expression. She was not sure what was bothering him, but she had an idea.

“Everything should be back to normal soon now,” she assured him. “The only difference is that Clydon has a lord again, and more men to protect us. Do you not think that is to our benefit?”

“We did well enough—”

“Nay, we did not, Aylmer, and you know it. Now tell me why you are out here doing naught when you should be at your job assisting the wafer maker this time of day.”

“He came in the kitchen,” Aylmer said in explanation, his voice a mere whisper.

“He? Oh, him . So?”

“So I ran off, and now Aldrich will whip me for it, especially since he still has extra wafers to make for those guests remaining.”

“Do you let me see to Aldrich,” she replied, thinking to herself that if she found out he had been whipping the boy, she would have his ears served up for the morrow’s dinner instead of his wafers. “But you knew you were wrong, Aylmer, to run—” She could not finish in that vein, not after she had just done the same thing. “Never mind. Sometimes there is good reason to disappear for a time. Why did you?”

“Why?” He finally looked at her in surprise, as if the answer should be obvious to her. “I—I did not want the lord to notice me. I was afraid did he see my foot, he would send me away from the keep.”

Reina groaned inwardly. She wanted to put her arms around the boy and assure him that would never happen, but how could she? He was right. Some men did react despicably toward cripples, as if they saw them as a threat to their own immortality, and she did not know Ranulf well enough to speak for him.

She chose logic, and could only hope it would prove true. “If he sent you away, Aylmer, ’twould mean he feared you. I do not know about you, but I had always heard there was naught that giants feared—except mayhap another giant.”

The try for levity was not successful. Instead of giving her a relieved smile, Aylmer was thoughtful for a moment, mulling over what she had said, mayhap even accepting it. But that was not all that was bothering him.

“When he walks, the floors tremble. And you can hear him inside the keep, even when he is without. Do you not fear him, my lady?”

She supposed a small boy would be frightened of someone with Ranulf’s intimidating height. Jesú , most men would be.

“We have to take into account that a big man does usually have a big voice, too, and a heavy step. That does not mean he is mean or cruel. Look you at that cat you are holding. Would a mean man keep such a creature for pet?”

Aylmer’s eyes rounded. “You mean it belongs to him?”

“Aye, what did you think?”

“I thought he was a stray in need of care. I found him scrounging around the slop bucket in the kitchen, and thought it best to save him a kick from cook and get him out of there.”

“That was kind of you, Aylmer. But he is a she, and cook would not have kicked this particular cat. He knows who she belongs to.”

“Oh,” he said, gloomy once again.

Reina smiled at that forlorn expression. “’Tis true, however, that she needs looking after. Would you like the job?”

At last he grinned. “Aye,” and then the grin failed. “But will the lord let me?”

Reina could only shrug. “I will ask him anon. But right now, let us get out of this drizzle ere it starts to rain hard. You can take Lady Ella back to the kitchen for now.”

“Is that her name?”

“Aye, that is her silly name. And, Aylmer, do you tell Master Aldrich that if he lays a hand on you, he must deal with me. But also apologize to the man for leaving him shorthanded.”

“Aye, my lady.”

He limped off ahead of her, Reina following much slower. There was little light left in the sky, but she was still in no hurry to enter the keep. Supper would have started without her, as was customary if she was delayed in the village. She was not hungry herself, too tense in wondering whether her husband would be there or not.

She found out even before she reached the hall, nearly run down by Ranulf as he hurried down the stairs. He was armed and mail-clad, and did not even recognize her, making an annoying rumble that someone should dare get in his way. She was not so nice about being shoved out of the way, laying an expletive on his head. He stopped just below her, recognizing her voice at least.

“So you are still here, my lord.” It was a statement, not a question, and filled with disgust.

He swung around to glare at her. “Where else would I be? But more to the point, where have you been?”

“At the village, if you must know. And as for where you should be, Simon mentioned to me that he was going to suggest you ride with him to Forthwick to view those lands.”

“So he did, but I declined. I thought ’twas best I familiarize myself with Clydon ere I go inspecting your other holdings.”

He was absolutely right, though she would not admit it. “And where do you go now?”

Before he could answer, Walter came rushing down the stairs, with Kenric right behind him. There was nearly another collision, but Walter stopped short in time. Kenric was not so fortunate and plowed into his back.

“So you found her?” Walter said after tossing an annoyed look at the boy. “That was quick work.”

Ranulf merely grunted and held out an arm for Reina to precede him up the stairs. She was bemused, realizing what Walter’s words meant.

“You were going to search for me?” she asked in a subdued tone.

“You were late, lady,” was Ranulf’s surly reply. “Henceforth, you will be inside these walls before ’tis dark.”

Reina smiled to herself. If her visit to the village had done anything, it had shattered his good humor. Well and good. The grouch was more predictable.