Lady Moraine looked up at Hastings, then drew the child to her. She rocked her against her. Then she pressed her back at arm’s length. “It is difficult, Eloise, for anyone to want to help her. Marjorie tried to poison Hastings.”
“No, no, she did not.” Eloise brushed her hand over her eyes. She drew back her shoulders and took a deep breath. “It was I who put the powder in Hastings’s wine. And it wasn’t poison. It wouldn’t have killed her. I just wanted to punish her for making Marjorie’s nose grow large and red. Marjorie knew but she took the blame for me.”
“I really don’t like this,” Hastings said.
7, A. A.
Severin was on his feet. “I don’t either. As I said, I will think aboat all this. I must go now, Hastings.”
“To find Gwent and our men?”
“Aye, I have prayed myself numb. They have to be alive. They ha^e to be. When we are all together again, then we will make plans.”
She did not demand to accompany him. In truth she was exhausted* the babe making her nearly dizzy with fatigue. “You will be home soon? she said a short time later when she stood in the outer bailey, waiting fur all the men to mount.
“Aye, as quickly as possible. Sir Alan will take care of OxboroughIf Richard de Luci tries treachery, he will not succeed. You will consider Oxborough under siege until I return.”
She nodded, stood on her tiptoes, and wrapped her arms about hls neck. “Be careful, Severin.”
He brought her close, his breath warm against her hair. “We will get through this, Hastings. You will see.”
“I know,” she said, and kissed him. “I know,” she said again agair>st his open mouth. She felt a shudder go through him and kissed him yet again.
He stepped back, his breathing quick and hard. He smiled down at her, his eyes dark and vibrant. “I have sent a man to Lord Graelam &e Moreton in Cornwall. God knows how long it will take for him to con»e? or even if he is able to come.”
“He will come. Will you send a messenger to the king?”
Severin shook his head. “No, I don’t wish to take a chance on E
he could not prevent himself from doing so. “It is just that I promised him. He told me if I did not and he heard that I was ever in grave danger, he would stake me out in the middle of a practice field and ride his war-horse over me.” He kissed Hastings’s nose, then grinned at Alan. “I believe him. I am not a fool.”
Hastings laughed. It felt wonderful to laugh, even for a moment.
“I must go. Take care of our babe and Alan will see to your safety.”
He slammed his fist into Sir Alan’s shoulder, all in good humor, and said something low to him that Hastings could not hear. Sir Alan nodded solemnly. Severin waved yet again to Hastings and strode to his war-horse. Hastings watched him leap gracefully astride.
“God be with you, my lord,” she called. He waved at her and was soon outside the massive Oxborough gates. She ran to the sturdy wooden ladder that led up to the ramparts. She watched him until he was gone from her sight.
When Alice came to her later, Hastings was on her knees beside a man whose belly was so shriveled he could only keep MacDear’s lightest broth down without vomiting. She looked up, her head cocked to one side. Alice looked utterly bewildered.
“I do not believe this, Hastings.”