Owain had joined us by now. ‘Maeb, you must accept Lord —’
‘My lord, it is only this past hour you have battened down the castle,’ I said to Stephen. ‘Just an hour!’
‘The gates remain closed,’ Stephen said, his voice as hard as the rock of the castle walls.
‘I beg you,’ I said softly. ‘Lady Adelie has a close bond with Mistress Evelyn. Your lady mother would be bereft if she heard you had turned away her favoured servant at the gates, only a short time after the decision to secure them. And she so close to her confinement and fragile.’
I knew I pushed too hard. This was no respectful manner to speak to Stephen before d’Avranches and the knights. I could see Stephen was angry, but I held his eyes and bit my tongue from uttering that one final phrase which I knew would ruin me: Do this for me.
He knew I could have said more, I think. Still holding my eyes in a furious glare, he said to one of the guards by the gates, ‘Let Mistress Kendal enter, but only her, via the wicket gate.’
There was a smaller but no less solid gate set into the main gates and two of the guards set to drawing the bolts. It swung open, a moment passed, then Evelyn herself came in, atop a small brown horse.
‘Evelyn —’ I began, taking a step toward where she had pulled up her horse.
‘Stay here!’ Stephen snapped, walking over to Evelyn’s side — although keeping at a safe distance of a pace or two.
They were close enough that I could hear their conversation.
‘From whence have you come, Mistress Evelyn?’
Evelyn threw me a glance, but answered Stephen readily enough. ‘From the lands of Roger de Tosny, my lord. His manor is near Redmeleie, a day’s ride north of Glowecestre. It is where my daughter serves.’
‘And your route here to Pengraic?’
‘We had heard that the plague raged in Monemude, my lord, so we rode south-west through the Depdene forest along the droveways, avoiding all the towns. My lord, may my escort enter? They are as tired and in need of rest and food as myself.’
Stephen considered her. ‘Did you see any sickness as you passed? Tell me true, mistress.’
Again Evelyn flicked a glance at me. ‘No, my lord. All was well in the peoples we passed.’
Stephen continued to regard her, thinking. Then he turned to face me. ‘Be it on your head, Maeb.’ He looked back to Evelyn. ‘You may enter, your escort may not. They can find rest and succour enough at Crickhoel. Tell them they may use my name.’
I could not keep the grin off my face. I thanked Stephen as he strode past me, his face impassive. I shifted impatiently from foot to foot as Evelyn spoke to her escort just beyond the gate, then headed her horse toward me.
‘Evelyn!’ I cried, and she slid from her saddle and held out her arms.
Chapter Four
We went straight to Lady Adelie. I was thrilled to have Evelyn back and we chatted, our words falling over themselves, as we climbed the stairs to the solar and went into our lady’s privy chamber.
Lady Adelie was still abed, asleep now, Yvette by her side and the ever-watchful midwives in their corner. She woke only after we entered, and smiled sweetly as soon as she saw Evelyn, holding out a hand.
Evelyn sank into a courteous dip. I’d had my eyes on Evelyn’s face the moment she first saw Lady Adelie, and although she hid it almost instantly, I saw the shock there and it immediately made me worry even more about Lady Adelie.
‘My lady!’ Evelyn said, sitting on the bed and taking the countess’ hand as Stephen had not so long previously. ‘How do you? I wanted so to return before your confinement.’
‘I am well enough, Evelyn,’ Lady Adelie said. ‘A little tired — thus you catch me abed when I should be risen. How is it my son allowed you entry?’
‘Because Mistress Maeb begged him, my lady. She said you would want me by your side, and it was but an hour since he had commanded the castle closed.’
‘And so I do want you by my side. Tell me, how is your daughter?’
‘She is truly well, my lady. Grown into a fine young woman and she has a good place in Roger de Tosny’s household.’
‘He has lands above Glowecestre, yes?’
‘Yes, my lady.’
‘And the plague has not yet reached there?’
‘No, my lady, we have kept safe.’
‘It has devastated Cirecestre and is now in Monemude,’ Yvette said.
‘Aye,’ said Evelyn. ‘I worry about my daughter, my lady, but I worried about you more.’
‘And have left your daughter to attend me,’ Lady Adelie said. ‘You are a good and kind woman, Evelyn, for you must fear for her.’
‘My Lord de Tosny is taking his household and riding to more northerly estates, my lady,’ Evelyn said. ‘My choice was to ride with him or to come here. I chose here.’
‘Praise sweet Jesu for you, Evelyn,’ Lady Adelie said, patting Evelyn’s hand. ‘I need all my loyal ladies about me for this birth. I am in so much fear of it. So much fear.’
Her voice trembled on those last words and everyone in the room looked aghast. I had never seen my lady express such anxiety regarding the birth before.
Sweet Mary, she must be dreading this birth, indeed.
Now Lady Adelie appeared discomfited at her display of emotion. She let Evelyn’s hand go, brushing away imaginary crumbs from her bed linen, as if bored, or distracted. ‘Thank you, Evelyn.’
Evelyn and I did not get a chance for private conversation until later that night, when we went to our bed in the solar. I was very glad to have her back, and despite the warmth of the early summer night we lay close as we whispered. For a while she told me of her daughter and the joy she’d had in visiting her, but soon the topic turned to Lady Adelie.
‘By the heavenly saints, Maeb, when did Lady Adelie sicken so badly?’
I had truly not realised how ill Lady Adelie was until I had seen Evelyn’s shocked reaction on entering our lady’s privy chamber.
‘She has been sickening for weeks now, Evelyn. She was weak before we even started to Pengraic, but she has become worse since we arrived here, after an initial rally. She coughs at night, often, although Mistress Yvette tells me it is only a summer chill. I had not truly realised how ill she was until I saw your face when you first set eyes on her.’
‘Her complexion is dreadful, and her face so gaunt. Has she a fever, Maeb?’
‘I thought that perhaps it was the child …’
‘No. I have seen her carry and birth five children in my time in this household. Lady Adelie is one of those women who seem to find breeding easy. She has never had any difficulty carrying a child, nor birthing it. Not even the twins.’
‘But she is so old now.’
Evelyn chuckled. ‘And you are so young!’
I smiled too, and for a moment we lay there in companionable amusement.
‘Does she complain of any illness, Maeb?’
‘Not to me, although what she says to Mistress Yvette I do not know. I talked to Yvette about Lady Adelie recently, but she evaded my questions. Yvette now cares for my lady almost completely — I no longer even help with her dressing in the mornings.’
‘Mistress Yvette and our lady were ever close,’ Evelyn said. ‘Maeb …’
‘Yes?’
‘What other news about this plague? Surely you have heard more.’
‘Only what you have already heard,’ I said to her. ‘That it has reached Glowecestre and Monemude … and that only this morning, when Lord Stephen brought us the tidings.’
‘And what of Lord Stephen?’ Evelyn asked.
I smiled. ‘I have given myself to him entirely, and he promises to wed me in the autumn.’
‘Maeb!’
I laughed. ‘I jest only, Evelyn. I have been good, as you asked. I do not wish to lose my place in this household.’
I felt her body relax beside mine. ‘Do not tease me on this, Maeb. I was worried for you.’
‘There is no need.’
‘Is there word on the earl?’
‘Only that he is with the king in Elesberie.’
‘I wish that he would —’
Evelyn got no further, for suddenly the midwife Gilda loomed over our bed. ‘Mistresses, arise. Your lady needs you.’
Lady Adelie’s time had come. Evelyn and I hastily donned kirtles over our chemises, Evelyn no doubt wishing with myself that we could have enjoyed a few more cool hours lying naked beneath our sheets. We made sure our hair was neat, then entered our lady’s privy chamber.
The air was heavy and uncomfortably warm. The windows were shuttered closed, and heavy drapes pulled across them. Oils and herbs burned in a brazier set to one side and someone had lit the fire as well.