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Authors: Tracie Peterson

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BOOK: Alas My Love
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Chapter 4

Helena was treated with the utmost care, and the question of her arrival to Gavenshire did not again become an issue. She could only imagine that Devon had shared her situation with the duke and duchess and that they had all agreed the trauma to be too great for her to bear.

Whatever the reason, Helena was glad for the reprieve. She was quickly welcomed into the inner circle of the duchess, becoming fast friends with Arianne, as
well as with an older woman named Matilda, who acted as the duchess’s closest
confidante and friend. Helena soon relaxed in the unconditional friendship offered her.

“You look quite fetching, Milady,” Devon offered, taking the seat beside hers at the noon meal.

Helena felt shy next to this man. She’d had so little experience with men, having stayed so close to the protection of her mother. Devon was obviously interested in her, and whether it was simply as a means of solving the mystery about her or because he was attracted to her, Helena was uncertain.

“Thank you, Sire,” she whispered and turned her attention to her other side, where Richard seated Arianne. The duchess was laughing about something, and Helena instantly felt a pang of envy for the happiness that emanated from her face.

She watched as the duke leaned down to whisper something in Arianne’s ear and caught the look of deep love in his eyes.
Oh to be loved like that,
she thought. Turning away, almost embarrassed for having intruded, Helena caught Devon’s smile of knowing.

“ ’Tis truly a great love affair,” he whispered in her ear.

Just then the noise of the hall faded as a grave-looking man rushed to the duke’s side.

“What is it, Douglas?” Richard questioned.

“There is news, Your Grace,” Douglas Mont Gomeri, chamberlain to the duke, announced.

“Pray tell?”

Douglas glanced to Arianne, then beckoned Richard to join him outside.

“Nay, Douglas,” Arianne stated with a fierce shake of her head. “Share your news here.”

Douglas looked at Richard, who questioningly nodded. “I fear ’tis Her Grace’s father and stepmother. A fever has taken them.”

Arianne dropped her chalice. “They are dead?”

“Aye.”

Helena watched as the color drained from Arianne’s face. She heard the swift intake of breath from the man beside her and remembered that Devon and Arianne were siblings. She turned to offer her condolences and noted the shocked expression on Devon’s face. Little more was said, however, as the duchess doubled over in pain and gasped her husband’s name.

“ ’Tis the babe,” she whispered.

Richard immediately pulled her from the chair and lifted her into his arms. “Douglas, get the midwife. Helena, find Matilda and send her to our chamber.”

Helena nodded, watching as the duke carried his weeping wife to the stairs. Devon sat motionless, and Helena wished she could offer some comfort. Not knowing anything she could say, she placed her hand upon his arm, met his gaze with her sympathetic one, and went in search of Matilda.

Richard paced nervously in the great hall. With sidelong glances at the stone stairs that led to the upper level and the lying-in chamber where Arianne lay, he prayed fervently for his wife’s safe delivery. Helena sat in silence. She no longer envied the duchess.

She knew full well that pregnancy and childbirth were frightening times for women. Should a child struggle in finding its way into the world, there was little that could be done to assist it. She knew Richard took some comfort in the fact that Matilda was assisting the midwife. Matilda had waited upon his own mother, and Richard trusted her to be honest with him about his wife’s condition.

Still, it had been some time since she’d come to tell them any news, and Arianne had been confined to the room throughout the night. Now with daybreak upon them, Richard found exhaustion overtaking his weary mind.

“Dear God,” he prayed aloud, “please ease her pain and deliver her safely of our child. Give life to the seed that You caused to grow from our love. ’Tis a selfish man I am, Lord,” Richard continued, “but I plead for their lives and beg forgiveness for my concern.”

Helena’s heart ached for the man. He was clearly worried sick for his wife, and the helplessness of the matter left him frustrated and ill tempered.

“Your Grace would do well to rest,” Helena said softly.

“Aye,” Devon offered, coming into the room. “You will need your rest to show off that fine babe. ’Twould be a pity should the child have more strength than his father.”

Richard tried to laugh, but it came out little more than a huff, and foreboding crept over the hall.

Matilda appeared nearly an hour later, shaking her head. “ ’Tis time it takes for these little ones to come into the world. God’s timing is best.”

“You will let me know as soon as something happens?” Richard asked, already knowing the answer.

“Aye, you know I will.” Matilda then turned to Helena. “Her Grace would like it if you would bear this with her.”

Helena’s face registered surprise. “Arianne has asked for me?”

“Aye. ’Tis certain enough she would prefer her husband,” Matilda said with a grin, “but the midwife will have none of that. Come.”

Helena looked at Richard, who nodded. “ ’Twill ease my mind to know you are with her.”

“Very well.”

Taking a chair by the fireplace, Richard watched them go and knew that his heart went with them. He thought only to rest his eyes a moment and await word of Arianne. A storm had brewed up off the coast, and the howling wind outside made him feel even more tired. The damp chill of the room caused him to pull his chair closer to the flickering fire. He would just sit a moment and pray. Instead, he fell into a much-needed sleep and dreamed not of Arianne, but of his brother.

Helena patted Arianne’s hand supportively, knowing little else she could do. She was honored that the duchess had asked for her, but she found the entire scene quite foreign and frightening.

“Milady,” Matilda said to the laboring Arianne, “I’ve placed jasper in the four corners of the room. ’Tis a good stone to bring about the quick delivery of a child.”

Arianne felt the contraction ease and relaxed against her pillow, while the midwife, an ancient woman dressed all in black, rubbed a soothing ointment on her distended abdomen.

“Aye,” the midwife said with a nod. “Jasper will quicken the birth.” Then turning to Matilda, she questioned, “Did ye open all of the doors and drawers within the castle?”

“Aye,” Matilda responded quickly. “The cupboards and larder doors as well.”

“ ’Tis good,” the midwife stated, then glanced at Arianne as she felt the tightening of another contraction. “ ’Twill beckon the child out.”

Matilda nodded at Arianne and Helena’s questioning glances. The midwife gently kneaded the duchess’s stomach and asked, “What of the knots? Be there any yet untied?”

“Nay,” Matilda answered confidently. “I have overseen it myself. ’Tis sure that all knots in this castle have been undone.”

The midwife nodded. “ ’Twill keep the cord from knotting about the child’s neck,” she told Arianne.

Arianne’s misery and pain left her little time to consider the traditional forms of midwifery. She knew there was a knife placed beneath her mattress to cut the pain of delivery. Not that it was helping. She’d also seen Matilda sprinkle special herbs about the room, knowing that they were to give off pleasant scents and coax the baby to come with haste. But in truth, this baby was already coming in haste. It was at least a month early by Matilda’s calculations, but the shock of her father’s death had been too much.

“I’m glad you are here,” Arianne told Helena. “I feel as though we’ve become as sisters these past few days. I pray I have not asked too much of you.”

“Never, Milady.” Helena again patted the duchess’s hand. “I am your faithful servant.”

“Nay.” Arianne’s eyes were bright with pain. “You are now a most cherished friend.”


Helena had just reported Arianne’s progress to a sleepy Richard, when Douglas
Mont Gomeri entered room. “Your Grace, there is a messenger from the king.”

Richard came instantly awake, noticing for the first time the brilliance of sunlight that flooded in from the open windows. The silence left in the passing of the storm was nearly deafening. “What be the hour?” he questioned and glanced again to the stairway.

“It is coming upon noon,” Douglas replied. “Has the duchess—”

“Nay. Helena has just told me it will still be some time. Show the messenger in.” His voice betrayed his concern.

Douglas nodded and returned with a weary-looking man. He wore the colors of King Henry, as well as the markings. Richard acknowledged the man with his eyes, but said nothing. The man, in return, gave a deep bow and produced a wax-sealed parchment.

Richard took the message eagerly and noted that preparations were being made in the hall for dinner. “Will you take the noon meal with us?” he questioned, while breaking the seal.

“I would be most humbly grateful,” the man replied.

Richard motioned to Douglas. “My chamberlain will see to your needs. Douglas, please show this man where he may wash.”

Douglas led the man away while Richard scanned the words on the paper. There was joy in his heart as he realized that Henry had agreed to pardon Tancred DuBonnet.

“I pray it is not more bad news,” Helena said, feeling a faint despair wash over her.

“On the contrary. ’Tis good news.” Richard beckoned Helena to sit and then read, “Upon your word and oath that your brother has been falsely accused and because of the grave injustice done him, I do hereby pardon—” Richard’s words fell away. “The king has pardoned my brother!”

Helena could only nod. She had little idea as to what the duke’s brother needed pardoning for by the king, but such a matter was indeed cause for celebration. “Congratulations, Your Grace,” she announced, getting to her feet. “I must return to Arianne. I will come again when there is word.”

Richard barely heard Helena’s words. Tancred would be pardoned!


“The babe is nearly born, Milady,” Matilda said soothingly to Arianne. “Just a wee bit longer and you will know such joy that pain will be forgotten.”

Arianne doubted that Matilda spoke the truth, but she gave a final push to appease the midwife’s demands. Suddenly it was done. The child was being pulled from her body and the pain was taken with it.

The midwife quickly tied the cord and cut it at four fingers’ length from its belly. The slightly blue-skinned baby soon colored to a hardy pinkish-red as its lusty cries filled the chamber.

“ ’Tis a son, Milady,” Matilda announced proudly, and Arianne wept for joy.

Helena could only stare in dumbfounded silence. What a wondrous event she had just witnessed. Never in her life had she imagined such a thing.

The midwife quickly took the baby to wash him in a readied tub of water. She rigorously rubbed his tiny body with salt, then took honey and rubbed it on his gums and tongue to give him an appetite. Helena left Arianne’s side to watch on in amazement as the tiny infant protested such treatment.

“ ’Tis a fine son, Your Grace,” the midwife called over her shoulder as she bound the baby tightly in a fine linen cloth. His swaddling kept him completely immobilized, but did not interfere with his hearty cries.

“You must take him to Richard,” Arianne stated. Helena looked up, wondering to whom she was speaking.

Matilda was weeping tears of joy and nodded to Helena. “He’ll be most happy to see you with this news.”

“You want me to take the baby to Richard?” Helena’s obvious surprise amused Arianne. The midwife placed the bundled infant in Helena’s arms before she could refuse. “But what if I stumble? I’ve not cared for a child before.”

“Neither have I,” Arianne replied. “Go, take him to his father. You will do well, of this I am certain.”

Richard had heard the cries of his son. With little thought to the king’s message, he had let the parchment fall to the floor in wonder of the new sounds.

He held his breath, closed his eyes, and thanked God for the child who cried so fiercely. Opening his eyes, he again found the room suddenly filled with people. Douglas came to his side, staring in wonderment at the staircase. Behind them, voices were murmuring with approval and speculation.

“ ’Tis a boy for sure, Your Grace,” one of the knights called out.

“No other could cry with such a voice,” another assured.

In a few moments, a wide-eyed Helena appeared on the stairs, a tiny white mummy in her arms. The cries grew louder as she approached, for the baby was decidedly unhappy with his new surroundings.

“Her Grace,” Helena said with obvious pride in her voice, “has been delivered of a son.”

A hearty cry of congratulations and approval filled the air. The word was quickly spread throughout the castle and into the surrounding village. The duke had an heir.

“What of Arianne?” Richard questioned anxiously.

“She is well, Sire, and quite pleased.”

Richard looked down into the face of the crying babe. Without thought, he retrieved the baby from Helena’s arms and studied him closely. The infant calmed under his father’s scrutiny and Richard smiled.

“ ’Tis a fine son, indeed,” he said to no one in particular. Then noticing the shock of burnt red hair, Richard’s smile grew broader. “And he bares the mark of his mother, I see.” Those in the room drew near to catch sight of the baby.

“ ’Tis time I thank your mother,” Richard whispered to the child.

Helena followed Richard to the lying-in chamber, where in keeping with tradition, all of the castle’s finest treasures had been laid out on display. No treasure there, however, caught the duke’s eye save Arianne.

She was lying back against the pillows, eyes closed and copper hair spilling out over the coverlet. The midwife was removing her things from the bedside and glanced in surprise at Richard’s early entry into the room.

“You should place the babe in his cradle,” she motioned to the darkened cor
ner of the room, “where his eyes cannot be harmed by the light.”

BOOK: Alas My Love
11.12Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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