Lass' Valor (The Pith Trilogy) (5 page)

Somehow,
Kate would get even with Lady de Morris for hurting Bonnie, and she would begin
the very next morning.

*****

And
get even, she would. No woman or man would hurt a child if she had anything to
do with it. A sennight had passed by quickly since Kate’s arrival to the de
Morris manor. She and Bonnie spent every waking moment together. Kate took her
out for walks in the fresh air for exercise, being cooped up in that chamber
for such a long time made Bonnie pale. This day, they picnicked in the outlying
area beyond the manor where the grass was grown thicker, and they sat upon an
old cloth taken from the bedchamber. At least outside, they didn’t have to
contend with Lady de Morris, her loathsome looks at Bonnie, or the stench of
the hall.

Kate
got an idea. “Bonnie, are ye afraid of insects?”

“What
kind of insects?”

“Big,
ugly beetle insects.” Kate laughed.

“Nay,
why?”

“I
want to collect them and put them in the lady’s bed.”

Bonnie
giggled. “Aye, that would be fun. Where do we find ‘em?”

“Just
go along this high brush.” Kate knelt and plucked an insect from the blade of
grass. She placed it in the basket she’d brought along. The creature felt
strange and quite repulsive, but it was worth touching them, knowing what she
was going to do with them.

They
put any kind of insects they could find in it. When they found a really ugly
insect, they shouted with glee. Bonnie found the biggest beetle Kate had ever
seen. They hated touching the insects, but it would be worth it. Lady de Morris
would be in for a surprise this night. Kate and Bonnie skipped back to the
manor, their trick secure inside the basket. When they entered, they saw Lady de
Morris in her usual place.

Mayhap
Kate should pity her. Alas, Lady de Morris had an evil spirit and wouldn’t get
compassion from her, not after seeing what she had done to Bonnie. Nay, the
woman didn’t deserve a kind word, let alone sympathy. She was fortunate that
Kate didn’t use her skills to cause harm, for if she had, the lady would likely
be dead by now. But Kate never used her powers for casting spells in ill
against others. It was something Madam had enforced, and of course, Kate had
too gentle a heart to want to hurt anyone, even someone as vile as Lady de
Morris. Although the idea of harming that woman had crossed her mind several
times since she’d seen Bonnie’s back.

She
and Bonnie went to the chamber they now shared. It neared the evening meal, so
they changed and washed. Kate disliked eating in the hall, but the lady forbade
them from eating in their chamber. Once they were ready, they went down the
stairs for the meal. Kate sat next to Bonnie, and put meat on her tray. They
were served pigeon and veal, and a variety of vegetables. Kate thought it odd,
because she didn’t think the de Morris’ were well to do, yet the food served
was of quality. She plied her tray with vegetables and avoided the high piled
meats. The smell of it made her nauseous. As they ate, the hall’s silence
became palpable.

Lord
Richard actually joined them for the meal, it was the first time he’d eaten
with them since Kate’s arrival. He kept giving her looks of loathing, which
made her uncomfortable. She avoided his gaze and concentrated on finishing her
food. Kate and Bonnie left the hall as soon as they finished the meal. They
went to take care of their little chore of releasing the creatures.

Kate
entered her room and grabbed the basket. “I have them, Bonnie, let’s go.”

“Aye,
Kate.”

They
tiptoed down the hall to the lady’s room. The empty chamber darkened slightly
because the sun had faded, which produced a hazy atmosphere. Dimness added to
the shabbiness of the abode. When they approached the bed, Bonnie pulled back
the covers and Kate dumped the contents onto the bed, shaking the basket until
all the creatures were out. Insects crawled in various directions.

“Hurry,
pull back the covers.”

After
they finished the chore, they crept toward the door. Someone’s footsteps
sounded in the hallway. Kate grasped Bonnie’s hand, pulling her behind the
door. She cracked the door open slightly to look, they held their breath. A
servant hummed as she passed by, laden with a pile of wash. They slipped from
the room, and once they were inside their chamber, they fell on the bed in a
riot of laughter.

“Kate,
if Papa knowed what we did, he would make us both sit in his chair for a whole
day.” Bonnie giggled.

“I
can’t wait until she comes. Let us ready for bed.” Kate went to the wardrobe.

They
finished washing and changed into their nightclothes. She read to Bonnie from a
large tome she’d bought from home. Bonnie seemed to enjoy being read to. After
reading a few pages, they heard the lady in the corridor. They scrambled off
the bed and ran to the door. Kate cracked the door open, their ears pressed
against the doorframe, listening. The lady entered her room, the door creaked.

They
waited.

“A
few more minutes,” Kate whispered.

All
quieted, but then Bonnie let out a low giggle.

“Shhh.”
Kate held the door ajar.

In
a sudden rush the lady’s door opened, and she ran down the hall shrieking. Kate
closed the door and she and Bonnie fell into a fit of laughter. Bonnie’s giggle
lightened the chamber as they both tried to fall asleep.

Early
the next morning, they entered the hall to break their fast and found Lady D
there in her usual place. They now referred to her as
Lady D
. She had
slept in the hall the night before, and looked groggy.

“Kaitlin,
have you seen any insects in your room? I was beset by the vile beasts last
eve. They overtook my chamber, and I’m having Suzie give it a thorough
scrubbing.”

Kate
stifled her laughter. “I haven’t noticed any.” She felt dreadful that Suzie
would have to clean Lady D’s room, but that couldn’t be helped.

Bonnie
stood next to her, smiling widely. They ate breakfast quickly and spent the day
thinking of nasty things to do to her.

They
next day, they collected toads all afternoon by the pond beyond the village. It
was fun, and they were soaking wet from their jaunt. They placed fifteen toads
in the ale barrel just before the evening meal. Lady D just happened to be the
one to open the barrel to refill her goblet. Her scream caused many men-at-arms
to run inside the manor. Lady D glared at Kate, but she held herself
circumspect because the lady couldn’t prove that she’d done it.

“Kaitlin,
Lord Richard has been called away to a tenant’s home,” Lady D said suddenly.
She placed food on her tray, and Kate didn’t think she wanted a response, so
she kept quiet.

Kate
was glad he’d left because he made her feel repulsed with his glares and
ogling. She tried not to look at him, but his stare made her uneasy. At least,
the meal that night would be more enjoyable without his company.

Later
that day, Kate threw her basin water out the window. Luckily, Lady D just
happened to be standing below it. She stuck her head out the window and yelled
down, “Oh, my lady, I didn’t know you were walking by. I do apologize.”

She
and Bonnie had a fit of laughter over that. Kate enjoyed torturing her. She
couldn’t wait until the next day. When Kate arrived in the hall the next
morning, it was vacant. After pouring herself and Bonnie a bowl of pottage, she
mixed dried mandrake and yarrow roots in the porridge pot that sat on the fire.
It would cause the lady to have stomach cramps for the rest of the day. Lady D
finally came down to break her fast. Kate hoped she would pour herself a
heaping bowlful, as she normally did.

“Kaitlin,
will ye get me some ale?”

“Of
course, my lady.” Kate couldn’t resist, she put grounded raspberry leaves in
the cup. She couldn’t wait until Lady D ran from the room. Likely, she would
spend the rest of the day in the garderobes. It had been a long time since she’d
pulled such pranks. She sobered then, because it reminded her of when she was
young and carefree, living at home with her beloved father, Lolly, and Madam
Serena. How she missed her father’s keep and him. He often remarked jovially
about her pranks, though she didn’t do such vile things to him or the servants.

She
knew that she needed to form a plan to return Bonnie to her home, and she had a
few ideas. Her thoughts were interrupted by Lady D’s shout.

“This
porridge is horrible, take it away.” She sipped the ale Kate had given her.

Kate
watched, not smiling outwardly, but inside she was bursting with laughter.

“What
are you girls about this day?”

Kate
kept her expression serene. “We’re going to the village for awhile. We’ll
return later, and I will begin instruction on sewing.”

“’Tis
time the girl learned to sew,” Lady D agreed.

The
two girls walked the mile to the village. Kate wanted to talk to the smithy.
Master Hemmings seemed like a kind old soul. Kate hoped he would offer to help
her. She entered the smithy’s hut and found him at his work. He hit a flamed
mass with a large maillot, tapping pieces of steel. When he saw her, he stopped
his banging. Her ears still rang from the deafening sound.

“My
lady, what can I do for ye?”

“Master
Hemmings, I’m Lady Stanhope, a ward of Lord Richard’s. I’m in need of
assistance. Might you be able to help me?”

“I’ll
help ye if I can. What do ye need?”

“I
need a good, sturdy horse. I do have a few jewels to use for payment. Do you
know where or how I can go about getting one? Is there a hostler in the
village?”

“Aye,
there be, my lady. I can take care of that for ye.” He seemed proud that she
asked him.

“Thank
you, Master Hemmings. I need the horse as soon as you can arrange it. When
might you be free to take care of this matter?”

“I’d
be free this noon. Would that be soon enough?”

“Oh,
aye. Could you keep the horse tethered out back?”

“Aye,
my lady. What do ye need a horse for?” He blushed at his insolence.

Kate
became alarmed by his question, her mind raced, searching for an answer. “Um …
I’m going to teach the young one to ride. She’s always wanted to and—”

“Why
he need be sturdy then? They have horses at my lord’s manor.” He stepped toward
her with his brows raised.

“Master
Hemmings, I do beg your pardon, but I’m a good judge of horse flesh. Please be
sure it can handle a tough hand and rough ride.” Kate’s tone became stringent.

He
swallowed hard at her words. “Of course, my lady, I didn’t mean to offend ye.”

“Very
well.” She smiled and handed him the jewels, but kept the coins. She realized
that she should placate him before she left. “Please, don’t say a word about
this … you see, it’s meant to be a surprise. They adore the child, her being
the relative of my lady’s and I want to teach her in private.”

“I
understand,” he said.

She
hated lying to the old man, but she couldn’t tell him the truth. She and Bonnie
walked around the village, and they waved to those who passed by. Kate removed
the cloak she had placed around Bonnie because the day had grown warm.

She
felt responsible for the girl, and had to find a way to return her to the
caring arms of her family. The need to leave pressed on her. Lord Richard
looked at her oddly when he ate the evening meal with them the other night. He
had been gone for two days and expected to return today. She knew she’d have to
leave soon. Tomorrow, they would begin their journey. She had an idea of where
they would go and would take the child to Honey’s, wherever that was. It was
after all, still in England. Kate didn’t know if she could travel all the way
to Scotland.

They
stopped at the miller’s hut where Kate bought a large saddlebag to hold their
belongings. She carried the thick leather bag and left it behind Master
Hemmings’ hut. They headed toward Madam Flichard’s hut down the path. She
enjoyed Madam’s bread, and hoped the lady would give them some for their
journey. When she asked if she had any extra bread, she was given three fresh
loaves. The woman beamed with pride over Kate’s compliments on her baking.

She
stopped back at Master Hemmings’ hut and noticed the horse tethered out back.
The gelding was beautiful, dark-brown, with black spots. He seemed sound and
docile, with a strong sturdy girth around his middle. The horse nibbled at the
grass along the path.

“Will
he do?” Master Hemmings came outside, shielding his eyes from the bright
early-afternoon sun.

“Aye,
thank you. What’s his name?”

“His
name be Ralph, but ye can call him anything ye want. He’s yours, right and
tight.”

Kate
laughed. Ralph was as fine a name as any. “You’ll leave him tethered here? We
shall return on the morrow for the lessons.”

“Of
course, my lady, as ye asked.”

They
left the smithy’s hut and walked back to the manor. For the rest of the day,
they sat in the hall practicing sewing. Kate tried to keep calm because she
knew Lady D would suspect something if she seemed agitated. Lady D’s chair sat
empty, and that gave Kate another idea. She and Bonnie went outside, and walked
along the keep’s walls.