She smiled, without humor. “In all the years I have taken up arms, I have never been wounded,” she said. “This is a first.”
Christopher smiled ironically. “Then you have joined the ranks of Curtis and myself, and even Lady Hereford,” he said. “We have all been wounded in some way, at some time.”
Elle’s smile faded. “You told me of your wound at Tickhill.”
Christopher’s smile brightened, though it was forced. “I survived,” he said. “And so will you. You will survive and thrive,and my grandson will be born fat and happy. Everything will be as it should.”
Elle believed him. This man, who had once been her greatest enemy, was now someone she trusted. She knew he would never harm her or be dishonest. Much like his son did, Christopher had her respect.
She was in good hands.
“Then do what needs to be done,” she said, turning her head to look at Curtis. He was gazing at her with such distress that she forced a smile, just for him. “Your father says everything will be well. I believe him.”
Curtis nodded, too choked up to respond. As Christopher stood up and went to de Royans to ask the man to take command of the castle while everyone was wrapped up with this tragedy, Christin, who had been standing out of the way, slipped into the space her father had occupied.
“You will be feeling better very soon,” she said, smiling at Elle. “Is there anything you want? Anything I can get for you?”
Elle felt some comfort with Christin there. She had come to like the woman a great deal. “Mayhap you can help me change into dry clothing when this is over,” she said. “I seem to be wet.”
Christin’s smile faded, no matter how hard she tried to remain positive. “I will seek out fresh clothing for you right now,” she said. “When your wound is bandaged, I shall be ready to help.”
She tried to move away quickly, but Elle stopped her. “Where is Melusine?” she asked. “She can help you. But you must be gentle when you tell her what happened. She will be quite upset.”
Something in Christin’s eyes flickered when she realized that Elle must not have remembered what had happened in the kitchen yard. She glanced at Curtis, who seemed to be waiting for an answer too.He doesn’t know,she thought. Therefore, she proceeded carefully.
“I will be gentle,” she said after a moment. “Now, you must lie still and quiet. I will take care of everything.”
As Christin darted away, Elle’s gaze moved back to Curtis, who smiled bravely and kissed her hand repeatedly. Comforted, but quite weary, Elle closed her eyes to rest as Dustin and Christopher brought everything they would need over to the bed. Dustin gently shooed Curtis out of the chair she wanted to take, next to Elle, and as Curtis stood up, he could see Christin motioning frantically to him. Leaving his parents with Elle, he went over to her.
“What?” he asked curiously. “What is it?”
Christin was clearly upset. “Her cousin was killed in the attack,” she whispered. “I could not tell her, Curt. It would only upset her more. Let Mama and Papa do what needs to be done, and then you will tell her, please?”
Curtis closed his eyes tightly for a moment, greatly distressed at the news of Melusine’s death. “You know she is dead for certain?” he said. “Did you see her?”
Christin was fighting back tears. “Aye.”
Curtis was expecting more of an answer. “Well?” he demanded, trying to keep his voice down. “What happened?”
Christin sighed heavily before answering. “Curt, I am the one who stopped Amaro from killing your wife,” she hissed. “I was just coming into the kitchen yard with Melusine as Amaro was trying to drown Elle in the laundry basin. That’s why she is all wet. I attacked Amaro and drove him away, but as Melusine was pulling your wife out of the water and trying to flee with her, Amaro produced daggers from somewhere on his body and began throwing them. That is why Elle has a dirk sticking out of her chest. Amaro threw one at Melusine, also, but it hit her right between her breasts. She was probably dead before she hit the ground.”
Curtis was listening in horror, his hand over his mouth. “My God,” he gasped. “Is… isthatwhat happened?”
Christin nodded. “With God as my witness, it is,” she said. “I am so sorry, Curt. I wish the outcome had been different.”
He shook his head, his hand coming away from his mouth. “This is not your fault,” he assured her. “None of it is. But what about Amaro?”
Christin could see that he was getting worked up again, and she grasped him by the shoulders. “Asa came to our rescue,” she said. “He killed Amaro, and when he realized Melusine was dead, he hacked the man’s body to pieces. I do not know what has happened after that, but Sherry is with him. He is making sure that both Melusine and Asa are taken care of.”
Curtis digested what had happened. It was the first time he’d heard the entire story. When he realized what his sister had told him, and how close Elle had come to death, the situation overwhelmed him. Closing his eyes tightly, he felt tears stream down his face as Christin tried to comfort him.
“Don’t weep,” she said softly. “Elle will survive. Mama and Papa will take great care of her.”
He shook his head, his hand coming away from his mouth as he suddenly threw his sister into a tight hug. “You saved her,” he murmured. “You saved her and risked your life to do so. How can I ever thank you enough for that, Cissy? You saved my life, too.”
Christin hugged her emotional brother before finally forcing him to release her. “Everything will be well and good again,” she assured him, wiping the tears from his face. “It was not my intention to tell you everything right now, but I had to because your wife has asked for her cousin. Melusine died bravely, Curt. She died trying to take your wife to safety, so she must be well remembered for that.”
Curtis nodded, taking a deep breath and trying to steady himself. He heard his mother calling for him, and he turned to see her waving him over.
