Christopher didn’t want to get into the fact that he’d conquered a Welsh castle in the presence of Welshmen. “Gruffydd is an ally,” he said. “Since the lady has been ill, we have sent him word. He knows.”
“Who knows?”
The voice came from the gatehouse, and they all turned with surprise to see Curtis coming through. He was unshaven, unwashed, and looking like a wild man with a growth of beard on his face. But he was coming toward his father and brother, his gaze fixed on Cadell.
His eyes flickered in recognition.
“I know you,” he said. “You are the baker.”
Cadell nodded. “I am,” he said, replying in the language Curtis had spoken. “I was telling your great father that we have come to see how the lady is faring. We heard she was ill.”
Curtis had spent too many sleepless nights to adequately keep his composure at the sight of so many people coming to see how Elle was doing. Any conversation about her had him vergingon tears these days, which wasn’t usual for a man who was normally in control of himself. But he nodded shortly to Cadell’s statement.
“She is,” he said. “She is very ill. I am moved that you would take the time to come all the way to Brython to see to her health.”
Cadell quickly turned around, motioning frantically to someone, and the crowd parted to reveal a couple of men pulling a handcart. As the men came forward, Cadell turned to Curtis.
“You and the lady have been good to our village,” he said. “Because Brython prospers, you have helped us to prosper, too. As I told your great father, the lady spends money in the village with as many merchants as she can. She spends it until she has no more. She leaves money at the church so they can give alms to the poor. I do not know if you have realized that. Her prosperity has been our prosperity, and her happiness is reflected in her actions. It is because of you, my lord. Marrying her has changed our lives, too.”
By the time he was finished, Curtis was choked with emotion. He could only nod his head, blinking back tears, as the men with the handcart came to a halt and Cadell reached into the cart to display the contents.
“I have brought the lady many loaves of honey bread,” he said, holding up a loaf. “We have brought her baked eggs and currant buns and pies with honey and apples. We have brought baskets of food for her.”
Curtis was stunned. He went over to the handcart to look at all of the treats, and a woman approached him with folded blue material in her hands.
“For your wife, my lord,” she said, extending it to Curtis. “It will keep her warm.”
Curtis took it from her because he didn’t know what else to do. She was kindly offering it to Elle, so he took it. Before he could thank her, other people came forward, handing himthings, mostly articles of clothing or blankets, telling him that they were meant for Elle and wishing her a swift recovery. A man, evidently a blacksmith, handed him a metal bracelet that he had made. It was simple and strong. Curtis took all of these things, completely in awe that so many people thought so well of his wife.
And it touched him more deeply than he could express.
“I will make sure she knows who brought these things to her,” he said sincerely. “Please tell me your names. I will not forget them. But she will want to know who to thank.”
“Gratitude is not necessary,” Cadell said. “These are small things, just small things, to tell her that we will pray for her recovery. We want her to know that we are grateful to her. God rewards those who are generous and kind, and we know that God will heal her. Elle ferch Gwenwynwyn is a true Welshwoman with a true heart. Mayhap she does not know the good that she does, but we do. You will tell her, won’t you?”
Curtis was starting to get choked up again. “Aye,” he said hoarsely. “May I borrow your handcart to take these things to her? I will return it, I promise.”
Cadell nodded, motioning the villagers away from it, as Curtis put the items in his arms next to the baskets of food. The villagers, having delivered what they had intended, turned for the road.
“If the lady needs more honey bread, do not hesitate to send word,” Cadell said. “We will send it along.”
Curtis smiled weakly. “I am certain she will want to come and get it herself as soon as she can,” he said. “She rather likes her jaunts into the village.”
Cadell grinned. “Then I will make sure I have something special for her the next time she comes,” he said. “Good day to you, my lord.”
Curtis held up a hand in parting. “And to you, Cadell,” he said. “And thank you. This means… It means a great deal.”
Cadell simply waved a hand, herding the villagers back the way they had come. They had delivered what they intended to, and now their business was concluded. Curtis, Christopher, and Myles watched them depart, heading down the road until they faded from view. At that point, Curtis turned to the handcart full of gifts.
“Rhayader is not a wealthy village,” he said. “Those people can ill afford to give things away like this. They should not have done it.”
Christopher came to him, resting a hand on his shoulder. “It does not matter that they cannot afford to do this,” he said. “Do you not understand, Curt? Your lady has been kind to them, and they are showing kindness in return. This is the only way they could do it. Gifts like this are worth more than gold, lad.”
Curtis did understand that, but he still felt bad that the villagers were giving over things of value. He wasn’t sure how Elle would feel about it, knowing that they could ill afford it. But as a show of gratitude, his father was right—it was worth more than gold. Perhaps, in a small way, it was acceptance to him, too, as the Lord of Brython.
If the Welsh were accepting him, then extended peace was assured.
And that was why he’d married Elle… for peace.
