Even if a few of the other occupants of Lambourn whispered and pointed, it was of no matter to Arissa. She was proud to bear the child of a man she loved with all her heart. A man she had loved for as long as she could remember.
The child gaining strength and size inside her was a portion of Richmond that crown or country could never take away, and she prayed every night that he survived the war in order than he might know his son. However, as fearful as he had been of her conceiving a child, she wondered if the sight of her swollen body would be enough to accomplish what hordes of English knights had failed to achieve; perhaps the shock would be enough to send him to his grave.
As the small group crossed the bailey with leisure borne of a slow pace and obvious conditions, Daniel came swinging down the ladder from the battlements. Penelope thought he was coming to see her; instead, he focused directly on Bartholomew and Arissa.
“An army has been sighted a mile out, Bart,” he said. “Your father is coming home.”
Bartholomew’s face immediately brightened. “Are you sure?”
Daniel nodded, passing a glance at Arissa. “Henry’s banner has been sighted as well.”
The color drained from Arissa’s face. If the army was returning, then it could only mean something monumental had occurred; her father had been at the border for five months with nary a reprieve. If the entire army was on the retreat, then it could only mean that the war for Wales’ freedom had come to a conclusion. God help her, she did not want to know the details of the conclusion.
Bartholomew felt her sway in his grasp, his glee quickly turning to concern. “Riss, I am sure he’s all right,” he whispered comfortingly, releasing his hold when Emma and Penelope tooka firm grip on either arm. “Allow Emma and Pen to escort you into the castle. I shall come to you with the details, I promise.”
She shook her head, her face pale and her lips colorless. Just as she attempted to refuse his request, Mossy came scurrying from the castle.
“I saw the banners!” he announced loudly. “The earl’s returned, and Richmond with him!”
Arissa nearly collapsed. “How can you say that?” she gasped. “He was fighting against my father and the rest of the English army, including Gavan, and they all want to kill him because he’s a traitor!”
Mossy took Arissa from Penelope’s grasp, patting her arm gently. “Do not get yerself worked into a fit, Riss. Ye’ll bring about yer son far sooner than we would like, and I do not expect I would enjoy delivering a seventh-month babe,” he attempted to pull her toward the castle, but she was slow to come about. Mossy simply patted her arm again in a comforting manner. “If ye come, I shall make ye a brew of honey and rosehips. Ye like honey and rosehips, Riss.”
She allowed him to lead her to the steps when the sentry horns sounded high above her head, piercing the heat of the late July sky. Arissa was jolted by the sound, digging in her heels at the threshold to the castle entrance and refusing to go any further.
As Mossy supported her gently, she turned with fear and apprehension to the yawning gates of Lambourn. ’Twas foolish to run, she knew. Whether the news from Wales was good or bad, she had to know all the same.
It all seemed to have come about so quickly, with nary a message or rumor announcing the ending of the border wars. The troops that had battled against Richmond and the Welsh were suddenly returning home, undoubtedly victorious, which could only mean that her beloved had met his end at the handsof those who had once served him. Sweet St. Jude, he had promised to return to her.He had promised!
The horn sounded again as Penelope, Regine and Emma joined Arissa in her wait. Lured by the blast of the horns, Lady Maude and her women appeared in the doorway, followed very shortly by Lady Ellyn. Eight ladies with wide eyes wait on the steps of Lambourn, listening to every shout, watching every action, as Daniel and even Bartholomew prepared the bailey for the earl’s arrival.
The minutes dragged. Arissa’s palms were sweating, her face pale as she waited for the first of the column to appear. Beside her, Mossy continued to hold her hand and he could feel her rapid pulse, sensing her terror.
After a small eternity, a rider clad in the earl’s colors came barreling through the gates, met by a host of sentries and the ladies on the stairs strained their ears to catch a word of the message being delivered. After a moment, two of the sentries abruptly broke from the huddle and came racing towards the castle.
Arissa’s heart was in her throat as the soldiers bore down upon the small group, positive that they were preparing to relay cataclysmic news. Hand to her neck, she nearly toppled over when the soldiers reached them.
“The earl requests your presence, Mossy,” one of the men practically shouted. “He has a mortally wounded man.”
Arissa could scarcely breathe as Mossy let go of her, calmly sending one of the men for his medicament bag as he descended the steps and moved toward the huddle of soldiers. The women on the stairs watched with apprehension as Mossy was loaded onto a destrier and whisked out of the bailey.
From that moment on, Arissa remembered very little of the wait. The column was growing closer, indicated by the activity on the battlements, and the first of the standard bearers finallyappeared in the gaping gateway. She was vaguely aware of her mother’s comforting hand on her shoulder, a slender white appendage that resembled her own. As the ladies observed the activity, more of the earl’s army poured forth to reveal a column of knights. Arissa recognized Gavan before she recognized the earl.
Something deep inside of her suddenly broke free and Arissa pulled from her mother’s grasp and bound across the bailey toward the incoming warriors. She could hear a good deal of shouting and commotion as she dodged soldiers and horses alike, struggling, striving with every ounce of strength she possessed to reach Richmond’s former best friend. She had to reach him. She had to know what had happened.
“Gavan!” she screamed. “Gavan, where’s Richmond?”
Gavan saw her coming, torn between shock at her condition and complete, utter grief. He dismounted his charger so rapidly that he nearly stumbled, fighting to regain his weary footing even as Arissa propelled herself into his arms. In a great cloud of silk and raven-black hair, Gavan found himself clutching her as if to crush her.
“Riss!” he gasped, dazed and overwhelmed. “My God, You are…. you are pregnant!”
She had no desire to respond to his observation. “Where’s Richmond? What happened?”
She was hardly cognizant when he grasped her tightly and began to lead her back into the collection of men and wagons still filtering in through the gate. “It’s over, Riss,” he said hoarsely. “Henry was victorious.”
Her face went ashen and he could feel her strength wan. Adjusting his grip, he found himself practically carrying her through the ranks of men and animals. “Sweet St. Jude, Gavan,” she moaned. “Where is Richmond?”
Gavan swallowed hard, his eyes searching for the familiar wagon he knew to be at the rear of the column.
