It was done. Without another word, Matthew re-latched his helm, mounted his charger, and rode off towards the battle in the distant field. The sun was rising steadily now, casting pale golden light on the green fields. Gaston watched Matthew for a moment before motioning to one of his men, hovering a good distance away. Patrick’s familiar shape came riding upon him.
“Did he understand?”
“He did.”
“Did he accept?”
“He did. Spread the word; as soon as we see Henry’s standard approach, we move.”
Patrick was gone. Gaston lingered a moment longer on the turn of events before mounting his charger and following.
It would prove to be the longest, bloodiest day of his life.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Early September
The bushes weretrying to come back. Little buds had begun to form and Alixandrea inspected them yet again before she watered that particular hedgerow. The entire length of shrubs that Audrey had planted against the western wall of the garden were showing signs of life after the weeding and pruning and cutting that she, Caroline and John had done. Finally, the garden was emerging from its dormant stage with water and attention. Every day, Alixandrea could see a marked improvement.
This day was no different from any of the others, except perhaps it was a little cooler. The seasons were beginning to change and she hoped to keep the garden flourishing through the colder months to come. Caroline joined her shortly, dressed in her heavy linen garments and having come to do battle with the prickly garden. She saw Alixandrea stooped over a bush, pouring a bucket of water onto the roots.
“Alix,” she came over to her, her manner wrought with exasperation. “You should not be carrying that heavy bucket. Let me have it.”
Alixandrea shook her head even as Caroline wrestled her for the pail. “Caroline, I am fine, truly,” she let Caroline win the tussle. “I am perfectly capable of watering the garden.”
Caroline frowned. “You should be resting.”
“I feel fine.”
“But you must take care of that baby.”
Alixandrea grinned. She had done an awful lot of grinning lately, most noticeably, since the day she realized that she was pregnant. That had been almost three weeks ago. No menses, tender breasts, a strong aversion to meat and a strange firmness of her lower belly told Alixandrea all she needed to know. Caroline, much more knowledgeable about such things, confirmed it. From that point on, there had been much joy within the walls of Wellesbourne at a time when there was little to be joyful about.
“Go tend the camellias,” Caroline instructed her. “That bush near the gate needs some pruning.”
Since Caroline had taken Matthew’s words literally and was seeing to nearly every aspect of Alixandrea’s life, she simply shrugged and went over to the camellia bush that was beginning to sprout deep green leaves. Sitting on the padded leather cushion that John had fashioned for her, she was in the process of trimming a dead branch when John entered the small garden. Head down, she could still see his feet.
“Ah, Johnny,” she said. “Just in time. Could you perhaps have the stable boys provide more horse droppings today? Just look what it has done for these camellia bushes. The flowers are thriving.”
John did not reply immediately. Alixandrea lifted her head and turned around. “John?”
He just stood there, looking at her. It was an odd stance. For some reason, it unsettled her. Unsettlement turned very quickly into fear.
“John, what is the matter? Why do you look so?”
John sighed heavily and took another few steps into the enclosure. By now, he had both ladies’ undivided attention.
“We… we just received a missive,” he said.
Alixandrea leapt to her feet and rushed towards him. “What did Matthew say?”
“It was not from Matthew.”
In her state, emotions were more prevalent than normal. Tears sprang to Alixandrea’s eyes.
“John, for the love of God, tell me what has happened,” she was trying not to weep. Caroline grabbed hold of her and they huddled together in fear. “Who sent the missive and what did it say?”
There was a carved wooden bench against the wall, put there by Adam for his wife those many years ago. John directed the ladies to sit. When they did, he knelt before them, taking Alixandrea’s hands tightly.
