“No, it wasn’t that.” Raine was truly puzzled. “It was something about not buying her enough dresses. Perhaps she thinks I carry dresses on my saddle.”
“I’m certainly glad I arrived in time to defend myself,” Judith said from the doorway, smiling. Immediately, she went to her husband and kissed him. “You are safe? Well?”
“As well as can be,” he said, holding her close to him. “And what is this I hear about your berating my brother? I hope you did not hurt him. He’s not as strong as I am.”
“Delicate,” Judith said sweetly. “All of your brothers are as delicate as spring flowers.” She smiled up at Raine, both men overpowering her slight form. “I merely said that Raine should not have dragged his wife across the country when she is carrying his child and she is ill from the fire’s smoke and all the while dressed worse than the lowest menial.”
Judith started to say more but turned as in the doorway stood Alyx, but an Alyx no one had seen before. She wore a gown of deep, dark purple velvet, the low, square neckline hung with a heavy silver chain, a large purple amethyst in the center. The back of her head was covered with a simple hood of silver cloth embroidered with purple flowers. Her violet eyes sparkled brilliantly.
Raine moved toward her, lifted her hand and kissed it. “I am overwhelmed with such beauty,” he said sincerely.
“You are different,” she whispered.
“And you can talk. Can you sing yet?”
“Don’t rush her, Raine,” Judith said. “I’ve given her honey and herbs, but I think she’ll heal much faster if she doesn’t use her voice. Dinner is ready. Is anyone hungry?”
Alyx was glad she couldn’t speak because she didn’t believe she could have anyway. Raine had always seemed so much more than the people around him even when he dressed in his forestry clothes, but now, in his black and silver, he was awesome. He fit so well into this magnificent house, and he saw nothing unusual about so many people bowing toward him.
As Raine led her to the tables set in the Great Hall, she had to work to keep her mouth from dropping open. The meal she’d seen at the inn had seemed like a feast, but on these tables was food enough for a village.
“Who are these men?” she whispered to Raine beside her. There were over a hundred people eating with them.
Raine glanced up, noticing the people as if from her eyes. “They’re Gavin’s men, a few of mine, some of Stephen’s. Those men are Montgomerys, cousins, I think. You’ll have to ask Gavin for the exact relationship.” He pointed toward the end of the table where they sat. “Some of them are castle retainers. You can ask Judith. I’m sure she knows who everyone is.”
“Yours so big?” she rasped.
“No,” he grinned. “My estates are small compared to this. Judith is the rich one. She brought great wealth when she married into our family, and she has to support many people. She’s always buying and selling and counting grain in the storerooms.”
“Me?” Alyx asked, scared.
Raine took a while to understand her. “You mean will you have to run my estates? I don’t see why not. You can read and write. That’s more than I can do.” He looked away as one of his cousins spoke to him.
Alyx had difficulty eating more of the meal and after a while sat quietly as course after course was brought into the room. Most of the food she’d never seen before, and new names and flavors were beginning to run together.
After a long while, Raine stood and introduced her and the people shouted a welcome to her.
Judith asked Alyx if she’d like to rest, and together they went back to Alyx’s room.
“Is it all a bit bewildering?” Judith asked.
Alyx nodded her head.
“Tomorrow there’s a fair in the village, and I’ll see if Raine will take you to it. You’ll have some fun and not have so many new people to deal with. But now, why don’t you rest? Gavin and Raine are preparing a message to send to Miles, and you’ll have hours to rest because I’m sure they’ll argue for that long.”
When Alyx had removed her dress and slipped beneath the covers, Judith took her hand. “You have nothing to fear from us. We are your family from now on and whatever you do will meet our approval. I know that all this”—she motioned to the elegant room—“is new to you, but you’ll soon learn and we’re here to help you.”
“Thank you,” Alyx whispered and was asleep before Judith was out of the door.
***
Nothing could have prepared Alyx for the fair set up in Montgomery pastureland. She’d slept soundly and long and when she woke, her voice was at least half restored. The sound was there and she was glad, even if the tones were gone.
“Do you think I’ll be able to sing again?”
Raine laughed at the fear in her voice and helped her button the purple dress Judith had altered to fit Alyx. “I’m sure that in another few days the birds will fly into the room just to hear you.”
Laughing, she whirled about the room, the bell-shaped skirt swirling around her. “Isn’t it lovely? It is the most beautiful dress on the earth.”
