Page 65 of The Forsaken (Echoes from the Past #4)
“I’ll miss him,” Kate said truthfully.
“Aye, so will I, but ’tis the right time. Jed will be leaving us as well. ”
“What? Why?”
“William promised him a parcel of land when he came of age and Hugh means to honor that promise. Jed needs to learn to farm it, so he’ll go live with one of the families on the estate. They can use the help, and Jed will get an education. And then he’ll be ready to wed.”
“How will Alf manage without Jed?” Kate asked. Walter did much to help the old man, but if Stanwyck called Hugh to arms, Walter would go with him, and Alf would be left to manage on his own.
“Oh, I expect Hugh will bring in a new lad.”
“He should find someone to help you as well. It’s been nearly a year since Aileen died.”
“He’s offered. I’m just not ready to train another lass, I suppose.
Too much bother, if ye ask me. If they’re too young, they can’t handle much in the way of housework, and if they’re a bit older, they only have eyes for the lads and want a home and hearth of their own.
I thought Aileen might stay a while, being damaged and all, but even those who’re deaf and dumb can’t keep their legs crossed. ”
Kate bristled at Joan’s spiteful comment but said nothing.
There was little point. She finished her meal and rose laboriously to her feet.
She had mending to do and wanted to take advantage of the bright morning light.
Though she still saw well at a distance, she could no longer sew or embroider by candlelight.
She dared not say anything to Hugh about her failing eyesight for fear of appearing even more useless than he already believed her to be.
Kate had been at her mending for nearly two hours when she heard the frenzied barking of the dogs. She glanced out the window to see what all the fuss was about. A lone rider came trotting through the gate, his face endearingly familiar, even from a distance .
Guy. Kate dropped the shirt she’d been working on and sprang to her feet. Her hip hurt even more after sitting for a prolonged period of time, but she had to welcome Guy home.
She heard Hugh’s booming voice. “Nurse, you’d best prepare something grand for supper tonight. Our lad’s come home!” Whatever animosity he’d felt toward Guy had been replaced by relief at seeing his brother home and unharmed.
Eleanor, who’d been working on the same piece of embroidery for the past two weeks, made no move to rise, but her eyes never left Kate’s face, watching with interest as Kate tried to hide her joy and rearrange her features into a semblance of bland indifference.
“You must be glad Guy’s home. He will keep Hugh sufficiently distracted to give you some respite. ”
Kate wasn’t sure what Eleanor was implying but decided not to ask for clarification. Eleanor was probably just trying to get a rise out of her.
Kate limped from the room and stepped out into the snow-covered yard. Hugh was already there, clapping Guy on the shoulder and calling to Alf to see to Guy’s horse. Adam stood just behind Hugh, suddenly shy of his uncle, his eyes alight with excitement and curiosity.
“Adam, Jesu, you’ve grown. I hardly recognized you. I’m glad I came home before you left us for good. When’s that to be, then?”
“Just after Easter, Uncle Guy. I’m to enter the Earl of Stanwyck’s service.”
“I envy you. Some of the happiest years of my life were when I was a page. The earl has several boys in his service at a time, so you’ll make friends and learn sword fighting and jousting.”
“Uncle Hugh’s been teaching me. ”
“He’s a quick study,” Hugh said, placing his hand on Adam’s shoulder and smiling down at the boy. “He really makes me work. My reflexes are not what they used to be.”
Adam’s already pink cheeks reddened with pleasure. “I still have much to learn,” he mumbled.
“That you do, but I’ve no doubt the earl will be very pleased with your progress,” Hugh replied kindly.
Kate remained in the shadowed doorway and rested her head against the cool stone of the archway, not wishing to interrupt. From where she was standing, Guy and Hugh looked like the most devoted of brothers, and Hugh bore no resemblance to the angry, violent man he’d become.
She took a deep breath and stepped out of the shadows before Guy could see her skulking.
Smiling in welcome, she walked toward him.
He’d changed. She noticed that right away.
His face was leaner, the stubble shadowing his cheeks making him appear older and harder, and his stance more assured, more aggressive.
When their eyes met, Kate noticed the greatest change of all.
Gone were the innocence and vulnerability, replaced by awareness and skepticism.
Guy smiled and held out his hand to her, but his smile slipped as his gaze roamed over her. “Kate, I’m glad to see you looking so well,” he said.
She knew she didn’t look well, and he must have noticed her fear of greeting him too eagerly, her swollen wrist, and her pained gait.
She must have looked haggard, pale and downtrodden, but she thanked Guy all the same and withdrew her hand from his before Hugh could make more of the gesture than it was.
“It’s wonderful to have you home, especially in time for Christmas. ”
“I timed my arrival.” Guy’s boyish smile lit up his eyes and reminded Kate of the young man she’d met several years ago. “The Earl of Warwick was kind enough to release me from his service a month early. He had no immediate need of me and thought I might enjoy spending Christmas with my family. ”
“That’s very considerate of him,” Kate replied, surprised. She’d never met Warwick, but the tales she’d heard, even from her own father, always painted the man as calculating and driven, not sentimental.
“He’s a surprising man. He can be ruthless, single-minded, and unforgiving. But he’s also loyal to those he loves, keenly aware of his men’s needs, and devoted to his family.”
“And what of this business of the king’s marriage?” Hugh asked as he led the way into the house. “I hear Warwick is incensed.”
Kate trailed after the men, eager to hear what Guy had to say. Her life had been so monotonous this past year that news of the court was not to be missed.
“I’ll tell you all about that later. I could use a wash, and I’m famished,” Guy declared. “I spent the night at a tiny inn about three hours south of here, and the only thing the landlord could offer me by way of breakfast was some congealed gruel and watered-down ale.”
“I’ll have Nurse bring you some hot water and then you can join us for dinner.
I hope you’re not too good for the likes of us now, having supped at Westminster Palace and rubbed shoulders with the king,” Hugh joked as he patted Guy on the shoulder once again.
He looked genuinely happy, an emotion so rare in Hugh that Kate barely recognized it.
“I only saw the king from a distance,” Guy replied as he began to ascend the stairs.
“And his queen?” Hugh called after him. “I heard she’s a rare beauty.”
“Aye, she is that.” Guy looked like he wanted to say more but changed his mind and made his way up to his chamber.