A Lily on the Heath 4 Read Online Free PDF Page A

conscientiousness. I’ll be certain to tell him of your concern.” Her eyes danced, yet her words sounded sincere.
    Malcolm was fair ready to be on his way and he cared little whether she was jesting with him or nay. “Very well then, my lady. I bid you good evening.” And he hurried off toward the stable, determined to take a different route when he returned to the keep.  

TWO
     
    The next morning, as was her habit, Judith rose just after the sun filtered through the narrow slit of her window.
    As a favorite of the queen and a permanent resident of the court, she was granted the luxury of a private chamber for herself and her maid, Tabatha, who slept on a thick pallet in a small antechamber just inside the door. In a pile of rags next to her pallet snored a decrepit dog named Bear and another unidentifiable ball of fur.
    “Good morrow, milady,” Tabatha said, already digging in one of Judith’s trunks as she hummed softly. She straightened, holding a dark red bliaut that glittered with gold embroidery at the hem and cuffs. “Will this suit for today?”
    “Aye.” Judith was already unplaiting her thick braid in preparation for the maid to comb it out and fashion it into a more complicated style. She sat in her plain, linen kirtle by the fire, which needed to be naught more than a small, whimpering blaze on this warm June morning. Though in summer the stone walled chambers of the keep could feel damp and cool, a roaring fire was hardly necessary.
    The activity in the chamber prompted Bear to stir. He gave a deep, annoyed groan that clearly bespoke his opinion of early risers. The ball of fur curled up next to him unrolled into the fluff of an amber-striped kitten, who stumbled sleepily from his resting place.
    “Lotty is so steady on her feet already,” Judith said as the small cat padded over toward her. “She’s healed more quickly than I’d imagined. ’Twas good of you to bring the poor mite here, Tabby.”
    Her maid smiled in affection at the little creature, who was batting at the hem of Judith’s shift with a tiny white paw. “Aye, look at her now. ’Tis hard t’believe she was only a scrawny, bloody little thing just a se’ennight past.”
    “You have a gift for healing animals, that’s certain,” Judith said as she stood and pulled off the kirtle in which she slept. “Even if your patients tend to overrun my chamber betimes,” she added drily.
    “Ah, ye wouldn’t be near as happy if ye didn’t have something to badger me about, milady. Ye love the critters as much as I do.” Tabatha spoke tartly as she helped her mistress into the bliaut, which was a long, fitted tunic that laced up the side to give the gown shape. Its sleeves were laced tight from elbow to wrist and the hem covered her slippers, dragging on the ground behind her.
    “I cannot argue with that, but I beg you not to befriend any more mother skunks preparing to give birth…at the least until we return to Lilyfare. Then I shall grant you an entire out-building for your animal caretaking.” Judith made the comment in jest, but nevertheless, a wave of sadness and frustration surged over her.
    “Lilyfare?” Tabby snorted, her blue eyes flashing. “’Twill be the end of the world—or at least her reign—before the queen allows you to see those green hills again.”
    “Aye. But I miss it so much…and, it seems, more as of late than ever before.”
    “As do I, milady,” the maid said softly, folding up the discarded kirtle. “But ’tis our lot to serve the queen.”  
    “Aye. To be a bird, caged at her majesty’s whim and allowed not even to hunt…but only to sing the songs she wishes to hear.” Judith bit her lip, suddenly irritated with her discontent. She was blessed in numerous ways being a member of the queen’s close retinue. She had more freedom than many other ladies, coming and going with her raptors almost as she pleased, her own chamber, and the ear of the queen (who had the even more important ear