The White Lord of Wellesbourne Read Online Free PDF

saw
the seriousness in his brother’s expression. He could only imagine what had
gone on in the past several minutes; one look at the lovely lady showed that
she had not been passed over in this battle.
    He was, in fact, not surprised to
see her. They should have anticipated Dorset’s men in the area, even though
they had appeared to vacate a few days ago, and they should have doubly
anticipated an ambush of the allied party. Although he wanted to stay and
fight, he would obey his brother’s wishes. He held out his arms.
    “Give her to me,” he said. “I
shall return her home. Caroline will see to her.”
    Matthew swept Alixandrea into his
arms, realizing the moment he touched her that he was very thankful she was in
one piece.  She was trembling; he could feel it through his armor. Their eyes
met for a brief moment and he managed a weak smile before he handed her over.
    “My brother will escort you to
Wellesbourne,” he said to her. “His wife will take excellent care of you.”
    Mark settled her in front of him,
but she seemed reluctant to go. “But what about my servants?” she asked. “And
my carriage? Who will…?
    “My men will get the carriage
righted and send them on their way,” he assured her. “Have no fear that all
will be taken care of. Go with Mark now.”
    Having no further argument, she
allowed Mark to settle her back on the saddle. He spurred his great red charger
forward, galloping down the road to Wellesbourne.
    Matthew stood a moment, watching
them go, wondering why a thousand different thoughts and emotions were suddenly
racing through his mind. He’d faced skirmishes like this before, countless
times, and he’d only been focused on being victorious.  But this battle had
been different, and that the difference was currently riding to Wellesbourne
with his brother.
     
    ***
     
    Caroline Wellesbourne had made
such a fuss over Alixandrea that one would have thought the Virgin Mary had
walked right into their midst.  Alixandrea was at a loss to understand why the
woman was so thrilled to see her, but the few-minute trek from the steps of the
keep, through the hall, up the spiral stairs and to the fourth floor told her
why, exactly, the woman was so happy to have her.
    Wellesbourne Castle was full of
men, from top to bottom, and smelled like a pig sty. There were dogs everywhere,
rubbish in the corners, and the great hall smelled of vomit and urine. The dogs
freely used the corners of the room for the latrine.  It was absolutely
appalling. Caroline, overwhelmed and lonely, was clearly one of the only
females in the entire castle and she was desperate for something fine and sweet
and noble to remind her that such things did, indeed, still exist.
    It had taken a long, hot bath and
three servants to remove all of the blood and dirt from the battle. Caroline
herself helped bathe her; she was sweet and overeager to help, and Alixandrea
let her.  Too soon the water grew tepid in the great copper tub and Caroline
went in search of suitable garments since Alixandrea’s were still in the
carriage that had not yet arrived.  Caroline reappeared with a soft blue robe,
many layers of finely woven linen, and helped her new charge dry off and dress.
    Truth be told, Alixandrea felt
better than she had in weeks as she finally sat before the warming fire,
running a bone comb through her long hair and allowing the heated air to dry
it.  It was good to be in something that wasn’t rolling sickeningly over the
road, and good to be in a place where she felt safe.
     Caroline and the three servants
continued to bustle in and out of the small chamber, sweeping out the dusty
corners and making sure the linens and coverlet on the bed were moderately
clean.  Since they had not known in advance of her arrival, they made haste to
make her comfortable.  But she was already very comfortable and she finally put
a stop to Caroline’s frantic hovering when the woman decided that the mattress
needed new