The White Lord of Wellesbourne Read Online Free PDF Page B

straw.
    “Truly, Lady Caroline, there is
no need,” she assured her. “The bed is fine. I will be most contented.”
    Caroline, a pale beauty with
flaming red hair, did not look at all convinced. “But this straw is old,” she
insisted. “I do not even know when last it was changed.  I would feel much
better if we were to provide you with fresh stuffing.”
    Alixandrea shook her head, a
smile on her lips. “My lady, you have been far too kind already. I would be
grateful if you would simply sit and talk to me. It has been a long time since
I have conversed with a lady.”
    Caroline’s green eyes brightened
and she did as she was asked.  She was a tiny thing, quite a bit smaller than
Alixandrea, and she took a seat upon a small three-legged stool that had been
upended near the hearth.  She faced Alixandrea with her hands folded neatly in
her lap, waiting anxiously for her guest to begin the conversation. Alixandrea
nearly laughed at her expectant expression.
    “Tell me of yourself, Lady
Caroline,” Alixandrea said. “How long have you been married to Sir Mark?”
    She blinked her big green eyes in
thought.  “We were married nearly two years ago, my lady,” she said. “We met at
the marketplace in Wandsworth, outside of London. My father is the Lord Mayor
of Wandsworth.”
    Alixandrea tugged at the comb
that had become stuck on a tangle. “Was it love at first sight?”
    Caroline’s pale cheeks pinkened.
“Not quite,” she said. “My father had to convince him that taking me as his
wife was a good idea. Mark did not want to marry at all.”
    Alixandrea lifted an eyebrow.
“That seems to be a Wellesbourne trait.”
    Caroline grinned. “Not with Luke.
He wants to marry very badly,” she said. “Now, tell me; did you meet with the
enemy on the road and Matthew rode to save you? He is quite a knight. I know
this because every time my husband starts telling stories about his valor in
battle, he sends me from the room.”
    Alixandrea suppressed a smile.
“He will not let you hear?”
    “Nay. ‘Tis too horrible for a
lady’s ears, he says.”
    And you believe that ? Alixandrea did not say what she
was thinking. “I met Sir Matthew and Sir Luke in a tavern at the edge of
Newbold.  We ran into each other, you could say.”
    “You were at the Head o’Bucket ?”
    “You know the place?”
    “Only because the men go there
when they want to get away from Wellesbourne. They have told me that it is a
lively place with interesting people.”
    Alixandrea looked at her, aware
that this woman may be slightly naïve, and slightly simple minded.  Not that
she was slow; simply that she seemed to have a rather gullible view of the
world.
    “It was certainly a busy place,”
she did not want to shatter the woman’s illusion. “Have you never been?”
    Caroline shook her head. “Mark
will not allow it. He says that it is no place for a lady.”
    “He is correct. You are far too
noble for a place like that.”
    It was a compliment that flushed
her cheeks even more. Caroline wasn’t sure how to respond; it did not occur to
her to ask why Lady Alixandrea was at the place when it was allegedly too harsh
for ladies. For lack of a better action, she stood up and took the comb from
Alixandrea.
     “Allow me, my lady,” she
offered.
    Her small, white hands worked
their way through Alixandrea’s hair, expertly combing and fluttering the
tresses so that the warm air dried them quickly. Alixandrea had an abundance of
hair, wavy strands that ended just below her buttocks.  Drying the mass would
take a small eternity if not handled correctly.
    “I used to do this to my sister
all of the time,” Caroline said after several moments of combing. “She had hair
much like yours.  I miss doing this for her.”
    “It has been a long time since
You have seen her?”
    “She died a few years ago in
childbirth. She was sixteen years old.”
    “Oh,” Alixandrea remarked softly.
“I am sorry for you. I have never had a