A Knight Of Honour Part 19

'I do not know how Mary could have done it,' Bethany said with a little shudder. 'I should not have been able to face such a terrible thing.'

'It is given to some of us to bear what others may not,' Elona said. 'Mary tried to save her husband's life that way. It did not save him, but it has stopped the bleeding in Stefan's case and for that we must be grateful.'

Yet had it brought about the fever that was making him so ill? How could she know? Elona felt a wave of helplessness wash over her. She had never had to deal with such hurts as Stefan's and knew only what she had learned from Melise and her stepmother-but even Elizabeth would have been uncertain how to deal with such a wound.

Mary was dressing it when she entered the chamber, and she cried out as she saw the foul-smelling stuff that she was about to put on the puckered flesh.

'What is that, Mary?'

'It is something I learned from a wise woman once,' Mary said. 'It is merely herbs and roots, my lady. I know it hath a foul odour, but it will help to draw out the poisons and heal the flesh. I used it on my husband and the wound healed well.'

'And yet your husband died.' Elona hesitated, and then took a deep breath. 'Very well, try it, Mary. You told me that your husband did not die of his wound, but some strange malady that came on him after he seemed to recover, and I will trust you in this.'

'It was not Fredrich's wound or the fever that killed him,' Mary said. 'I have pondered on it many times, for he was laughing when I was with him, and then I left for a few seconds; when I returned, it was as if he had a seizure that left him short of breath and he died in my arms quite suddenly.'

Elona nodded. 'Perhaps one day the surgeons and apothecaries may understand many things that are not known now. All we can do is to use our skills and pray.'

She watched as Mary applied the salve, binding clean linen about Stefan's thigh. The woman then took the stained bandage and threw it into the fire.

'You burned that,' Elona said with a puzzled frown. 'Would it not have served again once it was washed?'

'I believe that the bindings carry poisons from a wound and that it is best to burn the disease in the fire, that way in the end it becomes weakened and dies.'

'That sounds almost like witchcraft,' Elona said and then, as she saw a flicker of fear in the other's face, 'No, no, I did not mean that you were a witch, Mary, of course I didn't. I am grateful for your help. Do not fear me. I am your friend and know that you are mine. It just seems strange.'

'I know only that bandages are best used fresh and burned afterwards,' Mary said. 'The wise woman who told me of this salve also told me that I must use only cloth that has first been boiled and dried, and that I must burn it afterwards or the poison will go back to the wound.'

Elona knew that some people would believe such rituals to be some kind of black art, and decided to tell no one else of Mary's methods of nursing, for she did not want her serving woman accused of witchcraft when she was trying so hard to save Stefan's life.

'Do whatever you must,' she said. 'Your secrets will be safe with me, Mary, and do not fear that I shall blame you if my husband dies. I know that it may happen, but I would try everything possible to save him if I can.'

'Pray for G.o.d's help,' Mary replied. 'We can do so little, my lady-and He can do so much.'

Elona made the sign of the cross over her breast and Mary did the same.

Stefan's fever went on for more than ten days, and then on the eleventh he opened his eyes and looked about him. Elona was fetching more water to bathe his heated body when she heard the sound of his voice and turned to look at him.

'Elona. . . am I ill?' He sounded hoa.r.s.e and seemed puzzled to find himself lying in bed. 'What happened?'

She went to him at once, gazing down at him, her throat tight with emotion as she saw that his eyes were clear. The fever had gone. G.o.d be praised!

'We were hunting in the forest. I had found some filbert nuts and then a wounded boar attacked us. It would have charged at me, but you pushed me to one side and faced it yourself. You had a terrible wound in your thigh, which is still badly puckered and inflamed, but we cauterised it to stop the blood and have been tending you ever since.'

'Have I been in a fever? I cannot remember...' His voice trailed away and his eyes closed on a sighing breath. 'So tired.'

Elona bent over him, afraid that something terrible had happened. Was he going to die as Mary's husband had when it had seemed that he was recovering? She laid her hand on his brow and discovered that his skin was cool and dry. He was breathing easily, his sleep seeming natural and peaceful.

The door opened at that moment and Elona gave a cry of surprise when she saw who had entered the room.

'Sir Ralph,' she said. 'I did not expect you to come...'

'I came as soon as I could,' he answered with a frown. 'I parted on bad terms with my son, Elona, and l must put things right between us if I can. They tell me he is in fever-has he woken yet?'

'Just a moment ago, but I think he is sleeping now.'

'Then we shall leave him for a moment. Where may we talk, Elona? I have brought some things that may help him. There is a remedy for fever, which you may not need now, but also something that Alayne believes necessary for good recovery from wounds and serious illness of this kind.'

'Lady Alayne knows something of these things?' Elona stared at him in surprise, for she had not known that. She led him through to her chamber and invited him to sit, but he remained standing. 'We have been using simple things, though Mary has some knowledge of healing.'

'My wife is a natural healer,' Ralph said. 'We do not talk of it often, for there has been murmuring that she was a witch in the past and we have to be careful. She would have come herself, but she is needed at home. She gave me everything she thought necessary. There is a potion she would have Stefan drink once a day while he lies in bed-she says it prevents a reaction from too much inactivity and lying still. And she says that you should get him to move his legs as much as possible once he begins to recover.'

'That sounds strange,' Elona said. 'Why should he move- is not rest the best thing for a sick person?'

'Alayne says that she has observed a strange phenomena when a person has been ill and begins to recover, which leads to sudden death-but the risk of death is reduced with her cure and exercise.'

'Then we shall do as she bids us,' Elona said, 'for that was what happened to Mary's husband after he had recovered from the worst of his wound.'

'And now I would talk with you,' he said. 'I think that perhaps you were not quite honest with me, Elona-and I would have the truth if I may?'

'Yes, of course. It was always my intention to tell you one day. Did Alain tell you that there never was a child and that I had never lain with a man before my marriage?'

'No, he said nothing, but I guessed that it was a lie concerning the child before you left Banewulf. There had been no miscarriage and yet you were not with child, therefore it was more likely that it had been a mistake on your part. I was not sure whether you had lied or merely been deceived by a lack of your womanly flow?'

A hot flush burned Elona's cheeks, but she did not shirk from even so personal a question, for this time she must be completely honest with him.

'It was a lie because I knew you would demand that Stefan married me,' Elona confessed, a look of shame in her eyes. 'Stefan behaved most honourably towards me the whole time. He would never have betrayed Lady Alayne's trust in that way. He is far too honourable a man.'

'That was what puzzled me afterwards,' Ralph admitted. 'I had always believed him so and yet he did not deny it. He allowed me to dictate to him when he knew his own men were more powerful than mine-that he could have defied me if he had chosen.' His brows rose. 'Why did he do that, Elona?'

'Because... because he loved me,' she said, a sob in her voice. 'He may not have behaved thus towards me after the wedding, but he was so angry-so jealous of the man he believed had been my lover. It was a terrible thing I did, and I have begged his pardon-as I now beg yours for causing trouble between you.'

'But why? If Stefan loved you...'

'I thought he would go away from Banewulf and that I should never see him again, that I might be forced to marry a man I did not love. I believed that his honour would come between us.'

'And you loved Stefan too much...' Ralph nodded his head. 'All is clear to me now. Alayne was sure it was so, but I was doubtful because my son showed no sign of loving you and I could not understand why he should wed you and leave you at Banewulf.'

'You told Lady Alayne of my wickedness? Does she despise me now?'

Ralph laughed and shook his head. 'My lady applauded your courage and said she would have done just the same in your place.'

Elona blushed and hung her head for a moment, then as she looked at him, she smiled. 'He has forgiven me and we are happy-or we were until this happened...' Her voice broke on a sob. 'I have been so afraid that he might die.'

'My son is a strong man. He has been wounded many times, though perhaps not as deeply as this-but you must continue to pray, Elona.'

'And to use the cures you have brought for us,' Elona said. 'I thank you for bringing them to us, sir.'

'I could do no less,' Ralph told her. 'I shall stay until my son is on his feet again, and do anything that I can to help you keep things running smoothly here.'

'Piers has tried to keep all as it was,' Elona told him. 'But if you could make sure that the men train as they ought I would be grateful. I know Stefan would not like them to become neglectful of their duties.'

'You may safely leave all to me,' Ralph said. 'But I keep you from your vigil. I have been told that you seldom leave his side except to rest or order the household.'

'We shall talk later, sir. I hope I have your forgiveness?'

'And my blessing, daughter.'

Ralph smiled at her as she turned away to return to Stefan's chamber.

Elona hurried to the bedside, but Stefan was sleeping. She took her place by his side, ready for when he should wake and need her.

'You should not have sent for my father,' Stefan said a few days later. He looked at her as she brought him a small vial and held it to his lips. 'Elona. . . ahhh.'

She smiled as he made a fuss about the medicine, which she knew tasted bitter, for she had tried a drop on her tongue.

'I did not send for your father,' she said. 'I sent word that you had been injured and he came as soon as he was able. It was his wish to come, and he brought you things that have helped to ease you.'

'Alayne was always a good healer,' Stefan said with a grimace. 'I remember being ill once as a child and having her tend me-but she never sweetens her dose with honey.'

'You make too much fuss,' Elona told him. 'Are you doing the exercise I told you she advised?'

Stefan pulled a face at her. 'Were I not so weak, I would get out of this bed and train with my men-if they train at all! I'll have their hides if I discover they had been slacking while I was ill.'

'You are a bad patient,' Elona told him. 'Indeed, you are not patient at all. Have I not told you that Piers has kept them working? Your father told me he was surprised to discover that the men have been training every day just as they ought. In fact, everything is in order and you have no need to concern yourself.'

'Good, then he may go home and leave us to ourselves,' Stefan said and she realised that he had trapped her again. 'I do not know why he bothered to come.'

'Because you are his son and he did not wish the quarrel between you to go on without attempting to mend it.'

'It is mended,' Stefan said. 'He may go home with an easy conscience.'

'I believe he means to stay for a while,' Elona replied, refusing to bend. 'He says that there was never a chance to get to know you when you were younger and...'

'Had he not sent me away so young, there might have been.

'But that was not his fault,' Elona told him with a smile, for this time he had fallen into her trap. 'Your father's kinsman told him that it was time you had your training and he did what was best for you. It was not that he wished to part from his son, but merely a custom that he followed.'

Stefan glared at her, but said nothing. In his heart he knew that she was right, had known it since he grew to manhood, and Alain's feeling of being tied to his mother's skirts had made him realise that he might have been more fortunate in his education than he'd realised.

'Will you not see your father? He asks every day if you are well enough to receive him.'

'When you let me up from this bed, wife, I shall see my father.'

'Very well, you may get up today,' Elona said and smiled at him. 'You are not strong enough to walk downstairs yet, but you may sit in my chamber in my chair, and your father shall visit you there.'

He glared at her again. 'I think you learn too swiftly, Elona.'

'Of what do you speak, my lord?' she asked innocently.

'You know well enough,' he said and growled low in his throat. 'Very well, it shall be as you wish-but I warn you, when I am myself you shall pay for this, Elona. I know how to treat a scold.'

'Indeed, you wrong me, my lord,' she said and laughed softly. 'I am the most obedient of wives.'

'Huh!' He pulled a wry face, but she saw that he was amused. 'I have taught you too well, lady, but the battle is not over yet. Believe me, I shall have more lessons for you to learn when I am well again.'

'And I shall be most eager to learn them, my lord.' She laughed as his eyes sparked, her heart lifting, for he was truly getting stronger again-and, providing he did not have a sudden seizure, she had every confidence that he would soon be well.

'I have never told you the truth, because I thought you did not know the circ.u.mstances of your mother's death and I did not wish to cause you pain,' Ralph told him as they sat together in Elona's chamber. 'Your mother was ill after she gave birth to you, but it was not weakness from her illness that killed her-she was poisoned by a physician I employed.'

'Poisoned?' Stefan was astonished. He had heard nothing of this. 'You mean he was an ignorant fool and killed her by mistake or, no.. .I see from your expression that he did it on purpose? Why?'

'Because she had discovered that he was incompetent,' Ralph told him and looked grave. 'We had become estranged, because of her illness-and because we were too young when we married. Berenice was too young to be married at all, and I. .I did not love her as I ought. She was young and silly and I was impatient. I have regretted the breach. For years it haunted me, for I believed that if I had taken more care of her she would not have died.'

'What did you do to him?'

'He remained in my service for some time, for I did not know the truth. It was Alayne who first suspected it and she accused him of it-and he tried to kill her in a rage, but this time he was discovered.' Ralph's mouth hardened. 'He was tried before a council of my men and punished for his crimes, believe me.'

'I would have killed him with my bare hands.'

'You were but a child,' Ralph said. 'The death you would have given him had you been a man was more merciful than my men decreed, for he had been the source of much pain and many deaths amongst them and they had no mercy.'

Stefan nodded, understanding. 'Then he was well punished. I shall say a ma.s.s for my mother's soul.'

'It has been done many times,' Ralph told him, 'but another cannot hurt. And now I ask you to forgive me if I hurt you by sending you away when you were but a child.'

'Elona has spoken to you of this?'

'She did not need to,' Ralph answered with a smile. 'Alayne has taken me to task over it many times. She would have brought you home, but you were doing well with your studies and I believed it was the best way. I think Alain suffered for being allowed to remain at home. He loves his mother dearly and would not hurt her for the world, but he needs to be free-to find himself, to prove himself.'

'Yes, he has told me this,' Stefan said. 'I believe it is his intention to leave for the Holy Land soon?'

'He will do so, but for the moment the Duke keeps him at his court. He writes to his mother and to me, and I believe he is frustrated by the delay. Your brother cannot wait to prove himself as much a man as you, and indeed I do not blame him. I have been proud of your deeds, Stefan-and your reputation.'

'You were swift enough to believe ill of me.'

'And swifter to realise I had wronged you,' his father admitted ruefully. 'Had you wished, you could have ridden off with your men and I could have done little to stop you.'

'That might have caused bloodshed. I could not raise a hand in anger to my own father.'

'No, I realise that now that I begin to know you better,' Ralph said. 'But that did not prevent you simply riding away, for I would not have used force to keep you. You stayed for another reason, did you not?'

'To have deserted Elona would have shamed her,' Stefan said. 'I thought that she was carrying a child-though I was not sure whose child it might be. I believed she might have had a lover or perhaps been ravished by the brutes that took her, and I could not abandon her.'

'Yet you did not send for her? The letter Alain brought to Elona was not from you, I think?'

'I was too stubborn and proud. I have to thank my brother for understanding me better than I could myself.'

'Alain has his mother's insight,' Ralph said. 'In a woman, such traits are good and often useful, but in a man...' He shook his head. 'To tell the truth, I fear for him, Stefan. I think he may find the world too harsh for a man of his nature. You are more like me and I thank G.o.d for it.' The sincerity in his voice could not be denied and at last the shadows of doubt fell away from Stefan's mind, never to return.