Chapter Five #4
It wasn’t a garden as much as it was an overgrown yard filled with dead, dried things, bugs, and other sundry creatures.
Upon close inspection, however, one could see that it had once been very well planned and lovingly maintained.
There was even a small pond in the middle of it for all manner of water plants.
A bench and massive bronze sundial sat near the north wall.
Aye, at one time, this garden had been a marvelous place.
Alixandrea had found Audrey Wellesbourne’s patch quite by chance.
She had been trying to escape the dogs that someone had let back into the hall.
When the beasts had followed her out into the yard and she had attempted her escape back inside again, the door jammed.
Stuck, with several happy dogs closing in, she made a dash for a small gate built into a dividing wall just to the west of her position.
The gate had been old and rusted, but the latch had lifted and she had been able to escape the onslaught of canines. Now, sad doggie faces looked in between the slats of the iron grate as she stood in the middle of the dead garden.
It was close to the noon meal as Alixandrea gazed back at the dogs, wondering how to get out of the enclosure without being mauled.
Smells from the kitchen wafted on the breeze and she was hungry.
She’d fallen asleep just before dawn, having spent the entire night watching Matthew’s blond head from her bower window.
She was somehow fearful that the Whitewell soldiers might somehow create a ruckus and she was worried about her new husband.
She could not help but feel that this was all her fault, and in that guilt lay protectiveness.
It wasn’t as if The White Lord could not fend for himself, but if her uncle’s soldiers were going to create havoc, she would make it her business to try and stop them, foolish as those thoughts were.
She could not let such a thing happen without a fight on her part.
But it had been an exhausting night of watching and waiting.
She had only been awake an hour or so, lured down to the hall by the smells of bread.
Jezebel had been nowhere to be found, not an unusual occurrence but now one that made her deeply suspicious.
Then the dogs had chased her from the hall, those happy, licking beasts that seemed so attached to her.
Fortunately, the temperature outside was mild enough that she could remain without need of a cloak or heavier clothing.
Dressed in a pale linen sheath with long sleeves and a soft wool surcoat of the same off-white color, she took a seat on the old bench and sat in the weak sunlight.
She assumed the dogs would tire of waiting for her and go away, so she decided to wait them out.
The warmth of the sun was faint, but it was wonderful.
It seemed to heighten her exhaustion and she closed her eyes, soaking it in.
She hadn’t seen Matthew yet this morning and wondered where he was.
Though she was married to him only last night, he had disappeared soon after the ceremony and she’d not spoken to him since.
But she’s had the benefit of catching glimpses of him up on the wall walk all night.
It had been comforting. Leaning back against the bench, she closed her eyes and dozed in the sun.
The sounds of the creaking gate startled her. Alixandrea sat up quickly, her eyes opening to see young John Wellesbourne approaching. He smiled shyly at her.
“Good morning,” he said. “Sorry to disturb you, my lady.”
She returned his smile. “Good morning, Sir John. And you did not disturb me in the least.”
“I was passing through the yard and saw you in here. Matt is looking for you.”
She stood up from the bench, pointing to the gate. “I came in here to get away from the dogs. They seem to like me.”
John glanced back at the mutts lined up against the iron entry. “I have never cared much for them.”
“Nor I. Why do you suppose they are intent to follow me?”
He shrugged. “It cannot be because you smell like food. Perhaps they are simply seeking a friendly face and you have one.”
“Perhaps.”
She studied the youngest brother for a moment; she’d only met him one other time, yesterday upon her arrival to Wellesbourne. He was a tall lad, as were most of the Wellesbournes, but he seemed very quiet, a softer, meeker, more introspective version of his eldest brother. And he was very young.
“Well,” she said after a moment. “I suppose I should go and find your brother now.”
“I shall escort you.”
“Will you fight off the dogs, too?”
He grinned. “Have no fear, my lady. I shall save you.”
She returned his grin and he flushed violently. Humored, she allowed him to open the gate for her and kick away some of the dogs.
“That was your mother’s garden once, was it not?”
The moment she opened her mouth, she was suddenly regretful. If Adam Wellesbourne was still devastated by his wife’s death, she had no idea how the rest of the family felt. She should have been more sensitive. But John merely nodded his head without a hint of distress.
“Many years ago. After she passed away, Father would not touch it, nor would he let anyone else. It eventually died away.”
“A pity,” she said. “It looks as if it was a lovely place, once.”
“It was.”
“How did your mother die?”
“In childbirth.”
Her eyebrows rose. “Truly? Wasn’t she rather old to be having children? She already had four grown boys by that time.”
John’s head bobbed up and down. “I was nine years of age when she passed away. Matthew was twenty-two, Mark was twenty, and Luke was thirteen. I remember the day that it happened clearly; Mother’s time came early.
She lay in bed for three days trying to deliver the child but she died with it still inside her.
Father buried her in her garden. She was not quite forty years of age. ”
Alixandrea looked at him, dismayed with understanding. “That is why your father will not touch the garden.”
“Exactly. She lies at rest there.”
They reached the door that led into the kitchen and Alixandrea paused, facing her new brother-in-law.
“John,” she said slowly. “Do you think your father would be horribly offended if I revitalized your mother’s garden?
As a tribute to her memory, of course. It just does not seem right that something she loved and tended so carefully should be allowed to lie dead.
It seems to me that it should be kept living and beautiful as a reminder of her. ”
John’s expression changed from curious to doubtful to hopeful and back again. “I… I do not know, my lady. My Father is… well, he can be…”
She put a hand on his arm. “Say no more. Your brother has already explained such things to me. I will speak to him about it to see what he thinks.”
John visibly sighed. “That is wise, my lady. But… well, if you would like my opinion, I think it is a good idea. I used to spend a lot of time with Mother in the garden when I was very young. I’d almost forgotten, it seems so long ago. But… but I should like to see Mother’s garden live again.”
She smiled at him as he led her into the kitchen, fighting off the amorous dogs as they went.
By the time they entered the hall, all of the Wellesbourne brothers and Lady Caroline were gathered at the long table, huddled in a cluster.
Alixandrea met Matthew’s eyes over the top of the group and, for a moment, she would swear until the day she died that sparks literally flew.
She could not have looked away from him if she’d tried.
His rugged, handsome face relaxed, as if all of his troubles just suddenly vanished at the sight of her. He looked exhausted, but not too tired to walk over and meet her.
“I see Johnny found you.” He was careful not to reach out and touch her, no matter how badly he wanted to. “Where were you?”
“The dogs chased me outside and I was locked out.” She wondered why he’d not yet made a move to take her hand or otherwise greet his new wife. “Your brother said that you were looking for me.”
“I was.” He cast a long glance at John, who wisely took the hint and left them alone. “Where is your maid?” he asked quietly.
“I am not sure, she was not in my chamber when I awoke,” she answered back, also quietly. “Why? Is something wrong?”
He shook his head, glancing casually around the hall to make sure there were no obvious signs of them being watched.
“The last she saw of the two of us together was when I postponed our marriage. We must be careful how we behave in public. For all your maid knows, I am still gravely displeased with you and with the prospect of our marriage. I do not want her to think otherwise.”
“Is that why you did not take my hand just now?”
He lifted an eyebrow at her. “You’ll never know how difficult that was for me. As I stand here and look at you, I want to take you in my arms so badly that they ache.”
It was a sweet thing to say. “Can I at least smile at you?”
“Not in public.”
She was genuinely disappointed but understood. “Very well. So what do we do?”
He did reach out then and took her by the elbow, gently leading her back over to the table where his family was congregating.
“You will spend time with Caroline,” he said softly, evenly. “I would have the two of you be constant companions right now.”
She tried not to appear too disillusioned. “Will I not be seeing you at all, husband?”
He froze and looked at her. After a moment, he fought the smile that threatened. “I never thought I would like to hear that word where it pertained to me.”
She hadn’t thought much about saying it; it was simply the truth. “And now?”
“It is like music to my ears.” She started to smile and he feigned a glare. “None of that. Stop it this instant.”
She had to put her hand over her mouth. “I cannot help it.”
“You must,” he commanded softly. “Go with Caroline now. I will find you later.”