Chapter Eleven #4
When the bath was over, Elyse and the serving woman helped Emllyn from the tub and dried her off with a soft linen towel.
Standing in front of the fire where it was nice and warm, the servant rubbed rose-scented oil all over her skin as Elyse began to comb through her hair to dry it.
When the oil was absorbed into her skin, the servant put the beautiful silk robe back on her and Elyse had her sit down in front of the fire so that the heat could better dry her hair.
As the red-gold hair dried into fine, soft curls, Emllyn could wait no longer. She had to see Devlin. When the serving woman brought her mulled wine to drink, she turned to catch a glimpse of Elyse as the woman worked steadily over her hair.
“Will you please return John now?” she asked. “I would like to see him.”
Elyse nodded, immediately switching places with the serving woman and removing the apron she had donned to help Emllyn bathe. She was quick and efficient in her movements, exuding the image of the perfect chatelaine.
“I will go and find him,” she said. Then, her gaze lingered on Emllyn hesitantly.
“Of course, it is not my place to say so, but it is my sense that it would not be entirely… proper for the man to stay here with you. In fact, I will be sleeping in this chamber and although I know John makes you feel safe, to have him sleeping here is rather… discomforting to me. Moreover, my father would never allow it.”
Emllyn thought on that a moment. “I have no desire to make you uncomfortable, of course,” she said.
“But… you were right when you said I feel very comfortable with John. I am sorry if that seems strange, being as I hardly know the man and he is not my husband, but I would prefer to stay with him. He makes me feel very safe. If you must move us out of your chamber in order to accomplish that, I would be very grateful.”
Elyse appeared rather distressed. “But,” she said hesitantly, “my lady… he is….”
“He is the man who saved my life and took great care of me until now,” Emllyn said, interrupting her hostess.
She wasn’t trying to be rude but she truly didn’t want Devlin out of her sight, fearful of what would happen if they were separated.
“I find myself in a strange castle with people I do not know and even though you have been sweet and gracious, I am not trying to be cruel when I say that I would feel much more comfortable with a man I have established some trust with rather than a lady I have only known a few hours. Please do not think me unkind; it is simply the way I feel at this moment.”
Elyse sighed and forced a smile; she would not argue with her guest. “If that is your wish, then of course I shall comply,” she said. “There is a small chamber on this floor where I can put you. It is rather cramped, but I will make it comfortable for you.”
Emllyn nearly collapsed with relief. “Thank you, my lady,” she said sincerely. “And I will put your mind at ease that nothing inappropriate or unseemly shall occur. I look at John as my watchdog, and so should you. He gives me comfort and that is all.”
Elyse merely smiled without answering and Emllyn suspected it was because she didn’t believe her but was too polite to say so.
Putting her apron down, she scooted out of the chamber and shut the door softly behind her.
Emllyn had a feeling that she had offended the woman with her requests but it couldn’t be helped; her concern was for Devlin.
While Elyse went in search of Devlin, the serving woman helped Emllyn change into a lovely soft shift and heavy sleeping robe that was lined in rabbit fur and had long, belled sleeves.
It was a gorgeous piece of blue brocaded silk.
The serving wench also put warm doeskin slippers on Emllyn’s feet that were a bit too small but nonetheless comfortable.
Then, she braided her nearly dry hair into a thick braid and wrapped it around her head in an attractive style, securing it firmly with iron pins.
Feeling warm, clean, and tended, Emllyn sat down on the bed with her leg elevated and indulged in more mulled wine, cheese, bread, and dried apricots. She was full of food and good wine when the door opened but instead of Elyse returning, it was Merradoc.
The old physic barged into the room with his satchel clutched under his arm, immediately waving a careless hand at the serving girl.
“Wine!” he snapped. “Enough for two. Bring it now, you silly wench, before I grow moss on my north side from having been kept waiting too long.”
The serving girl fled and Emllyn sat up straight on the bed as the man approached.
Merradoc went right up to her and put a fat hand on her forehead, paused, then felt the pulse of her wrist. After a moment of feeling the strength of her heart, he peeled back her right eyelid and looked into her eye.
Satisfied, he set his bag down on the bed next to her and began rummaging around.
The first thing he pulled out was a long, black strip that looked like leather.
Then he pulled out a second one. He handed her one of the strips.
“Chew it!” he barked.
Emllyn immediately put it in her mouth, fearful of what would happen if she didn’t. Merradoc began chewing on the second strip and within the first few chews, Emllyn made a horrible face.
“What is this?” she asked.
“Licorice root,” the old physic told her. “Children and imbeciles like it.”
Emllyn didn’t like it at all but she continued chewing it. “It’s terrible,” she said. “What is it good for?”
“Nothing,” Merradoc said. “I just thought I’d give it to you. Now, tell me how you feel and no lies. I will know.”
Emllyn took the licorice root out of her mouth because it was truly foul. She made a face and stuck out her black tongue.
“I felt better until you gave me that odious root,” she said, licking her lips of the disgusting taste. “But I suppose I do feel much better. My leg aches but I am sure that is a normal occurrence.”
With the root sticking out of his mouth, Merradoc lifted up the edge of her robe and began unwrapping the wound.
Emllyn watched apprehensively as he unwrapped it completely and then eyed the wound intently.
She strained to catch a glimpse of the cut, now sutured up with fine white silk thread.
It was still red, but the swelling had gone down considerably.
The physic eyed it for a few more moments before returning his attention to his satchel and digging around again.