Chapter Three
Alessandria had no idea who the enormous knight was who had taken her into a fairly new structure that had been built against the outer wall of Canterbury, but at this point, she was beyond caring.
Her hands and feet were so cold that she could no longer feel them and when the knight set her down, carefully, on a stool in the middle of the structure’s common room, she nearly fell over.
The cold, and her exhaustion, gave her little by way of balance.
But she managed to stay upright. She just sat there and shivered as the big knight stood over her, looking at her with a great deal of concern. Finally, she heard him sigh.
“Lady,” he said in a soft, deep tone, “you are clearly in distress. Would you permit me to be of service?”
Alessandria lifted her head to look at him. He had a big head and a big, square jaw, and his long, dark hair was tied at the nape of his neck. He didn’t look particularly wicked and even if he did, she couldn’t summon the strength to fight him off.
“W-what did you have in mind?” she stammered through chilled lips.
The big knight took a knee next to her. “Firstly, I believe proper introductions are in order,” he said. “I am Sir Jorden de Russe. I serve the House of de Lohr. Believe me when I tell you that it is my earnest desire to be of service to you and nothing more.”
Alessandria looked at him, her teeth chattering. “I-if you truly wish to be of service, I could use a fire to dry my clothes.”
“And food?”
“I could eat.”
De Russe swung into action. The first thing he did was reach out to touch her clothing.
He simply touched her right sleeve and he could feel that it was still damp.
Her wrist was exposed and he brushed her skin, feeling that it was like ice.
Quickly, he stood up and disappeared into another room.
He was banging around when the entry door opened and the other knight entered.
He looked at Alessandria curiously and, lured by the banging in the other chamber, went to see what the commotion was about.
Shivering and twitching, Alessandria could hear the knights in the other room, discussing her situation, and she heard more banging about and doors opening.
They were evidently moving from one chamber to another.
She couldn’t see them but she could hear them.
As she listened with some interest, a small male servant suddenly appeared from the chamber where the knights had been and fled from the structure.
Surprised, Alessandria watched the entry door slam as the man bolted into the bailey. Curious why the man should run like that, she turned in time to see de Russe emerge from the chamber.
“My lady,” he said. “I have moved a bathing tub into the far chamber. I have sent a servant for hot water and something dry for you to wear. If you would come with me, I shall show you where you can rest.”
Alessandria stood up, unsteadily, and moved stiffly in the direction he indicated.
The chambers of the knight quarters were all connected, with no corridors linking them, so she passed through one chamber with two beds in it into another chamber with three beds in it, and finally to the last chamber where there was only one big bed and a small window that overlooked the keep and bailey.
Inside this chamber, she found the other knight on his knees in front of a hearth, loading it with wood and kindling.
He noticed her when she came in and he smiled politely, but Alessandria was rather wary of the man’s appearance.
He had bright blue eyes, rounded big at her approach, which were disturbing.
It gave him a rather mad appearance. De Russe, coming in behind her, indicated the knight on his knees.
“This is Sir Rhun du Bois, my lady,” he said. “He is also at your service.”
Alessandria simply nodded, looking around for the nearest stool because she was convinced her legs wouldn’t support her for any length of time.
Everything about her hurt. As she went to plant herself on the edge of the bed because there was no chair or stool that she could see, they heard the entry door open and a female voice called for Jorden.
He responded immediately. “In here, Lady de Lohr.”
Swift footfalls approached and, suddenly, there was a tall woman standing in the doorway, her bronze-colored hair pulled back and pinned at the nape of her neck.
She was quite lovely and directly behind her came a young woman about Alessandria’s age.
The younger girl had the older woman’s hair color but not nearly the woman’s height.
She, too, was very beautiful. Before anything could be said, the older woman went straight to Alessandria as she sat on the end of the bed.
“Sweet Mary, look at her state,” she breathed, appearing greatly concerned as she looked over Alessandria’s condition.
Then, she turned quickly to the young woman behind her.
“Gather something from your sister’s chest. They look to be about the same size.
Bring her something warm and bring combs and soaps.
And have the cook send food right away.”
The young woman fled but the older woman wasn’t satisfied with the speed in which things were happening. She snapped her fingers at de Russe, although it was not an impolite gesture. It was simply a gesture of haste.
“You have sent for hot water, Jorden?” she asked.
“Aye, Lady de Lohr.”
“I require a blanket or a large measure of linen.”
Jorden disappeared into the next chamber as Rhun, still on his knees, managed to strike the flint on the first try and coax forth a rather healthy blaze. With the knights in motion, the older woman smiled kindly at Alessandria.
“Forgive my haste, my dear,” she said gently. “I am Liselotte de Lohr. This is my home. I will take great care of you.”
Alessandria sensed kindness from the woman. It was in her eyes and expression more than her manner. Her manner suggested that she was no one to trifle with.
“M-my lady,” she greeted through quivering lips. “I am Alessandria de Shera.”
Liselotte put her hand on Alessandria’s shoulder, meant to be a gesture of comfort, but the moment she touched the rank, damp wool, she drew her hand back with a look of horror.
“Sweet Mary,” she hissed again. “We must remove you from your clothing now. Jorden?”
She very nearly bellowed to the big knight, who immediately returned to the chamber, holding a big coverlet in his hands.
“Here, my lady,” he said. “This was all I could find that would be acceptable.”
Liselotte took it from him. “Thank you,” she said. “Now, go inside and find Veronica. I fear she will be overwhelmed with what she must find for the lady. Make sure she brings female servants with her and make sure they bring everything I need to tend the lady.”
De Russe hesitated. “Chad told me not to leave her, my lady,” he said. “Henry’s men are here and they want to take her.”
“Why?”
“Because Henry wants her, my lady.”
“Why?”
De Russe scratched his head, seeing that she wanted an answer.
“It is a political move, my lady,” he said.
“If you want to know more about it, then you must ask your husband. Meanwhile, I have been ordered to guard the lady and guard I shall. Henry’s men will not take her unless I am told otherwise by Lord Daniel or Chad. ”
Liselotte’s eyes flashed. “Ridiculous,” she said. “What on earth could Henry want with this child? Go, now, and do as I say. Rhun will guard the door for now. We will be perfectly safe until you return.”
De Russe turned to do as he was told but he wasn’t happy about it.
Chad had told him to remain with the de Shera girl and Lady de Lohr, Chad’s mother, was sending him out on errands.
His choice was to either have Chad upset with him or Lady de Lohr.
Those being his choices, he chose Chad. Better not to rouse the anger of the formidable Lady de Lohr.
When the door shut behind the big knight, Liselotte returned her attention to Alessandria.
She smiled timidly at the girl, knowing that there was something of a mess brewing that involved her and feeling rather sorry for the child.
But first things first; the lady needed to be tended and Liselotte indicated the fire.
“If you will, my lady, please stand by the fire and remove your damp clothing,” she said kindly. “I will hold up this blanket to protect your modesty.”
Alessandria was already on her feet, nearly toppling, but managing to keep her balance. The lure of the fire was great. Still, something that Lady de Lohr had said made her pause.
“All of my clothing, my lady?” she clarified.
Liselotte nodded. “Everything,” she said. “I do not know how long you have been in damp clothing, but the sooner we remove it, the better. How did you come to be so wet? Was it raining whilst you traveled?”
Alessandria shook her head, uncertain about removing her clothing in general much less in the presence of a woman she did not know. It was all very awkward for her and she was fearful that she might offend Lady de Lohr with her reluctance.
“It was not raining,” she said hesitantly. “I fell from a horse and into the water. Sir Chadwick jumped in to save me. I do not know how to swim, you see, so if it weren’t for him, I am sure I would have perished. Then there were men chasing us so we hid from them.”
Liselotte listened with concern. “Forgive me, my lady, but I am ignorant of why or how you have come to Canterbury,” she said. “All I was told was that there was a young woman who required my assistance. My son told me that, but it was all he told me. Why are Henry’s men after you?”
She was persistent. She didn’t receive a suitable answer from the knight so she was seeking clarification to her confusion. Unfortunately, Alessandria didn’t know much more than Lady de Lohr did. She lifted her slender shoulders.