Chapter 20
Jessimond noticed that Marcus slowed the horse. She looked ahead and didn’t see their destination, though they had ridden for some time. Before she could ask, he turned the mount and entered the forest running alongside the road. He threw his leg over and came to the ground. Grinning, he clasped her waist and pulled her down next to him.
Marcus’ fingers tightened on her waist as he leisurely explored her mouth. Her arms went about him. Jessimond gave herself over to the kiss, reveling in every stroke of his tongue against hers. He pulled away, leaving her breathless.
“I couldn’t wait,” he admitted. “I also know I’ll be busy and we won’t see each other much once we arrive at Harte Castle.”
“We won’t?” she asked, disappointed.
“I needed you nearby, Jess. Under the same roof. I would have been miserable being apart from you. I do have many new responsibilities, though. I’ll need to throw myself into the affairs of the estate and make sure the fall harvest is going as planned.”
“What of our wedding?”
“It must wait,” he said firmly. “As long as Lady Ailith and little Mary are ill, they need to be our chief concern, though Livia, who’s two, is in good health.”
“What’s wrong with them? Are they ill with what your father had?”
“Nay. He had withered away since last I saw him in May, as if something inside had eaten him up. My stepmother and half-sister have the measles.”
Jessimond sighed. “I can give Lady Ailith something for her fever and a headache if she has one but measles must run their course.” She paused. “Marcus, measles are very serious. You’ve mentioned a two-year-old girl and a babe. If Lady Ailith has given birth twice so quickly, her body already is in a weakened state. ’Twill be hard for her to fight through it, and even harder for a babe since she won’t be able to drink from a bowl as her mother can.”
He cupped her face tenderly. “That’s why I thought you might ease their pain. I understand that they probably will not survive this crisis, Jess.”
“I have not had the measles,” she revealed.
“Then I want you nowhere near them. I have a servant tending to their needs now. You are to stay far away from the bedchamber they lie in, but you can pass along any herbs and instructions.” He kissed her. “I don’t want you catching this, sweetheart. Promise me you’ll stay away from them.”
“All right,” Jessimond said reluctantly. It pained her that she would not be able to speak to her patients in person, but she knew how easily it would be for her to come down with the dreaded red spots if she didn’t keep her distance.
She decided now was the time to reveal her identity to Marcus, before they reached Hartefield. Jessimond opened her mouth to speak but he kissed her again, greedily drinking her in. By the time he finished, her head swam. Marcus set her atop Storm and joined her, clicking his tongue. The horse took off at a gallop. Conversation would be impossible, especially for telling Marcus such unexpected news. She decided to wait until they had time alone before she bared her soul to him.
He stopped the horse again. “What do you think?”
She heard obvious pride in his voice and gazed in front of her. A lush valley stood beneath them, wheat fields golden with their abundant crops. Small cottages dotted the landscape. In the center of it all, tall, stone walls surrounded Harte Castle. From their vantage point, she could see both the outer and inner baileys and the keep itself.
“It’s beautiful.”
“I think so, too.”
Jessimond marveled at how this estate would be her new home. She couldn’t wait to explore it.
Marcus nudged Storm and the horse began cantering along again. Soon, they reached the gates and gained admittance. Marcus steered the horse to the stables and handed him off to a young boy. He untied her case and the satchel and told the boy to be generous with Storm’s oats. They crossed the inner bailey, which appeared deserted.
“We’re in time for the evening meal,” he told her, leading her inside the keep and into the great hall.
Well over a hundred people had gathered to eat. Marcus led Jessimond to the dais. He set the satchel and case down and then lifted her onto the dais before seating her. A servant quickly appeared.
“Are you hungry, my lord?”
“Very hungry and even more thirsty.”
“Be right back, my lord.” The woman bobbed and disappeared.
Jessimond looked out over the crowd and noticed many people eyed her with interest. She glanced about, seeing the tapestries hanging on the walls were numerous and the rushes on the floor fragrant. The smell of roasted chicken wafted up, causing her stomach to gurgle noisily. Despite the fact that the lady of the castle lay ill, the servants had continued to complete their tasks. She thought it an excellent sign since it spoke highly of them.
The servant returned and she and Marcus ate their fill with what the girl brought to them.
“It’s nice to eat someone else’s cooking for a change,” she remarked.
He took her hand under the table and squeezed it. “You were a much better cook than Agatha ever could be.” He paused. “Will you want her and Peter to stay with us or do you think the Earl of Kinwick will be happy to have them return to his estate?”
Though Jessimond would enjoy having Agatha at Hartefield, she knew Peter would wish to remain with his family at Kinwick. One day, he would succeed his father as head blacksmith at the castle.
“I think that is a decision best made by the two of them together,” she said. “Selfishly, I would like them here, but it is something they must weigh and consider.”
Marcus sliced a bite of cheese and handed it to her. Jessimond sank her teeth into it.
“Oh, I am going to enjoy Hartefield’s cheese. This is so rich and creamy.”
“You’ll have plenty of time to explore the keep while I’m away. For now, though, I wish to keep our marriage plans a secret.”
“Why?” She was ready to shout the news from the treetops and was concerned that Marcus didn’t feel the same way.
“My father only passed this morning. With Lady Ailith and Mary fighting for their lives, I think it appropriate to wait before we announce our intentions.”
“Of course,” she said. She understood he needed time to mourn and that they must do what they could to help those who were ill. Jessimond was determined to do everything she could to ensure that Lady Ailith and her child lived.
“You can help care for Livia if you’d like,” he suggested. “She’ll be missing her mother. Herleva, who is in charge of our servants, has made sure to keep the child away so she won’t become ill.”
“I’d enjoy that,” Jessimond said. “I adore children.”
He smiled. “I know you have experience raising them. You must be quite good at it since the earl and countess entrusted you with their grandchildren.”
Jessimond felt guilty hearing the lie she’d told him come from his own lips.
“My lord? Could we spend some time discussing the estate?”
“Of course, Sagar. We can meet in the records room.” Marcus turned to her. “Jess, this is Sagar, who has served the de Hartes for many years as our steward.”
A woman came to stand next to Sagar. Marcus continued, “And this is Herleva, whom I spoke to you about. This is Jess Gilpin. She is a healer who has come to do what she can for my stepmother and the babe. Jess will also help care for Lady Livia.”
With that, he handed her items to Herleva and helped Jessimond from the dais. “I’ll leave you in Herleva’s hands.” He looked to the servant. “Find a bedchamber for Jess and under no circumstances is she to enter Lady Ailith’s room. I don’t want her exposed to the measles.”
Marcus left with Sagar. Jessimond took her case from Herleva. “I can carry this. Would you take me to see Lady Ailith and her daughter now?”
“But Lord Marcus said—”
“He has warned me not to enter their chamber. I can stand in the doorway, though, and see how they are. It will help me decide what herbs to grind and prepare. The baron told me they both burned with fever.”
The servant pursed her lips a moment, contemplating what to do. “Come along then.”
She led Jessimond up the stairs and along a long corridor. Halting before a door, she said, “This is where Lady Livia is sleeping. Would you like to see her now?”
She smiled. “I would. And since I will help care for her, might I sleep in this chamber?”
Herleva returned her smile. “Of course. Come inside.” She opened the door.
Jessimond stepped in and saw a lone candle burned next to the bed. She crossed the room and set her case down so she could sit on the bed. A child with a mass of dark ringlets slept, her breath soft and even. Jessimond brushed back the curls and saw how beautiful the little girl was. Her skin was very fair and long lashes swept across her cheeks.
This child would be an orphan unless she could do something to heal Lady Ailith. A deep longing rose within her as she watched this little one sleep. Either Jessimond would be able to save Livia’s mother—or she would need to become a mother to this child. She brushed a kiss against the girl’s forehead and rose.
Herleva had placed the satchel in a chair. Jessimond retrieved her herb case and the two women left the bedchamber. They walked past three more doors before the servant paused.
“Remember your promise and keep your distance,” Herleva warned before opening the door.
Jessimond saw a woman younger than she was propped up against pillows. Her face, even more beautiful than her daughter’s, held the spots of measles upon it. Seated in a chair was a young girl who rocked a babe. The infant also had angry red dots on her.
“Who are you?” Lady Ailith called out weakly.
“Lord Marcus brought Jess to help you,” Herleva said. “She’s a healer.”
“See to Mary first,” pleaded the noblewoman.
“I will help you both the best I can,” promised Jess. To the servant, she asked, “Has the babe been feeding?”
“Nay. Lady Ailith’s milk dried up. Lady Mary has had nothing for a day. Mayhap longer.”
“What is your name?” Jessimond asked.
“Bea.”
“All right, Bea. I will have Herleva find a nursing mother to express a small amount of milk into a bowl. You will take a small square of linen and dip it into the bowl and then hold it to Lady Mary’s mouth. We want her to try and suck on the cloth. If she can get some nourishment that way, we’ll also have her drink some of the water I steep herbs in the same way.”
Jessimond looked to the mother in the bed. “You, my lady, also will need to drink. That will help you make milk for your babe. I will return soon with something for you to drink. It will have herbs to fight your fever and something to help you sleep. Sleep is a good tonic and will help you recover more quickly. I’ll be back shortly.”
She accompanied Herleva downstairs and told the servant, “I’ll go to the kitchen and boil some water and grind my herbs there. Please find a nursing mother so we have some milk that we can try to give Lady Mary.”
Half an hour later, Jessimond returned to the sickroom with two bowls. She set them on the floor and had Bea retrieve them.
“Lady Ailith is probably too weak to hold the bowl. You’ll need to do that for her. Have her drink all but a small bit of the contents before you try to feed the babe.”
She watched as the noblewoman drank the herbs steeped in water and then collapsed against the pillows again. Bea did as instructed and dipped the square into the milk before brushing it against Lady Mary’s lips. She tried numerous times but the babe never attempted to suck on the cloth.
“What should I do?” wailed Bea.
“Remain calm,” Jessimond said. “Try again every few minutes. Either she will or she won’t. You cannot force her. I’ll return after Lady Ailith has slept and see if what I gave her is working to break her fever.”
“I’ll try,” Bea said, a dubious look on her face.
She returned to the sleeping Livia and climbed into bed next to her. The child nestled against Jessimond and gave a contented sigh. She closed her own eyes, sending a prayer to the Virgin Mary to guide her efforts to restore both of her patients to good health.
Hours later, Jessimond awakened. She slipped from the bed carefully so as not to wake Livia and returned to Lady Ailith’s bedchamber. Opening the door, she heard soft weeping. The noblewoman slept so Jessimond knew the tears came from Bea.
The servant cradled Lady Mary in her arms. “I have tried, Jess. Many times. She cannot drink. She is barely breathing now.” Bea stood. “Would you bring Father Pious? He should be here.”
“You’ve done your best, Bea,” Jessimond reassured the servant. “I knew there was but a slim chance that the babe would suck. I’ll return with the priest.”
She hurried downstairs and left the keep. They had passed a small chapel on their way in last night. She entered it now and saw a man kneeling near the altar, his head bowed. She went to him and touched his shoulder gently. He glanced up, looking perturbed at the interruption.
“I am sorry to disturb your prayers, Father, but Lady Mary may not be long for this world. Would you please come?”
Rising, he said, “Of course. Who are you?”
As they returned to the keep, Jessimond introduced herself and explained why she’d come to Hartefield.
“Lady Mary never had a chance,” the priest said mournfully. “I only pray that Lady Ailith can recover.”
They started down the long hallway. Jessimond saw Marcus emerge from what she thought would be the solar. He made his way toward them. She quickly explained the situation and he accompanied them to the sickroom. Both Marcus and Father Pious entered, leaving Jessimond hovering in the doorway.
Bea still shed tears and Jessimond saw that Lady Ailith was awake and also wept as she held her daughter in her arms.
“Do something,” she said as the men approached her. “Please. Husband. Do something. Save her. Save my babe.”
Jessimond shook her head. Poor Lady Ailith was delirious. Jessimond guessed that Marcus must favor his father and, in her feverish state, Lady Ailith confused the two. The noblewoman might not have been informed of her husband’s death yesterday, due to her illness. Sorrow filled her, knowing that the woman had lost her husband and now her child.
The priest took the babe from her mother and began prayers for her. Marcus stood beside the bed and held his stepmother’s hand. Jessimond thought how incongruous it was for a stepmother to be even younger than her stepson. From what little Marcus had said, his mother had only died a few years ago. The baron must have remarried very quickly in order to have fathered two daughters in such a short time.
“She is gone,” Father Pious said softly. “Lady Mary is with her earthly father and her Heavenly Father.”
Lady Ailith wailed mournfully. Marcus put his arms around her as she sobbed. Bea looked utterly lost.
“I’ll will take Lady Mary to the chapel,” the priest said. “Bea, come along and help me prepare her for burial.”
Jessimond stepped aside as the two left the room, the bundled infant in Father Pious’ arms, and closed the door behind them. Hopefully, Marcus could offer some comfort to Lady Ailith. Jessimond would see to choosing some new herbs that might help break the fever raging through the noblewoman’s body.
First, though, she decided to check on Livia. Entering their shared bedchamber, she saw the child sitting up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
“Who are you?” the tiny voice asked.
“I’m Jess,” she said as she sat on the bed. “I’m going to help take care of you.”
“I want Mother,” the girl said stubbornly and then thrust her thumb into her mouth. A loud sucking noise followed.
Jessimond pulled Livia into her lap and smoothed her curls. “Your mother is very sick. But she’s going to get better.”
Livia removed her thumb, her eyes wide and hopeful. “Soon?”
“Aye. Very soon, my little lady.”
If it were the last thing she did, Jessimond would nurse Ailith de Harte back to full health.