Don't Forget to Dream (31 page)

“
My lady,
”
Rhyla said softly.
Her
mistress stirred gently.
“
Lady Emelia, men have arrived from the Palace.
”

A frown briefly creased the elderly woman
’
s brow before she opened her eyes,
“
Rhyla, what did you say?
”

“
Lieutenant Ewan has arrived with a squad of
men;
they accompanied the supplies from the Palace. Six wagon loads, three of grain alone,
”
Rhyla
continued now Lady Emelia was more alert.
“
And he brought this for you,
”
she said holding forward the folded letter,
“
It is from the Queen.
”

Lady Emelia sat up a little straighter.
“
Please open it and read it my dear,
”
she said encouragingly, cl
early as anxious as they were of
news from the Palace.

Rhyla broke the wax seal and carefully unfolded the parchment and began reading,
“‘
Dearest mother,

‘
I hope this letter finds you
well and the Black Swan Estate is
benefiting from your presence. After weeks of intermittent news from my sons we have finally received the messages we prayed for. They are both well, though not completely unscarred from the conflict according to the messengers. The bandits have been routed deeper into t
he hills from their encampments.
Many
have been captured and some
slain in the fighting, leaving on
ly a few
soles
to
wander
about alone.
Edwin is confident they shall be turning for home within a week, leaving a smaller force of Lords Palmer and Gale
’
s men to continue hunting for the stragglers and discouraging any new communities to form. We have suffered many casualties, though not as many as we feared possible. We now await news of your return to complete our celebrations.

‘
Your
loving
daughter
Aletta.
’”

Rhyla stared at the page for several moments before a single tear spilled to the page and caught her
unawares;
she hastily wiped away its building friends before looking to her mistress.

“
They are well my lady,
”
was a bare whisper from Rhyla
’
s lips.

Lady Emelia smiled warmly and heaved a heavy sigh.
“
Aye, they are well,
”
she said patting Rhyla
’
s hands as they lay folded in her lap, clutching the single sheet of parchment.
“
My grandsons shall return.
”

They sat for several moments smiling contentedly at each other before they heard a tentative voice behind them. Elsie had of course been listening closely as Rhyla had read the letter.
“
Does this mean we shall be returning to Lestran my lady?
”

Lady Emelia quickly appraised her young ladies maid, the sallow look to her face and the dark circles beneath her eyes telling of how her fear and premature grief had prevented her sleeping as she should have. Lady Emelia was all too aware that they knew nothing of the fate of young Kyle.

“
I believe it is time we returned to the Palace. The storage shed in nearly complete, the food supplies replenished or at least managed and the injured men are healed enough to remain in Mistress Belinda
’
s care.
”
She couldn
’
t avoid noticing the excitement that now emanated from Elsie.
“
Would you please
carry a message to Lieutenant
Ewan, Elsie?
”

“
Certainly
my lady.
”

“
Can you ask him if he and his men would remain until the day after tomorrow to escort us back to the Palace,
”
Lady Emelia said as she started to rise from her bed.

“
Yes my lady, straight away.
”

“
Thank you my dear.
Oh
,
and another thing?
”

“
Yes my lady?
”

“
You may want to ask the lieutenant if there is any news on young
Kyle.
”

Elsie beamed at the prospect,
“
Yes my lady, I shall do that.
”
She nearly bounded out of the door in her haste to speak to the young lieutenant.

“
Come Rhyla,
”
Lady Emelia said holding her arm out for Rhyla to assist her to her feet.
“
Master Stephen and Mistress Belinda should be back shortly as we must make the final preparations.

“
Yes my lady, but I must also see to rooms for the men and inform cook of the extra mouths to feed,
”
Rhyla said seriously as they strolled along the corridor.

Lady Emelia laughed softly, more at herself than at her comments,
“
You are most correct my dear. First things first and those young men will surely been looking for a hot meal soon enough. I don
’
t know what I would do without you.
”

The following day passed in a hectic blur of activity. Elsie saw to the packing of the few things they brought with them and the preparation of food for their return journey. They would be returning with the empty wagons so there was no need to overburden the carriage or the guardsmen
’
s mounts
thus hopefully reducing their travelling time. Lieutenant Ewan had informed Elsie he understood Kyle to be alive, possibly injured but not gravely. He had asked around before leaving knowing she would be with her mistress and desperate for news.

Rhyla spent most of the morning with Mistress Belinda and Maya the
herb woman
as she insisted on a final assessment of their patients, eve
n though Walt was the last patient
in their care and
he was
itching to return to his normal life. Together with Lady Emelia and Master Stephen the afternoon was spent reviewing the final stages of restoring the
supplies that had been lost, and discussing their
plans for the estate over the coming months, and into the next year. Rhyla
’
s practical knowledge of crop yields and management of livestock once again amazed Master Stephen as the day drew to a close.

The evening meal was a little more elaborate than their usual fare. The
y could not help but celebrate
the news of the Princes
’
success and the near completion of t
heir own endeavours. Despite this
levity
,
there was a subtle sadness at the knowledge that the Lady of the dun would be leaving with the unspoken knowledge that uncertain times lay in the future of the Black Swan Estates.

The farewells that had started the day before were brought to a final climax early the following morning. The Palace guardsmen stood by their mounts ready to ride. Lady Emelia
’
s carriage awaited at the foot of the dun
’
s stairs with the wagons lined up behind. Elsie
’
s excitement to be returning to the Palace contrasted sharply with Rhyla
’
s churning emotions. She was surely as desperate as her friend to see the man she loved, but anxiety marred her anticipation with the knowledge that he could only bring her pain and heartache regardless of how he felt.

Bidding Master Stephen and Mistress Belinda a final farewell Rhyla await
ed Lady Emelia.
She took in the simple elegance of the dun, smiled once again at the
new friends as they
gathered by the sides of the steps to wave them off. She assiste
d Lady Emelia into the carriage and settled
themselves
as they waved goodbye. Rhyla looked
back,
knowing she would always remember the happiness and welcome she had received at this home she had only known for a few short weeks.

Chapter 12

The clamour in the halls drew the attention of every pair of eyes in the women
’
s hall to the heavy wooden door. Princess Sophia, Lady Elizabeth, Lady Caroline, Lady Emelia, Rhyla and one of Princess Sophia
’
s ladies maids, Marina, had been sitting idly by, chatting casually about nothing in particular and working as they usually did on some needlework. Lady Emelia and Rhyla had returned from the Black Swan Estates three days earlier, but after a brief flutter of interest in their endeavours at the rural dun the ladies of the Palace had diverted the conversations away, refocusing on topics that Rhyla found profoundly tedious and disheartening after the stimulation and activity of the previous month. The resumption of her blade training
with Master Thomas
was her one escape from her courtly duties. Never could she have dreamt before coming to the Palace that she would be unsettled in the luxurious life
fro
which
she now benefitted
.

Upon their return there had been little further news from the Princes with their return anticipated any day. It was this expectation that had the women on edge at the sudden
rack
et  which
drifted
from the courtyard to their open windows. Before Marina reached the door to enquire as to the cause of the commotion Gina, the curly haired Mistress of Chambermaids, burst into the room.

“
They are returned,
”
she exclaimed without even pausing to curtsy.
“
Princes Edwin and Callum have entered the city gates.
”

With a squeal of delight Princes Sophia dropped her embroidery as she near leaped from her chair.
“
I must change,
”
she said as she swept from the room with Marina closely in tow.

Rhyla was surprised to find that she too was out of her chair. At the mention of getting changed she had a flicker of compulsion to do likewise, to change into the best gown Lady Emelia had bestowed upon her. Angrily suppressing the urge she settled to smoothing her skirts and bodice as she
strolled to Lady Emelia
’
s side. There was little to be gained from rui
ning her best dress as she would be needed to assist the
healers in caring for the wounded men. After learning of her skill and quick judgement with Walt, Queen Aletta had insisted she be introduced to the healers. Roburt, the senior healer and priest for the Palace was keen to have another pa
ir of hands to tend the men who would soon be arriving.
Too few had
the stomach or the sense to do as he required.

Offering her hand to Lady Emelia as she assisted her from her chair Rhyla couldn
’
t help but hear her muttering,
“
So unladylike, let alone the behaviour of a Princess and future Queen.
”
Rhyla was surprised by the words but the tone and soft smile that followed softened their intensity. It was a pleasant surprise to Rhyla to find the Princess truly did love her husband. Lady Emelia
’
s cheeks coloured a little as she realised Rhyla had overheard her.
“
We had best make our way straight to the courtyard,
”
she said in her normal tone.

“
Yes my lady,
”
Rhyla said unconsciously smoothing her skirts again.

The Ladies Elizabeth and Caroline had already swept from the room leaving them alone but Lady Emelia lowered her voice even so.
“
You look lovely my dear,
”
she said looping a loose strand of Rhyla
’
s hair into a soft curl.
“
Knowing my grandson
,
he shall struggle to keep his eyes from you. But remember where you are.
”

“
I can never forget,
”
Rhyla said a little firmer than she had intended.

“
Be patient my dear, you shall find the path that is right for you.
”

“
It is not patience I need but a hefty dose of hard work once I have seen with my own eyes that he is well. Hard work is my solution.
”