The Duke of Tremont
Chapter 7
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The rest of the ride back to Lofton was uneventful and Ben halted his horse to stare a moment as the Duke’s home loomed in view. The large castle towered above the village that stood before it. Michael halted beside him and quietly spoke; “welcome to Lofton Ben.”
“Thank you,” Ben returned the smiled, “it’s beautiful,” he said with a hint of awe in his voice.
“Aye, that it is,” replied Michael as he gently urged his horse on, followed by Ben.
Villagers stopped their daily chores to pay homage as their Duke and his party rode through. Ben could tell by the people’s reaction to the Prince that he was a well-loved and respected ruler.
Soon the group rode through the gate into the castle yard and servants and stable boys appeared all around to tend to their needs. Brian dismounted followed by Michael and Ben. The bishop was helped from his carriage and they all approached the small party that was awaiting them on the steps that entered the castle.
“My Lord,” exclaimed a tall, regal looking blond woman who was also most obviously with child, “’tis good to see you safe. The message you sent ahead was so cryptic. The messenger simply told us to expect guests and some injured.”
“I’m sorry Lady;” Brian kissed the woman’s cheek in greeting. “Come meet our company,” he took her hand and motioned to the rest of the group that was with her to follow.
“Vic!” Yelled a rather portly woman with red hair, “dear brother is it really you?”
She flew down the steps into the older man’s arms, her colorful gown clashing greatly with her flaming locks.
Bishop Vic withstood the administrations of his loving sister for a few moments before Michael intervened; “Mama, let Uncle go please. You are causing a scene.”
“Oh bloody hell,” she pulled away addressing Ben and also Daphne who had left Justin in Emmett’s care for the moment in order to be introduced; “I forget my manners. I just haven’t seen my younger brother in ages.”
“Quite understandable My Lady,” said Ben politely. He knew immediately that he liked Michael’s colorful mother.
“Well if we are done with the hysterics there are introductions to make and injured to tend to,” Brian stated pointedly to the red haired woman.
She patted the mass of curls piled high on her head; “yes of course your highness.”
Ben and Daphne caught the slightly sarcastic tone of her voice and tried to keep from laughing.
She continued; “I am Deborah, but you may call me Deb. I am the Chatelaine here. If there is anything you need or if you have any troubles let me know. She pulled an older man forward; “this is my husband Carl. He is head of the stables.”
Brian cleared his throat and continued the introductions; “this,” he pulled the blond woman forward is My Lady Wife, Duchess Lindsay. Lindsay, this is Arms Master Benjamin and The Lady Daphne.”
Lindsay smiled; “welcome to our home.”
“Thank you Lady,” they both replied.
“And this,” Brian continued is my Seneschal, Theodore;” a short dark-haired man stepped forward and bowed.
“My Lord where are the injured?” A short dark-haired woman appeared. At least Daphne and Ben thought she was a woman. She wore a knee length tunic and woolen pants and her dark hair was cut short, giving her a boyish look.
“Ah, there you are Mel;” Brian said tongue in cheek. He turned to the others; “this is Lady Melanie. She is our resident healer.”
“Hello,” the woman nodded curtly to the other two, “call me Mel,” she said bluntly. “Now about the injured?”
“Mel is very to the point,” explained Brian, “and you must watch her tongue, it is sharp as any blade.”
“Brian!” Lindsay exclaimed; “be nice in front of company.”
“Forget it My Lady;” Mel said shortly, “I am more than used to it by now.”
“Sorry, dear;” Brian said in a mocking voice that was very much out of character for the aloof, self-possessed man. Ben studied the Duke and his wife and pondered their true relationship. Everything he had learned about the Duke had pointed to him being fey, yet he seemed very affectionate with the lady and she was obviously with child.
His attention was torn away by Daphne leading Mel to Justin where he still lay in the wagon. He followed, as did Brian, leaving Lindsay to greet the Bishop.
Mel had crawled in the wagon and was examining the young man. “Did the blade go all the way through?” She asked.
“Yes,” Brian answered, “I cleaned out the wound as well as I knew how, but it looks as though infection has still set in,” he looked at the young man with an unreadable expression on his face and Mel shot a sharp glance Brian‘s way.
Justin had not woken and was muttering quietly in his sleep; “his fever is very high,” proclaimed Mel, “I want to get him to his suite right away. I have everything ready there.”
Brian nodded and spoke to Ben; “if you could lift him into my arms I will carry him to his room.”
Ben nodded and moved to gather Justin. Meanwhile Bishop Vic, Lindsay and Deb had made their way over; “who is the boy?” Asked Deb.
“He is Justin Taylor, the Earl of Westlake’s son,” responded Vic. “He and his friends were traveling with me when we were attacked on the road.”
“What in the hell were you doing with him?” Asked Deb brashly.
“Deb, language,” scolded Lindsay.
“There will be enough time for explanations later; Justin needs attention now,” Brian said almost harshly, silencing everyone.
“My Lady,” he addressed Lindsay as he gathered Justin tenderly into his arms from Ben; “please see that our guests are settled in. Mel and I will attend to Justin.” He turned his attention to Michael, “please see that the other injured are taken care of and made comfortable until Mel can get to them.” He adjusted the young man in his arms as he followed Mel up the steps into the castle.
Michael nodded, turning to carry out Brian’s orders leaving the others to follow Deb and Lindsay. The Duchess let her gaze follow where her husband had disappeared with Mel and the boy. A small, calculated smile graced her face before she gathered herself to play hostess to her guests.
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“It was a fairly clean wound;” stated Mel as she examined Justin’s shoulder, “you did a good job tending it,” she looked at Brian as she smiled grudgingly.
“Not good enough it seems,” Brian replied as he sat back in his chair next to Justin‘s bed, “obviously it still got infected.”
“Do not be so hard on yourself My Lord, these things can be tricky. You know that as well as I.”
“His fever worries me.”
Mel nodded as she turned to a small pot on the fire and began to mix ingredients; “I think I have something that will do the trick. It should get rid of the infection.” She carried the pot over to the bed, “roll him on his side please,” Brian did so and she applied the hot poultice to the wound on his back then proceeded to stitch it up tidily placing a clean bandage on it.
“He barely stirred when you were stitching him,” Brian commented worriedly.
“The poultice has some numbing agent as well so he didn‘t feel much,” she smiled as she began the same process on the wound in front.
Mel wrapped the whole shoulder with a clean length of bandage with Brian’s help securing Justin’s arm in a sling so he would not pull on the wound. After she finished she began to place items into a small leather pouch one by one chanting over each of them in a trance-like state as she did so.
“What is she doing?” Justin asked weakly.
Brian smiled, happy to see the young man conscious, and put a finger to his lips; “she’s making you a healing charm,” he offered in a whisper.
“Is she a witch?” Justin asked looking very uneasy.
“Aye, that she is, but she is also a good friend and part of my family,” Brian answered gently.
“But, the church says...”
Brian cut the boy off; “Justin, the church does not always know best. You’ll have to talk with Bishop Vic about that.” Brian took Justin’s good hand and looked deeply into his eyes; “do you trust me?” He asked.
Justin nodded; “yes,” he replied, not letting his gaze waver; “I don’t know why but I do.”
“Then let Mel help you.”
As he finished speaking Mel stopped chanting and placed the charm under Justin’s pillow; “there, that ought to help speed your recovery.” She smiled at the young man; “I don’t believe we have been introduced formally. I am Lady Melanie, but you may call me Mel.”
“Hello,” said Justin shyly, obviously still a bit uneasy around the woman.
“How are you feeling?” Asked the woman resting a cool hand against his forehead.
“Glad to be out of the sun,” Justin replied. He then proceeded to yawn, “I feel very tired.”
Mel nodded; “that’s to be expected, you’ve been through quite an ordeal. Just rest for awhile, I must go attend the other wounded. I will have someone come and sit with you; perhaps your friend. Daphne was it?”
Before Justin could respond Brian spoke up; “there’s no need Mel, I will stay with the boy.”
“You will?!” Mel and Justin said at the same time surprise in both their voices.
Mel looked at Brian in shock and then looked as if to say something else, but stopped herself. She merely nodded; “very well My Lord. I shall have someone send dinner for you. No food for Justin now though, only water until tomorrow. Come get me right away if his fever grows worse. I will check on him before I retire for the night.”
Brian dipped his head in acquiescence at Mel’s instructions. As she left the room she turned to see the older man gently brush a golden lock out of Justin’s eyes as the young man nodded back to sleep.
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Hours later it was not Mel that returned to check on the young patient but the Duchess Lindsay. She smiled as she entered the room and saw her husband, head leaned back against the chair back and feet propped up on the bed sound asleep.
“My Lord,” she whispered softly as she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
“What?” Brian sat up abruptly; “what is wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong Brian,” Lindsay answered softly, “Mel sent me to check on Justin. She was detained with one of the other wounded men. How does he fare?”
“He seems to be better;” Brian replied as he did a quick once-over of the sleeping Justin. “His fever has gone down and he has slept soundly.”
“That is good,” she responded, “and how are you My Lord?”
“Me? I am fine. Why do you ask?”
Lindsay smiled at her husband; “our guests have been asking about you and Justin. It struck everyone in the household as odd that you have been up here all evening with a boy you hardly know.”
“Lindsay, I...”
“Do you have feelings for this boy Brian?” Lindsay did not let him finish.
“I don’t know;” Brian ran a hand through his hair, “I feel something for him, but as you pointed out I barely know him. How can I care for a stranger?”
“Sometimes it happens that way,” Lindsay answered wisely, “it was that way for Mel and I.”
“It’s different for you two. You are women.”
“Oh Brian, my husband, we may be married in name only but you forget that I have known you since we were children and I can see how you feel for this boy.”
“He is too young.”
“Bishop Vic says he is very mature for his age. He told us of the boy’s father and how he has been treated. He has come to like Justin very much and he says Justin seems to like you very much as well. Daphne says he even kissed you.”
“Women talk too much,” grouched Brian. “Are you trying to make a match for me My Lady? You know my feelings on this subject;” Brian stood up and moved in front of the fire.
“Brian, I care for you so much and I hate to see you so lonely. How much longer will you be satisfied with having the lone guard or servant to meet your needs now and then? This could be something special for you. Someone to be a lover and a companion for you.”
“I do not believe in love.”
“Yet here you are keeping vigil over this young man whom you barely know, but who has obviously touched your heart.”
“I merely feel he needs my protection,” Brian’s expression was closed off to his wife and he would not look at her.
“Fine,” she answered, “then protect him, but also I beg of you to leave your heart open to something more,” she moved to kiss Brian on the cheek and left him alone to gaze into the fire and ponder her words.
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