Read Online Dark and Bright by Anna Markland - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Anna Markland
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finished binding Rhys’s ribs with clean strips of cloth dipped in the remains of the chalky mixture and bade the twins lay him back down.
“His ankle isn’t broken, but I’ll bathe it with knitbone from time to time. I’ll see how the swelling is on the morrow.”
Rhun wished her hands were tending to his swelling in the same loving way she was tending to Rhys. A glance at the still scowling Rhydderch told the same story.
Glain sighed “Now, the Earl. Who would have believed I would be called upon to tend a Norman Earl?”
Rhun felt he had to say something. “If he wasn’t our brother-by-marriage—”
She shook her head. “He’s a man who needs help. It’s of no importance who he is. I’ve heard the Earls of Ellesmere have always been fair men, despite being Normans.”
Rhun felt chastised. Rhydderch’s sneering grin made him feel worse.
She knelt beside Baudoin and slowly ran her hands over his body, feeling, probing. Rhun again wished he was the one lying injured. She discovered a large bump on the back of Baudoin’s head. “He has many cuts and bruises, but no broken bones. This swelling on the back of his head looks ugly, but I don’t believe his head is broken. I’ll tend to his injuries, but the best thing for him is rest. Your brother must rest too before you journey on, a sennight at least.”
Rhun was uneasy. “My sister is with child and Baudoin will want to be with her at Ellesmere when she is delivered. However, we understand your advice is correct and we thank you for your care of our wounded. We’ll stay here in your village while they heal.”
Rhydderch told his brother, “On the morrow I’ll send riders to the main camp and to Ellesmere with news of what’s happened. Carys will have sensed something is wrong. I hope Baudoin will have awakened and the news won’t be as bad. Come, brother, let’s leave these two fools who fall into gorges in the capable hands of the lovely Glain and find ourselves a bed.”
They swaggered out, their arms thrown heavily around each other’s shoulder. Rhun suspected his twin also wished fervently he could take the lovely Glain to bed.
CHAPTER TEN
Carys and Annalise spent many days in prayer, willing their husbands’ safe return. Carys felt they both lived, but had sensed great pain. Alone in their beds each wept, feeling the heart-rending helplessness of women who must wait at home in agonizing suspense for news of the men they love. Annalise could see the toll it was taking on Carys.
She had nightmares about Rhys falling. Where had he fallen? In battle? Off a horse? But Carys believed he and Baudoin had fallen. How could they both have fallen from a horse? Was he badly hurt? Would he recover? Who was tending to his wounds? How far away were they?
Why did she care so deeply? Rhys didn’t love her, yet she had come to rely heavily on his presence in her life. She’d sworn she would not fall in love with him, that she would guard her heart. Now her heart would break if he died without seeing their child. What would become of her if Rhys didn’t return?
She cradled her belly, crooning lullabies to her unborn babe. No-one had ever sung lullabies to her. How she longed to hear Rhys’s deep voice singing with her to their child. He’d made her body sing, made it come alive. He’d made her a woman.
She loved him! But did he love her? He was kind, gentle and caring, and the passion they shared was more intoxicating than anything she could ever have imagined in her youthful daydreams of her chivalrous knight. Rhys was a chivalrous knight. She’d been intent on rejecting him because he was Welsh, and because he’d cared enough about his brothers to sacrifice himself.
But he’d never made her feel it was a sacrifice. He made her feel like a desirable woman—loved. Could it be he loved her?
When Carys suggested they share a chamber so they wouldn’t be alone in their torment, Annalise readily agreed.
Riders came to Ellesmere, their
“His ankle isn’t broken, but I’ll bathe it with knitbone from time to time. I’ll see how the swelling is on the morrow.”
Rhun wished her hands were tending to his swelling in the same loving way she was tending to Rhys. A glance at the still scowling Rhydderch told the same story.
Glain sighed “Now, the Earl. Who would have believed I would be called upon to tend a Norman Earl?”
Rhun felt he had to say something. “If he wasn’t our brother-by-marriage—”
She shook her head. “He’s a man who needs help. It’s of no importance who he is. I’ve heard the Earls of Ellesmere have always been fair men, despite being Normans.”
Rhun felt chastised. Rhydderch’s sneering grin made him feel worse.
She knelt beside Baudoin and slowly ran her hands over his body, feeling, probing. Rhun again wished he was the one lying injured. She discovered a large bump on the back of Baudoin’s head. “He has many cuts and bruises, but no broken bones. This swelling on the back of his head looks ugly, but I don’t believe his head is broken. I’ll tend to his injuries, but the best thing for him is rest. Your brother must rest too before you journey on, a sennight at least.”
Rhun was uneasy. “My sister is with child and Baudoin will want to be with her at Ellesmere when she is delivered. However, we understand your advice is correct and we thank you for your care of our wounded. We’ll stay here in your village while they heal.”
Rhydderch told his brother, “On the morrow I’ll send riders to the main camp and to Ellesmere with news of what’s happened. Carys will have sensed something is wrong. I hope Baudoin will have awakened and the news won’t be as bad. Come, brother, let’s leave these two fools who fall into gorges in the capable hands of the lovely Glain and find ourselves a bed.”
They swaggered out, their arms thrown heavily around each other’s shoulder. Rhun suspected his twin also wished fervently he could take the lovely Glain to bed.
CHAPTER TEN
Carys and Annalise spent many days in prayer, willing their husbands’ safe return. Carys felt they both lived, but had sensed great pain. Alone in their beds each wept, feeling the heart-rending helplessness of women who must wait at home in agonizing suspense for news of the men they love. Annalise could see the toll it was taking on Carys.
She had nightmares about Rhys falling. Where had he fallen? In battle? Off a horse? But Carys believed he and Baudoin had fallen. How could they both have fallen from a horse? Was he badly hurt? Would he recover? Who was tending to his wounds? How far away were they?
Why did she care so deeply? Rhys didn’t love her, yet she had come to rely heavily on his presence in her life. She’d sworn she would not fall in love with him, that she would guard her heart. Now her heart would break if he died without seeing their child. What would become of her if Rhys didn’t return?
She cradled her belly, crooning lullabies to her unborn babe. No-one had ever sung lullabies to her. How she longed to hear Rhys’s deep voice singing with her to their child. He’d made her body sing, made it come alive. He’d made her a woman.
She loved him! But did he love her? He was kind, gentle and caring, and the passion they shared was more intoxicating than anything she could ever have imagined in her youthful daydreams of her chivalrous knight. Rhys was a chivalrous knight. She’d been intent on rejecting him because he was Welsh, and because he’d cared enough about his brothers to sacrifice himself.
But he’d never made her feel it was a sacrifice. He made her feel like a desirable woman—loved. Could it be he loved her?
When Carys suggested they share a chamber so they wouldn’t be alone in their torment, Annalise readily agreed.
Riders came to Ellesmere, their
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