Read Online The Innocent by Bertrice Small - Free Book Online Page A

It is said that at least one child in each generation since has had hair this color," Elf concluded, then she giggled, for two lambs, curious, had come over to investigate beneath the tree, and were nibbling on her soft shoes. Reaching out, she stroked them. "They are so pretty," she said. Then she sighed. "I suppose I have to go back now."
    "What of the lady’s cousin, Elf?" Arthur asked her.
    "I vomited on him when he attempted to kiss me," she said. "I hope he will now keep his distance for fear of a recurrence."
    Arthur laughed heartily. "I know I should certainly steer clear of a girl who threw up on me." He chortled, then stood and, giving her a hand, pulled her up. "Elf, I know I am only a serf," Arthur told her, "but if that man approaches you again, I want you to tell me."
    "Arthur, a serf who strikes out at a nobleman is accorded death without exception. I should not want your death on my conscience, heaven forfend!"
    "There are ways other than open defiance or violence to right a wrong between serf and noble," Arthur told her with a wink. "We cannot have you harassed in your own home by that rude fellow, Elf. Don't worry. We shall not endanger ourselves by our actions."
    "Thank you, Arthur," she told him, and then she walked back to the house, her heart a bit lighter.
    "Where have you been?" Isleen demanded as she reentered the hall. "I have had to change Richard’s bedding myself as that wretched old woman disappeared just when I needed her. She said she was fetching water for my husband’s bath, but she has not yet returned."
    "Do you want me to remain here with you, or find Ida?" Elf asked her. Isleen’s tone was whiny, and frankly annoying. It was about time she did something for her husband.
    "Oh, go and find her! Richard is asleep again. Where is my cousin? If I must sit here, I want some company at least," Isleen complained.
    "I will find Ida," Elf said.
    "I am here," Ida said, coming into the hall with a large basin. "I am not as young as I once was, lady, and cannot be hurried."
    Isleen jumped up. "I cannot bear to sit here and watch my husband die!" she said. Then she hastened from the hall.
    "You are not that slow," Elf said. "What on earth kept you, or did you mean for her to be alone with Dickon?"
    "Her cousin came upon me howling and covered in vomit," Ida said. "He insisted I take his tunic from him to wash, and then he demanded a bath be brought for him. Imagine, a man who cannot hold his wine this early in the day," Ida concluded. "Come, let us bathe the lord."
    Reaching out, Elf gently shook her brother. "Dickon, dearest, wake up. Ida and I would wash you."
    Richard de Montfort’s eyes opened slowly. "Elf," he said, "I am sorry I sent you away. I should not have. I should not have." Then his body gave a long shudder, and his head fell to one side.
    "Lord God and his blessed Mother have mercy on his soul!" Ida cried out, crossing herself as she began to weep.
    Shocked, Eleanore de Montfort stared at her brother’s limp body, his sightless eyes. "He is dead," she said, stating the obvious and crossing herself. Then she fell to her knees. "Dear God, forgive me that I could not save him, for I truly tried to do so, but I had not the skills despite all I have learned." Then she began to cry.
    "She poisoned him!" Ida said in venomous tones. "She has killed my baby, and I curse her for it! He called for you to come months ago, but she would not do it until she was certain nothing could save him, the wicked bitch! God curse her! God curse her!"
    Hearing her old nurse’s lament, Elf stifled her own grief. Putting her arms about Ida, she said, "You cannot say such things, for you have no proof of it. Like you, I have become suspicious, but there is no real evidence. You can be killed for slandering Isleen. We must keep such doubts to ourselves, Ida. We must! Do you understand me, old woman? You cannot voice your concerns in this matter."
    "Is she then to be allowed to escape judgment for the lord’s