layered sleeves that could be buttoned back or left long depending on the weather, and a built-in hood that could be tightened for protection against the elements. Gisella’s wet hair had been tightly braided in a thick, single braid that trailed down her back and ended at her thighs.
Gisella was, therefore, physically ready to travel but her mental state had been something altogether different. She moved slowly, methodically, packing her capcases with hardly a word of chatter, which was very unusual for her. Gisella was usually quite talkative and interesting, but not tonight. Sparrow’s heart ached for her friend and the life she was surely now facing. The more she thought about it, the more distressed she became.
“Gigi,” she said thoughtfully as she closed the lid to the smaller capcase. “Do you know what I think?”
Gisella shook her head as she began to pull on her soft, lamb’s skin gloves. “Nay.”
Sparrow slid the lock on the case into position, securing it. “I do not think I want to remain here at Bella Court after you depart,” she said frankly. “I would be left alone with Silly Lily and Giddy Bridget, and all the rest of the women in the duchess’ entourage. You were the only one who made it bearable. With you gone, I shall surely go mad.”
Gisella smiled weakly. “I am sorry, darling,” she said, fussing with the gloves. “If I could bring you with me, I would.”
“Why can’t you?”
Gisella looked up at her. “Because this is my burden to bear,” she said. “It is not your business to go with de Russe. It is mine.”
Sparrow cocked her head thoughtfully. “But you are now the wife of a great warlord,” she said. “You should have ladies, you know. It is your due. Besides, he is going to leave you and return to fight the wars in France, anyway. Do you want to be left all alone at his dreadful castle? I am sure it is a terrible place with great snake pits and packs of rabid dogs. You will need someone with you.”
Gisella’s smile grew at Sparrow’s description of de Russe’s residence. “Would that I could take you with me, my love,” she said softly. “I would do it for certain.”
Sparrow turned away from her and went to the carved oak wardrobe that held her belongings. Yanking open the door, she pulled out a sturdy capcase of her own and proceeded to yank out some garments hung upon pegs. It was evident she had something in mind as she moved with a purpose.
“I am going with you,” Sparrow said firmly. “You need me. I cannot let you go alone.”
Gisella’s smile faded. “You cannot go with me.”
“Why not?”
“Because you are part of the duchess’ entourage. What will she think to find you missing?”
Sparrow shrugged. “I do not care what she thinks,” she said. “I have learned all I can learn from the woman. I have learned what wines to serve, what languages to speak, how to manage a large banquet, and how to impress a suitor. I am going with you now and we will have great adventures together, you and I.”
Gisella wasn’t sure what more to say. She very much wanted Sparrow to come with her, a familiar face amidst the strangers she would be living with. She had no idea where she was going this night or even what the next few days held for her. Everything was so frightening and uncertain, so the lure of a friend to accompany her was great.
“I am not sure that is wise,” she said, one last attempt to discourage Sparrow. “I am facing the unknown. I do not know where we are going and, furthermore, I do not even know if de Russe will allow you to come.”
Sparrow began shoving her possession into the capcase. “He will allow it if you tell him I am your attendant,” she said. “You must be firm with him, Gigi. He is your husband. He must allow you a few things of your own considering that he is uprooting you and spiriting you off into oblivion.”
Gisella thought on that, thinking that perhaps Sparrow was right. De Russe could not deny
Gisella was, therefore, physically ready to travel but her mental state had been something altogether different. She moved slowly, methodically, packing her capcases with hardly a word of chatter, which was very unusual for her. Gisella was usually quite talkative and interesting, but not tonight. Sparrow’s heart ached for her friend and the life she was surely now facing. The more she thought about it, the more distressed she became.
“Gigi,” she said thoughtfully as she closed the lid to the smaller capcase. “Do you know what I think?”
Gisella shook her head as she began to pull on her soft, lamb’s skin gloves. “Nay.”
Sparrow slid the lock on the case into position, securing it. “I do not think I want to remain here at Bella Court after you depart,” she said frankly. “I would be left alone with Silly Lily and Giddy Bridget, and all the rest of the women in the duchess’ entourage. You were the only one who made it bearable. With you gone, I shall surely go mad.”
Gisella smiled weakly. “I am sorry, darling,” she said, fussing with the gloves. “If I could bring you with me, I would.”
“Why can’t you?”
Gisella looked up at her. “Because this is my burden to bear,” she said. “It is not your business to go with de Russe. It is mine.”
Sparrow cocked her head thoughtfully. “But you are now the wife of a great warlord,” she said. “You should have ladies, you know. It is your due. Besides, he is going to leave you and return to fight the wars in France, anyway. Do you want to be left all alone at his dreadful castle? I am sure it is a terrible place with great snake pits and packs of rabid dogs. You will need someone with you.”
Gisella’s smile grew at Sparrow’s description of de Russe’s residence. “Would that I could take you with me, my love,” she said softly. “I would do it for certain.”
Sparrow turned away from her and went to the carved oak wardrobe that held her belongings. Yanking open the door, she pulled out a sturdy capcase of her own and proceeded to yank out some garments hung upon pegs. It was evident she had something in mind as she moved with a purpose.
“I am going with you,” Sparrow said firmly. “You need me. I cannot let you go alone.”
Gisella’s smile faded. “You cannot go with me.”
“Why not?”
“Because you are part of the duchess’ entourage. What will she think to find you missing?”
Sparrow shrugged. “I do not care what she thinks,” she said. “I have learned all I can learn from the woman. I have learned what wines to serve, what languages to speak, how to manage a large banquet, and how to impress a suitor. I am going with you now and we will have great adventures together, you and I.”
Gisella wasn’t sure what more to say. She very much wanted Sparrow to come with her, a familiar face amidst the strangers she would be living with. She had no idea where she was going this night or even what the next few days held for her. Everything was so frightening and uncertain, so the lure of a friend to accompany her was great.
“I am not sure that is wise,” she said, one last attempt to discourage Sparrow. “I am facing the unknown. I do not know where we are going and, furthermore, I do not even know if de Russe will allow you to come.”
Sparrow began shoving her possession into the capcase. “He will allow it if you tell him I am your attendant,” she said. “You must be firm with him, Gigi. He is your husband. He must allow you a few things of your own considering that he is uprooting you and spiriting you off into oblivion.”
Gisella thought on that, thinking that perhaps Sparrow was right. De Russe could not deny
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