Hostage Bride by Anne Herries Page B

drinks, for it will be a long night,’ Elspeth said. ‘If an attack comes it will surely not be before morning.’
    Pleased with the results of their endeavours, the two women went out into the courtyards. The night airwas cool after the heat of the kitchen and an unnatural silence seemed to hang over the castle, as if the men were holding their breaths. Somewhere in the darkness a bird’s strange cry echoed.
    When they reached the west wall, Rosamunde began the ascent of some steep steps leading up to the battlements. One of the men saw her and came down to meet her halfway, taking the heavy bucket from her.
    ‘This will be welcome, lady, but ‘tis heavy for you.’
    ‘I managed well enough,’ she said, and turned to take the basket of bread from Elspeth. ‘Go back and see if the others have returned. The men will want more food and wine soon.’
    She followed the soldier up to the battlements. The moon had just that instant sailed out from behind the clouds and it was possible to see for miles around. At the moment there was no sign of anyone.
    ‘Will the attack come from this direction?’ she wanted to know.
    ‘The ascent is steep here,’ the soldier said and dipped the ladle into the bucket, pouring it into the men’s cups as they presented them. Rosamunde offered the basket and they each took a chunk of bread and thanked her. ‘If I meant to attack I would come from over there. The woods offer cover and then ‘tis but a short charge to the castle, though it would still give us time to take up the drawbridge if we had not already done so. So perhaps the best way is to come from behind us, even though it is steep.’
    ‘Perhaps they will not come tonight.’
    ‘I pray you are right, my lady,’ the soldier said and lifted his cup to drink. ‘This is very good, far tastier than we sometimes have.’
    ‘Elspeth’s daughters prepared it.’
    The soldier nodded but continued to eat and drink in silence. The men had all taken their share of bread and soup. Rosamunde picked up the empty bucket and began to descend the stone steps that led back down to the outer bailey. She had reached the bottom when she heard a shout from above. Looking up, she saw the men had crowded to one spot on the battlements and were looking out towards the woods. From the cries and excited gesturing, she guessed that some kind of activity had been noticed.
    A shiver ran down her spine. Being under siege would not be pleasant for any of them. She’d checked the stores at the back of the kitchen and knew there was sufficient food to feed them all for two to three weeks, but after that they would run short of many foods. Meat would need to be rationed and so would flour, for it was only September and the stores had not yet been ordered for the winter. Of preserves there were almost none. Raphael had brought fresh peaches and other luxuries from Normandy, but nothing had been pickled or dried for winter use, and that meant if a siege went on for too long they would starve.
    Returning to the kitchen, Rosamunde found the women warming ale. More bread was being prepared for the morning and some oats had been put to soak to make porridge.
    ‘What is happening?’ Elspeth asked. ‘We thought we heard shouting.’
    ‘I think there is some activity, but for the moment I know as little as you. We must wait until someone sends to tell us what is needed,’ Rosamunde replied.
    ‘What shall we do if the enemy breaks through the defences?’ Lilia asked and looked frightened.
    ‘It will not happen,’ Rosamunde assured her. ‘Lord Mornay is an experienced soldier. He knows how to defend the castle.’
    She smiled at the other girl confidently, but inside she too was suddenly anxious. Supposing the baron’s forces were too strong? They might all be killed. She might never see her father or her home again.
    She pushed the thought to one side. Raphael would never let that happen. She did not know why but she had learned to trust him