with news. "My lady, your horses have
been safely returned. Ned has just fed and watered them."
"Oh, how wonderful! My palfrey means so much to me; I would
dearly love to see her. Has darkness yet fal en?"
"Yes, my lady, it is dark outside, but I wil light your way, you need have no fear," Griffin assured her. "But you wil need a warm cloak, for the night is bitter cold."
"I wil fetch your cloak, my lady," Ned said. "You wil be so pleased at the condition of the stables." He almost ran from
the hal .
"Griffin, you and Ned must stay and eat; I can visit the stables
tomorrow."
"We are both eager for you to see the vast improvements in
Per-shore's stable. We wil both enjoy our food better after we
have seen the pleasure in your eyes."
Such a concept startled Rosamond. The very notion that her
happiness could bring them pleasure made her feel quite
special.
When she arrived at the stable, flanked by Griffin and Ned, her
heart overflowed with affection for her little palfrey, and
Nimbus greeted her with a soft nicker and a nuzzle. As
Rosamond stroked the
66
fil y, she breathed in the clean smel of soap and fresh hay. "I
can hardly believe what has been accomplished."
"Sir Rodger has been known to move mountains, my lady."
Rosamond laughed. Griffin had an earthy sense of humor, for
indeed Sir Rodger had moved mountains of horse dung. As
she crossed the bailey, she lifted her eyes to the bril iant stars.
There was no cloud cover tonight and it was cold enough for
frost. She pul ed her purple cloak closer about her and thought
of de Leyburn. Surely he would not rout people from the
warmth of Worcester Castle tonight. Nay, he had told her he
would return today to keep her from being afraid. Likely it was
done in kindness, yet she didn't appreciate being treated like
a child.
She glanced about nervously. Where was the brutish
stableman this night, or the men of Pershore who had been
drunk in the bailey? The pockmarked face of Dymock rose up
in the dark and she felt her fingers tremble as they clutched
her cloak. She liked Griffin very much, and Sir Rodger had
told her she could trust him with her life, but Rosamond knew
she would not feel secure tonight without de Leyburn's
protective presence.
The entire wing of Pershore where Rosamond had her
bedchamber had been scoured and cleaned, and each room
had been aired by its own fire, so tonight Rosamond had her
own private quarters. Nan took an adjoining room, while Ned
would sleep in the knights' quarters with Griffin.
As Rosamond readied herself for bed, she imagined her
chamber as it would be once improvements had been made.
She visualized a plush carpet on the floor and rich, artistic
tapestries upon the wal s. A rug and cushions before the
fireplace would lend a cozy atmosphere, and deep-red
hangings about the high window would make the room feel
both warmer and safer. Rosamond loved vivid colors. Her
hand caressed her crimson bed curtains and goosedown
quilt, their familiarity bringing a measure of comfort, as she
silently thanked Lady Eleanor for suggesting that she bring her
own bedding.
She went to the window searching for some sign of de
She went to the window searching for some sign of de
Leyburn, but other than the stars, she could see only
blackness outside. She climbed into bed and the incredible
events of the day replayed themselves in
67
her mind. Rosamond didn't believe she had ever fainted
before in her life, and could not explain how her trampling
dream had overtaken her senses while she was ful y awake.
She told herself that the events leading up to it must have
taken an emotional tol on her. The terrifying black horse must
be a symbol of her fears threatening to overwhelm her. If she
conquered her fears, she wondered if the trampling dream
would stop.
Eventual y her eyelids became heavy and she began to drift
down into sleep. In the distance there was a low rumble.
Thunder? No, it was far too cold
been safely returned. Ned has just fed and watered them."
"Oh, how wonderful! My palfrey means so much to me; I would
dearly love to see her. Has darkness yet fal en?"
"Yes, my lady, it is dark outside, but I wil light your way, you need have no fear," Griffin assured her. "But you wil need a warm cloak, for the night is bitter cold."
"I wil fetch your cloak, my lady," Ned said. "You wil be so pleased at the condition of the stables." He almost ran from
the hal .
"Griffin, you and Ned must stay and eat; I can visit the stables
tomorrow."
"We are both eager for you to see the vast improvements in
Per-shore's stable. We wil both enjoy our food better after we
have seen the pleasure in your eyes."
Such a concept startled Rosamond. The very notion that her
happiness could bring them pleasure made her feel quite
special.
When she arrived at the stable, flanked by Griffin and Ned, her
heart overflowed with affection for her little palfrey, and
Nimbus greeted her with a soft nicker and a nuzzle. As
Rosamond stroked the
66
fil y, she breathed in the clean smel of soap and fresh hay. "I
can hardly believe what has been accomplished."
"Sir Rodger has been known to move mountains, my lady."
Rosamond laughed. Griffin had an earthy sense of humor, for
indeed Sir Rodger had moved mountains of horse dung. As
she crossed the bailey, she lifted her eyes to the bril iant stars.
There was no cloud cover tonight and it was cold enough for
frost. She pul ed her purple cloak closer about her and thought
of de Leyburn. Surely he would not rout people from the
warmth of Worcester Castle tonight. Nay, he had told her he
would return today to keep her from being afraid. Likely it was
done in kindness, yet she didn't appreciate being treated like
a child.
She glanced about nervously. Where was the brutish
stableman this night, or the men of Pershore who had been
drunk in the bailey? The pockmarked face of Dymock rose up
in the dark and she felt her fingers tremble as they clutched
her cloak. She liked Griffin very much, and Sir Rodger had
told her she could trust him with her life, but Rosamond knew
she would not feel secure tonight without de Leyburn's
protective presence.
The entire wing of Pershore where Rosamond had her
bedchamber had been scoured and cleaned, and each room
had been aired by its own fire, so tonight Rosamond had her
own private quarters. Nan took an adjoining room, while Ned
would sleep in the knights' quarters with Griffin.
As Rosamond readied herself for bed, she imagined her
chamber as it would be once improvements had been made.
She visualized a plush carpet on the floor and rich, artistic
tapestries upon the wal s. A rug and cushions before the
fireplace would lend a cozy atmosphere, and deep-red
hangings about the high window would make the room feel
both warmer and safer. Rosamond loved vivid colors. Her
hand caressed her crimson bed curtains and goosedown
quilt, their familiarity bringing a measure of comfort, as she
silently thanked Lady Eleanor for suggesting that she bring her
own bedding.
She went to the window searching for some sign of de
She went to the window searching for some sign of de
Leyburn, but other than the stars, she could see only
blackness outside. She climbed into bed and the incredible
events of the day replayed themselves in
67
her mind. Rosamond didn't believe she had ever fainted
before in her life, and could not explain how her trampling
dream had overtaken her senses while she was ful y awake.
She told herself that the events leading up to it must have
taken an emotional tol on her. The terrifying black horse must
be a symbol of her fears threatening to overwhelm her. If she
conquered her fears, she wondered if the trampling dream
would stop.
Eventual y her eyelids became heavy and she began to drift
down into sleep. In the distance there was a low rumble.
Thunder? No, it was far too cold
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