Chapter Seventeen

“Do you think, one day, Papa will let me ride for this trip?” Leaning out of the carriage window, Lilyrose turned to look at her mother.

Sat back in her padded seat, fanning herself, Eleanor nodded. “I’m sure he will. Once you’re more experienced. You’ll have to be patient, though, you’ve not long started to learn. And spending many hours in the saddle is most tiring.” She exhaled loudly. “Although, in this heat, I’m not sure which is better, being here, shaded from the sun or out there when there’s a breeze.”

Grinning, Lilyrose looked back at the countryside rolling past. “Mama. We’ve passed the forest.” She turned back, her eyes sparkling. “I’ve never been farther than the forest before. From now, everything will be new.”

Eleanor laughed. “Yes, my love. Before we reach Edmund’s, there will be so many new things for you to experience.”

“I’m so glad Papa and Lord Edmund agreed-oh. What are they doing?”

Eleanor leaned forward, prodding her daughter lightly with her folded fan. “Let me see then.” In the distant field, groups of men using long-handled scythes were moving through it, followed by women and children, turning what had been cut. “They’re making hay.”

The smell of the sweet, dry hay tickled Lilyrose’s nostrils as she continued to watch, losing sight of them as the road curved.

“You were saying?”

She glanced back at Eleanor, brows raised.

“You’re glad your father and Edmund have agreed–”

“Oh yes. I thought it would only ever be Arthur coming here for my birthday, but now I can visit him in his home for his birthday and we can see each other twice every year.”

“That is a good thing, yes. It’s been many years since your father and I have been to Edmund’s castle.”

When Eleanor had been quiet for a while, Lilyrose turned. “Mama?”

She blinked and stared at the young girl, almost surprised. “Oh, sorry, my love. I was lost in the past.”

Lilyrose sat back in her seat, facing Eleanor. Adjusting her dress, she said, “Were you thinking of Arthur’s mama?”

Eleanor closed her eyes momentarily then nodded before exclaiming softly as Lilyrose squeezed next to her on the seat.

Snuggling against her mother, Lilyrose wondered, not for the first time, what it was like to lose a parent. Her cousins, Henry and Margaret, no longer had their father, and Arthur was without his mother. The thought of losing either of her parents scared her for they were her world, and she could not imagine her life without them.

As the journey to Edmund’s castle took almost four days, Lionel and Eleanor’s retinue stayed in towns. The excitement of so many new experiences, thrilling as they were, was almost too much for Lilyrose. Each evening, almost too tired to finish her meal, the nine-year-old would be nearly asleep on her feet as Tilly readied her for bed.

Climbing onto the slightly lumpy mattress, Lilyrose fidgeted despite her weariness as Tilly covered her with the scratchy sheet. Heavy though her eyelids were, sleep didn’t claim her immediately as she half-listened to Tilly getting ready for bed.

Her eyes widened momentarily with the abrupt thought that her fear didn’t seem that intense. The edge of her mouth tugged upwards in a tentative smile, disappearing before it had a chance to form, falling victim to the realisation that she was away from home. Unable to bear the thought that her fear may well be tied to her home, she quickly turned to her side as tears threatened to fall. Despite the lack of light, she didn’t want to chance Tilly seeing her tears.

Lilyrose had found out about the curse over a year ago when her aunt Sarah had reacted with horror on finding Lilyrose holding a spindle she’d found. To begin with, the young girl hadn’t given the curse much thought. But as time passed, the safety and security she’d taken for granted gradually crumbled around her. That someone she didn’t know, who didn’t know her, had wished for her death frightened her. What made it even more frightening was, no one knew where the woman was. The fear of never again feeling safe took hold and grew. But she told no one for she didn’t want to worry her parents and her family.

Frowning, Lilyrose fidgeted, trying to make herself comfortable. Scowling in Tilly’s direction, her frown deepened at the sound of the woman’s steady breathing. She froze, her fingers tightening their grip on the edge of the sheet as another thought stole into her mind. What if she met the woman in one of the towns they travelled through? She had no idea what the woman who had cursed her looked like. A whimper escaped her. Eyes stretched wide, she pulled the sheet over her head, convinced she’d never sleep with this new worry.

But sleep she did. Usually, Lilyrose would be up before everyone else. This time, however, Tilly had to wake her. The sun had already risen, pouring brightness through the open window, illuminating shadowy corners, lighting the floating dust motes.

Lilyrose cracked open her eyelids, groaned and disappeared under the sheet.

Tilly pulled the sheet down. “Come along, my little sleepyhead.”

Dragging herself up, she slid off the bed, her mouth stretched in a drawn-out yawn, which was interrupted by her bare feet touching the cold wooden floor.

Tilly stood by the basin of water. “Come, my lady, or you might miss breakfast.”

That was enough to make Lilyrose quicken her pace. Her fears from the night seemed to shrink before the morning sun, making them small enough to be ignored. For now.

The landscape gradually changed from gently rolling hills to somewhat harsher rocky terrain, with higher, steeper hills. The patchwork of browns and yellows was interrupted with sudden pockets of deep green.

Cheeks flushed, lips parted, a slight frown creasing her brow, Lilyrose sat back in the carriage, her hands on either side of her, palms facing up. It was only mid-morning, but the day was already heating up.

Rapidly fanning herself, Eleanor smiled. “What’s the matter?” Like her daughter, she was dressed in a light linen dress, the blue a lighter shade than her eyes.

“It’s so hot.” She pulled at her periwinkle blue dress. “And I’m fed up with sitting in this, thing.”

“You would rather be out there?”

“No. But it’s hot, Mama. And this carriage is shaking my bones loose.”

“I know, grumpy. But we’ll be at Edmund’s soon.”

Sighing loudly, she turned to look out. Despite the heat, she found the view magnificent, the green and brown of the hills making the azure sky even more striking. They passed fields of, mainly, wheat and barley, and herds of sheep and goats.

A thought occurred to Lilyrose and she turned to Eleanor. “Mama, there aren’t any vineyards here.”

Eleanor shook her head. “It’s too hot.” After a pause, she spoke again. “Remember what I told you before we left?”

Her frown deepened as her gaze darted about. “About what?”

“Don’t expect Edmund’s castle to be like ours.”

With a soft “Oh”, she nodded, remembering. Her mother had explained that Edmund wasn’t as rich as Lionel and didn’t have the same luxurious things that she was used to.

Lionel slowed his horse to keep pace with the carriage. “How are my ladies?”

Lilyrose stuck her head out. “Hot.”

He laughed. Dressed in a shirt with a light sand-coloured tunic over it, his dark gold hair teased by the gentle breeze, he looked more comfortable than Lilyrose felt. “Then you will be pleased to hear we’re almost there.”

Her face lit up as she leaned further out, her gaze scanning the road ahead. “I can’t see the castle.”

“I said we’re almost there. Ah, there’s the forest coming into view.”

Lilyrose’s eyes widened. Even from this distance, she could see the forest was darker than the light one near her home. As they got closer, she could make out the mighty trees gathered close together.

The road skirted the forest, giving it a wide berth, and gradually sloped upwards. Lionel pointed out the edge of wheat fields, which were between the castle and forest, further to the right. The land to the left was open, with low hills in the distance.

“I can see it.” Lilyrose bounced awkwardly, still hanging out of the carriage. “I can see the castle.”

“Lilyrose.” Eleanor tapped her lightly on the bottom with her fan. “I know you’re excited, but there’s no need to make this more uncomfortable.”

“Sorry.” She sounded anything but contrite.

Edmund’s castle sat at the top of the incline. A large square building, it had circular towers at each corner. Surrounding it was an outer wall with the gate in the middle flanked by two towers. Small bushes nestled around the wall, the deep green a pleasing contrast to the sun-burned tan of the building.

“It’s so, it’s not like ours at all.”

“No, it’s not,” said Eleanor. “But wait until we get in.”

The mighty gates swung open. As they passed under the arched gateway, Lilyrose looked up, ogling the width. Then the familiar clatter of hooves and wheels on cobblestones. The area between the outer wall and the castle was wider than she’d assumed. She caught a glimpse of soldiers and servants before they passed into the courtyard, and Eleanor pulled her in.

“Mama, I was–”

“Lilyrose. This is your first time at Edmund’s castle. For once, for me, please behave like a young lady.”

She struggled to school her annoyed expression. “Yes, Mama,” she mumbled.

The carriage came to a halt. The door opened, and Lionel stood there, his hand held out for Eleanor.

Lilyrose tried her best to step out of the carriage as gracefully as her mother had done. Raising her gaze, she instantly forgot Eleanor’s request. Exclaiming loudly, she gawped openly at the sight that greeted them, barely aware of her mother’s resigned sigh.

The wide, open courtyard was packed with people. Banners and ribbons of silver and amethyst and ones of sky-blue and dark red, the colours of both houses, hung and fluttered from the castle.

Edmund came striding towards them, Arthur by his side. The people broke into cheers and applause.

Unable to help herself, Lilyrose clapped too, bouncing from foot to foot. Then she ran to meet Arthur. As they embraced, the cheering increased.