Page 66 of Veil of Winter

Gerard hid his wince with a smile. “I’ll go and let you both eat.”

“Perhaps we can talk more this evening?”

“Yes. That’s good. I’ll speak to you tonight.”

She smiled and gently squeezed his arm.

He groaned inside, aching to stay with her. But he bid her farewell and went back to his room.

***

Elyce had dutifully gone to the castle chapel to pray, but her thoughts were racing. She could barely pray and constantly had to start over because her mind wandered. She felt no peace when she stood up, bowed reverently toward the chancel, and went back to her room.

She did not like the sick, churning feeling she got in her stomach when she thought about leaving Württemberg out of suspicion that Count Eberhard was planning to betray them. But when she thought of waiting here for three days for the count’s men to get ready to go with them, she got the same sick feeling.

Sir Gerard had sent word that he would order supper and have it brought to her room, as she had a table large enough for all of them to sit around. It was snowing outside and much too cold for a picnic. And if Sir Gerard and Sir Oswalt came, they could have their own private feast.

The men arrived with the food.

“We almost had to wrestle the trays away from the cook.”

“She did not want us carrying the food ourselves,” Sir Oswalt added.

A woman did follow them in with two baskets. She set them on the table, then curtsied and left.

“These should be the bread and pasties.” Sir Gerard set down the trays of food he was carrying and opened the baskets. The smell of warm bread wafted to Elyce and her mouth watered.

They all sat as Ysabeau helped Sir Gerard put out four trenchers on the table. They said a prayer and helped themselves to the food—roast pheasant and pork, both soaking in gravy, with roasted vegetables tucked around the meat. Sweet fruit pasties rounded out the meal, with plum sauce for both the pasties and the meats.

“This food is wonderful,” Elyce said. “He may not want to give a feast for us, but the count has a great cook.”

When they had finished eating, Sir Oswalt did something rare for him—he asked a question.

“So what is our plan now? Will we wait here for the count to give us his men? Do we trust him?”

Sir Gerard, who had been smiling, suddenly looked very sober. “I was not able to pray as I wished to. I was tending to thehorses and speaking with the men. But the decision ultimately is Princess Elyce’s. Did you receive any insight?”

They were all staring at her. “I will spend more time praying tomorrow. But no. I did not.” She let out a pent-up breath. “I would like to trust Count Eberhard, but I don’t know if that is wise. Still, we do need more men, and he has promised us fifty. And having him as an ally is desirable. He’s very determined in battle, I’m told.”

“But whose side is he on?” Sir Oswalt asked. It was a question that had yet to be answered.

“I was thinking,” Sir Gerard said, “tomorrow I’ll try to see what I can learn from Count Eberhard’s men. Perhaps they will let slip some information about whether the count actually intends to help us.”

“That’s a good idea.” Elyce felt a lift in her spirit. “And if the worst were to happen, we could perhaps find help from the men of Montciel. I’m sure they would rather fight than work in Claude’s mines.”

Ysa’s brows drew together and she stared down at the table. Her brothers were “men of Montciel.” Was she worried something would happen to them? They were simple shepherds, not soldiers.

“I’m sure all will be well.” Elyce gave Ysa her most reassuring smile. Ysa just nodded.

“Of course,” Sir Gerard said. “We have all been in situations, I’m sure, in which we couldn’t imagine how things could turn out well, but then they did. When my brothers and I were facing execution for crimes we didn’t commit, there didn’t seem to be anyway for us to be freed. We were prisoners in the Tower of London, which is nearly inescapable, and it was the day before we were to be executed. But with a little help from a man we hardly knew, and our sister, we escaped and were able to prove our innocence.”

“That is a wonderful example,” Elyce said. “I thought I would be consumed with guilt for defying my father’s wishes and running away from marrying Rodrigo, but I actually don’t feel bad at all.” Elyce laughed at her confession.

Ysa shared next. “I thought Princess Elyce would not wake up from the sleeping potion after the third day. I shook her, I patted her cheek, I even pulled on her legs. When she didn’t wake up, I was so afraid I could barely breathe. And then you two came.” She smiled shyly—not at Sir Gerard, but at Sir Oswalt.

“I believed coming here on my sister’s errand—to help her friend—couldn’t be God’s will, but He sent me anyway, and that is why I do believe this will all end well. Why else would God have told me to come?”

Sir Gerard’s gaze met hers so intently, she held her breath, waiting for what he would say next.