Free To Defy a King by Elizabeth Chadwick Page A

everything. People thought they were protecting her, but not knowing made her feel powerless and frustrated. She preferred to meet trouble head on, rather than turning aside and pretending it didn't exist. That was the coward's way.

    Her father had been ill for so many days that she did not know how much longer he could endure. Much of the time he had been delirious with high fever and congested lungs. He refused to have any of his children in the sickroom lest they contract the same illness, and he was even reluctant to have Isabelle sit with him, although she had overridden his protests with fierce insistence. That made Mahelt angry too - that her mother could disobey the rules, or at least take them into her own hands, whereas she had no power to do the same. She swore that once she had her own household as a grown woman, she would rule it as she chose, not as others saw fit to tell her.

    Her knees were red and sore from spending long hours on the tiled chapel floor, begging the Virgin to hear her plea. Imagining her father dead under a cold tomb slab terrified her. Not him, please don't take him, please! If he died her world would collapse because that encompassing, unconditional love would be gone. Will would become more than just John's hostage.
    Being underage, he would become his ward too. They all would, and John would sell them off to the highest bidders. Her own betrothal would stand, but her three little sisters would be at the King's mercy, as would her four brothers, not to mention her mother, who was a wealthy countess still of child-bearing years. They would all be subject to John's will, and it would be an ill will, she knew.

    She rose to her feet and dragged herself to the piscina to wash her face using water from the priest's jug. The cold splash revived her, but it made her shiver too.

    'Mahelt?' her mother said.

    Mahelt spun to face her and for a terrifying instant thought she was the bearer of the worst tidings. Backing away, she shook her head. 'No, Mama, no!'

    'It's all right.' Isabelle made a swift gesture. 'Matty, it's all right. The fever has broken and he is asking for you.' Isabelle smiled, and then laughed a little and wiped her wet cheeks with the heel of her hand. Then she opened her arms and Mahelt ran into them and clung to her.

    'Is he . . . is he going to get better?'

    'Of course he is!' Her mother's voice was quivery but determined. 'But he is as weak as a kitten. We mustn't tire or vex him. He needs gentle tending.'

    'I can do that. I'll look after him.' Mahelt's voice shook with eagerness. She wiped her own face. 'I'll play to him on my lute and I'll sing him songs and tell him stories.'

    'But not all at once,' Isabelle cautioned. 'He must have peace and quiet.'

    'I can be quiet too!' She would do anything to have her father better and back as he should be.

    'And first you must eat and drink something and tidy yourself. Your father will want you to gladden his eyes. God knows he must have had enough of me being a wan scare-crow these last few days.' She tugged at her crumpled dress.

    Mahelt shook her head. 'Mama, you are beautiful.'

    Isabelle snorted. 'I doubt it just now.'

    Mahelt hugged her again and then ran from the chapel, but remembered at the entrance to curtsey and cross herself in gratitude to the Virgin. She vowed to give her best brooch as an offering as soon as she could fetch it from her coffer.

    Her father was sitting up in bed when she entered the room, propped up on numerous pillows and bolsters. A cloak of red soft wool lined with miniver was wrapped around his shoulders and fastened with a gold pin. His face was drawn and gaunt, but he managed a smile. Mindful of her mother's warning, Mahelt approached the bed decorously and gave him a peck on his stubbly cheek rather than her usual full-blooded embrace. His skin was cool to the touch and his eyes, although dark-circled with exhaustion, were clear.

    'Sweetheart,' he croaked.

    'I've been praying and