Free To the Lady Born by Kathryn Le Veque Page B

money.
    “’Tis not too far,” she said. “Halstead is only a few miles to the south.  I came into town to see Brigid.”
    Amalie knew exactly who she was speaking of. “Of course,” she said. “I had forgotten; she is sewing your wedding dress, is she not? The woman sews beautiful garments.”
    The woman nodded eagerly. “She has been working on it diligently,” she said. “I have come for some alterations. My wedding is the first of September, you know. You are coming, aren’t you?”
    For the first time, Amalie looked uncomfortable.  She smiled, semi-nodded and semi-shrugged, as if unable or unwilling to make the commitment.  “I would love nothing better, of course,” she held her friend’s hands tightly. “But… well, with what has happened with Robert, I am not sure that….”
    The young woman cut her off. “Nonsense,” she said firmly. “Even my father says it is rubbish; all of it.  He says the only reason Bolingbroke took possession of Hedingham is because it is rich and powerful. Father says that all he wants is the riches and he is trying to kill your brother to get it, but Mother says that Father is jealous because he was not asked to occupy Hedingham. Bolingbroke is more powerful so he took the spoils.”
    Amalie’s smile gradually morphed into something horrified as her friend chattered on. She knew that Weston was standing just a few feet away, hearing everything terrible word that the woman was saying.  So she did the only thing she could do; she turned to Weston to introduce her friend, mostly so Cecily would not say anything more that could be construed as a knock against Weston’s loyalties.
    “Sir Weston,” she said politely, steadily. “This is the Lady Cecily Brundon.  Her father is Lord Sudbury and Cecily is marrying Sir Michael Hollington, a knight under Thomas de Mowbray’s command. Cece, this is Sir Weston de Royans, the current commander of Hedingham Castle and Bolingbroke’s knight.”
    Cecily politely greeted Weston but the fact that she had been spouting off at the mouth did not go unnoticed.  In fact, she seemed quite horrified by it as she clutched at her friend and tried desperately to change the subject away from the occupation of Hedingham. Her pale face was even paler as she and Amalie exchanged anxious glances.
    “Surely Sir Weston will allow you to attend the wedding,” she said to Amalie. “Perhaps… perhaps you can even come and stay with my husband and I for a time after we are married. I would love to have you as my guest.”
    Amalie knew she made the offer because Hedingham was occupied with men that did not view Amalie’s brother in a favorable light. It was a hostile environment. Considering one of the subjects of her most recent conversation with Weston had been the fact that he did not consider her a prisoner, Amalie was emboldened by Cecily’s offer.  It brought about the fact that she was still invited to the wedding even after her brother’s flight from England.
    Still, she wasn’t sure she wanted to attend, not after everything that had happened since that dark and fateful night.  Her social standing was already damaged by her brother’s behavior and she would become a social outcast completely once her condition was known. 
    Moreover, her child would be due around that time. Perhaps it was better not to enjoy the last remnants of a world she would eventually be exiled from. It would only remind her that she would never have wedding, nor would she enjoy the benefits of a reputable husband.  Her life, in many ways, was over even if the frozen pond hadn’t ended it. 
    “Your offer is sweet,” she said softly. “However, I fear that I will not be able to attend given… well, suffice it to say that it is better if I do not. My heart and prayers will be with you on your wonderful day, however. I wish you and Michael all of the happiness in the world.”
    Until this point, Weston had been standing strong and silent several feet