Free Hostage Bride by Anne Herries

said. ‘Please show me where the chests of linen are stored and I will make a start myself.’
    ‘There is a considerable amount. I do not think a stitch has been set since the late Lady Mornay died.’
    ‘I thought Lord Mornay had several wives.’
    ‘I meant Lord Mornay’s mother—the only true lady to set foot in this house until you came, lady.’
    ‘Lord Mornay’s mother?’
    Rosamunde followed the steward through the hall to a storeroom at the back of the house. She frowned, for the steward’s words did not make sense unless…
    ‘How long has the present Lord Mornay been the lord of this castle?’
    The steward pointed to three chests and then turned to look at her. ‘His father became ill two months since, just after Count Torrs was taken captive. He ordered us to send word to his son. We had heard that Sir Raphael was on his way home from the Crusades but were not sure where to find him. We sent messages to Normandy, France, Italy and the Low Countries and at last he was found. Alas, his father died just three weeks before he returned.’
    ‘The present lord did not order the capture of my uncle, then, did he?’ Rosamunde stared at the steward. ‘Why did he not tell me? Why was I allowed to believe he was the one who had done such heinous things?’
    ‘It is not my place to explain my lord’s actions, lady. The linen is in those chests. You will find threads in the smaller chests and mending in the larger two. If you will excuse me, I shall leave you to your work,’ Mellors said.
    ‘Yes, at least I may have something to occupy mytime while his lordship keeps me prisoner here,’ Rosamunde retorted bitterly.
    ‘You are at liberty to go where you please within the castle, but please do not try to leave. The men will be forced to stop you,’ the steward warned gently.
    ‘I must speak to Lord Mornay. He must understand, my father needs me. I have to go home!’ Rosamunde exclaimed in frustration.
    ‘Forgive me, lady. I have my orders. My lord is busy; you disturb him at your peril.’
    Rosamunde frowned as the man inclined his head and then walked away, leaving her to examine the contents of the chests. Opening the first, she discovered torn garments and bed linens in a disgusting condition; everything looked as if it needed laundering before being stored. Closing the lid of the first coffer, she opened the other and discovered that it contained a very different kind of work. Taking the first piece from the chest, she saw that it was a half-finished wall hanging; the work was delicate and beautiful and the silks needed for its completion were folded inside it.
    She lifted the other tapestries and discovered that most of them had been started and then abandoned. Such work would be a pleasure to do and Rosamunde would gain great satisfaction in completing the almost-finished wall hanging. Sighing in regret, she replaced it in the coffer. She would return to retrieve it later, but first she must make a start on the garments from the first chest, since these were clearly what Lord Mornay had asked her to repair.
    She plunged in and pulled out an armful of linens. Her first stop would be the outhouse where she could set up a washing tub, though why most of these items had not been consigned to the fire in the first place she had no idea. Even when washed and mended they would not be fit for the lord of the manor and ought to be given to the poor.
    * * *
    Raphael gave up on the muddle of his father’s accounts and left his chamber, going through to the hall. Servants were busy setting up the trestles for the evening meal, but he had more than an hour before supper, and the thought of a stroll about the castle grounds appealed after too many hours spent poring over ledgers. As he walked through the hall into the courtyard he checked as an amazing sight met his startled eyes: everywhere he looked there were lines of rope with what looked like wet rags thrown across them.
    ‘What is this mess?’ he