Belaset's Daughter - By Feona J Hamilton Page 0,117
bag at him.
"We will get there more quickly if you will help me pack everything for the journey," he said.
It was done in three minutes. Jervis had few personal belongings, other than the clothes he wore and his dagger. The rest fitted into two small sacks, which he would sling in front of him, across his saddle, as he rode. As soon as they were safely tied, the two left the chamber without a backward glance, and ran down the stairs into the yard, calling for their horses. Aaron s had never been unsaddled, and Jervis s had been made ready as they were packing. As soon as they were brought to them, the two young men leapt on to their backs and clattered off towards the Abbey s main gate, joining a stream of people heading in the same direction.
The cavalcade left the Abbey and was travelling in good order towards Lewes. Jervis could see that John de Warenne was making every effort to relax his wife, as he chatted gaily with her and looked about him with pleasure at the countryside through which they rode. Jervis wondered idly where Aaron was. He had dropped behind Jervis, out of deference, when de Warenne had gestured to his squire to move to his position just behind him. As Jervis had turned, meaning to urge Aaron to stay beside him, his friend had smiled and shaken his head. All that Jervis knew now was that, somewhere behind him, Aaron was riding alone among strangers.
He turned in his saddle, and stared back through the throng of people behind him. He could just catch a glimpse now and then of Aaron s figure, trotting along on his horse, apparently in animated conversation. But who it was he spoke to, Jervis could not discover. He shrugged his shoulders and turned back. Aaron could look after himself, as he had every reason to know. There was nothing to worry about, but still he felt uneasy. He twisted in the saddle again, and this time a convenient gap in the crowd showed him Aaron s companion. He was talking and laughing with Philip, the young squire. Jervis relaxed. If Philip was there, his friend Robert was there, also. Two of de Warenne s household would certainly be sufficient protection for Aaron, and bring him safely to Lewes.
* * *
Aaron bade farewell to Philip and Robert and broke away from the long stream of riders and carts. He wheeled to the left as the rest of them began the climb up the castle mount and went out through the West Gate. The house where Judith and Belaset lived was just a short way along Antioch Street and he was there in moments.
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Belaset’s Daughter
Dismounting, he raised his hand to rap on the door, but it flew open and Judith stood there.
"Good day, Madam," said Aaron, his eyes dancing with joy at her surprise.
"I saw you coming!" said Judith. "I could not believe what my eyes told me!"
"Well, as you see, they told you the truth!" said Aaron. "Am I allowed inside the house, or must I skulk away and come again at dead of night?"
Judith caught his arm and pulled him inside the house.
"You will not be given a chance to go away!" she said, laughing and hugging him to her.
"Aaron!" said Belaset’s voice behind them. "Come in and welcome you must be hungry!"
Aaron disentangled himself from Judith and stepped forward to kiss Belaset heartily on the cheek. "Yes, of course I am hungry," he said. "How could I not be, since I am in your house and as yet unfed?"
Laughing and talking over each other, the two women ushered Aaron to the table and Belaset bustled off to the kitchen, calling loudly for the servant as usual.
Left alone, Aaron and Judith gazed at each other.
"How long can you stay?" she said.
"At least tonight," he said. "I have made sure of that."
"It will be our wedding night," she said softly.
"Yes," he said, equally softly. "I know."
Belaset returned with the promised food, which she set in front of Aaron. Glancing at their two faces, she saw how absorbed they were in each other. I might as well not be here, she thought to herself, hiding a smile as she sat before the fire with her sewing.
It was not long before she gathered her things together and stood.
"You must be tired after your long ride, Aaron," she said. "I will wish you both goodnight."