Belaset's Daughter - By Feona J Hamilton Page 0,22

by the flames leaping up from the fire. Brunetta was beside her instantly.

"Now come, my poor child," she said tenderly. "I’ll show you your room and my maid shall help you. A good rest will make all the difference to you. There’s nothing to fear, you are safe with us."

"I should continue on my way," said Judith, weakly.

"Nonsense!" said Isaac and Brunetta together.

"It’s dark outside," Isaac went on. "You have lost your escort and you’re not sure of the road and

your horse is tired. You’re nearly asleep and no wonder! Stay with us tonight, and tomorrow we’ll help you on your way."

She was too tired to argue, thought Judith. Besides, he was right she had no idea how to get to the coast from here, and she was finding it increasingly difficult to keep her eyes BOSON BOOKS

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open. Again, she trusted her instinct these were good, kind people, her own people. She would be safe for the night. In Normandy, Earl Simon’s reputation was as well known to the Jews here as it was to English Jewry. She would not be betrayed by anyone in this house.

Gratefully, she followed Brunetta up the stairs in the corner of the room, and across what was obviously their own bedroom. There was another door on the far side, which Brunetta opened, disclosing a second room. It was smaller, containing only a raised bed, with its head against the left-hand wall. A maidservant was in the process of using a warming-pan on the sheets, and a fur backed with cloth was laid on top as a blanket.

Nightwear had been placed ready on the end of the bed.

"There!" said Brunetta, with satisfaction. "A nice, warm bed, all ready for you. You will have to wear a gown and cap belonging to me for tonight but they will serve! Dulcetta will help you!"

The maidservant smiled and bobbed, her round eyes taking in Judith’s clothing. The girl was very young little more than a child of ten, Judith guessed. Brunetta caught the look.

"You will not gossip about our guest with anyone, Dulcetta," she said, warningly.

"Particularly anyone outside this house. Do you understand?"

The child nodded, and Brunetta turned to leave. She helped Judith to shed her men’s clothes and put on the night-gown. The pouch, which she had refused to remove, now lay beneath the gathers at the gown’s neck. As Dulcetta turned back the bedclothes, Judith slid inside and lay down with a sigh of relief. She was asleep before the little maidservant had finished gathering up her clothes.

Downstairs, the Hanuchins sat over the fire, discussing their strange but welcome guest, and how they might help her in her predicament. At last, after an hour or more of quiet conversation, Isaac gave a huge yawn and stretched.

"There’s nothing more we can do today, my love," he said. "Let us send the servants to bed and go to our own rest. We’ll need our wits about us in the morning, that’s certain!"

Brunetta nodded her agreement and took the candle with her as she mounted the stairs again. She heard Isaac go into the kitchen and speak to the servants. He is a good, strong man, she thought contentedly. A little gruff, sometimes, but as soft as a kitten underneath his masculine posing! And kind yes a good husband, with a good brain. He would know what to do in the morning, to get Belaset’s daughter safely on her way.

* * *

Isaac was up before dawn. After laying tefillim and completing his morning prayers, he woke his wife.

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"Brunetta," he whispered. "Go and see if Judith is ready to resume her travels. We’re going with her I will tell you both what I have planned as we eat."

His wife nodded sleepily. As he left the room, she sat up and rubbed her eyes.

Stretching prodigiously, she wondered what they were going to do and where they would go. Did he know how to get Judith away without danger? How long had he lain awake, planning and thinking, while she had slept peacefully beside him?

Sliding off the high bed, she padded quickly across the freezing floor, chill even through the rushes strewn on it, and took a robe from the box under the window which held their clothes. She flung it around her and went across to the door of the other bedroom.

Knocking first, she opened the door and went in. Judith raised herself on one elbow, a look of alarm on her face, then sank back with a