Song of the Heart - Alexa Aston Page 0,58

a ball and fell into a restless sleep.

*

The lessons with Lyssa ended without Madeleine having to justify anything to Garrett. Gwenith had taken a turn for the worse during the night. Madeleine remained constantly at her side, only leaving for brief spells to take her turn on stage. Eventually, she took no breaks at all from the sickroom, leaving York to narrate each performance in her place.

“Will Mama die, Maddie?” Evan asked, four days now into their vigil.

Madeleine fought tears as his wide, fearful eyes told her that he knew there was no hope. She leaned over and picked him up and brought him onto her lap. She held him close, stroking his hair.

“It’s not for me to say, Evan. Only God knows.” She hesitated. She was a person who always faced the truth. She’d never been dishonest with Evan and couldn’t begin lying to him now. “But I do fear your mama’s days on earth are few,” she added softly.

A tear glided down Evan’s cheek. “I’ve always been nice to Mama, haven’t I, Maddie? Even when I’ve been a bit bad?”

Madeleine smiled at him. “Of course you have, Evan.”

Gwenith wheezed, causing them to start. “Maddie?” she croaked. “Ale.”

Madeleine poured her a cup and held it to Gwenith’s cracked lips. She drank but most of it dribbled down her front.

“Evan,” she whispered.

“Right here, Mama.” He knelt next to her and she took his hand in hers.

“I love ye, sweet boy.”

Evan sniffed. “I love ye.”

“Listen to Maddie, all right? Be my good boy.”

“I always listen to Maddie.”

“I know ye do.” Gwenith choked and Madeleine held a cloth to her friend’s mouth as a wave of blackened blood oozed onto the rag.

“Is there anything I get for you?” she asked.

“No.” Gwenith turned to Evan. “Be a good boy and go to Cook and get me some leftover bread.” As soon as he exited the tent, Gwenith faced Madeleine. “Much as I’d like, I cannot ask ye to take Evan.”

“Oh, Gwenith, I’d do anything for you. You know that.”

Gwenith studied her a long moment. “Then take him to Lord Eversleigh, down Sussex way.” She named an estate and said it was along the coast. “Evan is his son. He’ll do right by the boy.” She coughed again and grimaced. “If he’d make him a stable lad or something, that’d please me nicely.”

“Will this Lord Eversleigh doubt me?”

Gwenith smiled tiredly. “Nay, Maddie. Evan’s the spitting image of his other three sons and they all take after their papa. He’ll believe ye. Just tell him Gwenith sent ye. And Maddie?” She smiled through her pain, a sad, sweet one of dreams lost. “Tell him I never stopped loving him. My thoughts were with him to the last.”

With that, she was gone.

Madeleine took Gwenith’s hand and kissed it tenderly as tears streamed down her cheeks. She held it close until the warmth ebbed and then gently placed it next to Gwenith’s heart. Her own heart now shattered into a thousand pieces. A piece of her had died with Gwenith. But she would do as her friend had asked.

“I promise you, Gwenith, I will take Evan to his father. If he’ll not have him, then I will care for him always.”

Madeleine rose and left the tent. Several had gathered outside in the growing gloom. She turned to Osbert. “Tell Farley that Gwenith has passed. We need to seek permission from Lord Montayne to find a spot for her burial. And find Father Kelvin, too. Gwenith must have last rites.”

Elspeth stepped forward and put an arm around Madeleine. “I’ll get Hannah and Ruth. We’ll help prepare Gwenith.”

Madeleine shook her head. “No, I must.”

Elspeth squeezed her arm. “I insist. Ye’re worn to the bone. Find Evan and care for him now. Take him to our tent. Ye’ll both sleep there tonight.”

The next few days passed in a blur. Father Kelvin presided over the funeral mass and Gwenith’s internment. The faire continued but Farley excused Madeleine from performing until after the burial. Then Edgar came bearing interesting news.

“Just think, Madeleine. Lord Montayne has asked the mummers to stay on for a week after the faire ends. It’s a house party he’s having, and he’d like us to entertain his guests. It means extra money in all our pockets!”

Madeleine was still numb from Gwenith’s death and hardly took in Edgar’s news. Nothing seemed of interest to her anymore.

Then she realized Edgar had said extra money. This would enable her to complete her pledge to Gwenith and see Evan to his father