Song of the Heart - Alexa Aston Page 0,62

clapping, jumping up and down with their joy. Suddenly, Madeleine felt the branch begin to give. Her eyes widened and she tightened her grip on Luke.

“Evan,” she said cautiously, not wanting to frighten them, “the branch seems as if it could break at any moment.” She paused, licking her lips. “I’m going to lower Luke to you. Please do your best to catch him.”

“Yes, Maddie,” Evan said, his eyes round. He held his arms up. Madeleine pried Luke from his perch, said a quick prayer, and dropped him.

Evan made a perfect catch. He handed the yowling kitten to Lyssa and stared back up at her.

“Can I help ye, Maddie?”

She heard how frightened he was. “No, just stay there. I’ll—”

But she never completed her sentence. The limb, which had been groaning under her added weight, snapped without warning and dumped her into the ice-cold stream, her leg buckling from her weak knee. She landed clumsily on rocks that bit into her flesh as her leg twisted under her.

A scream tore from her throat as blinding pain flashed through the injured leg. Fortunately, the water was not very deep so she remained at an awkward angle, half on her side, half on her back inches from the bank of the stream. At least she wouldn’t drown.

Lyssa began crying as Evan jumped in and tried to lift her. Madeleine gasped as the pain returned in waves and she began retching violently.

Finally, she opened her eyes. “You must go for help, Evan. I cannot get out and you’re too small to hoist me.” She grimaced and bit her lip, trying to control the pain shooting through her back and leg.

“Go, Evan. Take Lyssa with you. Hurry, please.”

Evan took Lyssa’s hand and they began running. Luke howled pitifully as he was jostled along.

Madeleine waited until they were out of her sight before she cried out. If she leaned back, she could rest her head against the bank. She did so and then surrendered to the pain.

Chapter Sixteen

Garrett smiled to himself as he gazed up at the darkening skies. His guests had enjoyed a week of perfect weather, which meant he’d been suffering through a week of being the perfect host. He’d tired of his group of visitors almost immediately, but having the special show each evening for Stanbury guests was the only idea he’d had to hold the mummers here after the faire ended.

Now they were scheduled to leave on the morrow, as were his guests. What would he do? Could he go back to life as he’d known it before he’d met Madeleine? He’d not been the same man since that April night when he’d first seen her. Thoughts of her stayed with him from his waking every morning until he collapsed in a heap upon his bed at night. Too often, she invaded his dreams, as well. How could he manage without her?

He’d entertained all manner of wild thoughts, from offering her a position as Lyssa’s tutor to holding her in one of the far north tower rooms to serve as his mistress.

Garrett knew she’d turn down both offers.

He turned to the group assembled. “I’m afraid we’ll have to adjourn inside for our pleasures, my friends. Looks like a storm is brewing. Mayhap we can continue our bowling later.”

“Could the mummers perform early?” asked Lady Sanvale hopefully. “Or that wonderful girl, Madeleine, could tell us more of Beowulf or the Norman invasion.” The noblewoman shivered. “I swear you’d think she’d been there herself, she describes things in such great detail.”

Several chuckled at her remarks. Garrett added, “I know Farley promised some special entertainment tonight for us, with it being their last time to perform. Why don’t you rest a bit, Lady Sanvale? I’ll see what can be arranged.”

There were murmurs of assent as the group began heading back to the castle. The first raindrops hit at that moment and Edith led the way, the ladies squealing like young children.

Garrett hung back, happy to be in his own company for once. He walked slowly home, savoring the quiet surrounding him, even if he had to become soaked to enjoy it.

He’d just entered the outer bailey, thankful that none of his company was in sight, when Annie dashed up to him, an anxious look on her worn face.

“Oh, my lord, I wasn’t expecting this storm.” She wrung her hands nervously.

“Speak up, Annie, what’s on your mind?”

“I let Lyssa go on a picnic with Madeleine and little Evan. Now there’s this downpour and look at those