Page 20 of Sweet Mead for Lady Martine

Chapter 5

“Ifeel so much better. Thank you, everyone for coming to my aid.” Lady Devon, wife of Lord Corbett Blake sat up in her bed the next morning with an entourage of ladies surrounding her.

“I knew if I could get here, I’d have the proper herbs to heal you.” Sage sat on the bed next to Lady Devon, handing her a goblet from which to drink more of her healing potion.

Devon took a sip and handed the goblet back to Sage. “I am only happy that you are all right, Sage. As well as baby Martin. Won’t Robin and the men be surprised when they return from battle to find out Robin has an heir?”

“Yes, they will be.” Sage handed her the goblet to drink again. “Here, have more of my healing potion so your strength will return quickly.”

“Thank you.” Devon took a sip of the potion, glancing over the edge of the cup. “Martine, you are so quiet. Is everything all right, dear?”

“Huh?” Martine was deep in her thoughts and hadn’t even paid any attention to the conversation going on around her. She kept trying to figure out a way to see David again, but couldn’t. “Yes. Yes, I’m fine, thank you.”

“The innkeeper and his family were kind enough to give us shelter from the storm,” said Josefina, pulling open the shutters for some air. “If it weren’t for them, Sage’s baby might have been born in a puddle.”

“Or not at all,” Sage added. “We need to show our gratitude to them, as well as to you, Martine. Greta couldn’t have done it without you.”

“Me?” Martine looked over to the others. “Nay, I only did what any good sister-by-marriage would do. It is Greta and her family who deserve the true thanks.”

“Yes, they should be rewarded,” agreed Devon.

“They gave up their living quarters for us,” explained Sage. “Oh, I almost forgot. I would like to have a new pallet sent to the inn since I ruined David’s bed giving birth to little Martin.”

“David?” asked Devon.

“David Stone. He’s the proprietor of the Cross Hare Inn. Right, Martine?” Sage smiled, looking over at Martine.

“Yes. That’s correct,” she answered, roaming over to the window and glancing out, still feeling sad.

“Well, they need to be rewarded. I’ll make sure to have one of my guards deliver not only a new pallet but a frame to make a nice bed,” offered Devon.

“I think we need to do a little more than that.” It was Sage pushing but Martine didn’t stop her.

“If you mean, send them money, I’m afraid Corbett would never approve of that,” said Devon. “I’d have to check the ledgers of course, but I believe the Cross Hare Inn is one of the establishments that owes us many months of rent.”

“I didn’t mean money,” said Sage.

“What would you suggest then?” asked Devon.

“I know,” said Josefina, hurrying over to the bed. “Why don’t we invite David and his family here to the castle to join us for a meal?”

“I suppose there would be no harm in that,” agreed Devon.

“What? Nay,” said Martine, turning around and hurrying over to the bed. “I don’t think that is a good idea at all.”

“Well, I think it is a splendid one.” Devon handed Sage the goblet. “I’ll send a messenger at once to invite them to join us tomorrow at midday for a meal.”

“Nay, Lord Corbett wouldn’t approve.” Martine felt panicked by this thought. Seeing David at the inn was one thing but bringing him into her world might make him feel inferior and she didn’t want that. Nay, she couldn’t have David or his family at the castle. He’d be treated as a lowly commoner and made to eat below the salt with the servants. In the meantime, she would be dressed in the finest of clothes and sitting at the dais looking down on him and his family. Martine felt something for this man. It would break her heart to see him treated in this manner even if it was proper of commoners to eat below the salt.

“Corbett isn’t here to object, and it is only a harmless meal. We invite villagers and peasants into the castle all the time to eat. I say we do it and that is final,” announced Devon. “I’ll make certain to send a messenger to the Cross Hare Inn at once with a missive to invite them.”

“They have an inn to run. They are very busy. They won’t be able to join us,” said Martine, shaking her head.

“We can send some of our servants over to help out at the inn until they return from the feast if need be,” suggested Sage, trying to be ever so helpful. Actually, Martine realized that she and Josefina were trying to bring Martine and David back together, but Martine didn’t want it to happen this way.

“It’ll only be midday and their busiest time is at night, so it should be fine,” added Josefina, looking just as happy with her plan as Sage was right now.

Martine groaned inwardly. There was no way she was going to stop three women who had their minds already made up. It was obvious she wasn’t going to be able to change things in the least. Mayhap she should be glad since this was definitely a way to see David again. Still, she didn’t feel as if she wanted him here. It would only point out the big difference in their statuses. She would much rather have seen him again in his surroundings where he felt truly comfortable. Bringing him here was only going to make him realize how different from each other they really were.