Chapter Twelve
Elias held a long stick with a piece of cloth dipped in tar around the tip of it. He dipped the tip into the fire and turned the stick over Alice’s body wrapped in linen and placed on a small platform.
He held the flames to her until her linens caught fire, then stepped back.
Father Benedict had prayed over her and over her children. Simon included a prayer for the animals, as well, since a donkey, his and Elias’ horses, and three ducks had also died in the last few days.
They all looked on, wondering who would be next.
The good news—if one could find anything good these days—was Bertram was still alive. Richard knew what blends he’d given him, thanks to their color system, and started Joan and Walter on the same blend immediately.
Word arrived from London that King Edward’s own daughter had succumbed to the terrible disease. Many were going hungry as merchants were either too sick to travel, or refused to.
Sevenoaks had had a good harvest and the mill was full. There was plenty of food, but how long would it last? How long would anything last?
Elias tried to put on a lighthearted smile but Deirdre Miller’s face and body haunted his thoughts. He’d seen much in battle. Terrible things. But Deirdre was heavy with child. He’d searched for the thieves, tracking them to the outskirts of Netherfield. There had been two men appearing to be about the same age as Elias. He found their camp and listened to them talk around the fire about the woman they’d killed with the full belly. One had asked the other if they would go to hell for it.
Elias stepped out of the trees and told them he would help them find out. He took them down in a blur of steel and blood and then returned to the Millers and buried them properly.
He hadn’t told Lily about killing the thieves. Her delicate ears didn’t need to hear such ugly things. Each hour was difficult enough. He wouldn’t add more to it.
When Alice’s funeral was over, they walked back to the house and had something to eat. They comforted Charlie and Cecily as best they could and Lily promised to take care of them now that they had no mother.
Elias left her soon after to go with Richard to check on Bertram and feed him more tea. The bastard was getting better. It was cause to celebrate. Richard had found a cure! They would live! Elias would get to kill him.
But he couldn’t get Alice…or her orphaned children out of his head. He pushed the tip of his sword closer to Bertram’ throat while he drank.
Richard had told him the sword was unnecessary since Bertram was weak and restrained. Elias didn’t care. He couldn’t wait to kill him. He wanted him to know it.
He left the shed after Richard and shoved his sword into its sheath at his belt as he stepped out into the afternoon sun.
He saw Lily coming across the grass toward them. Her gaze darted away from him and returned to her husband. She looked shaken, pale. Was she feeling ill?
He moved forward, reaching Richard, and waited for her.
“Joan has died,” she informed them with a gentle wind pulling strands of her flaxen hair across her face. She closed her eyes for a moment and just breathed. Elias thought that mayhap she was trying to hold herself together, trying to be strong. It made him want to comfort her and be strong for her. Joan was her friend.
Moved by compassion, he took a step toward her and then stopped, remembering she had a husband and he was standing close by.
“At least she is with her family now,” she said, sounding miserably resigned.
“Elias and I will tend to her, Lily,” Richard said.
She swiped something from her eye and then began to turn away, to return to Walter and the children, and her plants. Elias wanted to do something for her to take her away from all this—mayhap get Richard to rest for a few hours.
“We will attend to Joan tomorrow,” he said. “Let me and Simon be in charge of supper tonight, my lady.”
“No, no, I could not let you do that—”
He shooed her along, refusing to take no for an answer. Richard was grateful. Simon most likely wouldn’t be. Elias had a plan. He hoped the sun stayed out, and he prayed that no one else turned up sick today.
He was correct. Simon wasn’t pleased, but he agreed to help. Elias had learned how to cook some things while he was in France but he wasn’t sure Lily had any deer meat, heron, or salt barrel herring sitting around. He wondered if Agnes would help him cook something fitting for Lily and Richard.
He decided to pay Agnes a visit. She didn’t live too far from the shop. He picked up Annabelle, Cecily, and Charlie on the way.
Agnes was happy to help. In fact, she smiled at him and blushed often while she oversaw his supper of cooked fish fillets withPoivre Jaunet.
Usually the yellow pepper sauce was used for meats. But there were no fresh kills in Sevenoaks. Fish would do. Thankfully, Lily had almost every spice and herb he needed to make the sauce. He would grind ginger, saffron, and long peppers, also cloves if they were on hand. They were. He had everything he needed to make supper for six.