A Widow Plagued Read Free Page A

have provided him such.”
    “I apologize for our lack of hospitality. After two years of this dreadful plague, all men seem naught but walking corpses to u s . Speaking with thee now, I am convinced we shall all be dead within the week.”
    “I pray God sees fit to preserve us, My Lady. Although, the young couple I spied was lying frightfully close to the river; I hope that ye have not been drinking from that source.”
    Again, Sara paled. “We dared not drink from the well. My late husband and his son drank from it before they fell ill. I have precious little cider left. What are we to drink?”
    “I would imagine that ye could drink from the river, or the well. I have heard that boiling the water over a cooking fire keeps it safe. It seems to have the same effect of cooking meat; it prevents the water from upsetting the humors.”
    “I cannot imagine how that will make much difference, but we can pray.”
    Smiling benignly at her young stepdaughter, Sara looped her arm in Hannah’s and directed the group toward the main hall. Taking side-long glances at the new Lord, Sara couldn’t help but notice that he towered over the lot of them. She had always felt large in comparison with her first husband. Even with her ever-increasing form, this man made her feel frail.
    “Adam is killing a hen for tonight’s supper, M’Lady. I had hoped to harvest the last of the yams,” Millie chimed in, in an obvious attempt to diffuse the tense interaction.
    “That will be fine, Millie. Lord Sanders, have ye washed since arriving? I would like to provide ye with some soap and boiled water.”
    “Aye. That would be appreciated. Hast the master chamber been aired?”
    Blushing, Sara responded. “The late Lord Sanders passed in that chamber, Sir. I had the bedding burned, along with his personal items. The chamber has been aired and resupplied…I will need to move my things from the solar, My Lord, as I have not quite accustomed myself to my role as dowager…I find that the light in the room is best for needle work and with so few of us here, Millie, Hannah, and I oft times slept in the chamber...”
    “Think nothing of it, Lady Sara, is it? Of course, the women made use of the space. I will take a smaller room, as I am yet a bachelor.”
    “Forsooth, thou wilt not. I have been ungracious, thus far. As we are already here together, then if we be exposed, so be it. Thou wilt have the master’s chamber, for thou art the master. I will move into Hannah’s room. Twill suit us fine, shan't it, Hannah?”
    “Verily, My Lady,” Hannah responded, in kind. “Has thee a betrothed, My Lord?”
    “I have not. Until recently, I had not the means to support a wife. I have lived my life by the sword, fighting for his majesty as a squire, then a knight. Now that I am titled and landed, I find that healthy brides are hard to come by. Many noblewomen are not as resourceful as thy mother. They cannot support themselves without the aide of servants. The result is that they are eating and sleeping around the contagion. Many noble houses stand empty.
    “Others are going hungry, as they cannot keep serfs who will work the fields. No serf wishes to work for a nobleman that cannot guarantee his security. Much is in chaos. Thy keep hast been blest to avoid the worst of it.”
    “We have done so carefully and deliberately, Lord Sanders. Thus was the reason for refusing hospitality to thy assistant. Has he accompanied thee?”
    “He died shortly after returning to me.”
    “And ye say I misjudged him by turning him away?”
    “Let us not dwell on the subject, My Lady. Instead, let us prepare ourselves for dinner. I ken ye have much to do to remove thy presence from the master chamber. Yet, if ye could spare a moment, My Lady, I would have words with thee, in private.”
    “Aye, My Lord, might we walk to the stream? Ye can help me to carry water to the kitchens.” Gathering three buckets from the side of the well, Sara directed their gate toward