The Black Lyon

look at me, so I cannot know what you mean.”
    “He leaves this day to travel to England and see why this husband of yours does not send your ransom.”
    Lyonene smiled up at the older woman, her hand on her stomach, pressing lightly against the kicking child. “I had thought you were sure he had no use for me since he long ago went to court.”
    Lady Margaret frowned. “You seem confident this day. Did I not know you to be so well guarded, I might think you held some secret.”
    Lyonene smiled at her blandly. “It is the child. I think he comes soon. Surely you have known the placidity that comes to a woman just before she gives birth?”
    “Nay, I have not been so cursed as you with a swollen belly. I prefer my pleasures without such punishment. Should your labor begin, have Alice fetch me and I will send someone from the village. Do you understand my words, Alice? You are to come for me if your mistress has an ache in her belly.”
    Alice looked at her blankly, a study in ignorance, and nodded vigorously at her, eyes shining, mouth slightly open.
    “How you bear her presence each day and remain sane is not of my understanding,” Margaret said with a sneer.
    “Her intent is good and she attends to my needs most adequately.”
    “I must go now. I have hired new guards to see to your protection. Morell assures me that all is right, but I cannot help but be uneasy.”
    “Oh?” Lyonene looked at the fire. “Are these guards as fierce and ugly as my other four?”
    Lady Margaret laughed, a quick snort of laughter, making her thoughts known. “Nay, they are in truth most handsome men, strong and vigorous. When you are no longer as you are now, I shall give you to one of them. You will like their looks, as I hear you favor dark men.” She turned and left them.
    Lyonene felt Alice’s hand on her shoulder. Their eyes met. “Aye, I know ’twas wrong and I came too close, but she could not recognize them as Ranulf’s men. I am pleased Sir Morell leaves. Ranulf says he will have no problem with my guards, but I am pleased there will be fewer men to fight.”
    Nightfall came and still she waited, a small bundle of clothes by her side. Her nervousness increased as she thought of Ranulf’s danger, the danger her foolishness had caused. Before she went to bed, she spent hours on her knees in prayer. Only Alice’s mute commands made her retire.
    Surprisingly, she fell asleep quickly, awakened in the dark, again, by a large, warm hand over her mouth. She looked into Sainneville’s dark eyes.
    “My lady, it is good to see you again.”
    She took his hand for a moment, joyous to see a familiar face, a friend.
    “He is not worthy of such attentions, I assure you. Can you believe I had to force him to climb down that rope? He said he feared the castle crumbling about his ears.”
    She smiled at Corbet, his jests and light words tearing at her, so glad was she to hear them again. “Nay, I cannot believe it. You are well, both of you?”
    “Only now that the sun has come out again. Malvoisin is a dark place without its golden mistress.”
    She smiled and then laughed, joy filling her, tears clouding her eyes. “Sir Corbet, you have not changed and it is most pleasant to see you again. Sir Sainneville, do you work to keep him from mischief?”
    Sainneville winked at her. “I see you know him well. But it is not he who has caused the problem of this journey.”
    She put her hand before her face. “Nay, do not lecture me. My husband has not lost a moment in recounting my misdeeds. Tell me true, has he actually chopped wood?”
    The two dark guardsmen grinned. “Aye, he has,” Corbet said. “It was an easy task for him, and we often gave him our encouragement from our posts atop the battlements.”
    “You did not!”
    “We could not lose such a chance. How many men ever are put in charge of their lord?”
    “It is Hugo who will need to fear for his life.”
    “What could Sir Hugo have done?” she asked. “He is a most quiet and peaceful man.”
    Corbet tried to keep his laughter quiet. “Lady Margaret put him in charge of the serfs. Lord Ranulf thought to escape his duties as serf, but Hugo had other ideas. He is a brave knight.”
    “My husband?”
    “Nay,” Sainneville said, laughing. “Sir Hugo had more courage than any of us. He leaned against a wall, ate an apple and then pointed at our lord. I can just hear him, ‘You there. You look to be a sturdy fellow. You chop while these lesser men