'The stairs are on the wrong side,' Madelyne suddenly said.
'Nay, Madelyne. They are on the correct side,' Duncan answered.
She thought he sounded amused. ' 'Tis not on the correct side,' she contradicted him. 'The stairway is always built on the right side of the wall. Anyone knows that well enough,' she added with great authority.
For some reason, Madelyne was infuriated that Duncan wouldn't admit the obvious flaw in his home.
'It's built on the right unless it is deliberately ordered built on the left,' Duncan answered. Each word was carefully enunciated. Why, he acted as though he was instructing a dimwitted child.
Why Madelyne found this discussion so important was beyond her. She did though, and vowed to have the last word on the subject. 'It's an ignorant deliberation then,' she told him. Madelyne glared up at him and was sorry he wasn't looking down at her to see it.
'You're a stubborn man.'
'You're a stubborn woman,' Duncan countered. He smiled, pleased with his observation.
Gilard trailed behind his brother. He thought their conversation ridiculous. Yet he was too worried to smile over their foolish banter.
Gilard knew Edmond would be waiting for them. Aye, the middle brother would certainly be inside the hall. Adela might be there as well. Gilard realized he was concerned for Madelyne now. He didn't want her to have any unpleasant confrontations. And he hoped there'd be time to explain Madelyne's gentle nature to his brother Edmond.
Gilard's worry was temporarily put aside when Duncan reached the second level and didn't turn to enter the great hall. He took the opposite direction, climbed another stairway, and then entered the mouth of the tower. The steps were narrower and the procession slowed somewhat by the sharp curves.
The room at the top of the tower was freezing. There was a hearth built into the center of the circular wall. A large window had also been added, right next to the fireplace. The window was wide open, the wooden shutters flapping loudly against the stone walls.
There was a bed against the inside wall. Duncan tried to be gentle when he placed Madelyne on the covers. Gilard followed behind them and Duncan issued his orders to his brother as he bent to pile chunks of wood into the fireplace. 'Send Gerty with a trencher of food for Madelyne, and tell Edmond to bring his medicines. He'll have to use his needle on her.'
'He'll argue over it,' Gilard commented.
'He'll do it all the same.'
'Who is Edmond?'
The softly spoken question came from Madelyne. Both Duncan and Gilard turned to look at her. She was struggling to sit up, and frowning over the impossibility of the task. Her teeth started chattering from the cold and the strain, and she finally collapsed against the bed again.
' Edmond is middle brother to Duncan and me,' Gilard explained.
'How many Wextons are there?' Madelyne asked, frowning. 'Five in all,' Gilard answered. 'Catherine is oldest sister, then Duncan, then Edmond, then Adela, and lastly me,' he added with a smile. ' Edmond will care for your injury, Madelyne. He knows the ways of healing, and before you know it, you'll be as fit as ever.'
'Why?'
Gilard frowned. 'Why what?'
'Why would you want me fit as ever?' Madelyne asked, clearly puzzled.
Gilard didn't know how to answer her. He turned back to look at Duncan, hoping he'd give Madelyne answer. Duncan had started the fire and was now closing the shutters. Without turning around, he commanded, 'Gilard, do as I've instructed.'
His voice didn't suggest argument. Gilard was wise enough to obey. He made it to the door before Madelyne's voice caught up with him. 'Don't bring your brother. I can take care of my injury without his aid.'
'Now, Gilard.'
The door slammed.
Duncan turned to Madelyne then. 'For as long as you are here, you'll not contradict any of my orders. Is that understood?'
He was advancing upon the bed with a slow, measured stride.
'How can I understand anything, milord?' Madelyne whispered. 'I am but a pawn, isn't that the way of it?'
Before he could frighten her, Madelyne closed her eyes. She folded her arms across her chest, an action meant to ward off the chill in the room.
'Let me die in peace,' she whispered quite dramatically. Lord, how she wished she had the strength and the courage to yell at him. She was so miserable now. There'd be more pain coming if Duncan 's brother touched her too. 'I do not have the stamina for your brother's ministrations.'
'Yes, you do, Madelyne.'
His voice had sounded gentle, but Madelyne was too angry to care. 'Why must you contradict everything I say to you? 'Tis a terrible flaw, that,' Madelyne muttered.
A knock sounded at the door. Duncan yelled out as he walked back across the room. He leaned one shoulder against the mantel above the hearth, his gaze directed on Madelyne.
Madelyne was too curious to keep her eyes closed. The door protested with a squeak as it was opened and an elderly woman appeared. She carried a trencher in one hand and a jug in the other. There were two animal skins tucked under her arm. The servant was a plump woman with worried brown eyes. She darted a hasty look at Madelyne and then turned to curtsy awkwardly to her lord.
Madelyne decided the servant was afraid of Duncan. She watched the poor woman, feeling great compassion for her as she tried to balance the items in her hands and genuflect.
Duncan wasn't making it any easier on the woman either. He gave her a curt nod and then motioned her to Madelyne's side. Not a word of encouragement or kindness did he utter.
The servant proved to be quick on her feet, because as soon as Duncan commanded the task, she all but ran to the bed, stumbling twice before she was there.
She placed the trencher of food next to Madelyne and offered her the jug. 'By what name are you called?' Madelyne asked the woman. She kept her voice low so Duncan wouldn't overhear.
'Gerty,' the woman answered.
The woman remembered the covers she held under her arm then and quickly moved the trencher to the wooden chest next to the bed. She covered Madelyne with the blanket.
Madelyne smiled her appreciation and that encouraged Gerty to tuck the sides of the animal skins against Madelyne's legs. 'I can see you're shivering to death,' she whispered.
Gerty had no knowledge of Madelyne's injury. When she pushed the fur against her injured thigh, Madelyne squeezed her eyes shut against the excruciating insult and didn't say a word.
Duncan saw what had happened, thought to yell a rebuke to the servant, but the deed was already done. Gerty was handing Madelyne her food now.
'Thank you for your kindness, Gerty.'
Madelyne's approval amazed Duncan. He stared at his captive, took in her tranquil expression, and found himself shaking his head. Instead of lashing out at the servant, Lady Madelyne had given her praise.
The door suddenly flew open. Madelyne turned, her eyes wide with fright. The door bounced against the wall twice before settling. A giant of a man stood in the doorway, his hands resting on his hips and a fierce scowl drawn across his face. Madelyne concluded with a weary sigh that this, then, was Edmond.
Gerty scooted around the big man and hurried out the doorway just as Edmond advanced into the room. A trail of servants followed, carrying bowls of water and an assortment of trays with odd-shaped jars on them. The servants placed their trays on the floor next to the bed and then turned, bowed to Duncan, and left. They all acted like scared rabbits. And why wouldn't they? Madelyne asked herself. After all, there were two wolves in the room with her and wasn't that enough to scare anyone?
Edmond still hadn't said a word to his brother. Duncan didn't want a confrontation in front of Madelyne. He knew he'd become angry, and that would frighten Madelyne. Yet, he wasn't about to back down either.
'Have you no greeting for your brother, Edmond?' Duncan asked.
The ploy worked. Edmond looked surprised by the question. His face lost some of its anger. 'Why wasn't I
