Page 13 of Silent Knight: Alexander

“I’ve grown very fond of him. I don’t want him to leave,” said Charlotte.

“Neither do I,” agreed Summer. “Dominick, hurry out to the courtyard and stop Alex from leaving.”

“What?” Dominick shook his blond head. “Let him go, Mother. Mass is starting, and we need to hurry.”

“I want to see Alex,” said Robert, running to the window and standing on his tiptoes to see out. Summer held him so he wouldn’t fall. “He walks funny,” said the little boy.

“That’s because he has a bad leg,” said Charlotte.

“Why?” asked Robert.

“I think it was that way from birth,” Charlotte explained.

“From birth,” whispered Summer staring out the window. Then she grabbed Robert by the hand and spun around. “Dominick, I’ll watch Robert, now hurry and stop Alex from leaving. Tell him to meet us in the chapel and that afterward we have a special feast and games planned for the celebration. Tell him I insist he joins us.”

“But is this really necessary?” asked Dominick. “After all, he is just a commoner. We don’t even know him.”

“Nay,” said Summer, shaking her head. “I feel as if I do know him.”

“How could you?” asked Lady Ann. “He just arrived here yesterday.”

“He is the son of a dear old friend of mine, and I will not let him leave and be traveling in the cold on Christmas. Now go, and don’t tarry or he will be gone.”

“Aye, Mother.”

“Come on, Robert, you can be my escort,” said Claire, holding the little boy’s hand as they all left the room.

“Lady Summer,” said Charlotte, stopping her before she left.

“What is it?” asked Summer, turning back to Charlotte.

“I wanted to tell you the reason we were in the garden since you asked. I found Alex out there last night standing at the gravesite of your son, Peter.”

“You did?” This seemed to interest Summer very much.

“I also noticed the way he watched you yesterday when you went to pay your respects. He asked to go see the grave, but we never got there.”

“Why would he ask to see Peter’s grave?”

“I don’t know,” said Charlotte. “Mayhap he felt some need to do it because he heard that your son had a bad leg as well.”

“Perhaps,” said Summer in deep thought. “Or mayhap it is more than that.”

“What do you mean?” asked Charlotte.

“I’m just thinking aloud.” Summer looked up and smiled. “Shall we go to mass before we miss it altogether? My husband is waiting for me down in the great hall and will not be happy if I take any longer.” She turned to go, but Charlotte stopped her once again.

“Lady Summer, do you think it is wrong of me to have feelings for Alex?”

“You do?” she asked in surprise.

“I feel as both of us have so much in common with being rejected by others. I also really like him. I can see myself being married to him, but I know my mother will never allow it. He’s not even a noble.”

“I think that if you and Alex feel the same way about each other, then status shouldn’t matter. I was once married to a man I didn’t love and who treated me terribly. I was miserable. But then I met Warren. I didn’t want to like him since he was my late husband’s nephew, but I fell in love. Now, I am happier than I’ve ever been in my life and it keeps getting better every day. Love is all that matters. Does he feel the same way about you that you do about him?”

“I – I’m not sure,” said Charlotte. She glanced back out the window to see Dominick atop a horse following Alex over the drawbridge. “I don’t know, but I need to find out.”

Summer took hold of Charlotte’s wrist and smiled at her with tears in her eyes.