“Edith,” I replied. “She was one of Princess Whitney’s other handmaids. She came to Hadebrand when I was still young. She taught me to cook as well.”
“She was older than you?”
“Yes, she was several years older. She was a handmaid in another court for many years before coming to Hadebrand. She knew several other kingdoms and usually went with the princess when she traveled.”
“I think I know who you mean,” Branford said with a nod. “Were you friends with her?”
“I suppose so,” I said, shrugging my shoulders. “I spent more time with Hadley, though.”
“She is the one who helped you get ready for the wedding.”
“Yes.”
“Are you the same age?”
“She was born a few months before me, so we are very close in age.”
“When did she come to be in Whitney’s employ?”
“When we were still quite young,” I told him. “She is an orphan as well.”
“What happened to Hadley’s parents?”
“She came from a farming family, and her father was killed when his cart tipped over. Her mother couldn’t work the farm on her own though Hadley tried to help as much as she could. When the lord of the farmland came to collect the grain she was supposed to supply, it wasn’t ready for him. Hadley ended up being brought back to the castle since Whitney really needed more than one handmaid by then.”
“Why was she brought back?” Branford asked.
I looked over to him, confused.
“The grain wasn’t ready when the lord came to collect it,” I repeated.
“Yes, you told me that.” Branford scowled. “But why was Hadley taken from her mother?”
“The lord punished her mother,” I said.
“By taking her daughter? Why?”
“He didn’t take Hadley from her mother,” I said. My eyes narrowed in confusion. He had to understand what the punishment was for failing one’s lord.
“Well, what then?” he asked, his tone demanding.
“The grain wasn’t ready, Branford. He killed Hadley’s mother as an example to the other farmers.”
*****
“Would you like some more tea?”
Branford shook his head silently. He had hardly spoken a word since lunch when his questions about the other handmaids I had worked with suddenly stopped, and he had grown quiet. He had gone from the window, where he looked out over the forest, to the chair near the fire, but he hadn’t spoken more than a couple of words, and he had barely touched his supper. Now that the sun was starting to set, he was back in the chair, staring absently at the fire.
Since Branford was obviously in no mood for company, I spent some time looking through a wardrobe full of dresses, arranged in a piece of furniture similar to the one that held Branford’s clothing. There were several customary, daily dresses I had seen many noblewomen wear as well as one obviously fancier dress of blue and cream. I wondered if it was the dress I was supposed to have worn to our reception. There were also two nightdresses for sleeping, a long cloak, and a pair of long gloves. Inside the wardrobe was a small drawer, which displayed jeweled hair ornaments.
Once I had thoroughly explored the wardrobe, I washed off the basin area and made sure the cloth Branford had been using to wash himself at night was accessible. I placed a dry towel out for his use as well and started to wonder if I should go ahead and prepare myself for bed. I glanced over toward the chair where Branford sat and was surprised to find him watching me.
“I want you to care for me.”
I startled at his voice, for it had been hours since he had spoken.
“I shall, Branford. Is there something you need?”