“Yes, he came to my home and left another large bag of silver.”
Surprised by that remark, Celiese interrupted quickly, “What do you mean another bag of silver, has he given you some before?”
“When you left here I found the coins at my door and knew they could only have come from the two of you. Did he not tell you how generous he’d been with me? I thought the money was meant for all of us, to help the village as a gift from you.”
“He neglected to mention it.” She did not know what to think now. That Mylan had wanted to help the peasants pleased her enormously, but why had he not told her of his generosity? Returning to their present problem, she continued, “You said he left more silver with you today?”
André chuckled to himself as he replied, “Yes, but this is for your house. He took a stick and drew an outline in the dirt so I would understand I am to use this money to help you rebuild your house.”
Celiese slumped down in the sand, simply sank to her knees as she realized what Mylan had meant André to do. “I have no need of a house without a husband, André, and clearly the man has left me.” She tried frantically to remember what he had told her before dawn. He would work for Robert so she could keep her land, he would rebuild her house but not live in it unless she promised, promised what?
She brought her hands to her mouth to muffle her sobs. He had been so angry, bitterly enumerating each wrong he imagined she had done him, when she was innocent of every one of his accusations. She wept on and on, heartbroken that he had left her when she had deserved none of his hatred. André squatted down beside her, gently stroking her silken curls to soothe her misery, but he could do no more than provide a sympathetic ear as Celiese continued to cry, her heartbreak evident in the tremors shaking her slender body
with unbearable sorrow.
When finally exhausted by a torrent of tears, she looked up at André, embarrassed to have let him witness such a shocking lack of self-control. She wiped the last of her tears from her eyes with trembling fingertips, and then rose gracefully to her feet. “Please forgive me, I did not mean to burden you with my unhappiness.”
“But, dear lady, I want to be of service in whatever way I am able.” André struggled to stand, pausing to brush the sand from his trousers. “Your husband left something at my home, clothing, I believe it is.”
“How considerate of him.” Drained of all emotion, she did not care what he might have left behind when he had not chosen to stay himself. She preceded André along the path up the face of the cliff, and then turned to wait for him. “I’ll come get those things now, although I do not know where I shall take them.”
Seeing a way to lift her spirits, André began to describe how her family home might be rebuilt. “While the weather holds, granite can be gathered from the mountains by the men among us who possess skill in working with stone. There are lush forests nearby, so timber can be found for the rafters. I know the work will progress slowly, but little by little we can transform what remains into a replica of the house that once stood so proudly upon the hill. The home of the d’Loganvilles can again be as beautiful as it once was.”
Celiese listened attentively as they walked into the village, following the man’s growing enthusiasm with a heavy heart. He seemed to think the project a most worthwhile one. His memories of her family were as happy as hers. “I do not want to take any of the men away from their main task, which is to provide a livelihood for their families. That would be most unfair.”
“Your husband left money enough to pay all those who wish to be employed in the project. You need not concern yourself with how the men will be rewarded.”
“Somehow when Mylan promised to rebuild my home, I thought he would provide the labor himself. It seems I misunderstood all he said,” she commented softly. “The men will have to understand the house will be his as well as mine, that it will be the home of the Vandahls, not the d’Loganvilles. Will they be willing to work for a Dane after what they have suffered?”
André frowned slightly as he considered her words. “If you can call such a man husband, we will not insult him in any way. Besides, you are the one who is here and in desperate need of a home. We have become very practical, and it will be our only consideration.”
As they entered the village, Celiese was surrounded by the well-meaning residents as she had been on her previous visits. She attempted to smile bravely, and then reassured them she had received the promise of the duke that she would retain her estate and their lands would be safe for them to farm. The ripples of excitement passing through the rapidly growing crowd lifted her spirits greatly, for her problems seemed minor when compared to theirs.
For too many years they had battled invading Danes, as well as the elements, in a valiant effort to survive. If she could bring peace to their troubled lives, at whatever the cost to her own personal happiness, she would willingly pay it. She felt foolish wearing brocade when the women around her wore such simple homespun garb, but she was different from the happy crowd in so many more important ways than the extravagant fabric and style of her gown.
She politely refused their offers of hospitality and instead followed André into his cottage to collect her belongings. They were all there, still wrapped as they had been when they left Rouen. Placing the bundle upon his table she searched through it quickly, hoping to find the silver necklace among her things. But it was gone.
“Has something been lost?” André asked curiously.
“Why yes, my silver necklace. It was a present from my husband and most precious to me,” she explained sadly.
After a moment’s thought, André began to smile. “Did this necklace have an unusual charm, in the shape of a hammer?”
“Yes, that’s it, did you find it?” She was delighted to think he had.
“I do not believe it is lost, unless there are two, for I saw your husband wearing such a charm this morning.”
Gathering up her bundle, Celiese tried not to let her disappointment show in either her words or expression. “I am happy to learn it is not lost, then.” She went toward the door, still uncomfortable in the close confines of the tiny dwelling, for it reminded her too much of the cell in the tower of Robert’s mansion. “I want to be by myself, André. There are so many questions to which I have no answers, and I need time to give them thought.”
“But you cannot live in the portion of your home that remains standing! It is filled with weeds, an unsafe place for a young woman as beautiful as you to reside alone!” He attempted to stop her, but she gave his weathered cheek a light kiss and with a sad, sweet smile was gone. Walking up the hill, she forced herself to concentrate upon purely practical matters.
When she reached the ruins of her home, what she needed to do first was to change her clothes, for she could not work in so fine a gown as she was wearing. Sorting through the few items she had, she selected the linen gown Olgrethe had given her as being the most appropriate. She walked slowly through the remains of the structure, uncertain what should be done first. As if weeds were her only problem, she began in what had been the kitchen, and with vicious yanks grabbed handful after handful of the weeds that had grown up between the smooth stones that had been the floor.
The chimney was still standing, the stones of the hearth in place, so after she had gathered firewood she would be able to cook her own meals. With winter approaching and no store of provisions to see her through the cold months, she had not a moment to lose. Her mind preoccupied with the basic requirements for survival, she spent the entire afternoon doing what she could to make livable the corner of the ground floor the kitchen had occupied.
At dusk, André joined her. He was carrying a small basket filled with food, which he hoped Celiese would accept as a gift. When she was most reluctant to do so he offered to dine with her, and, since they would then be sharing his provisions, she agreed. When she had finished the bread and cheese he had brought and reached for an apple, he hoped perhaps she would enjoy having his company for a while longer.
“Were you able to solve those problems of which you spoke?” he asked.