She had slept there and stayed throughout the morning. Her first thoughts were to go to the stables or out to the garden to say goodbye to the things she loved the most, but the rain had started before dawn and it had continued relentlessly all morning. Tiny rivers of water appeared along the dirt paths, and the winds blew so hard the leaves on the trees in the orchard were breaking off and flying about the outer bailey. The dinner horn had sounded. She sent Isabel and Hesse to eat but refused to join them. She had yet to tell her little sister they would be leaving. Hesse tried to keep Isabel busy so Gemma could get her items packed in a trunk. They would leave the next morning at first light. She had wanted to leave this day, but there was too much to do and the rains were not letting up. She would not tell Isabel until it was time to go. Her plan was to have Oliver and some of her father's men escort them to Wales, sending a note back to her father stating he could join them when he was well enough.
