She heard her husband’s voice and tried desperately to understand so that she could answer sensibly, but no one seemed to expect any answer from her. She was so shaken by terror that she could not attempt to understand it. It was nothing new for William to ride to war in Richard of Cornwall’s tail, and although she had always feared for him, it had been nothing like this. The exchange of voices in which, surprisingly, Alys had taken a major part ended. Alys and Mauger were going off somewhere together. That seemed peculiar, but Elizabeth had no fear that Mauger would insult Alys and she only felt relief. She would be able to rest for a few minutes and absorb the shock so that she could face Mauger when he returned. She had taken a single faltering step toward a chair when she was seized in a strong hold. “Elizabeth!” William’s voice held fear. “What ails you?” “Nothing,” she whispered, “a slight faintness. Let me sit down a moment.” “You are so cold,” he said.
