Charles and Me

Chapter 6

“I’m so sorry” the voice said. I looked up to see an unfamiliar face staring at me with shock in her eyes and a face as red as a tomato.

“Oh no it’s quite alright” I said as I rose to me feet. Facing the girl I explained “I’m fine, see? No harm done” I smiled at her, she returned it. Her smile quickly faded, instead being replaced with a look of horror.

“My goodness!” she exclaimed “You’re bleeding!”

I touched my hand to my head and felt a warm wetness touch my skin. I took a quick glance at my hand before looking at the stranger with shock. “I must have bumped when I fell” I said.

“Come, I will clean and dress it” The stranger took my hand and led me down the hall ways till we eventually entered a room I had never been in before. “Sit here” she said while patting the edge of a table located in the middle of the room.  I walked over and jumped up onto the table.

“I’m sorry, I don’t believe I remember your name” I said.

“That’s because I didn’t say it” she smiled. The woman walked over with a bowl of water and some cloth. “Mary Willster” she wiped the blood that had dried on my head and wrapped the wound tightly.

“I’m Jane” I said.

“I know, everyone knows who you are”.

“How?”

“You’re Lady Eleanor’s servant girl. Yes?”

“Yes”. Mary turned and walked away. “What is it you do here in the castle Mary?”

“I’m the assistant to the physician here” she explained.

“Oh, I thought…..” I began.

“That women aren’t allowed to be physicians?”

“Yes”

“Yes well, really women aren’t, but I am more like a servant to the physician” she confessed “But he is teaching me how to treat some injuries such as yours”.

“How come I’ve never seen you around the castle before?” I asked.

“Well usually I stay here, cleaning and caring for patients. However Mr Todd is out in the woods gathering some healing herbs and one of the knights had an injury. So because I was the only one in the castle who could care for him I was asked by the King to help him. I was on my way back here when I bumped into you”.

“Mary?”

“Yes Jane?”

“You wouldn’t happen to have the time would you?”

“Why yes I do” Mary walked over to the large clock beside the door. “It’s 23 and 5 (5:23pm) in the afternoon”.

“Oh dear!” I exclaimed “I must get back to Lady Eleanor immediately!” I stood up and ran towards the door.

“Just be careful, will you?” She yelled as I ran out of the room.

“Yes, of course!” I yelled back. I ran through the halls before reaching the all familiar door that entered in to Lady Eleanor’s room. I woke her carefully “My Lady, your gown is laid out on the end of your bed” I said gesturing towards the beautiful crimson gown lying at Eleanor’s feet. “Dinner is in 30 minutes”. She rose from her bed and slipped into her gown and I helped her with the corset.

She turned to face me “My goodness!” she yelled “What happened to your head?”

“Oh, nothing” I said “I just bumped it, nothing to worry about” I smiled.

“Yes, well as long as you are well then I guess that’s fine”

“I am quite well Miss” I assured her.

“Shall we go?” she asked heading towards the door.

“But My Lady, we would be 20 minutes early”

“Something I’m sure you will get use to” She smiled “I am always early”. When we reached the dining room we entered and Eleanor took a seat on a couch; I walked over to a pillar and stood against it. I looked at the set table and noticed a much larger chair at the head of the table; I presumed that this would be where the King would be seated. Suddenly the doors opened, Jacob and Prince Charles entered the room. Jacob walked straight past me and started talking to one of the butlers that were standing near the kitchen doors. Charles headed towards the sitting Lady Eleanor and started talking to her.

“Where is Jane?” I heard him ask Eleanor.

“Just over there” she said looking past Charles and at me. Charles turned around and gave me a quick smile before turning back to Eleanor.

“Ah, I see” he began “I say, Eleanor you’re a bit….” He stopped speaking and turned quickly to face me. A look of shock came across his face. “My God!” he said as he was walking quickly towards me. “What happened Jane?” Charles asked before touching my bandage.

“Er…Nothing” I replied.

“Well obviously” he said sarcastically.

“I just bumped it, that’s all”

“Hmmm, well you must be more careful in future”. The huge doors opened to reveal the King and his Knights. They all walked in and stood behind the chairs they were allocated. “Excuse me” Charles said to me before bowing, he left my side and walked over to Lady Eleanor. “Shall we?” he held out his hand and Eleanor took it, he led her to her seat and walk over to his. Lady Eleanor sat down first, then the King and then the Knights and Charles. Jacob and I stood towards the back of the room silently awaiting our master’s request for something to be done.