Good-bye My Lady - Part V

My Lady seemed to get weaker and weaker day by day. In desperation I called for the aide of the clergy from the nearby cathedral where we had met. The clergy arrived and proceeded to pray for the Lady. One of the clergy called me near and inquired as to why she was here and not in her own estate. I informed him of her having no one at the estate to care for her and I had also made a pact with the late Duke concerning her care. He intensely felt that this place was not good for her and that It might be better to take her to her own estate for she appeared to have given up on living any longer. They blessed the Lady, me, and the house and returned to the cathedral having done all that they could.

Later that day when the Lady appeared to be doing better I said to the Lady: “I think you would do better if you abide in your own estate. I would of course come with you and care for you.” The Lady began to cry. Not knowing what was the matter I inquired: “What is the matter?” The Lady cried even harder until she said: “I have no estate to go to. I have lost it to the merchants of the realm.” “What do you mean?” I said.

“When the duke of Newsprint became sick I spent all my remaining resources on his care. So that he would not know I also took usury against my estate. Since I have been sick my brother has sold all I had but couldn’t redeem the property so the merchants have taken it all. I sold you this property to try and redeem my estate but it wasn’t enough to satisfy the debt.”

“Why didn’t you tell me for I might have been able to do something to save it.” She just cried harder and said: “I wanted to be dead before you found out.”

There was nothing more I could say. Now I knew why she no longer wanted to live. I could not let her destroy herself over this issue so I told her: “Lady I am no longer purchasing this estate from you. I give the place of your birth back to you so that you will always have a place to live. I can find another estate when you are well enough to take care of yourself and this estate.” The Lady first refused my offer but I persuaded her so she accepted.

From her sick bed my Lady said about her ill fated estate: “Good-bye My Lady for I tried to save you but I failed.”