A Promise to Keep (Out of Time Book 2)

by Loretta Livingstone

  Yes, Amice would be much more fun than a nun. Etheldreda was very nice, but she had that sort of serious air to her. Now, Shannon could be more herself – well, almost herself.

  “So, Amice, what shall we do with ourselves?”

  “Could we see the stables, please? I’m ever so fond of horses. Sister Aldith told me there are some wonderful beasts here at present. More exciting than old Horace.”

  Oh, thanks Aldith! Shannon was not very keen on horses; they didn’t have brakes, and they did have teeth and hooves. Still, it might be a good idea to get used to them a bit; if she wanted to go anywhere, she’d have to sit up behind someone. Someone like Adam. The thought gave her a frisson of delight.

  Amice seemed to be familiar with the grounds. She led the way confidently, chattering as she did so. Shannon learned that she was fifteen and betrothed to the miller’s son, whom she would marry in a year or two. She learned, also, that Amice loved her parents and her five brothers and sisters and, though she was looking forward to being married, she also quite fancied the sons of the smith, the alewife and several others. “But don’t tell. And Ulfgar will make me a good husband; I shall be happy with him. Only until then…” she shrugged. “Well, I may as well enjoy a handsome face. As long as my da’ doesn’t catch me.” She covered her mouth to hide the giggle Shannon was sure was about to burst from her.

  She talked all the way to the stables, and Shannon was relieved not to have to go over her story again. Better a maid wrapped up in her own life than one who asked awkward questions.

  Once they reached the stables, Amice exclaimed in delight, clapping her hands. There were so many, she exclaimed. Fine beasts, all of them. And what of that one? The roan with the white flash along its face.

  As she spoke, a figure detached itself from the shadows, and Shannon’s heart skipped a beat. Adam!

  He came to her, holding his hands out. “Mistress Rohese. Have you come to make acquaintance with Blaze here? Oh, but he will be pleased. He has an eye for a pretty face, that horse. Come.” He tucked her hand in his arm and drew her to the roan. Blaze snorted and tossed his head, and Shannon tried to back away.

  “Ah, don’t be nervous, Mistress. If you walk away now, you will break his heart. Here, give him this.” He reached into his tunic and held out an apple. She took it and gingerly held it out between her fingers, but Adam took her hand again, uncurled her fingers and spread them, placing the apple in the flattened palm of her hand, his own beneath it. “No, sweeting, like this. Ah, you’re trembling. Don’t be afraid, see, I’ll keep my hand here. He’ll not bite you, I vouch for that. One apple, and he’ll be your slave for life.”

  He looked into her eyes. “For me, it takes less. One sweet smile from you, and I’ll be your slave too.”

  Shannon dropped her gaze, embarrassed, and he said no more, just held her hand out to Blaze, who snuffled his whiskery lips softly into her palm, curled his tongue around her offering and caught it up, crunching it between large teeth.

  “There, Mistress, that wasn’t so bad, now, was it? You see, you needn’t be afraid of him; he is as smitten with you as is his master.” Adam retained her hand, stroking her palm with his thumb. “Now, try touching him. Like all good fellows, this one enjoys being caressed. Here, like this.”

  Still holding her hand, he turned it so the back of it pressed against his palm again and swept it down Blaze’s nose. He stood close behind her, and she felt his breath on her cheek.

  “See? He likes you.” Stepping back, he released her hand, and hers felt cold as the warmth from his faded. “As do I,” he murmured, moving to face her, standing close.

  A cheery whistle sounded, and the spell between them was broken as one of the stable-hands clattered into the yard. Adam stepped back. “And now, sweet Rohese, you had best return, ‘ere you’re missed. Mayhap later?” He tilted his head, winked and sauntered off.

  Amice, who had been giggling with a stable-boy, noticed and rejoined her, sighing. “He is such a handsome knight, isn’t he? Oh, Rohese, if I were a lady, I would find him hard to resist.”

  Shannon was finding the same. Thoughts of Jackson had been completely eclipsed. Yes, she thought in satisfaction as she and Amice wandered back, this holiday was just what she needed.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Shannon was seated on a rough wooden bench beside the small tributary that had been dug from the river. It flowed in, around and back out of the abbey, returning to its source. She crumbled bread and threw it to the fish, laughing as they fought over the scraps, water boiling as they surged. A drake dabbling downstream fixed her with a beady eye and waddled over as fast as his short legs would allow, quacking his indignation that she was not throwing her offering to him. As she turned and tossed him the last of her bread, a hand covered hers. Adam.

  This was happening more and more often. She’d come to expect him to turn up whenever she was alone. Their times together were always short, which just added to the intensity of them. Shannon was beginning to feel something much deeper than flirtation, and so, it seemed, was Adam.

  She glanced around, fearful they’d be seen together. Thus far, he’d been more secretive. She need not have worried; not a soul was about. The nuns were all in Divine Service; Isabella must be with Giles, and she had left Amice fretting over a small tear in one of her shifts. Of the others, there was no sign.

  Taking her other hand in his too, he drew her to her feet, standing so close, she could feel the warmth of him.

  “Such cool hands.” He held them to his chest. “Let me warm them.”

  She laughed. “In Bolohovenia we say, ‘Cold hands, warm heart.’”

  He smiled down at her. “Then I hope, with all my soul, it’s true. Is your heart warm for me, love?”

  Shannon felt as though she was in a romantic novel, and it was beautiful. Slightly unreal, but still, it stirred her. After all, just now, she wasn’t steady, sensible Shannon. She’d let herself be drawn into a life that had nothing to do with Shannon; Rohese she was, and the twenty-first century was so far away, she was almost forgetting what it felt like to be a modern woman.

  “Where are you, Rohese? You look at me as though your thoughts are elsewhere.” Her hands were still held to his heart; she could feel it beating through his tunic. If Jackson had treated her like this…

  “I think you’re hypno…er bedazzling me, Adam. I don’t know whether I’m on my head or my heels.”

  “As to bedazzling, sweeting, I think it’s you who does that. It’s your eyes; I can never decide what colour they are.”

  Shannon wished she could believe him – her eyes were a drab hazel rimmed with grey. If only they were a true colour, not a mix of such dull shades. Pulling a face, she said, “Murky is the description I would use.”

  “Not so, they are captivating; a man could drown in them.” He stroked her cheek. “When you’re troubled, as you are now, I think, they are like the sea in winter, but when your mood is light, I would swear they were dark amber jewels set in pewter. Your eyes bewitch me, Rohese.” He touched her face again, his own eyes gazing earnestly into hers.

  Shannon caught her breath as his fingers moved to trace her lips. Never before had she felt so precious. As she put her hand up to push back a lock of hair which had fallen across his brow, he moved closer, bent his head, and his lips touched hers. Not quite a kiss; the pressure on them was the merest whisper, more like a caress. Perhaps the promise of a kiss. He raised his head and cupped her face in his hands. “Rohese, you touch my very soul. I–”

  Suddenly, he dropped his hands and backed off, his head tilted to one side. “My lady Rohese, how does your ankle?”

  Lost in the past few moments, Shannon gaped at him, confused by his change of attitude. Her whole world was still spinning. “What?”

  “Your ankle, my lady. How does it now? Does it still pain you? Do you wish for my aid?”

  As he spoke, Isabella came into view. How had Adam heard her approach? He must have the hearing of a bat, o
r maybe, and the thought nudged at her like a threat, he had practice at clandestine meetings.

  Isabella smiled at Rohese and gave Adam a look that was hard to define. “Adam, my husband is seeking you. Rohese, do you wish to walk awhile? The day is so lovely.”

  Adam may have recovered himself in an instant, but Shannon was still slightly dazed. She gawped at Isabella blankly before managing to focus on her words.

  “Or if your ankle is still paining you, mayhap we could sit on that bench beneath the apple tree.” She indicated the same bench they had sat on previously across the other side of the garth. “Adam, lend the Lady Rohese your arm, if you please; then, you must go to Sir Giles. You will find him in the forecourt.”

  Adam extended his arm to Shannon, and she laid her hand lightly on his, feeling as though the touch of his skin to hers would burst into flame. Thoroughly disconcerted, she let him escort her to the bench and seat her; then, Isabella dismissed him with a careless wave of her hand, wrinkling her nose as he walked away.

  “Giles says he’s apt to neglect his duties sometimes. And in truth, he was ever a man with a weakness for a fair face.” She glanced at Shannon speculatively through her lashes. “He is a born courtier, do you not think? Quite dazzling when he chooses to be.”

  “I, er, yes. I suppose.”

  “Enough of Adam.” She drew her arm through Shannon’s. “I would learn more of you, Rohese. I have not many friends of an age with me. Have you heard from your family? Do you think you will stay long with your aunt?”

  “Er, I don’t know. My father will send word when all danger is past. And it is good to spend time with my aunt, for I never met her before.” She was uncomfortably aware that she sounded very stilted, but so did Isabella, so maybe she would think Shannon’s awkward speech was just embarrassment at being caught alone with Adam.

  “And you, Isabella? Do you visit for long?”

  Isabella sighed. “I wish I were not here at all,” she said, then raised rueful eyes to Shannon’s shocked face. “No, not at the abbey. I would be happy to stay here for as long as my husband wishes. We are on our way to court.” Her face clouded. “I hate it there. I would be happy never to go there again. We were to meet with Giles’ brother and his wife, then go on our way together with them; now, that plan is spoiled, and I will not have their support.”

  “Why are you going if you hate it so much?”

  Isabella paused; hesitated. “I’ve said too much. And I do not even know if I can…” She paused again, hand to her mouth.

  Shannon watched her. “Is something troubling you, Isabella?” The brown eyes looking back at her clouded, and Isabella turned her head, her focus fixing on the grass at their feet. Shannon impulsively reached for her hand. “Would it make you feel better to tell me? You can trust me. I don’t even know anyone to gossip with, and I wouldn’t do that anyway.”

  Isabella looked up again, her eyelids flickering, then said in low tones, “I believe you. I know not why, but I feel I can speak openly with you. And already I have confided in you, told you one of my secrets. I suppose…” She nodded as if making a decision. “Yes, it will help to speak of it.

  “Giles has to meet with John. I loathe him; however, Giles insisted I come.” She frowned. “I would rather be at our manor with my son; the air at court is poisonous, and I’ll spend my time avoiding being seen by John and avoiding the gossip that festers like rotting flesh.” Pausing again as though lost in thought, she sighed heavily before raising tremulous eyes to Shannon. “Can we speak of something else? I do not wish to even think on it. Tell me about your home? Are the customs different there?”

  “Er, a little. My mother hoped I would learn many of the ways here from my visit to my aunt.”

  “Might you ever consider taking the veil?”

  “Not likely! I mean, no. But my mother hasn’t seen my aunt for many years. In truth, she is really my cousin, in fact my grandmother’s cousin, though it seems more polite to call her aunt. My mother only met her once. It seemed a shame to always be so far apart, and in addition to their need for me to be safe from the fever, I’ve been sad at home. It was thought the time spent with her would cheer me.”

  “I understand how worried you must be for your family, but why sad?”

  Shannon could see things being no better here than back in 2012 if she didn’t nip this in the bud right now. She didn’t want the same sympathetic glances in 1197, it was why she had got away, for goodness sake. “Sorry, Isabella, like you, it’s something I’d rather not dwell on.”

  “Then let us think of something else before we both end up in tears. Do you play chess?”

  “Not very well.”

  “Merels?”

  “Sorry.”

  Isabella got up, dusted her skirts and held her arm out to Shannon. “I’ll teach you. Can you walk back to the guest-chambers, or shall I summon help?”

  “I can manage. My ankle is much better now.” She took Isabella’s arm, and they wandered back to the rooms, where Isabella opened a chest and brought out a board and counters. “Giles prefers chess, but I find merels more light-hearted. See. We put these here and then…”

  When Giles returned, he found his wife and Rohese laughing over the merels board. As he entered the room, Isabella looked up, her face alight with humour. “Husband, Rohese has never played before. At last, I have someone I can beat.”

  Giles chuckled. “You do my wife a great service, Demoiselle, for she doesn’t often get the chance to win.” As he spoke, he started to remove his hauberk, and a young squire darted forward to help him. At the same time, a knock on the door heralded two lay brothers carrying a tub and some of Giles’ servants bearing buckets of hot water. They shut the door, and Giles removed his shirt as they started to fill the tub. Shannon suddenly remembered, to her horror, that in medieval times men thought nothing about disrobing before everyone. Not sure whether Giles would retreat behind a screen, she panicked and jumped up, knocking the merels board to the ground. Isabella stared, and Giles grinned. “That’s one way of not losing, lass.”

  “Er, yes, sorry. Isabella, I must go. I need to, er, speak to my aunt.” She dashed for the door before Giles could remove any more clothing and closed it behind her. Leaning on it in relief, she heard them laugh, and a hot wave of embarrassment coursed through her.

  She cringed all the way back to her chamber. Amice was sitting on the chest darning a hole in her hose and glanced up as she entered. “Mistress? I mean, Rohese?”

  “It’s nothing, Amice, I just need to be by myself a moment. Do you want to go for a walk or something?”

  While it was nice having a maid and Amice was good company, even though it had only been for a few days, Shannon was feeling a bit crowded. There wasn’t much privacy unless she found errands for her. It was certainly pleasant not to have to do her own mending and such, and she’d got over the awkwardness of having someone do things for her, but Amice was almost constantly with her. Even at night, she slept on a pallet at the foot of the bed. She helped her dress and undress, did mending and tidying, brought water for her to bathe, which was nice; then, though, she wanted to help her in and out of the tub, clucking in disbelief when Shannon told her she bathed alone in Bolohovenia. She would consent to go for a walk while Shannon bathed but returned all too quickly.

  When Shannon finally recovered from her embarrassment at her awkward exit from Isabella’s chamber, her mind wandered to Adam. Heaven knows how I’m able to spend so much time with him.

  Their brief meetings were charged with intensity, and how they managed them at all, Shannon had no idea. Somehow, Adam always came to her, found her when she was alone. She contrived for that as often as possible, though he didn’t always appear. When he did, he materialised as silently and suddenly as any ghost, vanishing the same way the instant someone else came on the scene.

  She ached to spend more time with him. I think I’m falling in love, proper love this time. Nothing like the way I felt for Jackson. She held he
r hands to her face to cool her burning cheeks. But it can’t come to anything, can it? He’s betrothed, and this isn’t my world; there’s no way we can be together, is there?

  Whether or not there was a future for them – and how could there be? – she couldn’t stop herself falling deeper in love with him. It was crazy. Stupid! Yet there was something about him that just drew her. I’m sure it’s not only a holiday romance. It feels so real. I shouldn’t have come, but I did, so maybe that means I’m meant to be with him.

  People talked about fate bringing lovers together; maybe she and Adam were meant to meet, to fall in love. He was only betrothed, not married, and his wife-to-be was so young, she probably didn’t even want to marry him. From what he’d told her in their snatched moments, she sounded like a haughty little miss. Adam wasn’t in love with the girl; he’d said so. When she’d asked him if they should be seeing each other, he’d given her a mysterious smile, saying, “Trust me to work it out, sweeting. If this is meant to be, I’ll find a way.” But how could he?

  On the other hand, he’s managed to work it out so far. Maybe he has a plan. Maybe it could happen.

  Mum would be upset, and how Dad would feel when he knew what had happened and realised where she would be was anyone’s guess. But if I’d fallen in love with an American or an Australian, I’d still be miles away. I can go home for visits, so it’s almost the same thing. I wonder if Dad and Chloe can come here? Mum can. Anyway, I can go home sometimes; I’ll have to go back once a year to get my EpiPens. If Adam loves me, he’ll understand.

  After all, Mum had needed to tell Giles, and that worked out okay. And she’d had to tell me, too. And I believed her. She stopped worrying and gave herself up to the dream. It would all come together. It had to.

  There was another problem though. Giles and Isabella would be leaving for court in a few days, taking Adam with them. How could she bear him to leave? She’d once read that the way to tell if it was true love or not was not how you felt when you were with someone but whether you could live without them, and she knew without him, her life would be empty. Still, he’d said to trust him, hadn’t he? He’d sort it. It was his world; he knew what he was doing.