Meantime, had Shannon known it, Isabella was fretting about going to court without Maude. “For she’ll not be able to leave while her parents are there, will she? Giles, you promised I’d have her to bear me company. And I don’t want Jehane to come with me, for I do not wish for Dickon to be exposed to that poisonous atmosphere. Nor do I wish John to remember you have a son.” She gave him a beseeching look. “Could I not just await your return here?”
Relaxed from his tub, now clad only in his braies and shirt, Giles felt his own heart sink. He could not even explain to himself why it was so important to him that she came. “You will still have Mahelt with you. She will be able to give an eye to you.”
Isabella shook her head resolutely. “You know she will not. No, Giles, a maid will not answer. I need a companion of my own standing. Unless,” her eyes glimmered with sudden hope, “my lord, might we ask Rohese to accompany us? And Abbess Hildegarde?”
She clenched her hands convulsively by her sides, he noted, wanting to ease her distress. And mayhap this was the solution. Certainly, the Lady Rohese was a comfortable companion for her. He was watching his wife blossom as she enjoyed her new-found friendship; her confidence was growing too. “I’ll ask the Abbess.”
Isabella almost sagged; relief, he guessed. Her hands reached for his. “Thank you, Giles, thank you.”
Taking advantage of the moment and the fact that her women and his men were all occupied elsewhere, he bolted the door and, turning to her, kissed her gently, then again, more deeply. “Suppose we discuss how you can show your gratitude?”
She dimpled back up at him. “Now you’ve relieved my fears, I think that might be arranged. After all, should I not be a dutiful wife to my lord?”
He growled at her. “And your lord is such a hard taskmaster, is he not?”
Giving a squeak of merriment, she said, “Oh, indeed he is, my lord. I would not dare displease him.” And toppled, laughing, onto the bed.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Shannon couldn't believe it. I’m going to court. I’m going to court. I’ll be with Adam. She wanted to dance, shout, jump up and down screaming, but it would startle Amice, and anyway, the Abbess was regarding her soberly. “Oh, yes please!”
“Well, I hope this is a wise decision, Rohese, for I found it difficult to think of any reason I could give Sir Giles and Lady Isabella for you not to attend. Indeed, I did try; however, they would have none of it. It seems,” and she quirked her mouth a little, “I’m to be her guard dog as well as your own, the poor child. She is most uneasy, which I do understand, although I’m sure her fears will come to naught. I confess, I am still not easy in my mind about the venture, though.”
“Oh, Aunt, please. It would be fantastic. And,” Shannon coaxed, “it would mean I didn’t waste my money buying that silk gown. It cost too much to never wear it.
“I’ll be really careful. I’ve done well so far, haven’t I? I’m sure no one thinks I’m odd or out of place. I bet Amice would enjoy it, too, wouldn’t you, Amice?” In her excitement, the veneer of medieval speech had slipped, she realised guiltily, glancing at the maid.
Amice, however, didn’t seem to have noticed. She was wringing the skirt of her gown between her hands, her face crumpled with distress. “Oh, my lady, I should, I really should, but my da’ will never let me. It’s one thing me working here, but he don’t trust those nobles at court one bit. He’ll never let me. I’m that sorrowful.” In her misery at being denied this treat, her speech, too, had altered – now she sounded more like maid than friend. Shannon felt for her. She knew how disappointed she’d be, and, like her, Amice might never get the chance again; however, she could do nothing except hope the lack of a maid wouldn’t dissuade the Abbess.
Shannon watched Hildegarde’s face as she considered the options; it gave nothing away. After what seemed an age, Hildegarde spoke again.
“Very well, I think it need not present a problem. I will be accompanying you, and Isabella will doubtless bring her own maid.” She turned to Amice whose downturned mouth left no one in doubt about her disappointment.
“Well, Amice, I will speak with your father. If his mind is not to be turned, mayhap you would like to remain here. You may serve with the lay sisters until we return, if you wish.”
The maid whisked a tear from her cheek, and her lips wobbled upwards again. “Oh yes, my lady. Thank you.”
“And we’ll have need of you to help pack Mistress Rohese’s coffer, will we not? Now, we leave on the morrow after Prime, so you may start your preparations immediately, and I will excuse you from Vespers today; however, I expect you to accompany me to Compline. I’ll not be able to say it then, so I shall say now, sleep well tonight. You’ll be surprised how tiring travel is here, my dear.”
“That’s a strange thing to say.” Amice spoke the instant the door was closed behind the nun. “For you travelled from Bolo…Boho…Bo…oh, wherever it is! And that must have been a far longer journey.”
“I expect my aunt forgot that. And, then, much of it was–”
“On a boat? That must have been so exciting. No one in my village wants to travel, except me.” Her face fell again. “An’ now, I likely never will. Still, you c’n tell me all about your journeying; then, at least I’ll be able to see it in my head.” She plumped down on the bed, looking at Shannon expectantly, which left her no choice but to paint a highly inaccurate picture of medieval travel. Amice, with no experience to draw on, was entranced, making little sounds of alarm as Shannon spoke of the waves which threatened to swamp her imaginary ship, the threat of pirates, the mal de mer which her companions had suffered, and the death of one who had been blown over the sides in a gale.
“And all that with no serving women, my la…Rohese. It must have been such a hardship for you. How terrible to lose your maid overboard, especially when your ladies were too unwell to come with you.” Her eyes were as wide as saucers, and Shannon felt exhausted but triumphant when she reached the end of her far-fetched adventures.
“Yes, terrible. Still, now I have you, and I’m glad.”
The little maid grinned. “And if they’d been with you, I’d never have had the chance. I’d still have been with Dame Agatha. She’s such a misery. ‘Fetch this, bring that, work faster on that churn, girl, don’t daydream.’ It’s so much nicer serving you, Rohese. I wish I could be your maid forever.”
What could Shannon say? “But, you know, I must return home before too long. Unless…” She paused and Amice jumped in.
“Unless Sir Adam…well, you never know. I think he’s smitten with you, Mistress.”
Shannon grinned. “Well, if that should happen, if you wanted, you could come with me, I expect. Won’t your young man have something to say, though?”
“Oh!” Amice tossed her head. “Well, he can say what he likes. If I had to, I’d run away. I c’n always find another man, but I’ll never get another chance to travel! And once we’re gone, how is he supposed to get me back? It’s different for you, Rohese. Your parents could send men to fetch you.”
Not that easily, thought Shannon.
“My da’ can’t, not if I’m in your employ and you’re wed to Sir Adam. My da’ would choke on his own spleen; he wouldn’t dare do aught about it, though.”
Shannon was not sure Hildegarde would appreciate this conversation. Still, if and when, it could all be sorted out. She jumped off the bed and clapped her hands. “Anyway, come on, Amice, you can show me how best to pack. Which goes on top and which beneath?”
In that she was mistaken though, for Amice, never having worked for a lady before and never having travelled, had never had to pack before she came here. The gowns were difficult to stow without creasing, but by trial and error, the job was done. At least Amice had the foresight to add some herbs to the coffers; ‘To make the garments smell sweet,’ she said. Shannon stored that trick away in her mind for future reference.
As she obediently made her way to Compline, she wondered how she would ever manag
e to stay still for the short office. However, once she entered the abbey, the peace seeped into her soul, steadying her, and, for a while, at least, her excitement stilled. Not for long, though. As she headed back to her chamber, the fizz she thought had been calmed started to bubble up inside her again. She managed to walk decorously until she closed the door to her chamber but then, whirled silently around the room to Amice’s wide-eyed astonishment, until she subsided in a heap on the bed, smothering her face in the pillow.
Shannon, still overexcited, had lain awake for ages before finally nodding off into a deep sleep from which she was dragged by Amice’s insistent voice in her ear. “Rohese! Rohese! Oh, wake up, Mistress, do! The bell for Prime has already sounded. Rohese!”
As she struggled to wakefulness, she felt rain on her face. What? She managed to force her eyes open to see Amice sprinkling water from the ewer over her. “Mistress Rohese! WAKE UP!”
Wide awake at last, she automatically glanced at her wrist for the watch that wasn’t there. Then, urged by Amice, she almost leaped out of bed to wash.
Amice had laid out her thickest veil and the despised itchy wimple. “Better to travel decent,” she assured her.
After the fine clothes she had been wearing, Shannon felt more like a peasant, though Amice was convinced this was the best thing for the journey. Shannon hoped she was right; she didn’t want to look like the maid of Isabella’s maid. Amice went off to find a lay brother to drag out the coffer as Hildegarde presented herself at the door.
The courtyard was bustling. Horses and men milled about; the young squires carried things to and fro, piling them into the baggage wain, and a sudden thought occurred to Shannon. How would she travel? Would it be too obvious to ride pillion behind Adam? Could she sit on the cart? With all those chests, would there be room?
Amice stood watching, her eyes filled with yearning. Shannon felt sorry for her, but since her father had refused his permission, there was nothing to be done.
Isabella was already mounted on Merlin, whose red leather harness tinkled with small bells. She walked the horse over to Shannon. “Rohese, how will you travel? Do you wish to try riding Kestrel? I know you are not confident, but she’s very gentle and can be led.” She indicated a sturdy bay mare which, although not particularly large, looked big enough to the inexperienced Shannon.
“Um, I don’t think–”
Before she’d finished speaking, Adam was there, holding Blaze’s reins, one hand stretched to her, Eustace by his side. “If it pleases you, my lady, Mistress Rohese may ride behind me. Blaze is a most comfortable ride.”
It clearly didn’t please Isabella, who opened her mouth to protest; however, before she could utter any comment, Adam had swung into the saddle, Eustace had lifted Shannon up behind him, and Isabella was left with nothing to do but frown.
Shannon felt a frisson of delight as she clung to Adam a little more tightly than necessary, since Blaze had not even started moving yet. This was going to be heaven.
Adam placed one hand over her own as she clutched his waist, and they waited for the command to depart. At last, the gates were swung open; Giles and Isabella took their place at the front, and they moved out.
The rhythm of hooves, the jingle of harness, the creak of the baggage wain all added to the romance for Shannon.
She saw nothing of the countryside they rode through, her thoughts too full of Adam to notice anything else, but when they stopped to dine and he helped her down, his hands firm around her waist, she felt stiff and sore. Her back and arms ached, and she wished she could stretch to ease them, but it didn’t seem very ladylike. As for her bum!
While the squires and Mahelt, Isabella’s maid, were setting out a cloth and food, Shannon wandered behind a bush to massage her buttocks.
She jumped and let her skirts fall as a hand touched her shoulder, then whirled round indignantly to see who had caught her in such an embarrassing position, relieved when she realised it was Hildegarde.
“Are you sore, child?” Shannon nodded. "Yes, I thought that might be the case.” Hildegarde grinned conspiratorially. “As, indeed, are parts of me.” She had been riding Horace, the abbey nag. Giles had offered her a more spirited, comely mount which Hildegarde had gracefully refused, saying she was familiar with Horace’s ways.
“Fortunately, Sister Ursel foresaw the complication and gave me this.” She held out a jar of what looked suspiciously like goose fat. Shannon wrinkled her nose. “Would you rather break out in blisters? No, I thought not. Then, you must learn to accept the remedies of the day; you’d be surprised how many of them have some efficacy.”
She proffered the open jar again and Shannon took it reluctantly, dipping her fingers in and sniffing them. To her surprise, the grease smelt of roses and lilies.
“You’ll find it will ease your discomfort, and even your unaccustomed nose should be able to find no fault with the fragrance. Sister Ursel, thankfully, believes no remedy should be entirely cheerless. Indeed, if you wish, you may keep this and use some as perfume; I have a spare. Come, smooth some on your skin now while everyone is preoccupied. I’ll stand watch over you, and you may do the same for me, for I confess, I will be as grateful as you for Sister Ursel’s care.”
Shannon found the salve very soothing; the soreness eased almost instantly. Making the most of the cover of the bushes, she stretched her arms and shook out her shoulders which helped loosen her up. Then, she and Hildegarde wandered back to the main party.
Shannon had tucked the small pot Hildegarde had given her into the pouch which hung at her belt, having also rubbed some onto her neck beneath its covering of fabric. The potion smelt gorgeous. She hadn’t thought about it before, but Isabella must use something as fragrance; she always had a faint smell of spices lingering about her – maybe cinnamon or cloves?
Realising how hungry she felt, she was delighted to discover Isabella had laid out pasties, pieces of cooked meats and crusty bread, followed by small tarts filled with figs and wafers which tasted of almonds and honey.
The repast over, she leaned against a tree, watching idly as Isabella supervised the repacking of cloths and dishes. Adam was lounging at her shoulder, one arm around her waist, as though he had cast caution to the winds. Although, he would probably disappear again the instant everyone stopped being too busy to notice him.
He sniffed her neck appreciatively; she laughed. “Adam, you look like a dog smelling a roast chicken.”
“Well, indeed, you are as delicious as a chicken, little bird, though you smell of far sweeter fragrances than that. You’ll make my senses swim when you ride with me.” She felt his lips touch her cheek for a second. “Although, I confess, I like not this wimple and veil, for I cannot kiss your neck.”
She turned to smile at him, but he had moved away. Still, she would be up behind him again soon. She couldn't wait.
Isabella, finished with her repacking, came over. Bearing in mind her earlier stiffness, Shannon asked, “Do we have far to go?”
“Would you rather ride on the baggage wain with Leofwine?”
From the expression on Isabella’s face, this was an idea she had jumped on. What was the matter with her? Did she really hate Adam? Or maybe she was jealous. What had she said about him being dazzling?
Well, she isn’t going to spoil things for me, that’s for sure, Shannon thought, saying, “No, thank you. I’m quite content to ride behind Adam. I just wondered how far it was, that’s all.”
“As you wish.” Isabella sounded rather cool but thawed again as she said, “It’s about the same as the distance we have already covered. Indeed, we ate a little early. Giles was quite importunate. He says riding makes him hungry; I think it’s more that he knew we had pasties.” She laughed. “He can never resist a pasty.” Then the smile dropped from her face. “I shall miss your company when you return to your home.”
If Shannon had been unconvinced of Isabella’s motives before, the expression on her face now reassured her. I expect she’s just w
orried I’ll get hurt; she’s too nice to be jealous. I’ll have to watch myself. Jackson cheating with Sienna has made me suspicious of everyone. I don’t want to be like that.
“Never mind, we can stay in touch.” Oops, that was a bit of a faux pas. Isabella was gazing at her rather blankly. “I mean, we can write to each other,” she amended, realising as she said it that, if she did return home, they couldn’t. But if she stayed…
“I know, but you’ll be so far away, and it will take so long for messages to pass between us. Still.” Isabella tweaked her lips back up again, “we have the now, and who knows the future?”
Shannon grinned. You never spoke a truer word, Izzy. Who knows?
Isabella continued. “And, for the nonce, I suppose we had better continue on our way.” Her mouth turned down. “I do not look forward to this; however, at least I’ll have you to bear me company.”
She really did seem stressed. Could it be that bad? Shannon, for her part, was looking forward to it, but then, apart from Isabella, who wouldn’t?
They wandered back to the horses, Isabella’s steps dragging a little. Shannon was eager for someone to help her mount. She, at least, was happy, although she suspected she’d be as stiff as a board by the time they reached their destination. She hoped that salve was good for aching muscles, too.
Adam held her close for a moment before he lifted her onto Blaze, murmuring, “Hold tight, sweeting.”
Hold tight? Well, she didn’t really need to. She had her balance now, and the pace was not fast, but the opportunity to lean close to him, her cheek pressing into his back, was too pleasurable to resist, although after a while, she did spare a glance for the area they were riding through. They were surrounded by hills. The Chilterns? They must be, but everything looked so different in this century. Unable to get her bearings, she wrapped her arms a little tighter around Adam and leaned her head close again, the better to enjoy the rest of the ride. Nevertheless, she found she was grateful when they neared the castle; her behind was beginning to feel quite numb.
A Promise to Keep (Out of Time Book 2) Page 11