A Knight to Remember

by Maryse Dawson

  "I'm just in a bad mood, that's all. Don't you ever get in a bad mood?"

  "Aye, but only with good reason. Mayhap, I hath a cure for thy mood. Come!"

  Wary but intrigued, Jenny followed him up the path and out of the graveyard. He untied the horses and handed the mare's reins to her.

  "We shall walk a while." They went down the small bridleway that ran alongside the church.

  "I hath several guests arriving later today. Thee can oversee this evening's meal. 'Twill help with thy mood."

  "Cooking!"

  "Nay! The cook will do that. I want thee to oversee that tonight's meal is prepared correctly. Hath thee an objection?"

  "Well, yes. I'm not a very good cook, so I won't know what dinners they should prepare."

  Stephen stopped and stared down at her from his lofty height. "'Tis an unusual lady who cannot oversee a kitchen. Wherefore doth thou speak such nonsense?"

  "It isn't nonsense. I can't cook. Everyone knows my attempts at cooking are awful. How do you expect me to take charge?"

  Stephen's look darkened. "Art thou lazy?"

  "No, I most certainly am not! I'm good at other things, just not cooking."

  "Hmm. Still, 'twill give thee something to occupy thy time and return thy humours." He moved forward and Jenny fell in step alongside him. "Annie will welcome thy help."

  Jenny sighed. As long as she wasn't left to actually do the cooking, then perhaps all would be fine. She was sure she could get Annie to oversee whilst she watched. Actually, perhaps that would be a good time to escape the castle. If Stephen was otherwise occupied and Annie was up to her arms in food, then it would be the perfect opportunity! Her spirits perked up.

  "Who are these guests?" she asked politely, studying his profile. He really was one of the handsomest men she'd ever come across.

  He answered, his deep tones filling the quiet, country air. "My brother, Geoffroy, and his wife. They will reside at the castle for two days."

  "Do they live nearby?"

  "Barnstaple. He hath a holding there. I think thee will like his wife. Her name is Helena, and she is almost the same age as thee."

  "Does she have any children?"

  "God hath not yet graced them with any offspring, but 'tis early days."

  They continued in silence until they reached the brow of the hill. Stephen paused and looked into the distance.

  "If I am not mistaken, 'tis my brother arriving hence."

  Jenny followed his gaze to see a small group of horses and a wooden cart.

  "Come, we shall remount and meet them at the gates."

  She sighed. He made it sound so easy. She walked around to the saddle and attempted to put her foot in a stirrup but, instead, her mare kept turning around, and she ended up doing an unladylike hop as she tried to keep her balance.

  Suddenly, two strong hands surrounded her waist and she felt herself lifted onto the stubborn mare, as if she weighed no more than a feather.

  "Methinks thee may require some lessons, milady, in the art of horsemanship."

  She couldn't help letting a giggle escape. "I think you have a point."

  He smiled up at her, flashing even, white teeth, and she almost did a double-take. He was handsome, but even more so when he smiled.

  She tried to control her breathing as he mounted his stallion, his strong legs gripping the animal with ease. Her mare trotted docilely beside him as they returned to the castle.

  * * *

  Jenny grimaced as she looked around the large castle kitchen. The heat was almost unbearable. A huge fire crackled and spat as fat from a roast pig on a spit fell upon the hot logs, filling the air with clouds of smoke. Pots boiled on the open fire and hissing steam escaped the heavy iron lids as their contents threatened to spill over.

  The cook barked out orders to her staff whilst they scurried to and fro with dishes of food. Vegetables were piled high on the large, wooden table, where several young maids chopped them up.

  If Stephen wanted to show her a vision of hell, this was it, thought Jenny.

  After a short time, she backed out of the kitchen unnoticed, leaving Annie to assist the cook for the evening meal. The place was a nightmare, and if Stephen thought she was going to help out in that environment, then he could go stuff himself! She had one goal only, and that was to get back home. If she went to the church by herself, then maybe she could find some way to do so.

  At the moment, Stephen and his family were all gathering in the great hall before supper. Jenny had already bid welcome to Geoffroy and Helena, who both seemed nice, before Annie had stolen her away to work in the kitchen. Now that she was out of there, the night air made her shiver. She would need a cloak to keep her warm whilst outside in the dark. She didn't have one, but surely Helena would. She knew which room she was staying in, so after grabbing an oil torch off the wall, she made her way upstairs and entered her chamber. The castle walls seemed eerie in the torchlight as the flames flickered off the cold stone. It was the sort of place where ghosts could appear, thought Jenny, trembling. She lifted the torch high and scanned the room, her eyes lighting up when she saw a cloak draped over a chair. Just as she was about to grab it, the door opened.

  Alarmed, she turned to see Helena enter the chamber, closing the door behind her.

  "Wherefore art thou in my chamber, Jenny?" she asked quietly, holding her torch aloft. "Stephen is searching for thee."

  "He is? Oh, crap!"

  Helena frowned at Jenny's tone of voice. She stepped forward and looked at Stephen's new ward, searching her face.

  "Art thou a thief?"

  Jenny gasped. "No! To be truthful, Helena, I just wanted to borrow your cloak. I wanted to take a walk outside, and the night air is cold."

  Helena studied her. "Wherefore did thee not speak to Stephen of thy intentions?"

  Jenny rolled her eyes. "Must I tell him my every move?"

  "Aye, thou art his ward, and as such, thee must answer to him. He is verily angry that thee hath disobeyed his orders to help in the kitchen."

  Jenny huffed loudly. "Helena, women don't have to answer to men all the time, you know. Where I come from, women are independent. We have jobs. We have our own houses, our own money."

  Helena gasped. "I do not like this place thee hail from. 'Tis ungodly!"

  "No, Helena, it's far from ungodly. It's just...different. Look, may I borrow your cloak, just to take the night air? I'll be back shortly, I promise! It's just so hot in the kitchens, I'm in need of some fresh air."

  "Aye, I suppose so, but I beg of thee, do not take long."

  A loud knock came upon the bedroom door and both women froze.

  "Helena?" It was Stephen.

  Helena pointed at the door and silently indicated that Jenny should slip behind it, out of view. Jenny quickly placed her torch into the wall bracket, grabbed the cloak and moved to the corner of the room, whilst Helena opened the door.

  "Aye, Stephen?"

  "Hath thou seen Jenny?"

  "Nay, Stephen, I hath not. Mayhap, she is in the privy chamber?"

  "Aye, mayhap. Wouldst thou check for me?"

  "Certainly." Helena took the torch, left her chamber, and followed Stephen along the corridor, leaving Jenny alone in the dark.

  "Great!" she whispered to herself. "Now I have no light. Geez!"

  Cautiously, she felt along the wall until she encountered a heavy, metal hinge and then moved her hand along the wooden door until she could feel the handle. Slowly, she lifted the latch and opened the door an inch, listening carefully to any sounds. Apart from the faint crackling of the torches on the walls, the castle was quiet.

  Quickly, she slipped from the room and darted for the stairs, her heart in her mouth. If Stephen was to find her, she knew exactly which part of her anatomy would be punished, and much to her annoyance, she found that the thought didn't disturb her as much as excite her. What was wrong with her?

  Reaching the bottom step, she glanced around whilst wrapping the cloak around her
shoulders. From here, she could hear the noises coming from the Great Hall to her left and the kitchens to her right. She decided her safest route would be straight ahead. Taking another torch off the wall, she ran quickly up the dark, narrow corridor, on the lookout for an exit.

  * * *

  Stephen was vexed. Annie had informed him that Jenny had contributed nothing to the workings in the kitchens and had simply disappeared. The wench was truly lazy and would be punished. His hand itched to mete out justice upon her soft bottom. She was far too headstrong and independent for a woman. What had Hugh Peverel been thinking, in allowing a relative of his to be brought up so? The man had been away on the crusades too long, and now his cousin was running amok. Well, he would see to it that whilst under his care, she would adhere to his rules. He would not abide this behaviour!

  On his way back from the garderobe, he ran up the narrow steps to the parapets and went outside to ask the guards if they had seen anything. He wouldn't put it past Jenny to try and escape the grounds again. Even though he had told her of the dangers that lay outside, she'd foolishly ignored his warnings.

  The guard nearest to the door stood to attention upon seeing Stephen.

  "Hath thou seen anything unusual this eve?"

  "Nay, milord. All's well."

  Stephen nodded and walked to the wall, peering over the edge to look below. There was a three-quarter moon, and in between the clouds flittering across the sky, it lit up the grounds fairly well. He studied the drive and outbuildings for any signs of movement. There was nothing. Where had the wench gone?

  * * *

  Jenny was running from outbuilding to outbuilding, keeping to the shadows as best she could. Damn the moon for being so bright this night, she cursed angrily. She had doused her torch before she'd left the castle for fear of being discovered, as the guards would easily notice a bright light on the grounds. Now the moon was threatening to expose her, just the same.

  An owl swooped down in front of her as she startled it from its perch. She nearly died on the spot with fright, clapping her hand to her mouth to stifle her scream. Once she'd steadied her nerves, she continued on her way.

  The perimeter walls grew nearer as she reached the last of the outbuildings, the stables. Where could she get out, though, without any of the guards noticing? This called for a bit of planning. She racked her brain. She needed a diversion; something to lure the guards away from the gate...but what? A soft whinny from inside the stable suddenly gave her an idea. Quickly, she snuck over to the door and slipped inside.

  With the pale moonlight filtering through a tiny opening in the roof slats, she managed to unlock the stall doors and let some of the horses out. They tossed their heads, afraid at the intrusion to their night time routine. Once they were all out, Jenny opened the main doors and slapped them on their rumps. With loud snorts, they cantered out of their home and ran into the darkness, their hooves sounding like thunder in the still night air.

  Jenny peered around the corner in time to hear the guards call out to each other, their voices frantic as mayhem broke out.

  "The horses are out!"

  "Damn and blast! How didst they escape?"

  Quickly, Jenny ran towards the perimeter wall and headed to the small side gate nearest to her; one she had seen a guard vacate. She slipped through the opening and ran down the steep hill towards the lane leading to the church.

  * * *

  William, Stephen's head guard, alerted him to the problem outside. "There is trouble afoot, milord! Someone hath set the horses free."

  Stephen scowled. "Is the problem under thy control?"

  "Aye, milord. All horses art back in the stable. I thought thee should know. I hath seen no poachers or strangers within the castle grounds."

  Stephen nodded. He had a feeling he knew who had set the horses free and why.

  "Make my horse ready, I shall ride out. I would hath two guards accompany me."

  "Aye, milord."

  "And bring the two Irish Wolfhounds!"

  William rushed off to do as he was bid and a few minutes later, Stephen was riding out of the main gate with two guards on either side of him.

  * * *

  Jenny was lost. What had looked so easy in the daylight now seemed like a completely dumb idea. Where on earth was the church? She'd been so sure she was heading in the right direction, but, now, she'd arrived at an open field and there was no sign of the chapel anywhere. Glumly, she plonked herself down on a fallen log and looked out into the moonlit field, wondering in which direction she should go next.

  Suddenly, she heard the sounds of dogs barking. Dogs? This time of night? Oh, bloody hell, what if some of the locals were hunting? What if they mistook her for a deer or other animal, from a distance? Frantic, she looked around for somewhere to hide. There was only one thing for it. She'd have to climb a tree...luckily for her that was something she was used to doing, thanks to Seth's apple trees.

  The baying of the dogs grew nearer. Jenny quickly swung her leg up onto the branch of the closest tree. With a lot of heaving and effort, she managed to climb up into the densest part, where she was hopefully obscured from view. She stayed absolutely still as the dogs approached. Of course, she knew that they could follow her scent to the tree, but they couldn't get up it and she had no other choice.

  "Search her out, boys, go on!" she heard a man urge. She groaned silently. He'd said 'her.' That most likely meant that they were castle guards and not hunters as she'd previously thought. Great! Just what she didn't need.

  The undergrowth below her was suddenly disturbed as the dogs arrived beneath her tree. She could hear loud panting and snuffling noises and then they began to howl. One placed both of his great paws on the thick tree trunk, and Jenny stayed stock still, hardly daring to breathe.

  * * *

  Stephen approached his guard and jumped down from his horse.

  The man spoke to him, a hint of excitement in his voice. "They hath found something, milord. Up in that tree."

  Stephen walked to it and tried to peer up into the half light but could see nothing. "Art thou positive?"

  "Aye, milord. The dogs hath never failed me yet."

  "Well, make them quiet now. I wish to find the wench."

  "Shoosh! Hush!" The dogs whimpered but fell almost silent, apart from their loud panting.

  Stephen called up into the tree. "Jenny Peverel, I order thee to come down!"

  He stared up into the branches but nothing moved, not even a leaf.

  "Jenny! This is thy last warning."

  Stephen listened for signs of someone above but all was still and silent. If he didn't know better, he'd say the dogs were wrong, but his guard seemed adamant that there was someone or some animal up there. If indeed it was Jenny, then he would blister her bottom when they got back to the castle for leading him a merry chase. He had better things to do...oversee his guests, for one!

  Angry now, he thrust his horse's reins at his guard and made to climb the tree.

  "I can do that, milord!" The other guard stepped forward, offering his services, but Stephen declined loudly.

  "Nay. I would catch this one myself." Aside, and for the guard's ears only, he whispered for him to go up the other side.

  For someone so large, Stephen scaled the tree with ease, his strong forearms hoisting him up, branch by branch. He could hear his nimble guard just slightly below him. A sudden rustle alerted him to the fact that there was definitely someone above him. He looked up just in time to see a pair of startled eyes looking back at him. It was Jenny!

  "Come hither, this instant, Jenny! I will not ask thee again."

  "Ask! Huh! Order, you mean!" hissed Jenny as she moved onto another branch, higher up. "I don't want to come back, and you can't make me! Go away and leave me alone!"

  * * *

  There he went again, ordering her about. How dare he order her to do anything. If she came down, he would spank her, so what was the point? No, she intended to remain up there, out of his re
ach. Hopefully, he'd get bored and leave.

  He uttered an oath and she heard him move nearer. "Nay, I cannot and will not leave thee alone in the dark. 'Tis too dangerous."

  "I can look after myself," said Jenny with a bravado she was far from feeling.

  But she wouldn't let him know that. Suddenly, she felt a pair of hands clamp around her waist and pull her downwards. She screamed and kicked out, but the guard that had hold of her was used to the battlefield, and a mere slip of a girl was nothing to his strength.

  "I hath her, milord!"

  "You bastard! Let me be!"

  "I assure thee, milady, I am no bastard. My mother and father were wed."

  "I didn't mean it like that, you cretin! Let me go!" She struggled and tried to elbow him in the side, but he gave no reaction, and she just ended up with a painful elbow where she'd hit his chain mail.

  Nearly at the bottom of the tree, he jumped down and handed Jenny to Stephen, who had already descended to wait for his prize.

  Stephen grabbed her with both arms and pulled her to his strong form. "Thou shall be punished for this act of foolishness. My guards hath better things to do than chase thee around the county. Come!" He pushed her forward to his horse and lifted her up as though she weighed nothing, to place her in his saddle. He immediately mounted behind her and turned his horse towards home.

  Jenny was disconcerted. His strong thighs were sending emotions soaring through her. His big arms held the reins on either side of her body, and she felt well and truly safe...and turned on! She frowned. This was ridiculous! She hardly knew the man. A little voice inside argued back that it didn't matter. If the chemistry was there, it was there. You couldn't just conjure it up. The thought of her impending punishment didn't help, either. Imagining going over his solid thighs brought only excitement. God, give her strength!

  * * *

  Once back at the castle, Stephen jumped down and then pulled Jenny off his horse, putting her beside him on the ground. She stood quietly by his side, for once not trying to escape.

  One of the guards led his horse away whilst the other took the dogs. Stephen stared down at Jenny, his expression stern and puzzled.