Page 63 of Never Leave Me
“Then it is settled.” Will crossed his arms as though daring Marian to defy him. “I shall accompany Lady Ellen.”
Marian offered no further protests. Instead, they discussed where to go first. Since Dad had apparently ingested his flask of holy water in the lobby of the modern-day Kent and Canterbury Hospital, they needed to visit that location, which was outside the old city walls on the opposite side of Canterbury on Old Dover Road. In the present day, the hospital was in a suburban area near Simon Langton Grammar School for Girls and the Kent County Cricket Club.
However, in 1382, the land surrounding Canterbury consisted of rural farms and moorland, which meant Dad would arrive in a field. When he awoke, he would make his way into Canterbury via the Old Dover Road. Ellen planned to be there.
Later, as she stepped outside through the front portico, she shivered against the chill and wrapped her cloak tighter, grateful Marian had thought to provide riding gloves. The sky was overcast, and the dark clouds to the west were heavy with rain. Several of Will’s squires were mounted as though they intended to ride along. And a groomsman held the reins of two saddled horses, one a large beast and the other slightly more docile-looking.
At Ellen’s approach, the horse tossed its head and snorted as though it had decided it didn’t want to deal with an inexperienced rider like her. At least she had more familiarity than Marian, whohadn’t known how to ride at all when she’d first crossed to the Middle Ages. They’d had the morning to talk and catch up, and Marian had spoken fondly of her past year even though it had been full of adjustments, and she still missed many things from her old life.
In just a few short days, Ellen already had a long list of the many items she wished she had—a stethoscope, antiseptic, sterile pads, cotton balls, and all the other medical supplies she’d had at hand, even in Haiti. She couldn’t deny she also missed things like electricity and running water. She admired Marian all the more for learning to live without modern conveniences.
Ellen had wanted to bring up her sighting of Harrison from the previous evening, but she hadn’t known exactly how to do so without having Marian make more assumptions about her relationship with Harrison. So for the time being, she’d remained silent about it and had instead secretly tried to overlap with him every time she stepped into her chambers.
“Lady Ellen?” a male voice called from beyond Chesterfield Park’s gates.
She peered down the long driveway to find Nicholas standing next to his horse. The guard was shaking his head at Nicholas, most likely having prevented him from entering once again.
Will’s attention shifted to the newcomer, his hand on his sword hilt.
Ellen waved at the guard. “You may let Nicholas in.”
The guard looked to Will for his decision as though Ellen’s word didn’t matter at all. Inwardly she sighed but refrained from saying more.
Will studied the road both ways in addition to the forestland beyond before motioning to the guard to allow Nicholas to pass.
As the young knight made his way inside, the groomsman assisted Ellen into her saddle.
Will had already mounted and was approaching Nicholas. “SirNicholas of Reider. I owe you my gratitude for safely delivering my wife’s sister yesterday morn. You saved her from an unwanted union, one that surely would have provoked me to violent measures against Lord Worth.”
Leading his horse by its reins, Sir Nicholas bowed his head. “I am at your service, my lord. But I fear you may still have an encounter with him.”
“So be it.”
Nicholas straightened. “I bring you warning of a rumor I heard last eve. Lord Worth claims Lady Ellen as his betrothed and says you have stolen her. He intends to take the case before the archdeaconry court.”
Claims her? Ellen held back a scoffing laugh. How barbaric. The threat was like something straight out of the movies.
“I fear he will do so soon,” Nicholas continued, “before the peril of the plague stops him.”
“I have already heard the rumor of his intentions. And I shall be prepared for any aggression he may exert.” Will’s shoulders were set as though he was ready to do battle. From the fierceness of his demeanor, Ellen had no doubt he was a skilled warrior. Even so, she didn’t want to be the cause of a conflict.
What if the court sided with Lord Worth? Would he come to Chesterfield Park and demand that Will hand her over?
She let her attention drift to the walls that surrounded the manor grounds. Could Chesterfield Park withstand an attack? And even if it could, did she really want to bring such danger and destruction upon Will and Marian?
She expected Will to press Nicholas for more details about his brother and the rumor, but he changed the subject and for several moments questioned Nicholas instead about the plague outbreak, where it had spread, and when they could anticipate it reaching the Canterbury area.
“Although it may be a sennight or more before it moves this direction, I would take care to provision and seclude yourselves anon.”
Will nodded gravely.
Nicholas glanced at Ellen before focusing back on the gate. “I have relayed the warning to Canterbury. However, before traveling to the Weald today to do the same, I considered it my duty to see how Lady Ellen fares. I could not in good conscience depart without assuring myself she was safe and happy.”
“Your duty?” Will raised his brows, a hint of humor in his tone.
Nicholas’s expression remained stern. In his long chain mail hauberk split at the waist in the front and back for ease of riding, with a sword strapped to his belt, and a coif flattened against his head, he was every inch what she would have dreamed a medieval knight should be—darkly handsome, strong, and chivalrous.
Will waved a hand toward her. “I give you leave to speak with the lady and question her for yourself.”
