Page 89 of Never Leave Me
Will nodded curtly, then looked at Arthur. The older mancouldn’t move or speak. But his eyes said everything—that he was willing to sacrifice his life in order to save his daughter.
Will retreated a step. “We shall deliberate the matter and give you our decision on the morrow.”
“Very well, Lord Durham.” Lord Worth’s attention remained riveted to the drinking pouch. “But do not think you can fool us by keeping back some of the water for yourself. You will hand it all over to Ickham’s control where it rightfully belongs. If we learn that you have kept any, you will force us to make widely known your connection with witches. Perhaps your wife is a witch too?”
Will visibly stiffened but didn’t speak.
Harrison’s chest tightened with uneasiness. Will loved Marian more than anything and would never put her in danger. He’d never risk using the water. Not for him, Ellen, or Arthur. Were they all now doomed to die in the past?
Peering out the window, Ellen caught sight of the riders approaching Chesterfield’s gate. “They’re back.”
She raced from Marian’s room, through the corridor, and down the steps, her heart thudding with fear. For all the men and her dad. But it beat hardest for Harrison.
She prayed, as she had throughout the long night, that Harrison had remained safe and that he hadn’t taken part in any fighting. Last night when she’d seen him in the chain mail and wearing a sword, she’d practically begged him not to go. Harrison was too tenderhearted to fight, much less kill.
But he’d insisted on being a part of the mission, apparently feeling some manly need to prove himself. Or perhaps he’d wanted to participate in order to make sure he could claim some of the holy water for his plans to return to the present and rescue her.
As she pushed through the front door and stepped outside ontothe gravel path, the afternoon sunshine had disappeared behind cold, dark clouds. A chill in the air hinted at the coming of rain.
She was surprised to find Marian beside her, draped in a robe and waiting breathlessly, having left the baby behind with the servants. Her red hair was unbound, her cheeks flushed, and her eyes sparkling.
Ellen reached for Marian’s hand. “I don’t know how you bear doing this.” In the ongoing war with the French, Will had to be away often on missions for the king, although he wasn’t gone nearly as much or as long as he used to be.
“’Tis never easy.” Marian squeezed her fingers. “I loathe his leaving, but the reunions are beautiful.”
Ellen imagined Marian’s reunions with Will entailed lots of kissing and guessed that wouldn’t be the case with her and Harrison. Nevertheless, she focused anxiously on the riders making their way through the gate. Thad led the way, followed by Will and Harrison side by side. Though they were both dusty and weary, Ellen couldn’t see signs of any injuries.
Had they survived intact?
“Oh please, God,” she whispered.
Marian smiled gently. “He’ll be fine. Will wouldn’t let any harm come to him.”
She’d been hoping that was the case, or at the very least hoping they hadn’t faced much resistance in taking over the well. With only a few men accompanying them in their return, she guessed Will had left the remainder behind to stand guard. And from the look of things, they’d left Dad behind as well. More likely Dad had insisted on staying to study the water to his heart’s content.
As they drew nearer, their haggard and somber faces sent a tremor of more fear through her. Something warned Ellen they bore news she wouldn’t like. Had their mission failed after all?
Not only did she and Harrison need the water to survive, butwhat about Josie? Even though Harrison had assured her the little girl was alive, she was in dire need of a miracle. Maybe Ellen’s idea to use the holy water for all the Serenity House children had been idealistic and not entirely plausible. But she still wanted to find a way to at least help Josie.
Marian’s fingers tightened within hers as if she felt the tension too.
The men dismounted, and a stable boy ran up to assist them.
“Did you not retake the well?” Marian asked as Will approached.
He untied a leather flask from his belt and handed it to her.
“Holy water?” Marian released Ellen’s hand and took the flask reverently.
He nodded and started to speak, but Harrison beat him to it. “They have Arthur as their prisoner. I’m sorry, Ellen. Marian.”
“What happened?” Ellen asked.
Again, Harrison answered before Will could. “Ickham and Lord Worth are accusing Arthur of being a witch. They’ve demanded control of the wellspring for Arthur’s life.”
Marian’s face turned pale. “You didn’t give in, did you?”
Harrison shook his head, his eyes brimming with sadness. “They demanded all the water, including the drinking flask.”
