Page 291 of Historical Hotties
Yes, even love.
It was an entirely different world.
And maybe not such a bad one.
“I don’t know what to do,” she finally said, her red eyes welling again. “Madam Madonna told me that I must preach the word of God and I would go to heaven. She told me that’s what I must always do, but I feel afraid when I do it and afraid when I don’t. No one listens to me. Do you think God will truly forgive me if I ask forgiveness for breaking his commandment?”
Thor nodded. “He will, I am certain of it,” he said. “Jane, did Madam Madonna always tell you what to do?”
“Always.”
“From now on, the only people who are going to tell you what to do are me and your mother,” he said, bending over so he could be more on her level. “And we will tell you to learn your lessons, play with your sisters, and be happy. You do not have to preach any longer, I promise.”
She nodded, her lower lip trembling as she started wiping her eyes again.Poor, confused lass,Thor thought. He also thought their conversation might have been the least bit overwhelmingto her, so he patted her gently on the shoulder before pointing to Darius.
“Darius is going to make a bed for your sister’s chicken,” he said, nodding his head when Darius rolled his eyes at the ridiculous request he’d been roped into. “It seems that Lady Janet wants a bed for her chicken to sleep in, and since Sir Darius is so good at building things, he has agreed to the task. Mayhap you would like to help him build it.”
Darius knew that Jane wasn’t one for groups. She was a lonely child. But having her help him build a bed for a chicken, as foolish as that sounded, might help her feel more comfortable with the people who now lived in her home. It might help her even want to participate in other things, including lessons with her mother. Perhaps it was a small step, this chicken bed, but it was a step to bigger things. Hopefully.
Darius held out his hand to her.
“Come along, my lady,” he said. “Help me find some wood so we may fashion a bed for your sister’s chicken.”
Still sniffling, Jane went with him. Thor watched them go, hearing Darius ask her how big she thought the bed should be and her hiccupping reply. But it was a start.
A new start for Jane.
And for Caledonia.
With a smile on his lips, he went back to his duties.
*
“Here you are.I’ve been looking for you.”
In a small outbuilding in the kitchen yard, Darius looked up from the small cradle he was building to see Nicola standing in the doorway. Jane was standing next to him, handing him nails, but when he saw Nicola, he immediately came to a halt.
“I have been here,” he said. “Lady Jane and I are building a bed for a chicken.”
Nicola stepped into the shed, smiling. “Ah,” she said. “For Mary. I heard.”
Jane had her head down, focused on what Darius was doing. She was terrified to look at Nicola, whom she knew to be a friend of her mother’s. Darius could see the child’s discomfort.
“Lady Jane has been an excellent apprentice,” he said. “We have been speaking of England and all of her great cities. Have we not, Jane?”
Jane nodded, once, but kept silent. Darius fought off a smile.
“In truth, I have been doing most of the talking,” he said. “I fear that Jane is missing her tongue and does not know how to speak. She has been quite silent, though I know she does speak to the animals, so she must have a tongue that magically disappears and appears when she needs it. Is that true, Jane?”
Jane looked at him with big eyes, and Darius laughed softly. So did Nicola. Darius bent down and peered at her mouth.
“Well?” he said. “Has your tongue magically disappeared?”
Jane shook her head almost frantically, but Darius didn’t believe her.
“Show me,” he said. “Stick your tongue out.”
Jane did, but Darius pretended not to see it.
