The Fairest Beauty

“Lorencz, this is Gabe, a pilgrim from Hungary. Gabe, this is Lorencz the huntsman.”

 

 

They appeared to be sizing each other up. The stranger was not as brawny as Lorencz, but he was just as tall and held his head high. He couldn’t have looked less like a humble traveler.

 

Finally, Lorencz nodded, as though dismissing Gabe, then turned to Sophie and eyed her in a way that made her wary. “Are you ready for our picnic?”

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 5

 

 

The huntsman had come at a very inopportune time, and it didn’t seem to Gabe as if Sophie wanted to go with him.

 

“I’ll fetch our food.” Lorencz seemed oblivious to her strained smile and stiff posture.

 

As soon as the overconfident lout disappeared inside the kitchen, Gabe turned to Sophie. “Are you sure it’s safe for you to be alone with him? You could turn him away.”

 

“I know that.” She tried to look stern, but her eyebrows came together and her expression gradually changed. She hesitated, then whispered, “Since you are determined not to leave, I only ask that you don’t confront Duchess Ermengard just yet. Wait until I return, and I will tell you how you must approach her and what you must say if she summons you. There are rules you must follow if you hope not to incite her wrath. You have no idea how quickly she can become enraged.”

 

Sophie appeared more worried about him than about herself.

 

“Don’t worry. I won’t say anything to provoke her.”

 

“It may not seem provoking —”

 

The huntsman came out of the kitchen carrying a large basket and walked past Gabe as though he were a tree stump. Gabe didn’t trust him.

 

Sophie started out beside Lorencz, turned, and gave Gabe a pointed look. He winked at her.

 

She frowned and turned away.

 

Gabe waited until they were out of sight, then followed.

 

Sophie wasn’t sure she could trust Lorencz, but she always carried a small knife on her person. She’d only had to use the eating utensil as a weapon once, but at least she knew she was capable of defending herself.

 

“Isn’t this far enough?” Sophie halted in a clearing near the stream bank.

 

Lorencz smiled. “Don’t you trust me?”

 

“No, not particularly.”

 

He ignored her comment and said, “I had a more beautiful spot in mind, with wildflowers and forest strawberries …”

 

“I’d rather stop here.” Best to stand my ground with him.

 

He frowned, but only for a moment. He stooped to set down the basket and pull out a blanket, which he handed to Sophie to spread on the ground.

 

She helped him set out the food — more than Sophie ate in three whole days — and was careful not to let even her fingers touch his as he handed her the cheese, loaf of bread, dried fruit, fried pies, cold meat, and wine skin.

 

Sophie’s stomach growled.

 

Lorencz laughed. “Hungry?” He gave her a wolfish smile.

 

She blushed but didn’t say anything.

 

He lifted the hunk of bread toward his mouth.

 

“Stop!” She’d uttered it automatically and could feel her blush deepen.

 

He halted, his mouth open, just as he was about to bite.

 

“We must first thank God for the food.”

 

He raised his eyebrows at her and frowned.

 

Ignoring him, Sophie bowed her head and clasped her hands. “We thank you, O Lord, for this food, and we bless it for your name’s sake. Grant that all who partake of it may obtain health of body and safety of soul. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”

 

When she looked up, Lorencz was staring at her with a slightly bemused look.

 

“Don’t you pray?” she asked.

 

“No.”

 

Her distaste must have shown on her face, because he cleared his throat and said, “But I have never known how. Perhaps you could teach me.”

 

His words and sly stare didn’t exactly evoke any belief in his sincerity. She wanted to believe she could trust the man … unfortunately, she could not summon any.

 

But he was asking her to teach him. It would be wrong to refuse, even if he wasn’t earnest.

 

“Praying is simple.” Faintly, she remembered the words of the young priest who had taught her so many years ago. “You must do four things. You must tell God that you are thankful, ask his blessing, acknowledge that he is God, and pray through Jesus.”

 

“And say ‘amen’ at the end?”

 

Sophie nodded.

 

“Sounds easy enough.” He smiled at her and once again raised the piece of bread to his lips. His eyes never left her face.

 

Sophie bit into her bread and chewed. She had missed breakfast that morning, since she had slept late after her long night of nursing, but it was hard to eat with Lorencz staring at her. O God, what are his intentions? Would he help me get away from here? She stared back at him, trying to read his thoughts and his character.

 

Lorencz offered her more food, giving her portions of everything he had brought. Before she had even tasted it all, her stomach was full.

 

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