She followed him as he practically ran up the steep steps that led to the upper hall of the manor house. What did he plan to do? Her behavior certainly was suspicious, and Lord le Wyse had likely seen Stephen with her, or at least noticed someone pulling her along. She couldn’t tell him Stephen was with her. He had asked her to swear not to tell anyone, but how could she lie to her lord?
She tried to steady herself as Lord le Wyse led her inside. Standing in the shadow of the doorframe, he glanced outside before shutting the door. He paced off each corner of the room, which was deep in shadows, as if trying to make sure no one else was there. The hall’s only light came from one candle on the table across the room and a little moonlight shining through the windows.
Apparently satisfied no one lurked inside, Lord le Wyse looked to Annabel. She simply stood there, praying, Father God, let it all be a dream.
He beckoned to her with his hand, and she stepped slowly toward him, her knees weak. He led her to a corner, backing her into it and standing beside the window in such a way to block her view — or perhaps to keep anyone outside from seeing her.
“Who was with you in the forest just now?”
Her heart dropped to her toes. It was against the law to withhold the truth from one’s lord. She searched his face and saw a spark of compassion. “Oh, my lord, please. Please don’t ask me.” Her words became a whisper as tears clogged her throat. God, help me. Tell me what to do.
“Annabel.” His voice softened. “You must tell me everything that happened.”
She pressed trembling fingers to her lips as the tears spilled down her cheeks. “I’m so afraid.”
“What were you doing in the forest tonight?”
“I-I visited the privy.” She had to struggle to stop the sob that was emerging from her throat.
“Did you see anyone?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Who?”
She looked down at the dark floor. She wished Lord le Wyse would stir up the embers in the fireplace and light a torch. The darkness seemed to close in around her, reminding her of the forest and the events that had taken place mere minutes before. But Lord le Wyse did not move as he waited for her to answer. O God, what shall I say?
“Tell me. Who did you see?”
“I saw — “ She shook her head. She couldn’t say it. She couldn’t say his name.
“You saw Bailiff Tom, didn’t you?”
Her tears came faster. “Yes. Is he …?”
“He’s not dead. At least, he was still breathing when I left him. I sent Gilbert Carpenter to get some men to take his body to his sister’s house, since it isn’t very far away.”
The sob broke through and she cried from relief.
Lord le Wyse touched her hand with a handkerchief. “Here.”
She took it and held it to her eyes and nose, willing herself to stop crying.
In her mind’s eye she saw her father, draped with a linen sheet, after he died from the horrible pestilence. Her brothers had carried him out and had even dug his grave themselves. As her mind reeled, she imagined Bailiff Tom covered in a similar sheet, the priest performing the last rites. Her father died of a sickness, but this … this death would be by her own knife.
No, she was getting confused. He wasn’t dead, she hoped, and it was a rock that hit him in the head. Her insides trembled violently at the memory. But perhaps it was caused by her knife, in an indirect way. After all, if Bailiff Tom hadn’t been holding her knife, Stephen wouldn’t have thrown the rock. Would he?
Lord le Wyse shifted, drawing her attention back to his looming form. “What happened? Tell me.” He reached out and touched her arm with his fingertips, a brief caress.
“It was an accident.”
“I know. Only tell me what happened and I can help.”
“I’m not sure I should tell you.” She felt torn. Her throat ached with held-back tears, making her voice sound rough.
“I know you were there when Tom was injured. And I know someone was with you in the woods. I saw him behind you. You mustn’t try to protect anyone, Annabel. It will look bad for you.”
The room had started to tilt to one side, then the other. “Truly, I don’t want to get anyone into any trouble, my lord. Don’t tell anyone I was there. I’m afraid — don’t make me tell you — “
She began to sob again. He drew her to the chair by the fireplace and gently helped her sit.
“Annabel.”
She looked up at him, hearing the gentle command in his voice.
“If the bailiff doesn’t recover consciousness, I must summon the coroner. He’s coming anyway to investigate our barn fire. He will make an examination, attempt to question witnesses. If he finds out you were there, you will have to answer a lot of questions. And you cannot refuse to answer. The coroner has the authority of the king.”
She felt stunned.
“But if it truly was an accident, you should tell me exactly what happened. No one will be hung for an accident.”
Hung? Was it an accident? She tried to sort it all out, tried to figure out how to explain it without it seeming as if Stephen had tried to … kill Tom.
It sent a pain through her chest and into her stomach to even think the words. She wanted so much to tell Lord le Wyse, but she had to protect her friend. The bailiff might still die.