“Nonetheless, you grew up in a wealthy home. You are educated. You learned languages, learned to read and write. You’ve traveled to large cities. None of the other villagers can boast of these things.”
Annabel questioned him with her eyes as she perched on the tree trunk a couple of feet away.
“What I’m trying to say is that there is no one here for you” — he swallowed, having a hard time getting the words out — “for you to marry.” Except me. But he was foolish to even think those words. “And you told me once that you didn’t wish to marry. You wanted to become a nun. Is this still true?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Then I shall send you to Rosings Abbey. I know the abbess there. In fact, she is my mother’s sister. I have written to her and expect to receive her reply any day. Does this please you?” He did not allow any emotion to show in his face as he searched hers.
Her expression showed interest — and joy. “Oh, yes, my lord. It pleases me. But are you sure you want to send me away? I was indentured to you for three years. My service has hardly begun.”
Ranulf again had to swallow the lump in his throat before he could speak. “I don’t want to send you away, but I want you to be safe. You see, I will be sending you away in secret. Not even Mistress Eustacia knows my plans. If Sir Clement finds out you are going to an abbey before his investigation is over, he will prevent you.”
“Oh.” Sober-faced, she stared out into the milling workers.
“I wish to help you escape any repercussions from people here in Glynval once they find out you know who struck the bailiff. It is the only way to keep you safe from the jury’s inquest.”
“Won’t Sir Clement come to the abbey and force me to tell what I know?”
“Nay, you will be safe as long as you stay within the walls of the abbey.” He tried to take a deep breath, but his lungs were too tight. “And as for your service to me, you have done more for me in a fortnight than most other servants do in three years.”
She blushed and looked confused. She stared down at her hands fidgeting in her lap.
He wanted to tell her so much more, how she had convicted him of his bitterness toward women and how unjust that had been. She made him realize there were good people in the world. And though it was bittersweet, at least he knew he was no longer dead inside. He couldn’t tell her, but he enjoyed being with her, talking with her, seeing the sincerity of her feelings and the purity of her thoughts. God was obviously alive, alive in her. Hearing her thoughts as they read the Bible together had given him joy he had seldom known before.
Perhaps he should tell her this, but it would only strain their friendship. She would be afraid of him if she knew the depths of his feelings.
He sighed. He’d told her his plan. Now he must fulfill his promise to Sir Clement of trying to pry the identity of the bailiff’s attacker from her.
“Annabel.”
“Yes, my lord?”
“Sir Clement and I know you saw who struck the bailiff. From what you say, he didn’t intend to kill him, but the bailiff still has not regained consciousness. I need you to tell me who you were with that night.”
“How could I hurt him in this way?” She turned toward him, her forehead creased, her eyes pleading with him. “I have no right to keep the information from you, but how can I do such a traitorous thing to a friend who was only trying to defend me from Bailiff Tom?”
Ranulf felt the heat rise up his neck. Once again, he wished he had been the one with her, the one to help her.
“Annabel, if you tell me now, I will only tell the coroner after you’ve gone to the abbey. And I will make sure Sir Clement and the entire village knows that this person was defending you from the bailiff.” She seemed to be considering it, not looking quite as perplexed as before. “I promise I’ll do all I can to keep the person safe from repercussions. No one can blame him when they find out what the bailiff was doing to you.”
“I don’t want you to be blamed, either.” Her lip quivered and tears swam in her eyes. But she swallowed and blinked the tears away. “I will tell you, but please promise me that you won’t reveal it unless you have to, to keep yourself safe from blame.”
“I promise. But I need you also to tell me everything that happened. Don’t leave anything out. Then when this is all over, if the bailiff recovers, he can be properly punished.”
She stared down at the ground, pursing her lips and blinking rapidly. His longing to reach out and comfort her was so strong it was a physical ache. But he held back.
She took a deep breath and began telling about walking through the woods to the privy. She didn’t look at him, just stared at the ground while she talked.