Annabel also stood. “I must go. Mistress Eustacia —”
He nodded without looking at her. “You may go. Don’t worry. I won’t tell your secret unless I know I can keep both you and Stephen safe.”
“Thank you, my lord.” She hesitated, not willing to leave him. His shoulders were slumped and he seemed to be watching the laborers as they worked on his house.
After a few moments it seemed plain that he wanted her to go, so she turned and walked away.
He was sending her away to live with the nuns. She would be away from the inquest, away from Sir Clement’s questions, and away from Lord le Wyse and the disturbing feelings he stirred within her.
She couldn’t get to that abbey too soon.
Chapter
16
Annabel’s thoughts skittered everywhere while she tried to help Mistress Eustacia cook. She dropped the basket that held the peas, strewing them all over the stone floor. She dropped the water bucket, spilling water over her feet. She dropped everything she touched until Mistress Eustacia sent her to the mill to inquire when the flour would be ready.
As Annabel walked along the dirt trail carved by cart wheels, a heaviness filled her chest. Forgive me, Father God. I didn’t mean to betray Stephen. And as for Lord le Wyse, I shouldn’t be feeling this way about my lord.
But soon she’d be at the abbey, away from him and away from these strange sensations. Then I’ll be good again, God. I’ll read your Holy Writ and pray every waking moment. She couldn’t disappoint anyone there. At the abbey she’d be away from people, and away from temptation and these troubling thoughts. Lord God, why does Lord le Wyse look at me in that way that makes my heart flutter like birds’ wings? Why did he touch my cheek? Forgive me, God, but it felt so good.
She closed her eyes for a moment, remembering as her cheek tingled.
“Annabel!”
She stopped abruptly. Stephen stood only an arm’s length away. A shudder convulsed her as she realized how close she’d come to smacking headfirst into her friend. She’d been walking with her head down, so lost in her thoughts …
“You didn’t even see me.” Stephen’s look of amazement made her aware of how odd her behavior must appear.
She shook her head, unable to make the effort to smile. “I was thinking, not watching where I was going. Forgive me. Are you well?” Cold fingers wrapped around her throat. What would Stephen say to her if he knew she’d betrayed his secret?
“I am. How do you fare?” He looked at her so intensely, and leaned toward her so near that she took a step back.
“I am well.” What would he think when she went away to the abbey in a few days? She couldn’t tell him, of course. Lord le Wyse had told her not to, and she couldn’t betray two people in one day. She would simply have to leave him a note.
Stephen stared at her again with that strange look. He swallowed, making his Adam’s apple bob up and down, as though he were about to say something, then he closed his mouth.
Finally, he spoke. “I hear the bailiff’s condition hasn’t changed. He’s still asleep.”
Annabel nodded. “No one knows if he will recover.” That was why he was behaving strangely. He was thinking of the bailiff. Should she tell him that the coroner had questioned her? She never kept secrets from Stephen, but she was too ashamed of how much she had revealed to Sir Clement.
“I-I try not to think about it, but I dream about it every night.” That was when she noticed the dark circles under his eyes.
“Oh, Stephen, please don’t worry so much. I truly believe everything will be all right.” After all, Lord le Wyse promised to protect us, both of us.
Stephen fidgeted, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. “I know it was the bailiff’s fault for trying to hurt you, but I hope he doesn’t die. I don’t want that on my conscience.”
“I know, but I’m sure God will forgive you. He will, Stephen.”
He looked uncomfortable and changed the tone of his voice when he asked, “How are you faring with Lord le Wyse? I hear he has a horrible temper.”
“Oh, no, he doesn’t.”
Stephen gave her a quizzical look.
“I mean, sometimes he can be harsh, I suppose, but he is good and fair and I can’t imagine he would ever mistreat anyone.” She thought about how kind he had been to her, how gentle, how he even comforted her …
“You like him, don’t you?” A look of surprise and amazement spread over Stephen’s face.
“W-what? Like him? Whatever can you mean? He is my lord. How can you suggest such a thing?” She clamped her mouth shut. She was protesting too much, as she inwardly cursed the blush that was heating her face.
A slow smile came over Stephen’s face. “I’ve been wondering if you would ever notice a man. Now I see — “
Annabel snorted. “You see nothing. I am only his servant.”
“But he is a kind man? I am glad of that.” Stephen winked.