She gazed back at him. Her brows drew together and she bit her lip. “I want you to be happy too.”
Then stay with me. Nay, he couldn’t say those words to her. He was wrong to even think them. To stay here would only mean danger to her.
If she loved him, they could run away together. Even now there was probably time for them to escape. But she didn’t love him. She’d never agree to run back to Lincoln and marry him.
“Farewell, Annabel.”
“Farewell, my lord.” She slipped out the door and was gone.
Annabel woke with an unsettled feeling, as though she’d forgotten something, or made some sort of error, and the consequences were about to manifest themselves. But surely it was only because she was leaving today. Such a complete life change was bringing about this feeling that she was making a terrible mistake.
Leaving Glynval and going to the abbey was what she had always wanted, wasn’t it? Besides, there was no one in Glynval who cared for her, not even her own family. They hadn’t even come to visit her during her stay at the manor. And what friends did she have? Even her friendship with Stephen felt different now that they had this terrible secret between them. Perhaps he would marry Abigail and have a family. He’d have no time for her then.
The only other friend she’d be leaving behind was Mistress Eustacia.
And Lord le Wyse.
She couldn’t deny that he cared for her after the way he’d looked last night, when he gave her his Bible.
With effort she pulled the great book out from under her bed and held it in her lap. How many times had she sat, alone with her lord, and read to him from the Holy Writ? She could hardly bear the thought of never reading to him again. Would he be all right? Who would take care of him if he got hurt again?
He was the lord of the demesne. He had servants to take care of him. Why was she having these strange thoughts? Perhaps she was only afraid of leaving home and going somewhere new, living among strangers. She couldn’t change her mind now, could she? Especially after last night.
How would he feel if she told him now she didn’t want to go, that she would miss him and would worry about him too much? That he made her feel safe?
She couldn’t make such a declaration.
She put the book down and scrubbed her face with her hands, as though to rub away the disconcerting thoughts of Lord le Wyse. She pulled the rest of her belongings from under the bed as the door to the undercroft creaked open behind her.
Night still blackened the world as Mistress Eustacia stepped into the room. She held a candle that lit up her face. As the other maids breathed heavily in sleep, she made her way toward Annabel.
“Time to go, child. Are you ready?”
“Yes, Mistress Eustacia.” With the mistress’s help she wrapped the Bible in a cloth, and together they carried it along with her two bags and headed out the door.
Gilbert jumped down from his horse and helped tie down Annabel’s bundles, one on her mare and the other and the Bible to his own horse. Then he helped both women mount their horses, and they were off.
No one spoke as they began their journey, which first took them at a slow walk toward the village. The sun was just turning the sky pink, and villagers were coming out of their homes and congregating in the tiny open area in front of Butcher Wagge’s shop.
People were putting their heads together and whispering, with Tom atte Water at the center of them. The sight made her heart beat erratically against her ribs. Mistress Eustacia had her head down and didn’t notice, but Gilbert’s face seemed a mirror of her own unease. He slowed his horse and dismounted.
Annabel slid to the ground and joined him. His eyes were focused on the huddled group, and he took a step toward them.
“Wait.” She grabbed his arm, stalling him. “If you simply walk up, they’ll recognize you, and you won’t be able to find out what they’re saying. Let’s hide our horses and sneak up to them.”
He frowned down at her, hesitated, then nodded.
They started walking the horses back toward the cover of trees near the side of the road.
“What’s amiss?” Mistress Eustacia demanded.
“Gilbert and I are going to find out what those people are saying.”
Just as they reached the trees, Beatrice came running down the road. Annabel waved at her and caught her attention, and Beatrice ran over.
Beatrice huffed and puffed, trying to catch her breath. “Something is happening.” Still breathing hard, she bent over and propped her hands on her knees.
“What?” Annabel demanded. “What is happening?” Gilbert and Mistress Eustacia stood at her side, listening and staring hard at Beatrice.
“I waited up for you last night, but I must have fallen asleep before you came to bed. Tom is stirring up the people against Lord le Wyse. They’re planning to attack his new house this morning.”
“But why?” Annabel exclaimed.