A few murmurs went through the crowd. Tom turned and sneered at the men around him. “Don’t listen to her!”
The workers shouted at Tom, stepping closer to him. Lord le Wyse pulled on her arm. “Come inside, now.”
Mistress Eustacia and Gilbert had arrived on horseback and were starting up the hill toward her. She ignored Lord le Wyse’s plea and motioned with her hand for Gilbert and her mistress to stop and stay where they were.
Annabel went on in a clear, strong voice. “Tom has lied to you, and he’s lying now. Lord le Wyse is an honorable man. To the pure, all things are pure. But to the corrupted, nothing is pure. Tom’s mind is corrupted and he is trying to corrupt you.”
A few shouts rang out, and Tom scowled and cursed.
“Tom wants you to think that God doesn’t care about your wellbeing, but it isn’t true! God saved all of you from the pestilence. Are you not alive? Can’t you be thankful for that, at least? God is not trying to kill you, or trick you, or send your souls to hell. God loves His children. Will you kill the man God sent to bless you?”
Her voice reached a fevered pitch with the last word. Her hands shook violently, and she clasped them to her chest to still them.
Slowly, one by one, the men lowered their heads. No one, except Tom, would meet her eye. Two of them pushed their torches in the dirt and snuffed them out. Then three more followed suit.
“Don’t listen to her! She lies!” Tom’s face was as red as a geranium. “You believe God cares about you? Or Lord le Wyse cares about you? You’re fools! God didn’t send this man to you! He’s from the devil!”
The men turned away and began walking toward the road that led back to the village. That was when she saw Edward, her brother, walking with them, looking sheepish as he tried to hide the torch in his hand.
Tom waved his arms wildly. “Where are you going? Be men! Are you going to listen to this girl? You’re all fools! Fools!”
More of the men turned to leave. Tom caught one by the shoulder and spun him around. The man drew his fist back and hit Tom in the face.
Tom staggered, clutching his cheek. “Cowards!”
The entire mob left the hillside. Tom followed after them, yelling foul threats and accusations. Soon they all disappeared from view.
Annabel went weak with relief. She stepped inside and Lord le Wyse followed her, closing the door with force.
She threw her arms around him. Then she remembered that he was bleeding. “Let me take care of your leg.” She took his hand and led him to his large chair, the one she always sat in to read to him. She knelt beside him.
His eye focused on her face. His lips curved up ever so slightly at the corners. “You shouldn’t have come.”
She forced her face into a scowl. “A fine thing to say to me when I just saved your life.”
A sigh escaped his lips. “I didn’t want you to come back. I didn’t want you to get hurt.” He stared away from her, at the floor, at nothing.
Why didn’t he look at her? “I’m not hurt. Didn’t you see how God turned the hearts of the people from their anger and caused them to cease listening to Tom?”
“You were amazing.” The slight smile graced his lips again. “I thank God you’re safe.”
Why was he behaving this way? So listless? “Does your leg pain you?” Annabel bent and examined his leg. The bleeding seemed to have stopped. “Shall I bandage it for you?”
“Nay. You must go now. Go on to the abbey. Your work here is done.” His words sent a pain through her heart, but the bitter note in his voice gave her hope. She understood it now.
“I don’t wish to go.” Still on her knees, she leaned against the arm of the chair, her side pressing against his knee.
“Don’t wish to go?” He sounded gruff, and his brows lowered. “Why?”
She shook her head. This was harder than she had thought. But she had come so close to losing him, she couldn’t stop now. Picturing the arrow racing toward him as he stood outside his front door, remembering the absolute terror she’d felt at the possibility of him being killed, she felt courage surging through her. She leaned closer, wishing he would sit up and put his arms around her. But he only regarded her from beneath a half-closed eyelid.
She wouldn’t let him send her away without telling him she loved him. If he cared for her at all — and it was possible she had misread him — he might think her confession of love brazen and unseemly, or worse yet, he might think she was offering herself to him in a sinful way. He had never said he wanted to marry her. But she found those risks were meaningless.
“Answer me! Why don’t you wish to go?” His voice sounded angry now.
She swallowed nervously. “I-I don’t wish to leave you.” “Don’t wish to leave me?” His voice was softer and shook slightly. “Why not?”