"Oh!"
"In a hurry, milady?" He placed his arms on her shoulders and pushed her back slightly so that he could enter the hall.
"Come, join me whilst I eat. I would know more about thee."
"Well, I was just going to take a walk to the church and –"
She was stopped short as he bellowed, "Thou shall not leave this castle without a guard, doth thou hear? There are wastrels about and as thou art under my protection, I am duty-bound to protect thee until Hugh comes back."
Jenny couldn't help it. Her jaw was hanging open at his angry tirade. She hadn't asked for his protection; in fact, he could go stick his protection where the sun didn't shine!
She placed her hands on her hips and confronted him. "Excuse me, but I don't need your protection or anyone else's, for that matter. If I want to go to the church, I will!" She did an about-turn and began to march off, only to feel a strong hand clamp down on her shoulder once again, only this time, more firmly.
She suddenly found herself inches away from his face as he growled, "Turn thy back on me again and thee will find thy bottom over my knee and a sound pasting applied! Dost thou understand?" He shook her slightly and she gulped, alarmed at his anger.
"Y-Yes, but I only wanted to go to the church. Surely it's not that dangerous?"
"Art thou addle brained, lady? Hath Hugh not taught thee anything? Outside these castle walls there lie dangerous folk, folk that would as soon rob or maim thee as look at thee. Rest assured, milady, I mean what I say. Step one foot outside these walls without a guard and thou will pay dearly!"
Jenny looked at him and realised he wasn't going to budge. Good grief, it couldn't be that bad, could it? She studied him for a few minutes and realised that he was indeed serious about his intentions.
"All right. I won't go without a guard." She crossed her fingers behind her back.
He released her shoulders, satisfied that she would obey him.
"Come, sit with me and tell me something of thyself. I would know how thee came to Okehampton." He walked over to the food table and piled a plate high with bread, cheese and fruit before walking over to the high board. Jenny reluctantly followed him. She dreaded having to speak to him. What could she say?
He poured himself wine and held the jug out enquiringly to her. She nodded and held out a goblet, watching him beneath lowered lashes as he filled her cup.
Pulling her goblet towards her, she added a little water from a nearby jug. She sipped the strong wine and watched Stephen as he tucked in with relish to his morning meal. After a couple of mouthfuls, he paused to ask her a question,
"How came thee to Okehampton? Didst thou not hath an escort?"
"Oh, yes. He...er...left me at the church." Stephen frowned, so she quickly continued. "He had to get back to London quickly, so I told him I'd be quite safe!"
"Who was this man?"
"Oh...my cousin. You wouldn't know him."
He nodded slowly, taking in her words. "Didst thou think to stay at Hugh's abode?"
"Yes. I...er...didn't know he was away on the crusades."
"Next time, be sure thy accommodation is assured afore setting foot on the road. Thy mission was foolhardy!" She lowered her lashes as his eyes bored into hers. "I will keep thee safe under my roof until Hugh returns."
"Oh, there's no need, really."
"Nay, thee will be my guest. I willst not hath thee staying elsewhere without an escort." His voice brooked no argument, and wisely, Jenny decided to stay quiet. Stephen swallowed a mouthful of food and then calmly asked, "So, Jenny Perevel, why art thou still a maiden?"
Jenny almost spluttered on the wine. Maiden? Fuck! She was no maiden, in fact, her 'maidenhood' had been taken away four years ago. Guess that didn't happen so easily in these times. She swallowed a mouthful of wine before replying, choosing her words carefully. "I...er...just haven't found the right bloke yet!"
"Bloke? What is this word?"
"Oh er...man, partner...umm...husband."
"Truly, thy words art strange," he muttered, taking another bite of bread. "Hast thou not had offers?"
"Offers? What...offers of marriage?"
He nodded and chewed slowly on a piece of cheese.
"Well, I...umm...no! Not really! What's that got to do with you?" She stuck out her small chin indignantly.
"I am merely curious, Jenny. A pretty maiden such as thee dost not stay long in spinsterhood!"
"God...you make me sound like I'm fifty!"
"Do not take the Lord's name in vain, Jenny. Last warning!" He gave her a stern look before continuing. "Thou art certainly not fifty. Nay, it is unusual, 'tis all." He shrugged and pushed his plate away. "Wouldst thou like to travel out with me this afternoon?"
Jenny frowned, not sure if it was a good idea to explore her location with this big, overbearing beast of a man.
"What mars thy brow, milady?"
She shrugged. "I think I'd rather stay in, if you don't mind."
"Whatever thou doth prefer. Heed my warning and do not step foot outside these castle walls without an escort." He arose from the table. "I will see thee at the mid-day meal."
Jenny watched his tall figure leave the hall and sighed aloud. Did he really think she was just going to sit around all day? No. She had other ideas. Dangerous or not, she had to find her way back home, and staying put within the castle wasn't going to do that.
* * *
Jenny walked along the perimeter, seeking a postern gate. There must be one somewhere. The high stone walls were impenetrable but there could be an unmanned gate...surely? No such thing appeared, though. Every time she found an exit, there was a bloody guard watching it! Irritated, but not yet defeated, Jenny continued onwards. Suddenly, a motion caught her eye at the main entrance. A cart was going out and the portcullis was being raised. Thinking quickly, she raced up to it and placed a hand on the back of the cart as if she was one of the exiting group of people.
Her heart in her mouth, she followed along meekly, keeping her head bowed. So far, so good. Some of the men were joking with the workers.
"See thee in the morn; that's if that young wife of thine doth not wear thee out."
"Oy. Keep thy nose out of my business!"
Jenny kept her head bent and shuffled along, her heart in her mouth.
"Halt!" One of the guards called out. Jenny peeked over and was alarmed to see him walking directly towards her. She quickly put her head back down and froze.
"Thou there...show thy face!"
Fuck and bollocks! She turned her back and pretended she didn't know he was talking about her. A hand clamped down on her shoulder and she was spun around to face the guard.
"Just as I thought! Sir Stephen said to watch out for thee. Guards...seize 'er!"
Jenny had no time to run as two burly guardsmen locked arms either side of her, almost lifting her off her feet as they marched her back towards the main castle.
"Let go...let me go!" She struggled but she was no match for their combined strength.
One of the guards smirked beneath his helmet. "This one's lively. Reckon Sir Stephen's got 'is 'ands full. Wouldn't mind a piece meself!"
"Why, you...!" Jenny struggled anew.
The guards marched her towards the main hall, where Stephen was sitting, deep in conversation with another knight. He turned as the guards' feet echoed on the stone floor.
He took one look at Jenny suspended between the two guards and seemed to know instantly what had happened.
"Caught trying to leave, was she?"
"Aye, milord, at the barbican."
"Let her go, men, and be back about thy duties. Thou – come hither!" Jenny rubbed her upper arms where the guards had gripped her flesh and stomped her foot indignantly.
"No!"
The guards looked at each other, raised their eyebrows and made a hasty retreat back to their duties, knowing that Jenny's disobedience was going to receive the full wrath of Sir Stephen's anger.
Stephen pinned Jenny wit
h eyes of steel before turning to the Knight next to him, who had been watching with interest. "Do excuse me, Sir William. We will continue our conversation later. For now, I hath other more urgent matters to attend to."
Sir William stood and bowed before departing the great hall, with no objection. He apparently knew when he wasn't wanted.
Jenny thrust her bottom lip out in a pout and balled her hands into fists at her side. She was frustrated and angry that this bloody knight was stopping her from getting back to her own time. She couldn't tell him the truth for fear of being burnt at the stake. That was, if they did that in this day and age – she didn't have a clue! But she knew that she wasn't going to risk saying too much.
Stephen hadn't moved from his position. He fixed her with a hard stare. "We shall try again...I said, come hither!"
Jenny pursed her lips, turned on her heel and ran for all she was worth. Within seconds, she felt herself suddenly lifted into the air, her escape brought to an abrupt halt.
"Oh, no, milady, I think not!" He marched over to a seat in front of the big hearth and sat, bringing her down with him, straight over his knee.
Jenny shrieked and pushed at his knees but found herself flung further forward as he lifted her dress up, exposing her tiny g-string underwear.
For a moment, Stephen was flummoxed. "What is this...this string?" He pulled at her panties, intrigued at the tiny red line that enabled both her buttocks to be bared.
Jenny wriggled, trying to break free. "They're my knickers...now leave me alone!"
"Knickers...what art knickers?"
"Panties...bloomers...whatever you bloody well call them!"
She shrieked as his hand came down on one buttock, leaving a red imprint.
"Be still! Watch thy tone, Jenny Peverel. Thou art already in deep trouble without adding further misdeeds." He shifted her forward slightly, so her bottom was best presented for spanking. "When I tell thee to stay within the castle walls, thee willst stay within the castle walls! Do I make myself clear?"
His hand cracked down on both of her buttocks, making her gasp out loud.
"Yes! Yes!"
"I will not be disobeyed. Ever!" His hand began to rain down hard smacks on her soft backside. No matter what she did: wriggle, writhe or push herself backward, his swats didn't stop, and his grip didn't loosen.
Stephen carried on blistering her bottom until she thought the pain would never stop. His large, calloused hands seemed to cover every inch of her flesh; not one part was left unspanked.
"Aow! Oh!" she cried. She begged. She pleaded. But it all fell on deaf ears. It was clear that Stephen was not one to take disobedience lightly.
Jenny finally stopped struggling and lay over his knees, spent from her exertions. He gave one last, lusty swat and let his hand rest on her hot posterior.
"Let that be a lesson to thee, milady. If thou dareth to disobey me again, I will lock thee in the dungeon – be warned!" He lowered her skirts. "Make sure thou art suitably attired. That underclothing...'tis not decent! See Annie; she will find something for thee."
Jenny decided it was best not to argue further, her bottom testament to why she shouldn't. "Yes, milord. Whatever you say!"
He narrowed his eyes, unsure as to whether she was actually agreeing with him or not. She lowered her gaze and pursed her lips as she rubbed her bottom through the thick cloth of her dress.
"Wherefore did thee try to leave the grounds without an escort?" he asked.
Jenny thrust out her bottom lip. "I wanted to go out on my own. I don't need an escort!"
"Aye, thou dost!" His tone became angry once again. "Whither goest thou?"
"To the church!" Jenny huffed.
Then he surprised her. "I will let thee go on the morrow."
Jenny perked up. "You will!"
"Aye. But I will accompany thee. We will leave once we hath broken our fast."
She wanted to argue that she should go alone but now knew that wouldn't be a wise request to voice. He'd made it perfectly clear she wasn't allowed outside the castle gates on her own, and despite her protests, she realised she would have to comply with his wishes. Especially since she didn't want any more of his bloody handprints on her posterior!
She noticed he was studying her, so she decided to stare straight back at him. He shifted in his seat, leaning back for more comfort before remarking, "Thou hath a stubborn streak, milady. 'Twill get thee in trouble!"
Jenny couldn't resist snorting. "Huh! It seems to have got me into trouble with you several times already!"
"Then perhaps thee will finally learn to control this wayward streak of thine. It doth not do for a woman to show this attitude. Heed my words, milady. Now, I suggest thee retire to thy chamber and keep out of trouble until supper."
Jenny realised she was being dismissed and even though a bit miffed, she decided she would rather be alone in her room, instead of sitting in his rather overbearing company. She stood up and smoothed her skirt down.
"Good day, milord."
"Aye. Rest well, milady."
* * *
Stephen watched Jenny as she walked off. The desire to kiss her silky, soft, pouting mouth was tantamount, and it took all his restraint and willpower to remain seated. He contented himself with watching her trim figure almost glide out of the Great Hall.
Because of her family connections, he was duty-bound to honour and welcome her into his home. Any relative of Hugh Peverel would be treated thus. He felt great respect for Hugh, and as a knight of the realm, his code of chivalry was something he held close to his heart.
Something about this girl intrigued him, though. She had beauty, a natural beauty, but also there was something behind the eyes...a secret. She spoke with hesitancy when he questioned her, and his instincts were telling him that all was not as it seemed.
Her hair was a light golden blonde, her eyes an unusual grey-blue colour and her complexion bespoke a healthy living. She certainly seemed to be of good stock. He hoped she wasn't lying, for her sake. If he found out she had duped him and was no relation to Hugh Peverel, he would make sure to turn her bottom the colour of beets.
* * *
The next day...
Jenny rode alongside Stephen on a mare, a far smaller mount than Stephen's black stallion. He rode with ease; a feat Jenny was having problems doing. The only horse-riding she'd ever done was as a teenager at summer camp, and it was beginning to show; that, and the fact that her bottom was still sore from yesterday's spanking. She pursed her lips as she remembered Stephen's large hand smacking into her soft backside.
She glanced over at him, willing herself to dislike him. But she found she couldn't. He cut a fine figure in his dark blue surcoat; in fact, he looked just like one of those knights straight out of the fantasy romance novels she often read. She realised her thoughts were going in a dangerous direction and quickly changed track.
"So, milord, have you known Hugh Peverel long?"
He looked down at her from his lofty height. "Many years. He hath never mentioned thee, however." He stared at her and his brow furrowed. "What town were thee born in?"
Jenny flushed. "Umm...London, like I told you. In the main town."
"What was thy mother's name?"
"F-Florence. Florence er...Peverel, obviously."
"Obviously," he stated wryly.
She knew by his tone that he thought she was lying. How long could she keep the truth from him, and what would happen if he found out? She shivered as pictures of medieval tortures and punishments flashed through her mind. Oh, Lord, she hoped the church would send her back to her own time just as easily as it had brought her here. Otherwise, she didn't know how long she could keep this pretence up!
Chapter Three
The church was a complete contrast to the heat outside as Stephen and Jenny entered. The cool air circulated around them whilst they walked up the aisle towards the pulpit. The thick, stone walls and small windows did little to let the sunlight in, and Jenny gave a slight shiver
at the change in temperature.
Everything looked the same as when she'd walked in before, wanting to hide from Seth. Her hands brushed against the huge, stone columns – columns that still stood, in her time. Here she was, some seven hundred years earlier, actually touching the same structures. She, like many others, had often wondered what it would be like to travel back in time, but now she knew. That thought scared her and she quickly pushed it away, fighting to calm the panic that suddenly arose in her breast.
Somewhere here was the link back to her own time; it had to be. But where? Stephen walked up to the pulpit and knelt before a large statue of Jesus. He removed his sword, placed both hands on the handle and bowed his head. Jenny watched, fascinated, as a piece of history formed before her very eyes. She sat down on a nearby pew to take it all in.
The church was deathly quiet, apart from Stephen's deep voice. She couldn't make out the words but he was definitely praying. In that moment, Jenny knew she was witnessing something special – something she would relish, if she ever went back to her own time. Her own time! God, what was she thinking? She was meant to be looking for a way back home, and here she was, dallying over a knight. Handsome he might be, and as fascinating as this was, it wasn't helping her quest.
She rose and walked to the door. Perhaps if she went back outside, she would be back home. After all, she'd simply walked in through the doors and had been transported here, so surely it would work the other way.
She held her breath, opened the church door and stepped outside. The big oak did not reappear and neither did Seth – she was still in the year 1277. With a resigned sigh, she turned to go back inside and walked straight into Stephen's broad chest. He steadied her with his hands.
"I thought thou chose to disobey me again," he growled.
"I just wanted to see outside, that was all. I'm still here, see?" She held her hands open wide and then crossed her arms angrily.
"Wherefore hath thou such anger?" He regarded her shrewdly.
Jenny looked at him. What could she say? Certainly not the truth. He'd think her mad and have her locked up; perhaps even throw away the key! She had to think of something to tell him.
A Knight to Remember Page 3
