Her chaise would be perfect here. The carpenter should be done making it soon. She’d described to him what she wanted and he said he could make it. It would be perfect up here in this room with a table. One of the women she’d met in the village could sew. Lucy engaged her to make cushions for the chaise, along with some other things that were needed for the castle. The girl was young, and Lucy wanted to offer her a place here at Blackford. Clement had put his foot down and said no. The nosy pig. When William returned, she’d ask him.
She yawned and decided she could take a small nap before they started creeping through the walls.
Refreshed after an hour-long nap, Lucy spent about an hour exploring then was back in the garden. Her dress was filthy, so she took it off to be washed and found herself wearing William’s tunic and hose again. At least everyone quit staring at her all the time. One of the men told her it was unsuitable for a lady, but she made a face and told him, “It’s hot, I and my clothes are dirty, I don’t have my new dresses yet and who can move around in a heavy dress anyway?”
He told her it was scandalous and she laughed. Told him, “You should see what they wear where I come from.” She was still giggling to herself picturing the men visiting Holden Beach gawking at all the girls in bikinis when a shadow blocked out the light.
Chapter Nineteen
“I see you’re wearing my clothes again.” Seeing his tunic on her did something strange to his heart. When she looked up at him, William didn’t know whether to bellow or hit something. He hauled her to her feet, shaking her so hard he swore he could hear her teeth rattle.
“Who did this to you?”
“You’re hurting me.” Lucy pulled away, wrapping her arms tight around herself.
“I’m glad to see you too, Godzilla,” she said crossly. “When I was at the market in the village, someone pushed me. I tripped and kissed the ground with my face.” She touched a finger to her face, where he could see the discoloration and a slight swelling on the left side around her lip. Rage coursed through him. William wanted to tear whoever had hurt her limb from limb. How dare someone touch her. She was under his protection. His.
She put a hand on his arm, the heat of her touch calming him instantly.
“It hurt like hell when it happened, but I’m fine.”
Lucy took his arm and led him about the garden, pointing out all the plants and herbs she was growing. “Something else happened.” She paused. “A piece of stone came loose from the battlements. If it wasn’t for Albin, I’d most likely be dead.”
He looked up in alarm, searching the walls for any sign of weakness. As if sensing his foul mood, she hurried to tell the rest of the tale.
“Albin pushed me out of the way. But in doing so, the stone landed on his arm. The poor kid broke his arm. He was so brave. You would be proud of him.”
She twisted her hair through her fingers. He’d noticed she did it whenever she was thinking. William was mightily distracted by the sight.
“The child was in bed with a fever for two days. But he’s back to his normal happy self and running around. Though his arm is in a sling. We sent for a healer from the village. She assured me he would heal without any problem.”
She reached up, adjusting her hair. She tied it up with a piece of green ribbon, showing off her enchanting gray eyes. For a moment William wondered if she’d chosen the ribbon to remind her of him. He liked watching how her hair swayed back and forth when she walked. Just like her hips.
“I am heartened to know you both are well.”
“Did you find what you were looking for?”
How to answer? William led her over to the stone bench and they sat down.
“I went to see a sailor. The only survivor from a shipwreck on a ship traveling from a faraway land.” He looked at her, saw his words were not lost on her and continued.
“He assured me there were no women on board.” William took her hand in his, marveling at the softness of her skin. Lucy was unused to hard labor. As most ladies were, but even highborn women tended to have marks on their skin from illness or other ailments. Lucy had none.
“I want to believe your tale.”
She stood up, hands on her hips, shaking a finger at him. “Why is it so difficult to believe me? I told you the truth.”
“Cease, woman.” He ran a hand through his hair, calming himself before he spoke again. “I am trying to tell you I believe you. You must admit your story is wondrous.” William pulled her back down. “What is a ‘Godzilla’?”
She snickered. “A very large beast. Goes around stomping on things and breathing fire. Like you when you’re mad.”
He grinned, taking her hand in his and inhaling the scent of sunshine that seemed to follow her wherever she went. At first William thought it was the soap she used to bathe herself every day. Albin confided to him in awed tones how Lucy heated water in her chamber and washed every day. The child hated to wash. He’d hide from Lucy, and only gave in when she threatened to give his dessert to one of the other boys. William came to accept that the smell of sun and grass was her natural scent.
“I am sorry for all you have lost. To be so far from home, knowing there is no horse, no cart or ship to take you where you need to be. The grief of losing those you care for.” He hesitated. “The man we found on the rocks? Was he your husband in truth?”
“Have you ever lost a battle? You’re great at sneak attacks.”
He didn’t know why she asked, but he answered anyway. “No, but methinks I might today, lady.”
Lucy laughed. “The story I told you is true. Simon was my boyfriend…” She saw the look on his face and elaborated. “He was wooing me. I came to England with him hoping the way we felt about each other would change. But I realized it would never change. He wasn’t the right guy for me. We are who we are.”
She looked off into the distance as if she could see her home if only she tried hard enough. Then she leaned on his shoulder and William’s heart swelled with happiness.
“I came to realize Simon was not the man I thought he was. He only pretended to care for me. I found out it was my name he wanted.” Now she looked up at him, a question on her face.
“Before I tell you about the curse, let me finish the rest of the story.”
Thomas approached. “My lord.”
William stood and clapped the young man on the back. “You have done well watching over the lady, Thomas.”
He stood back, measuring the man in front of him. Thomas would make a fine knight. “I have need of you.”
The boy looked eager. “Will you guard our lady? We have a traitor amongst us.”
Thomas looked curious but refrained from asking questions, and instead simply nodded. “It will be my honor to watch over the lady.”
He turned on his heel and made for the kitchens, calling over his shoulder, “I’ll fetch some ale. You must be thirsty from your journey, my lord.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t even think to ask if you’d been inside yet. Have you?”
She sounded curious, and it made William wonder what he would find in his hall.
“What’s inside?” He stopped himself. “No, wait. Tell me the rest of the story then we’ll go see what you have wrought in my hall.”
“I want to know about this traitor, but it can wait until I finish the story.” Lucy said. “As I was telling you, I came to England with Simon to visit his family home. Blackford Castle.” She bit her lip.
“He proposed marriage but I said no. I thought I would go home the next day. But it seemed he had other plans.”
William could see the distress on her face. He pulled her close, wanting to comfort her. Not saying a word, he kept silent, letting her tell him what she needed.
“That night he asked me if I would pretend to marry him. He said it would be fun and, trying to be nice, I agreed.”
She looked at him, her eyes shimmering with tears, but they did not fall. “I know it was stupid, but I felt bad for ending the relationship,
and I thought it would be make-believe. But it wasn’t.”
Lucy pressed her lips so tight together William watched them turn white. “He had a dress and everything arranged.”
Her eyes narrowed and she clenched her fists. “Simon drugged my champagne.” She hesitated. “Like a poison. I didn’t know where I was or what I was doing. I married him for real. Though I never meant to. I thought it was a game.”
He could feel the tension in her body as she leaned against him. Hear the beating of her heart as he thumped her on the back.
“The next thing I remember, there was a terrible storm. I was outside on the battlements wearing my wedding dress…” She sniffed but did not cry. William thought she might not swing a sword, but she was as strong as any warrior he had known.
“The man I thought I loved.”
Jealously raged through him at the thought she loved another.
“But it was never love. It was the silly infatuation of a girl. I know that now. Simon tried to push me over the battlements. He hit me. I remember his hands around my neck.” She shuddered.
“A great crack of lightning hit as he threw me over the edge. There were terrible sounds and such darkness. When I woke up it was morning and your men were standing over me.” Lucy stared off into the distance.
“At first I couldn’t make sense of what I was seeing. And Simon was nowhere to be seen. You have to understand.” She looked up at him, and the anguish in her eyes undid him.
“He told me he made sure my sisters would be murdered. You see, he didn’t want them coming to look for me. One thing about Simon, he always accomplished what he set out to do. I know in my heart they are dead. And I could do nothing to stop it.”
After this truth, a single tear spilled down her face. William caught it on his fingertip, watching it glisten in the sunlight.
He took her face in his hands and kissed her. Thoroughly.
“Pardon, my lord.” Albin stood before them, a grin on his small face. Lucy’s face turned a fetching shade of pink. William was happier than he had been in…well, in a very long time.
She sat with a dazed look on her face, fingertips touching her lips. William’s male pride swelled.
“How is your arm, my young warrior?”
The boy smiled, telling the tale of how he had saved the lady from certain doom.
“You have guarded her well. Would you like to be part of the lady’s personal guard?”
Albin’s eyes shone with excitement. “Yes, my lord. I will keep her safe.” He shifted from foot to foot, clearly impatient. “Will you come see the hall?”
William ruffled the boy’s hair. “Allow Lucy to finish telling me her tale and then I will come see the wonders of my hall.”
Albin grinned and ran toward Thomas, no doubt to tell him of his promotion. Thomas would make a fine captain of Lucy’s guard. It wasn’t as if she could get back to her future, so she would need her own men to watch over her.
Or could she still go back? Might she leave him?
He thought not. She had been here this long. He and some of the men had watched her perform her mysterious rituals atop the battlements. He knew now she was trying to return to her own time. But she could not. William shouldn’t feel joy at the revelation. But he did. Wanted her for himself. Georgina be damned.
“Now the curse. And then you need to tell me about this traitor. I know they are linked.” Lucy patted his arm, looked at the red on her hand and leapt to her feet. “Why didn’t you tell me you’re bleeding?”
He looked down to see a small pool of blood by his feet. “’Tis naught but a scratch. Worry not, my lady.” William pulled her down onto his lap. “Tell me the rest of your story. You’ll feel better once you finish.”
“Simon had a strange notion. He said my last name wasn’t really Merriweather. That I wasn’t Lucy Merriweather. I was Lucy Brandon.”
She felt his surprise, for she nodded. “You had the same reaction as me.”
Lucy bit her lip and went on. “Brandon is your last name. Now you know why I was so surprised when I found out.” She shifted to get comfortable in his lap, and William wanted to curse.
“Remember what I told you? Simon said his ancestor took Blackford Castle by force from a traitor to the crown in 1307. He said the Grey family had held it ever since. Clement’s last name is Grey.”
William didn’t know what to say. So many thoughts ran through his mind. He knew there was a traitor amongst them. Now she told him he would lose his castle this very year. He hadn’t believed her before.
“Bloody hell. Isn’t that what you like to say when you’re mad?” Lucy slid off his lap and stood in front of him, frowning. “Obviously you are Lord Blackford. You are the accused traitor to the crown. Clement is the one behind all of this. The only question is why?”
And wasn’t that the question? “Ladies shouldn’t swear,” he said, a smile on his face.
She snorted and stuck her tongue out at him. “Should I stomp around, bellowing and yelling like you?”
He couldn’t help it: William threw back his head and laughed. It felt good to laugh. What would he do if she left him? It seemed he now had a traitor to root out.
“Stop scowling and come into the hall and see all the changes.” Lucy looked happy and full of excitement as she pulled him to his feet. Then she let go. “I’m sorry, we should see to your arm first.”
“’Tis only a scratch.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yes, I know. You’re the big, bad warrior. But we’ll stop in the kitchens and take care of your arm first. You’ll want to be prepared to see all the changes.” She gave him a sly look. “And I have apple pie in the kitchen.”
He felt as if he were preparing for battle as he went up the steps to his home. Ready to see womanly frippery decorating the hall and chambers, William envisioned lace and beads and a great deal of pink.
Chapter Twenty
William followed his nose into the kitchen, seeking out Lucy. He patted his belly.
“I have never eaten chicken prepared in such a manner. What do you call it again?”
The entire kitchen smelled of honey as Lucy leaned over a cauldron, sniffing the concoction brewing inside.
She turned around to smile at him, and he noticed the heat from the fire had turned her cheeks a fetching shade of pink.
“Fried chicken. With mashed turnips and parsnips.” She handed him another one of the delicious desserts she called sugar cookies.
The cookie disappeared in two bites. “The green weeds with walnuts, apple and crumbled cheese?”
“You liked the salad? I made the dressing from mustard and oil and spices.”
He grimaced. “I would not venture to say I enjoyed the greens. The men were grumbling and poking at the pile as if it would bite them.”
Lucy laughed. The sound filling the kitchens and filling his heart. “Yes, but they ate it, didn’t they?”
“The men knew they must finish your salad. They wanted sugar cookies for dessert. You have spoiled us all. We’ll all turn to fat.”
She grinned. “Then I guess you won’t want to taste what I’m making?” She stirred in crumbs from the bread then turned back to face him. “You can all go fight with each other out in the lists. Work off what you ate for dinner and dessert.”
William sniffed. Smelled good in here. “Mayhap a small taste,” he said nonchalantly, as if he really didn’t care. When in truth the curiosity was killing him.
“It’s ginger candy, or maybe gingerbread? I’m not really sure what it’s called. But I remember the recipe.”
She sat down at the table. William poured a cup of wine for her and a mug of ale for himself. Perhaps she was becoming accustomed to his time. She smiled more, and he hoped the sadness weighing her down would lift.
So he could watch the expressions on her face, William sat across from her. She moved her hands when she spoke with her soft lilt.
“You know the hives in the gardens?”
He thought fo
r a moment. “The monks brought them from the abbey. Be careful of the gypsy woman. Many fear her.”
“I didn’t tell her I was from the future…though she seemed to know.”
“I made a donation of gold to the abbey.”
She smiled. “I sent one of the men to deliver scarves I crocheted for the monks to thank them for the bees. I adore honey.”
One of the youngest boys went over to the pot and dipped a spoon in. “Martin. No more honey until it’s done.” She ruffled his hair and shooed him out of the kitchen. William could see her as mother to a child.
“So I boiled the honey then I added some spices.”
He sniffed. “Ginger and cinnamon?”
“And pepper and saffron. Then the breadcrumbs.”
’Twas good he had plenty of gold, as much as she’d spent on spices and wool. William noticed everyone seemed to receive one of her scarves or hats. Too warm to wear now, but soon the men would wear her gifts.
“After you stir in the breadcrumbs it makes everything thick. Let it cool slightly then pour it onto a flat surface and make it into a rectangle.” She motioned with her hands. “Once it’s cooled, we cut it into squares, put a clove in each square and eat it.” Her eyes twinkled and he found her enthusiasm infectious.
“Where’s young Albin? I expected to find him at your heels. The boy has developed quite a taste for sweets.” And a strong attachment to the lady sitting across from him. As had all the men in his care.
She leaned back in the chair and took another sip of her wine. “I sent him into the wine cellar.” She raised her eyebrows at him. “Did you know you have a wine cellar?”
William knew now. Thomas and Albin had discovered it while exploring the secret passages in the castle.
“The men said there are many bottles of spirits.” He would have to make sure they weren’t down there drinking up the entire storeroom. Best put a guard on the door for a while.
“Well, I’m glad there’s wine down there. I’ve developed a taste for the stuff.”
A Knight to Remember: Merriweather Sisters Time Travel (Merriweather Sisters Time Travel Romance Book 1) Page 14
