His fine looks matched his voice. Eyes of startling blue, high cheekbones. His gaze upon her was intent, and the back of her neck warmed. She wasn’t used to male attention. With looks like hers, they always moved on quickly.
With a clear view of the injured man on the bed, she admired his restraint in complaint. A large chunk of muscle had been torn from the top of his thigh, the wound deep and open and glistening.
The sister produced a pair of long scissors. “We will be quick, sir knight.”
The big man nodded as his large hands formed fists.
“Do we need to restrain him?” asked the sister of the blue-eyed knight.
“Do it.” The big knight’s voice rumbled deep in his chest.
“You need have no fear of him,” said the blue-eyed one.
The sister nodded to Wilfreda, who bent to the knight’s torn breeches. She held the thick woolen material as still as possible. With a flash of the scissors, the sister cut around it. Only jagged strips of material remained, stuck to the moist wound.
“I will check on the poultice,” said the sister. “Wilfreda, remove those bits of material. Use this.” She handed the novice a piece of fresh linen, then made for the small room at the back of the infirmary with quick steps.
Wilfreda sat on the edge of the bed and immersed the cloth in the hot water.
The big knight watched her, silent except for his breath loud through his wide nostrils.
“What are you doing, Wilfreda?”
She looked up at the question, surprised the blue-eyed knight should have remembered her name. So many folk didn’t. “I’m going to soak the wool stuck to his wound. It should come away easier.”
“Good.” He nodded in approval.
She took out the wet linen and placed it carefully over the matted, bloodstained fragments that edged the wound.
The big man held still.
She judged her time and carefully peeled the offending material away.
Her patient stiffened, then relaxed as he realized the delicacy of her actions.
“Well done. You indeed have a skilled pair of hands. It is a pleasure to see you work.”
Wilfreda shot a glance up at the second knight. His smile was wide, his expression set in admiration.
“Th-thank you, sir knight.” She resumed her task, mortified yet delighted at his praise.
“Do you concur, le Bret?” said her observer.
The patient grunted but seemed content.
“That is praise from my companion, my dear,” said the second knight. “He’s a man of few words.” He bent closer to look at her progress. “My word. You are a miracle worker. An angel of mercy, one might say.”
Wilfreda shook her head, a huge lump of pride in her throat.
“Even more remarkable, given your sad affliction.” His blue gaze held hers.
He…he didn’t mind her eye.
“How many years have you been an infirmary sister?”
She would have laughed, but it would have made her hand shake. “I’m no infirmary sister, sir. I’m only a lay postulant, a servant to the Abbess.”
“What? With healing hands like yours?”
“Yes, sir.”
“A shocking waste. Do you agree, le Bret?”
The big knight nodded, eyes closed.
Wilfreda’s heart soared. She must have this talent, if this grand knight thought so. Maybe this was God’s way of showing her true vocation.
“And what did the Abbess have you doing today?”
She dipped another piece of clean linen in the hot water. “S-serving at table.”
The knight raised a mocking eyebrow. “The Abbess is too grand to serve herself?”
“N-no.” Wilfreda gave a shocked giggle. Fancy her joking about the Abbess with this gentleman. “She has visitors today.”
“Of course,” he said. “Nuns like to show off to each other.”
She shook her head as she picked off some stray strands of wool from the oozing wound, mindful of not touching the agonized flesh. “One was a nun, well, an anchoress. The other was a knight.”
“An anchoress and a knight? How odd. Here, let me take those from you.” He held out a sheet of clean linen for her to place the bloodied wool within.
“I’m near finished, sir knight.” She spoke reassuringly to the injured man. Emboldened by his friendliness, she addressed his companion. “How did the wolf get him?”
“We were traveling at night, through the forests.”
“From what I know, sir, that’s very dangerous.”
“Indeed.” To her shock, his blue eyes glistened with sudden tears. “But I’ve been trying to find my betrothed. She has run off with another man, a knight who has turned her heart against me.” He gave her a wry smile. “If only you could heal hearts. I have to find her before she marries, to try and change her mind.”