The Fifth Knight(74)
“He’s here.”
“Ah, God be praised.” Ursula could feel that cursed muscle quiver in her jaw. It always happened when she told untruths. Even good ones. She looked around to cover it. “I must congratulate your lord on his valor. Where is he?”
The knight shrugged. “Went with that girl.”
“Wilfreda?”
“Think so.”
“Sisters, do any of you know where Wilfreda went?” Ursula folded her arms and slid her wide sleeves over her hands, the better to hide her trembling.
“No, Mother,” replied one.
“We went to prepare the poultice while she removed the knight’s torn clothing from the wound,” said the second.
“She did a good job,” said the third, the sister in charge. “But when we came back, she’d gone. I’m afraid I don’t know where. You know Wilfreda, how absentminded she is.” She gave a knowing little smile, then confirmed Ursula’s worst fears. “Happen she’s lost that poor blue-eyed knight, and he’s wandering unaccompanied around the monastery.”
The other sisters tittered.
Ursula thought she might be sick there and then. “Then I shall find her. Enough of your unkindness, Sisters.” She turned on her heel and made for the door.
♦ ♦ ♦
“T-the Abbess’s parlor is up these stairs, sir.”
“You lead the way, Wilfreda.”
The novice did so and marveled once again at her newfound authority. She tapped at the closed door. No reply.
She looked around at the sound of metal sliding over metal. The knight had drawn his sword. She gulped.
“Don’t be alarmed, my dear.” He laid a hand on her arm. “Palmer is a complete ruffian, and I want to be ready for him.”
Wilfreda swallowed hard and tapped again at the door. Nothing. She raised her gaze to the knight’s. New courage she might have, but that didn’t extend to walking into the Abbess’s parlor without permission. “They’re not answering, sir.”
“Or they’re gone.” He shoved past her, flung the door open, and marched inside, pulling her with him.
He was right. The room, flooded with pale sunlight, was deserted, with the remains of the earlier lunch still scattered on the table.
Wilfreda put her hands to her face, brought them back to her apron, clasped them, unclasped them. “I s-should tidy up, sir. Otherwise the Abbess will be angry — ”
The knight booted the door shut with a bang. “She’s not the only one,” he said.
She took a step back at his controlled yet furious tone. His blue eyes, so kind, she’d thought, blazed with disdain.
“Where could they be?” he said.
“I d-don’t know.” It came out as a wail.
His nostrils flared as he paced the floor, sword in one hand. It caught the light in a sharp gleam, near blinding her. “Think, girl. Think. You were with them as they ate.”
“Not all the time, sir. I was in, I was out. Bringing things, like they asked, and, and, I spilled the water — ”
“Oh, spare me the details of your tawdry little life. You are as boring as you are hideous.”
“Sorry, sir.” She bowed her head and waited.
“Now, think. Think. They may have said something, done something. Anything could be important. Just think, girl.”
Wilfreda chewed her lip. “They talked about a letter.”
“What letter?”
“I don’t know, sir.” She raised a shaking hand and pointed toward the chest. “M-mother said it was in there.”
He was to it in four strides. He bent down, pulled open the lid, and spilled the contents across the floor. Picking up a rolled paper, he opened it out and read it without saying a word.
Oh, Lord, was this any help? “S-sir?”
He tucked it beneath his surcoat. “Wilfreda.” His kind smile was back.
Her knees buckled in relief. “Will this help you find your betrothed, sir?”
The knight’s smile broadened even further. “It is more help than you could possibly imagine.”
“Oh, g-good.”
He held up a finger and beckoned to her. “Now, come over here, my dear. I want to say thank you.”
♦ ♦ ♦
Theodosia sat astride Quercus in the stable yard as Benedict stood holding Harcos’s reins.
“How much longer do you think the Abbess will be?” he said. “I want to get a good few miles in before darkness falls.”
“Be patient. I’m sure they’ll be here soon.” Theodosia cared not. She used these last precious moments to savor the atmosphere of the Abbey, with its safety, its security, before she was cast out into the harsh world once more. The world of sin, of danger. She took a deep breath to try and collect herself. As Reverend Mother said, the world where she might find her mother, her one consolation in this terrible quest.