The Innocent

said. 'We traveled quickly from Worcester, and you are not used to such journeying, petite.' He reached out and took her free hand in his. 'Did you sleep well?'

'Aye,' she said, her cheeks growing warm.

He raised the little hand to his lips, kissing each fingertip in its turn. ' I am glad,' he replied, then released the hand.

Her breath had caught in her chest, and she couldn't breathe, but she kept on doggedly eating her cereal. Eventually she would be able to draw the breath he had just taken away. She felt so awkward, for she didn't know what to do when he behaved so toward her.

'Drink some cider,' he said, shoving the cup into her hand.

Elf drew a gulp of air into her lungs, and swallowed down the cider, coughing when it went down too far.

Ranulf patted her on the back. He so desperately wanted to gather her into his arms, and tell her that everything was going to be all right. She was the most fascinating mixture of shyness and competence. And how feisty she had been before the king. She had spirit, Eleanore of Ashlin, but she had, by nature of her calling, held that spirit in check until recently. Even now she struggled to restrain it; he didn't want her to restrain herself in any manner.

She had finally stopped coughing, looking up at him with watery eyes. 'I don't know what happened.'

'You ceased to breathe when I kissed your fingers,' he replied bluntly. 'You must not flatter me so, Eleanore. While I will admit to having a reputation as a good knight, I have but little reputation where the ladies are concerned. You will turn my head if you behave so each time I approach you tenderly, petite.' His hazel eyes twinkled at her.

'I am, as you are well aware, not used to being addressed tenderly, my lord,' she said. 'You did indeed take my breath away, but not unpleasantly so.' His hazel eyes were like forest pools in autumn. Was it possible to drown in another’s eyes? she wondered.

'Would you swoon if I touched you again?' he asked.

'Nay, my lord.'

'Nay, Ranulf.' His knuckles gently grazed her cheekbone. 'It would give me pleasure to hear you call me by name.'

'Ranulf,' she whispered breathily. 'My lord Ranulf.'

His head spun at the sound of her voice speaking his name. 'Now it is you, petite, who quite take my breath away,' he murmured low.

A discreet cough ended their interlude. 'Good morrow, my lord, my lady,' Cedric said. 'If you have finished your meal, we have certain manor business to attend to that I would have settled today.'

Ranulf took Elf’s hand in his, his thick fingers closing over her dainty fingers. 'Speak, Cedric,' he said. 'My lady and I will hear you out.'

'We are in need of a bailiff, my lord. We have not had one since the last bailiff died. Lord Richard was so involved with his lady wife, your pardon, my lady, he had no time to decide upon another man to fill the position. John, Ida’s son, was the previous bailiff’s nephew. He has overseen his uncle’s duties since his death, although he has not the true authority. He is a good man, my lord. Honest and diligent in his duties. I would recommend him to you.'

'Can he read or write?' Ranulf asked.

'Lord Robert saw that those who sought knowledge were given it, my lord,' Cedric said. 'John, like myself, can both read and write. We were taught by old Father Martin, who has since died.'

'Is John in the hall?' Ranulf asked.

'I am here, my lord,' John said, coming forward.

'You are hereby appointed to the post of bailiff of Ashlin. Bring your records to the lady so she may see them,' Ranulf said.

'Thank you, my lord,' John said, bowing and stepping back.

'What is next?' the lord of the manor asked.

'The miller and his wife have no children, nor the hope of any, for they are growing old. They ask your lordship for permission to take an apprentice from among the serfs.'

Elf touched her husband’s sleeve. 'Appoint Arthur,' she said low. 'He is deserving, and will work hard for the miller.'

'The lady suggests that Arthur be apprenticed to the miller,' Ranulf said. 'Is Arthur in the hall?'

Arthur stepped forward. 'Aye, my lord.' While Elf had been in Worcester, he had slipped home from his sanctuary at the convent. Learning that Saer de Bude also was to be in Worcester, he knew he was safe. He bowed.

'Will you be apprenticed to the miller, Arthur?'

He was being asked what he wanted. Arthur was astounded. This new lord was like none he had ever known. 'Aye, my lord, I should not be unhappy to be apprenticed to the miller. It is a good trade, and perhaps one day I may earn enough to obtain my freedom,' Arthur said enthusiastically.

'You obtained it the day I became Ashlin’s lord, Arthur,' Ranulf said. 'When you saved my wife from the lecherous advances of Saer de Bude, heedless of the danger to your own life, you proved you were worthy of your freedom. The papers will be drawn up.'

'My lord!' Arthur fell to his knees, took Ranulf’s hand, and kissed it. 'I can never thank you enough!' he exclaimed.

'Ah, my young friend, your seven years' apprenticeship to the miller will make serfdom seem easy,' the lord said. 'But when those seven years are up, if you have done well…' He shrugged. 'The miller cannot live forever. See you are a worthy successor to him.'

'Thank you, my lord,' Arthur said rising. He moved back into the hall among his envious friends. In these last few minutes his status had been raised, his entire life changed.

'Is there any other business we need attend to, Cedric?' Ranulf asked.

'Nay, my lord, that is all this day.' He bowed.

Ranulf spoke again. 'We will need stone to build the demesne walls higher. Can it be easily found?'

'Yes, my lord. The stone was quarried nearby on the manor lands. More can be obtained. Shall I instruct the bailiff to assign workers to that task?'

'Aye. They are not to work in the snow, however,' Ranulf said. 'When the storm stops, I will want to inspect the manor.'

'Very good, my lord,' the steward replied, bowing again.

Ranulf turned to Elf. 'You must inspect the bailiff’s records this morning, petite. A good chatelaine knows everything about her manor. Should I have to go to war for the king, you will have to manage all of it. So it is wise that you familiarize yourself with all aspects of Ashlin’s life, and not just those things that usually concern a woman.'

'Can you read?' she asked him. She knew many men, including knights, could not. It was not considered important for a man.

'I was raised at the court of King Henry, a most educated man, petite. Like your father, he gave any who wished to learn the means of doing so. Most of my companions thought learning to read and to write was a waste of time. What need for a simple knight, they would say to me, but one never knows where fate will take us. I thought it worth the time to sit with one of the king’s chaplains, and learn my letters, and how to write them. My hand is not fine, but I can do it. Are you surprised? Would you have thought less