While they rode along the smooth trail at a steady canter, glad she wore a pair of gloves, her mind wandered to the abbess.
“Mother Simone asked about my journey. I mentioned Maurice’s jewels.”
“Could she tell you anything?”
“I got the impression the abbess had seen them, but I’m confused. If she had, she should have been able to open the ring and find the signet.”
“Perhaps she didn’t look as closely as you. The ring has been with Maurice and the others for a long time and they didn’t find the seal.”
“I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Mother Simone is very forthright. I have found that she doesn’t hold things back.”
She bit her lip and thought about her conversation with the abbess. Andrea was sure she wanted to say something before she left last night. Now, she wondered what she wanted to say and why she kept it to herself.
Chapter Six
Donald picked up their pace and kept looking over his shoulder.
“Is something wrong?” Andrea asked riding next to him. “You keep looking behind us.”
“I want to make sure we stay on the right course. I don’t travel this way often and would rather not make a wrong turn. The Amiens town gate closes precisely at sundown. I don’t want to spend the night without a roof over our heads.”
He had tried to keep his discomfort from Andrea but obviously failed. Camping didn’t bother him, but camping tonight was out of the question. He had the distinct feeling that someone followed them. An open meadow with an expansive view was up ahead.
They rode through the wide-open grassland and stopped by a stream at midday. Once the horses were taken care of, he stepped next to Andrea. She bathed her blistered hand in the cool stream and struggled to rebandage it.
“Your hand, please.”
She looked up at him from her perch on a boulder, a pot of honey and strips of linen in a variety of lengths on her lap.
Donald wagged his fingers, silently asking for her hand.
Andrea placed her hand in his. He stared at the blisters.
He sat next to her, dabbed the honey onto the sores, then carefully wrapped her hand with clean linen.
“Perhaps Mother Beatrix can help you when we get to Amiens.” He handed her a slab of the bread Mother Simone had packed for them along with pieces of hard cheese.
“I… I don’t want to stay at the abbey.” Something in her voice went right through him. He looked up at her.
“Why?”
“Please. Don’t laugh. Or call me unsound.”
“No, you’re as sound as I am. It’s your turn not to laugh.”
Andrea giggled, finishing her bread and cheese.
No need for him to tell her his concerns. About three or four miles before Amiens, the road went through a wooded area where they needed to cross the Avre River. The cold water would soothe her hand, but they couldn’t afford to stop in the woods. He wanted to be on the other side and into the clearing before dusk.
Their meal done, he stood and gathered their horses and packed the remaining honey and linen away in her satchel next to the oiled cloth package. She waited at the boulder.
“We best move on,” he said and helped her onto Ebony. “You still haven’t told me why you don’t want to go to Mother Beatrix.”
“This morning there was a fresh basin of cool water, a pot of honey, and a note from Mother Simone. I didn’t hear anyone come into my room. I’m not usually a sound sleeper. I thought perhaps I was overtired from our long ride. But then I couldn’t find my comb this morning. I knew I put it into my satchel last night. I searched the room and finally found it on the floor. I think someone went through my satchel.”
He held Ebony’s bridle.
“Where you harmed?” Concern and anger rolled off him.
“No. Of course not. And the package was safe under my pillow. It’s just… Mother Simone gave us the introduction.” She hesitated. “I’d rather not visit Mother Beatrix.”
He mounted up and moved them along. No wonder she had questions about Mother Simone. He took a moment and looked around. There wasn’t any place to hide here. The light breeze rippled the high grass. With nothing looking out of place, he settled back onto his horse.
“I’ll be glad when we reach Amiens. I know an inn where we can stay. Personally, I would like a bath.” He sniffed the air. “I can’t tell where my horse ends and I begin.”
“A bath.” She closed her eyes, a gentle smile on her face.
The urge to kiss her lips made him freeze. Not knowing what to say, he remained quiet and kept his gaze on the horizon. Every fiber of his being aware she rode by his side.
He didn’t need to look at her to appreciate her attributes. Her hair was dark, but a softish brown, not black, and her skin was fair.
Her bosom would be white.
He swallowed hard as he tried to clear his mind of the image. By god’s toes, she’s DuClare’s niece.
“A cool bath should be incentive enough for us both to hurry,” he said picking up the pace.
Two hours later they came to the high trees. The sun was lowering, but there was plenty of light left for them to get through the woods and into Amiens before sunset.
They continued on and came to the Avre River. Donald rode along the riverbank, then back to Andrea.
“There’s a better crossing downstream where the river is about two feet deep and the water isn’t running too fast.”
They walked the horses downstream.
“This should be fine.” The river was wider, and the bed had fine pebbles, but the area was thick with foliage and trees. He was eager to get across and put this place behind them. “We’ll cross the stream together.”
They started for the other side. Halfway across, Ebony startled. Donald grabbed her reins and tried to hurry the horse along.
Again, Ebony startled.
This
