What a fool ye are! Alys thought angrily. What right did she have to even entertain such thoughts? Jeremy Lockwood was her master, not her sweetheart. He was grateful to her for nursing him, but that was all. She meant nothing to him.
Alys reached into her bodice and extracted the leather pouch. She carefully took the pin out and watched in mute fascination as the sun played over the gemstones, setting them alight and glinting off the gold. The piece truly was stunning. Why had Jeremy given it to her, and did he regret his rash decision? Should she give it back now that he was on the mend? She would if he asked for it, Alys decided, but for now, she’d leave it with Will. He’d keep it safe for her and return it should she have need of it. This pin was a ticket to freedom, an insurance against poverty and hunger. It would fetch more than enough to see her through years and years of hardship, if they came.
Sliding the pin back inside the pouch, Alys hid it on her person and pushed to her feet. It was time to go. She’d wanted to be alone, but thoughts of Jeremy were going to be her undoing if she allowed herself to give in to her feelings. It was best to be around other people and keep busy.
Chapter 40
“Why did he give ye this?” Will asked, his eyes wide with incomprehension as he held the beautiful pin in his large hand. “What are ye to him, Alys?”
“Nothing. He was grateful to me is all,” Alys replied, shocked by Will’s response.
“Grateful for what?” Will persisted. “A man doesn’t give a servant a priceless heirloom just because she nursed him for a few days. That’s yer job. It’s expected.”
“He’s a kind man,” Alys retorted.
“Be very careful, Alys,” Will said, holding the pin out to her. “I’m not going to keep this for ye. If anyone sees it, I’ll be accused of theft, or worse.”
“Worse?” Alys asked, angry now.
“Who’s to say I didn’t get this by violent means?” Will said. “I do wish ye’d marry, Alys. Ye need a man to look after ye.”
“Ye mean to control me?” Alys snapped, her anger boiling over.
“To protect ye and guide ye. A woman needs a man, Alys, and children to love.”
“Well, I can’t very well conjure a man out of thin air, can I?”
Will blanched. “Don’t say such things. Someone might hear ye. People are talking already.”
Alys rolled her eyes. “People are always talking. That’s what they do. Really, Will, if I had such powers, I wouldn’t waste them on finding a husband.”
Will grabbed Alys by the arm and dragged her deeper into the forge. “Ye can’t say such things. Not even in jest,” he hissed in her ear. “People who’ve known ye yer whole life will turn on ye in a heartbeat if they think ye’ve turned to witchery. We’ve just lost dozens of people to smallpox. People are angry, Alys, and they need someone to blame.”
“And ye think they’ll blame me?” Alys scoffed. “Based on what evidence? I’m not the only one that survived.”
“No, ye’re not, but ye’re one of the few that wasn’t marked, and they still remember Mother and her interest in herbs.”
Alys glared at him. “An interest in herbs doesn’t make one a witch.”
“Tell that to Old Maude,” Will retorted. “She had to kill her cat.”
“What?” Alys asked, taken aback. Old Maude had had her cat, Fig, for ten years at least. It was old and fat and spent its days lazing in the sun outside her cottage.
“There are those who said it was her familiar, so she had to prove them wrong. Didn’t she?” Will said. “Are there any animals at the manor?”
“Of course there are,” Alys cried, exasperated. “There’s a kennel, and cats in the kitchens to keep the mice out, and his lordship’s dog. What are ye saying, Will?”
Will shrugged. “Nothing,” he mumbled. “Just mind yerself, Alys.”
Alys felt a deep sadness settle in her chest. She’d always believed Will would protect her, but she could see the fear in his eyes and knew that now he had to think of himself and his future family. He would do his best for her, but not if it cost him his own freedom.
“I wanted to spend some time with ye, but I think I’ll go back to the manor house now. There’s nothing for me here,” Alys said, not caring if Will saw her bitterness.
Will’s eyes narrowed. “Ye always were headstrong. I hope ye don’t live to regret it.”
“I won’t,” Alys spat, and left.
Chapter 41
Back on the manor grounds, Alys decided she wasn’t ready to go indoors. She was hungry and tired, but once she went inside, she’d inevitably get caught up in some chore, and it was too lovely a day to waste. Mistress Ashcombe liked to walk in the rose garden in the mornings, but otherwise, no one ever went there. Alys didn’t dare walk in the garden without permission, but who’d know? She’d sit in the rose-covered arbor for a few minutes. That was all.
Alys skirted the house and made her way to the rose garden. It was the most private place on the grounds, since the tall hedges that surrounded it hid it from view, even if someone were to look out the upstairs windows. Passing through the opening in the hedge, Alys inhaled the heavenly smell of the roses, amazed by all the different
