Nicholas knew he had no choice. He wasn’t about to force his way upon her. He nodded. “Very well. I will see her tomorrow then.”
He breathed. He had to remember to do it. Walter smiled at him. He didn’t smile back.
“Good eve, my lord.”
Nicholas nodded again and then left. He returned to the castle but after an hour pacing in his room then another hour pacing in his solar, he rode back to Old Walter’s and slept in the stable with his horse. At least if she tried to leave Scarborough in the morning, he would hear her.
And then what? He went to sleep asking himself what would he do. Stop her? Watch her go? He hated himself for becoming so attached to Kestrel Lancaster.
He dreamed of riding through the forest.
“Pick up your hood, Nicky,” Elia said beside him on her horse. He was on one too. “Listen to your mother.”
His mother? He turned his head and his poor eyes beheld his mother. Tears fell over the rims of his eyes. “Mother.”
She rode beside…his father. “Papa?” he cried, pulling up his hood. His sister and two brothers rode in the cart behind his father.
A cold chill swept over him and seeped into his veins. No! This was the day!
He tried to turn back, but his horse kept moving forward.
And then, like a hoard of locusts, they came out of the trees. Elia immediately grabbed for him and pulled him onto her horse. They rode away, but Nicholas could imagine it all in his mind, his family’s screams painted the pictures. Mother! Papa!
He woke up about an hour before dawn, remembering it all. It was fresh in his mind, as if it had just happened. He sat up and leaned against a wall of the stable. He should have brought breakfast…and his good sense.
What was he doing here, making sure she didn’t run away? He had to make a damned decision and he was making it now. He could never live with a Lancaster. Any Lancaster.
He rose up, leaped into the saddle, and rode away.
*
The door to Walter’s house opened and Kes stepped out. She looked around. The sun was shining brightly, in contrast to yesterday’s dark skies “Walter,” she called softly into the house, “he’s not here.”
“Are you sure, I thought I saw him near the stable a moment ago.”
“Miss Locksley?”
She turned to the man’s voice. It was Mr. Simeon behind her. It must have been him who Walter saw near the stable.
“Mr. Simeon, what a nice surprise in the morning,” she greeted. “And please, call me Kes.”
He offered her a wide smile. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here, Kes. But I’m glad to have found you. Is Lord Scarborough with you?”
She shook her head.
His smile widened. His teeth were white and straight. “Let us go inside.”
She didn’t move. “Oh, is it more bad news?”
“No. No. Not at all,” he reassured gently. “I have a gift for you.”
“Will it help me get home?”
His smile vanished. “I’m afraid not.”
Hers vanished, too. A few days ago, she would have been able to deal better with the fact that she wasn’t going home and everyone she’d lost, because Nicholas was with her. She felt safe with him. And she needed to feel safe here.
Now, he wasn’t with her and she was still stuck here.
“Any word on a way to get home, Mr. Simeon?” she asked as Walter ushered them inside.
“No, my dear lady. I hate to disappoint you. There has been no word. I am still hanging about in realms I shouldn’t be in and keeping my ears open to any talk of you from the knights. So far,” he went on as they entered the solar and sat, “I’ve discovered that Sir Gawaine has been severely reprimanded by Morgan for not finding Arthur. The other knights blame the brooch. I would tend to agree after where you landed.”
“Yes,” Kes said. “I would agree, as well. And Sir Gawaine—how severely was he reprimanded?”
“I do not know the extent of it,” Simeon told her, then smiled again. “I brought you something from the chests of Queen Berengaria.”
Kes blinked and looked at the velvet sack he handed her. “King Richard’s wife, Queen Berengaria?”
“Do you know any others?”
She covered her mouth with her hand and looked at Walter to giggle. She took the satchel. It was soft and the velvet was thick and luxurious. “What’s in it?”
“Open it and see!”
She did, like a child on Christmas morning.
With a great sigh she pulled out a sapphire blue gown made of the finest, thinnest silk. It was an A line cut with a silver filigree belt and silver stitching on the cuff. Sewn into the shoulders was a gossamer cloak of blue tulle flowing down her back.
“Oh, Mr. Simeon, I couldn’t accept this. How did you…? Did you steal it?”
He waved her concern away. “She won’t miss it, dear Kes. You both look to be built the same. It should fit.”
“Oh, that you’ve seen her,” Kes stood up and held the gown up to her body. She couldn’t keep it. But to own something that Queen Berengaria had worn.
“Take it,” Mr. Simeon insisted. “The queen has more than she could wear in a lifetime.”
“No. It still doesn’t make it right.” She pushed the gown and its bag at him. “Thank you, but I can’t accept it.”
He exhaled a great breath. “Very well, I will leave her a gift in its place. Something she will actually enjoy, and I will pay for it myself. Deal?”
“What will you give her?” Kes asked, tempted.
“I’ll let you know what I decide.”
Jonathan, Walter’s servant served them tea and something that looked suspiciously like a famous little hot apple pie.
“Walter?” she asked, turning to him and holding the rectangular pie up
