Simon is trying to find proof that I am innocent of what I have been accused of. ‘Tisnae a time to be thinking of anything save getting that proof and getting my family free to go back to Aigballa.”
“I ken it. ‘Tis a nice thought, though.”
She laughed softly, kissed him on the cheek, and left to go to her own bedchamber. Ilsabeth moved to the window and stared out at the small moonlit garden at the back of Simon’s home. A large part of her wanted to confront the man right in his bedchamber and try to take what her body ached for. That would be bold indeed. Yet, another part of her feared that even then he would flee and her heart would break.
Reid’s wish was now embedded in her heart, strengthening the one that was already growing there. Ilsabeth could see it all so clearly, her and Simon wed, Reid, Elen, and their own children by their side. It was a dream that filled her heart with joy but her mind, that part of her that could see beyond the haze of desire in her eyes, was not so certain such a dream could ever come true. Simon Innes was the man her heart wanted but she was beginning to fear that his heart was way beyond her reach.
Chapter 7
Her heart pounding so fast it hurt, Ilsabeth crept through the shadowed alley running between the cooper’s shop and the butcher’s. She had donned her nun’s attire thinking that it would keep her safe, as it had during her journey to Simon, while she went in search of some healing herbs. Poor Elen’s throat was sore and Ilsabeth needed something to ease the child’s pain, if only to get the child to go to sleep. Such a simple little chore. Ilsabeth did not understand how it could have gone so wrong. At least she had the herbs, she thought, and hastily swallowed the insane urge to laugh. The very last thing she needed to do at the moment was crumble beneath the weight of her fear.
It was all the fault of that foolish mongrel, she thought as she reached the end of the alley. If the animal had not been trying so hard to tear her skirts to shreds, she would not have turned around to find herself staring right into the shocked face of one of Walter’s friends. Worse than that, it had been one of the very few who had seen her more than once. The man had even called her by name. Ilsabeth had babbled something she could not recall in French, yanked her skirts out of the dog’s mouth, and hurried away. She was not surprised that the man had begun to follow her for she had acted in a way that would rouse anyone’s suspicions.
As cautiously as she could, Ilsabeth peered into the street. Simon’s house was almost visible but she could not reach it without crossing the street. From what she could see in the fading light, the man hunting her was not on the road, but that did not reassure her much. Taking a deep breath, she touched her wimple to make certain it was still straight, and then crossed the road. Ilsabeth did her best to walk as if she had no cares yet fast enough to get out of the road as swiftly as possible, praying every step of the way that she would not hear that man’s voice hail her again.
The moment her feet touched the ground on Simon’s side of the road, Ilsabeth gave up all pretense. She quickly looked around and then dashed into another alley. She was going to have to get to Simon’s house by the back way. For once, however, luck was with her, and she made it to the kitchen door without anyone else seeing her.
“Here now, lass, just what are ye about?” demanded Old Bega as Ilsabeth stumbled into the kitchen and hastily shut the door behind her. “Ye shouldnae be outside and weel ye ken it. Ye promised Sir that ye wouldnae leave the house.”
“Actually, I dinnae believe I e’er actually promised that.” Ilsabeth collapsed onto the bench by the old scarred table. “I needed to fetch something that will help to soothe Elen’s throat. Such things as a sore throat can easily turn deadly, ye ken.”
“Aye, I ken that weel. Lost two
“I ken it. ‘Tis a nice thought, though.”
She laughed softly, kissed him on the cheek, and left to go to her own bedchamber. Ilsabeth moved to the window and stared out at the small moonlit garden at the back of Simon’s home. A large part of her wanted to confront the man right in his bedchamber and try to take what her body ached for. That would be bold indeed. Yet, another part of her feared that even then he would flee and her heart would break.
Reid’s wish was now embedded in her heart, strengthening the one that was already growing there. Ilsabeth could see it all so clearly, her and Simon wed, Reid, Elen, and their own children by their side. It was a dream that filled her heart with joy but her mind, that part of her that could see beyond the haze of desire in her eyes, was not so certain such a dream could ever come true. Simon Innes was the man her heart wanted but she was beginning to fear that his heart was way beyond her reach.
Chapter 7
Her heart pounding so fast it hurt, Ilsabeth crept through the shadowed alley running between the cooper’s shop and the butcher’s. She had donned her nun’s attire thinking that it would keep her safe, as it had during her journey to Simon, while she went in search of some healing herbs. Poor Elen’s throat was sore and Ilsabeth needed something to ease the child’s pain, if only to get the child to go to sleep. Such a simple little chore. Ilsabeth did not understand how it could have gone so wrong. At least she had the herbs, she thought, and hastily swallowed the insane urge to laugh. The very last thing she needed to do at the moment was crumble beneath the weight of her fear.
It was all the fault of that foolish mongrel, she thought as she reached the end of the alley. If the animal had not been trying so hard to tear her skirts to shreds, she would not have turned around to find herself staring right into the shocked face of one of Walter’s friends. Worse than that, it had been one of the very few who had seen her more than once. The man had even called her by name. Ilsabeth had babbled something she could not recall in French, yanked her skirts out of the dog’s mouth, and hurried away. She was not surprised that the man had begun to follow her for she had acted in a way that would rouse anyone’s suspicions.
As cautiously as she could, Ilsabeth peered into the street. Simon’s house was almost visible but she could not reach it without crossing the street. From what she could see in the fading light, the man hunting her was not on the road, but that did not reassure her much. Taking a deep breath, she touched her wimple to make certain it was still straight, and then crossed the road. Ilsabeth did her best to walk as if she had no cares yet fast enough to get out of the road as swiftly as possible, praying every step of the way that she would not hear that man’s voice hail her again.
The moment her feet touched the ground on Simon’s side of the road, Ilsabeth gave up all pretense. She quickly looked around and then dashed into another alley. She was going to have to get to Simon’s house by the back way. For once, however, luck was with her, and she made it to the kitchen door without anyone else seeing her.
“Here now, lass, just what are ye about?” demanded Old Bega as Ilsabeth stumbled into the kitchen and hastily shut the door behind her. “Ye shouldnae be outside and weel ye ken it. Ye promised Sir that ye wouldnae leave the house.”
“Actually, I dinnae believe I e’er actually promised that.” Ilsabeth collapsed onto the bench by the old scarred table. “I needed to fetch something that will help to soothe Elen’s throat. Such things as a sore throat can easily turn deadly, ye ken.”
“Aye, I ken that weel. Lost two
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