place with me. For your safety and mine. Mother, I tell you, I am betrothed to a monster.
Your
Eleanor
The next morning, I begged a few pieces of fruit, some pie, and some more sweetmeats from Betsey to send to Mother. I did not give up hope that she would be at her window again soon. I wrapped the food in a napkin, in which I also laid the note I had written to her.
I headed for the gatehouse. I avoided the stairway where I had run into Lord Stanton once before, using a servants’ stairway instead. But as I stepped out into the hallway at the bottom of the stairs, Stanton came in through the doorway from the inner court. I could not believe my ill luck. I acknowledged his presence with a brief nod and tried to walk past him, my bundle concealed behind my back. He stopped me by stepping into my path.
‘In such a hurry, my gentle bride?’ he asked. ‘After deserting me so abruptly on our ride yesterday, I thought you might be eager to bandy words with me again.’
I frowned. The memory of our conversation yesterday was still painful. Looking up at him, I saw a mocking smile curling his lips. I felt anger rise in me.
‘Why would I wish to bandy words with you, ox-brain?’ I asked.
Stanton laughed, the mocking smile gone from his face. He looked genuinely amused. I wasn’t sure how to feel about that. I had been trying to offend him.
‘No, indeed. I cannot allow ox-brain to be appropriate,’ he replied. ‘Do I not give as good as I get? An ox would merely stand and low.’
‘Let me pass, please.’
‘You are always in such a hurry to escape my company,’ Stanton complained, pretending to look hurt. ‘Tarry a moment, for I have a matter of great importance to discuss with you. I wish to hurry forward our wedding. I cannot possibly wait a month to be wed to such a charming bride. Shall I speak to your father?’
‘No indeed,’ I cried in horror. Then, when I saw Stanton laughing softly, I understood he had merely been taunting me again. I struggled to regain my composure.
‘Your lordship chooses to amuse himself at my expense. Allow me to assure you that nothing could be further from my wishes than a hasty marriage. I fear I should make you a sad wife.’
‘You will certainly be an unusual one,’ he commented, and tweaked one of my curls. I pulled away crossly. ‘I feel sure you would keep me entertained,’ he added.
‘I thank you, but I have no desire to be your jester,’ I responded swiftly, dropping him a small curtsey. My breath was short and I could feel my heart beating uncomfortably inside the tight lacing of my stomacher. I made an attempt to push past Stanton, to get out through the door behind him, but he leaned back against it, his hand on the latch.
‘That door opens outwards,’ I told him. ‘I really hope someone opens it. I should dearly love to see you fall in the dirt.’
Stanton bowed slightly.
‘Charmed, Eleanor,’ he remarked.
Exasperated, I spun round and made off for a different door. But before I was more than two steps away, Stanton caught hold of my arm. I clutched my bundle in alarm.
‘Another parcel! What are you so busy carrying out of the castle every day?’ he demanded.
‘I am not yet answerable to you for my actions!’ I cried. ‘But if you must know, it is food for the poor of the village.’
Stanton held out his hand. ‘Show me!’ he asked. It was more of an order than a request.
‘It is none of your business what alms Sir Walter chooses to give his tenants!’
‘That is true,’ he agreed solemnly. ‘But I have an insatiable curiosity about you, you see. So when I see you leaving the castle every day with a bundle—there’s no point denying it—I have to know what you are doing. You are always so busy, Eleanor, so rarely to be found with the other ladies. One cannot pay court to you in the usual manner.’
‘I do not want you to pay court to me,’ I replied angrily. ‘I just want you to let me alone.’
‘So you keep telling
Your
Eleanor
The next morning, I begged a few pieces of fruit, some pie, and some more sweetmeats from Betsey to send to Mother. I did not give up hope that she would be at her window again soon. I wrapped the food in a napkin, in which I also laid the note I had written to her.
I headed for the gatehouse. I avoided the stairway where I had run into Lord Stanton once before, using a servants’ stairway instead. But as I stepped out into the hallway at the bottom of the stairs, Stanton came in through the doorway from the inner court. I could not believe my ill luck. I acknowledged his presence with a brief nod and tried to walk past him, my bundle concealed behind my back. He stopped me by stepping into my path.
‘In such a hurry, my gentle bride?’ he asked. ‘After deserting me so abruptly on our ride yesterday, I thought you might be eager to bandy words with me again.’
I frowned. The memory of our conversation yesterday was still painful. Looking up at him, I saw a mocking smile curling his lips. I felt anger rise in me.
‘Why would I wish to bandy words with you, ox-brain?’ I asked.
Stanton laughed, the mocking smile gone from his face. He looked genuinely amused. I wasn’t sure how to feel about that. I had been trying to offend him.
‘No, indeed. I cannot allow ox-brain to be appropriate,’ he replied. ‘Do I not give as good as I get? An ox would merely stand and low.’
‘Let me pass, please.’
‘You are always in such a hurry to escape my company,’ Stanton complained, pretending to look hurt. ‘Tarry a moment, for I have a matter of great importance to discuss with you. I wish to hurry forward our wedding. I cannot possibly wait a month to be wed to such a charming bride. Shall I speak to your father?’
‘No indeed,’ I cried in horror. Then, when I saw Stanton laughing softly, I understood he had merely been taunting me again. I struggled to regain my composure.
‘Your lordship chooses to amuse himself at my expense. Allow me to assure you that nothing could be further from my wishes than a hasty marriage. I fear I should make you a sad wife.’
‘You will certainly be an unusual one,’ he commented, and tweaked one of my curls. I pulled away crossly. ‘I feel sure you would keep me entertained,’ he added.
‘I thank you, but I have no desire to be your jester,’ I responded swiftly, dropping him a small curtsey. My breath was short and I could feel my heart beating uncomfortably inside the tight lacing of my stomacher. I made an attempt to push past Stanton, to get out through the door behind him, but he leaned back against it, his hand on the latch.
‘That door opens outwards,’ I told him. ‘I really hope someone opens it. I should dearly love to see you fall in the dirt.’
Stanton bowed slightly.
‘Charmed, Eleanor,’ he remarked.
Exasperated, I spun round and made off for a different door. But before I was more than two steps away, Stanton caught hold of my arm. I clutched my bundle in alarm.
‘Another parcel! What are you so busy carrying out of the castle every day?’ he demanded.
‘I am not yet answerable to you for my actions!’ I cried. ‘But if you must know, it is food for the poor of the village.’
Stanton held out his hand. ‘Show me!’ he asked. It was more of an order than a request.
‘It is none of your business what alms Sir Walter chooses to give his tenants!’
‘That is true,’ he agreed solemnly. ‘But I have an insatiable curiosity about you, you see. So when I see you leaving the castle every day with a bundle—there’s no point denying it—I have to know what you are doing. You are always so busy, Eleanor, so rarely to be found with the other ladies. One cannot pay court to you in the usual manner.’
‘I do not want you to pay court to me,’ I replied angrily. ‘I just want you to let me alone.’
‘So you keep telling
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