Lonely is the Knight (Merriweather Sisters Time Travel Romance Book 3) (11 page)

“Please sit.”

Addie poured them both a cup of wine before scampering out the door. He leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers underneath his chin. “Tell me again about your sisters, their husbands, and anything you think would be useful in finding them.”

He watched as she hesitated for a moment. And Henry wondered what secrets she was keeping. Women always kept secrets. Most benign, but others harmful. He’d run into his share of jealous women who only wanted to make their husbands angry. Henry had found himself at the end of a blade more times than he cared for. He never meant any harm; he simply adored women. Women of all shapes and sizes. He found beauty in each one. From the tilt of a head, to the sound of laughter, to the way a woman smelled, Henry found all of them enchanting.

Charlotte was the kind of woman to marry, not dally with. Regret filled Henry as he thought of never kissing her full lips. Never caressing her hair, or seeing if her curves were as lush underneath her clothes. He knew if he kissed her once, he’d never want to stop, and that was not acceptable. He pulled his attention back to her.

“I really don’t know much. We lost touch.” She turned her head and gazed out the window, silent for a few moments.
 

“I lost touch with Lucy first. It’s been a year since I spoke to her. It’s been over four months since I heard from Melinda.”
 

Charlotte drank her wine. He thought she looked forlorn. And Henry’s heart went out to her.

“Were you angry with each other?” He remembered throughout his entire childhood his parents always shouting at one another. Henry swore they never spoke a pleasant word in all the years they were married. They were both gone, and it pained him to say he did not miss either of them. Perhaps they had found peace in the next life.

“No, we’re close to each other. But when you’re so far away, it’s difficult. Letters take ages, if they reach the intended party at all. I haven’t heard from either of them in a long time, so you can imagine how worried I am. It’s why I finally decided to make the journey.”

“What do you know about their husbands, or where they live? Surely they spoke of their homes in the letters they sent?”

He watched her. When Charlotte Merriweather wasn’t telling the truth, she looked up and to the right. To his surprise, he noticed every detail about her. While he admired women and loved them, they were all rather interchangeable. Talking about court fashions and gossip, having babies, and scolding. But her…something was different about this woman, from her speech and manners to the very air that surrounded her. Mayhap ’twas her coming from another country.

“Lucy is married with children, but I don’t know her husband’s name. I think she lives near Blackford. Do you know it?”

“Blackford Castle is across the country on the west coast. Lord Blackford is a fearsome warrior and kin to my family. A distant cousin. My oldest brother, Edward, is a terrible gossip. I will send a messenger to find out what he knows.”

Charlotte paced back and forth across the room, stopping to pick up a book or object that caught her eye. She seemed restless. How would he fare if he’d traveled such a long distance and could not find his brothers? They were all close, and he couldn’t imagine being without them.

“Lucy’s different, like me. She should stand out. And she talks like me. She’s twenty-four, with long brown hair and blue eyes. The middle sister. I would greatly appreciate any information that your brother or cousin might have.”

“Tell me about your other sister.” He couldn’t keep the disbelief out of his voice. “Perchance you know her husband’s name or where she lives?”

Again Charlotte looked up and to the right. What reason did she have to be untruthful? Was she afraid of something? Had she run away from a husband who beat her? And at that thought, a pang went through him. For while he could not marry her, he did not want her to be married. He was a fool.

“Melinda is my oldest sister. She’s kinda bossy. Twenty-six, with green eyes and long, curly red hair. She went—well, the last I heard, she was at Falconburg.”

“Falconburg Castle is two days’ ride. I will dispatch another messenger. One of my brothers told me Lord Falconburg married a beautiful woman with red hair a few years ago.”

“She’s only been gone four months or so. No way it could be her…at least I don’t think so. Though Falconburg was the last place I know she went. I need to get there and ask if anyone knows her.”

“We must take care. There is sickness about. People are struck with a fever, then die a few days later. Some of the villagers believe the devil is walking about. ’Tis dangerous to travel unless necessary.”

Charlotte bit her lip. “I’ll wait to hear what your messengers find. But I will have to travel to Falconburg and Blackford to search for them. It’s the reason I’m here.”

“And I will send an escort with you as soon as ’tis safe. Lord Falconburg, James, is not hospitable to visitors. I will send a messenger first, and once we have word, we can make the journey if the sickness has passed from the lands.”

Henry held up a hand. He didn’t want her to get her hopes up. “If your sister has only been gone four months, she cannot be Lady Falconburg, don’t you agree? Wouldn’t you know if your sister married a noble? And an extremely rich noble at that?”

She wouldn’t meet his eyes. And instead of asking her outright why she was lying to him, he decided he would uncover what he could about her himself.
 

“It is possible, though. Given the way I haven’t received any letters lately, it’s possible Melinda married and I don’t know about it. Will you help me?”

While Henry was thinking about the probability of her sisters being married to James and William, he heard a raven call in the distance. The hair on the back of his neck stood up. He’d heard many ravens throughout his life. But now the birds seemed to appear when Mistress Merriweather was near. Or when the old woman from the wood was close. While Henry would never say it out loud, he swore the bird led him to find her on the beach. Something otherworldly was happening. And the old woman’s message ran through him.

Those you call friend will turn against you. A stranger will become more important to you than your own life. And when you see nothing but darkness ahead, look to the east.

“Aye. I will send messengers. We will find your sisters.” He stood and made her a low bow. “After all, I am a knight and sworn to aid those in need.”

Was Charlotte the stranger? If the old woman’s prophecy were true, which friend would turn against him? And even more alarming was her prediction about a coming darkness. By the east, did she mean one of his brothers would come to his aid? Henry snorted.

Or did she perhaps mean William Brandon and his army? It made his head ache, and Henry was tired of thinking about it. He needed to ride.

“Thank you again, Lord Ravenskirk. I have imposed on your hospitality for too long. Is there someone who could take me to a nearby inn where I can wait to hear back from your messengers?”

“Nonsense. You shall stay here at the castle, where it is safe. And then I will not have to search you out when the messengers return.” He walked to the door and opened it. “Would you like to join me for a ride? It’s a lovely day.”

“My lord, come quickly.”

Charlotte looked up, hearing the alarm in the man’s voice. Henry was already on his feet, calling out over his shoulder, “Stay here until I know ’tis safe.”

Well, that wouldn’t do. She was from a family of curious women. Charlotte packed up the makeshift picnic, made her way down from the battlements, and dropped everything off in the kitchens before going outside. They’d spent the entire past week together.
 

The activities served as a distraction from endlessly asking when the messengers would return. He hadn’t said, but she thought Henry was concerned too. They should have been back by now. She hoped they hadn’t caught whatever illness was going around.

Henry had taken her on rides to see his lands and meet his people, but only after he’d sent men first to make sure no one was sick. He’d provided dancing and singing at night in the great hall and spent afternoons in the solar with her. Sometimes they read or talked or simply sat, enjoying each other’s company. He was charming and fun to be around.

Now, sugar, you know you like the boy.
She rolled her eyes. Why couldn’t she have heard Aunt Pittypat’s voice in her head when she was lying about her sisters to Henry?

“Is aught amiss, mistress?” Little Addie trembled in the corner.

Charlotte knelt down beside her. “Don’t worry, sweetie. I’ll find out what’s happening. If it were something bad we would have heard all the men shouting and running around.”

The girl looked doubtful, but wiped her eyes. “As you say.”

“I’ll be right back.”

She went outside to see what was happening. There was a man lying in the back of a wagon, not moving. It was Liam, one of Henry’s knights.

“What happened?”

Henry looked furious. “Lord Hallsey attacked the village again. Burnt it to the ground. Liam managed to cut down three of the men. They were wearing Hallsey’s colors.”

“He needs stitches in that arm.” She looked away from the blood and around the courtyard.

“Aye, I’ll see to him. I’m good with a needle and thread.” One of the girls eyed Liam as if he were her next needlepoint project, and Charlotte winced. Poor guy wasn’t going to get a shot to numb him before the stitching started. Her stomach turned over from thinking of the needle going in and out of his flesh.
 

“Are you unwell?” Henry took her arm, frowning.

“I’m fine. Just thinking about how the stitches will hurt.”

He scoffed. “Hear that, Liam? The lady is worried you’re going to cry like a babe.”

She wanted to smack him.

“’Tis naught but a scratch, mistress. Don’t worry your comely head. Though a kiss might help.”

“She’ll not be kissing one ugly as you, man. There’ll be no kissing. No stealing longing glances either.”

Hmm, he sounded jealous. Charlotte grinned. In the short time she’d been here, she’d gone from a full-on crush to seriously liking Henry. Maybe he liked her too. She wanted to skip around the courtyard singing, but then the people would think she was stranger than they already did. A giggle slipped out.

Henry raised a brow, but she shook her head. The men pulled Liam out of the cart. There was a horrible gash across his thigh and another on his back. The smell of something salty and meaty filled the air as they passed by her. She reeled back. It was one thing to see a wound, but to smell it as well was a bit more than she could handle. Charlotte gagged.

The girl who would stitch up Liam followed the men, barking orders.

“Excuse me?”

The girl turned.

“You will clean the wound with alcohol before stitching him up, right?”

“Are you a healer, mistress?”

“No, but I know a bit about injuries. The alcohol will prevent foul humors from entering the body. You pass the needle through fire and then dip it in the alcohol, and pray for fast healing. Then wrap the wounds with clean bandages.”

She realized everyone had stopped what they were doing to listen. Charlotte made sure not to say
germs
, since no one would know what they were. Had she said something wrong?

The girl slowly nodded. “A few years back, a healer passed through, said he learned about using alcohol from a healer to the east. Thank ye.”

Henry patted her shoulder. “You are a kind woman.” He stared at her and Charlotte fought the urge to fidget. “Yet unused to seeing injured men. Your sire kept you locked away?”

“No, I just don’t like the sight of blood.”

He was about to say something else when another rider appeared. The man was covered in mud, as was the horse.

“The villagers are making their way here, my lord.”

“We must make ready.”

Charlotte stood in awe as he barked out orders left and right. Someone bumped into her.
 

“Henry?”

“Aye?”

“I’m good at sorting people out. Can I help with everyone arriving? I’d like to keep busy. It will keep my mind off wondering when the messengers will return.”

“If any of the villagers have the sickness, you must not let them stay.” He brushed a lock of hair that had come loose from her braid behind her ear. His fingertip brushed her cheek.

“What do I do with them?”

“Tell the man I send with you. He will send them to make camp outside the walls. And mistress?”

She turned to him.

“The messengers will return any day. Do not worry. I said I will aid you in your quest to find your sisters, and I will do everything in my power to find them. I know how important family is.”

Could he be any more perfect? She knew there was no Lady Ravenskirk, but did he have a girlfriend? ’Cause if not, Charlotte decided she wanted to apply for the job.