A Knight to Remember (2 page)

Jenny paused – crusades? What crusades? Then it hit her. The priest had said the year was 1277. She started to tremble. "What year is this?"

The old woman tittered aloud. "Wherefore, that fall must hath addled thy mind. 'Tis 1277, of course!" She leaned forward and plumped the pillow behind Jenny's head. "I think thou should get some rest. I will bring thee up some broth anon, or mayhap thou will feel able to dine in the hall."

Jenny was still in a state of shock. She watched the old woman walk to the door and called out, "What's your name?"

"Annie." She gave Jenny a smile and left the room.

Once she'd gone, Jenny sat there in silence, contemplating recent events. Someone must surely be having a laugh at her expense. No one could really travel back in time, could they? She looked around the room, this time more carefully. There were no light sockets, no lamps, nothing to show any hint of modern technology. She clambered off the high bed and walked over to the small table with the candles. There was one book, a bible. She picked it up and examined it. The cover was a deep burgundy with ornate gold writing – a beautiful work of art. She flicked the pages open to reveal hand-written characters. It was difficult to read, and after a couple of sentences, Jenny placed it back on the table, giving up trying to decipher the words.

She looked around the room, agitated. Where the hell was she? Her eyes fell on the small, narrow window. If she could look out there, then perhaps she could get her bearings. Quickly, she went over to a wooden chair at the end of the bed and moved it beneath the window. She clambered up, and standing on tiptoe, she could just see the edge of some fields. Other than that, there was nothing to indicate her whereabouts.

"Get thee down!" barked a deep voice. Jenny almost fell off the chair in shock and would have, if not for two large, male hands that grabbed her around the waist and then deposited her on the floor.

Stephen glared down at her. "Do not stand on chairs, 'tis dangerous! Did thy mother not teach thee anything, wench?"

After the initial shock, Jenny quickly came back to her senses. "Will you stop calling me that?"

Stephen gave her a hard look. "I shall call thee what I like – wench!"

Jenny crossed her arms belligerently. "If you call me wench again...I shan't answer you! You can go fuck yourself, for all I care!" This big bear of a man seemed to bring out the worst in her, and his arrogance was driving her nuts.

With one stride, Stephen was on her. Jenny found herself suddenly upended and five solid swats landed on her rear. She squealed indignantly, but her shrieks did nothing to deter his palm from inflicting a stinging pain to her backside.

As he let her down, she rubbed her sore bottom and winced. "Ow! That hurt. You're a bully!"

Stephen gave a wry smile. "Give me no reason to spank thee and I will cease. Until thou learneth respect for thy superiors, I will continue to administer punishment. It is entirely thy decision." He stared at her, one eyebrow raised.

Jenny sat down on the edge of the bed and crossed her arms, her bottom lip pouting as she realised she wasn't going to win any arguments with the overbearing man.

Stephen cleared his throat and looked at her intensely. "Annie informs me thou art related to Hugh Peverel. How so?"

Jenny thought quickly. "I...er...I'm his first cousin, once removed!"

Stephen frowned, as if he was not sure what relation that was. He sat down on the edge of the bed and she scooted back.

"I will not hurt thee, wench. I just want thee to know that if indeed thou art related to Hugh, then I will offer thee my full protection. However, if thy words prove false, I will make thee suffer."

Jenny gulped. Her bottom was already on fire, and she knew what suffering he would administer. "I don't lie! My name is truly Peverel, Jenny Peverel!" There, that was one truth she could be sure of. She licked her lips nervously as she watched him.

"Show me thy hands!"

"What?"

"Thy hands. Show them to me."

Jenny gulped. What did he want to see her hands for? Tentatively, she placed them palm upwards in front of him. He grabbed them none too gently in his large ones, sending an electric shock up her arms.

Slowly, he turned them over, inspecting them thoroughly. "Thy nails art neatly clipped, thou hath no signs of calluses, thy skin is soft. Thou art no lowly maid."

He released her hands and she let them drop to her side. "Very well, Jenny Peverel. I will accept thy declaration of honesty but heed my warning. I will not be made a fool of." His eyes darkened and Jenny, for one moment, felt quite afraid.

He stood up. "We dine within the hour in the main hall. I will send Annie up with some decent clothing. My sister left some of her clothes here, and thy figure seems the same. Put them on; it is not decent for a woman to wear men's attire." He gave her jeans a scathing look and walked towards the door.

Jenny leapt off the bed and stomped her foot. "They are not men's clothes. They're...they're...fashionable," she finished lamely.

"Fashionable or not, thou will not wear them in my presence. Do I make myself clear?" His jaw hardened and his eyes challenged hers to disobey him.

Jenny clamped her lips together and nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Arrogant man!

Satisfied, he left, leaving Jenny on her own in the darkened room. She sat down on the bed and chewed her bottom lip nervously. What on earth was happening here? Had she fallen down and bashed her head without knowing and was now in a coma? Was she having a nightmare? She reached down and pinched her arm hard, yelping in pain as her arm turned red. No, she had definitely felt that!

Annie interrupted her thoughts, when she tapped on the door gently and then entered.

"Here we are, my love. Sir Stephen asked me to bring thee some clothing. I 'ave two dresses for thee to choose from. Not sure which one will suit thee, but either one will look better than those men's hose thee chose to wear."

Jenny rolled her eyes and sighed, giving up on pointing out that they were not men's trousers. Going with the flow seemed her only option right now.

Annie was still waffling away and Jenny tried to focus on what she was saying.

"Flavie is a wonderful woman, I am positive thou wouldst like her."

"Who's Flavie? That's an odd name," declared Jenny.

"She is Sir Stephen's sister. Flavie is a French name, which is natural, seeing as how the family is of French descent. Thou doth not know much, doth thee, girl?" Annie stated, looking at her as though she had two heads.

"Well, no. I've...er...been living quietly," Jenny defended herself. "Where's Flavie now?"

"She married Sir Henry de Raleigh and lives over yonder in Bideford. Verily happy she is, too. Has two children now, Simon and Edward. More's the pity Sir Stephen is not wed."

Jenny kept her thoughts to herself. She wasn't surprised at all that he wasn't married. What sort of woman would want that arrogant pig for a husband? She wouldn't be able to breathe in the wrong direction without having that large paw of his descend on her backside!

She turned to the dresses and looked at them both. One was navy blue and the other a deep green velvet, both edged with gold. As Jenny took her jeans off, Annie's eyes widened as she saw the tiny panties she was wearing.

"Lord preserve us...what are those?"

Jenny looked down at her silky red panties and back up to Annie's face.

"They're...er...also the new fashion. Very comfortable, too!"

Annie pursed her lips. "Thee could catch thy death of cold in those," she grumbled. "Come and put a dress on; try the blue one first."

Jenny removed her top and held her hands up for the dress to be lowered. She wasn't wearing a bra, so thankfully there were no more questions as to her modern attire. The dress felt soft against her skin, and it fit like a glove, moulding her curves as though made for her.

"Perfect, thou art respectable. I think thou should burn those hose, they art not fit for a lady!" She eyed the jeans and Jenny immediately grabbed them, holding them protectively against her body.

Those jeans had cost her an arm and a leg, and she wasn't about to part with them, certainly not by burning them.

"I'll keep these, but I promise not to wear them whilst I'm here." She placed them under her pillow and turned back to Annie, who was holding out a pair of soft leather slippers.

"Put these on, they will keep thy feet warm."

Jenny's boots were on the floor next to the bed. Annie made no comment about them, and Jenny thought it wise not to mention them. Instead, she slipped her feet into the very comfortable slippers and wiggled her toes, admiring the neat workmanship.

"What time do we eat?"

"Very soon." Annie's face softened. "Take a walk around the castle, I will come find thee when 'tis ready." She opened the door for Jenny to walk past her.

Perhaps she would be able to find out where she really was if she had a snoop around. Jenny walked out of the bedroom door into a dark corridor.

"Take this, "Annie handed her a candle, "The corridors get quite dark this late in the evening and thou dost not want to trip down the stairs. If thou goest in that direction, 'twill lead thee up to the turrets, and thou can see the river Okement. 'Tis a lovely view."

Jenny thanked her and hurried off towards the stairs. The candle didn't throw off much light and the stone walls seemed quite eerie in the dark. She reached the top of the stone stairs, pushed the thick wooden door open and stepped out into the late evening sun.

Down below, she could see the river meandering its way along the perimeter. She could see a few small dwellings but nothing else...no streets, no tall modern buildings, no cars, just fields and cattle. She turned to look along the rest of the castle. As she did so, she gasped aloud.

This was Okehampton Castle. In her time, it was a ruin but now it was in all its finery. Her eyes feasted on the perfectly rounded towers as the setting sun glowed orange against their surfaces. It was magnificent; a masterpiece of construction. She touched the wall, running her hand over the hard stone. It was real, but how could it be so? How could she be standing on a castle and be in the year 1277 when she should be in 2015? Somehow, she would have to find her way back, but she must err on the side of caution until she knew how it had happened...

"Thy language is strange, lady." Stephen paused mid-way through eating to stare at his new guest, Jenny Peverel.

Jenny frantically searched her mind for more appropriate speech. "Er...how so, my...um, Lord?" God, was that what she was supposed to call him? She had no idea!

"The words thee speak, they art not from this region. From where doth thee hail?"

Jenny cleared her throat. Where on earth could she say she was from? She'd told Annie she lived in Okehampton, but her house didn't exist in this time period. She had to think quickly! "Oh, it's a London dialect. I was brought up there. Have you never travelled to London, milord?"

"Aye, several times and I hath never encountered thy tongue. 'Tis odd."

"No, it isn't. It's quite normal!" Jenny was starting to get vexed and her voice unknowingly grew louder.

Stephen's brow furrowed and he gave her a dark look. "Do not raise thy voice to me, milady. Relation to Hugh or not, thou shall be punished accordingly if thee continues in that tone!"

Jenny bit back a retort and looked down at her food, moving it around the plate broodingly. Overbearing bastard! Her mind was still in shock; she needed time to think. Placing her fork down on her plate, she stood up.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to go back to my room. I'm tired and a little...lost." That was an understatement. Over seven hundred years an understatement!

Stephen stood and gave her a polite bow, watching as she walked away towards the stairway.

Jenny found her way back to her bedroom with the help of a large candle given to her by Annie. She shivered as the cold from the castle walls penetrated her dress. All she wanted to do now was curl into a ball and sleep. When she woke up, perhaps this would all go away and have been just a bad dream...

* * *

Jenny awoke slowly, stretching her legs and back before rolling on her side, hugging the pillow to her cheek. What a fantastic sleep. She had so needed that. Suddenly, her eyes blinked open...what a dream! As her eyes focussed, she instantly became wide-awake and sat bolt upright.

"Fuck!"

She was still there. The castle walls were real. The bed was real. She clapped a hand to her mouth and groaned before falling backwards onto the pillow, closing her eyes as the truth set in.

Why wasn't she back home? Why wasn't this a dream? Oh, God!

She opened one eye and looked around her. The thick, grey, stone walls of the castle surrounded her; the tiny window with its shard of light gleamed down upon her. She whimpered as fear began to set in – true fear.

She swallowed hard and bit back tears. This wouldn't do. She was Jenny Peverel. Feisty Jenny Peverel who had more backbone than this! If Seth could see her, he would laugh. Seth! Oh, God. Would Seth know she was missing...would he care?

A single tear slid down her cheek and she brushed it away impatiently. There must be a way back to her time – there must be! Quickly, she swung her legs out from under the warm covers and jumped down off the high bed. Her clothes from yesterday were laying over a chair where she'd thrown them, and she hastily put them on, slipping into the soft dress easily. She looked at the slippers and then, decision made, pulled her boots out from under the bed. She wanted to prowl around today and those little slippers would be useless outside. No one would see her boots under this long dress, anyway.

There was a wooden brush on the bedroom table and she quickly ran it through her hair, taming the tangles.

A soft knock on the door and Annie entered the room, carrying a jug and a bowl. "Ah, I see thee hath awakened. I brought thee some water to freshen up."

She placed the jug on the table and laid a small cloth next to it. "Thee can break thy fast when thou art ready. The victuals art laid out in the hall. Did thee sleep well?"

"Oh, yes...very well. Thank you for the water."

"My pleasure. If thou hath need of ought else, just ask one of the guards to fetch me."

"Guards? Am I under arrest?"

"No! Heavens above! I meant, ask the castle guards, the men that guard our castle. Why ever wouldst thou think thee were under arrest?"

Jenny emitted a nervous laugh. "Oh, I...er...no reason. I just wondered."

Annie shook her head and tittered aloud. "Freshen up and eat some food. Thou shall feel much better."

Jenny nodded and began to wash her face and neck whilst Annie bustled around the bedroom, tidying the covers and plumping the pillows.

"Do you have a toothbrush?" Jenny dared to ask.

"A toothbrush?"

"Yes...something to clean my teeth with?"

Annie frowned. "I hath never heard of a toothbrush! A brush for thy teeth – whatever next?" She laughed aloud and shook her head. "I use a cloth as does all of us – use the one thee hath there."

Jennie turned back to the bowl of water and looked at the cloth. Oh, well, it would have to do. She placed her forefinger in a fold of the cloth and began to clean her teeth as best she could. The results were surprising; her teeth actually felt quite clean. She ran her tongue over the smooth surface and smiled.

"It works well!"

Annie gave her a puzzled look. "Of course, it doth! Thou sayeth the most odd things, Jenny." She picked up the empty jug and bowl of water Jenny had finished with and walked to the door. "I wouldst like to see one of these 'toothbrushes' next time thee comes to visit."

Jenny gave a wry smile. "I promise to bring you one, should I ever come back."

"Come, milady. Follow me and I will take thee down to the hall to break thy fast."

Jenny followed Annie as she led the way to the food table. There was a fine spread consisting of porridge, fresh fruit, honey, cheese, and, best of all, freshly baked bread. Jenny helped herself to some bread and cheese and took a seat at the high board.

There were only a couple of people present and they nodded but kept their distance, thankfully. She really didn't feel like making conversation this morning. Annie brought her a goblet.

"Take some wine – that will revive thy spirits."

Jenny shook her head. "I think I'll just have some water, please."

Annie looked at her aghast. "Water? Nay, milady, 'tis not safe. Take this red wine, 'twill be good for thy humours! I can water it down if thee wouldst like."

"Well, I guess, if that's what you recommend," Jenny said a little reluctantly. "But surely if the water's tainted then putting it in wine won't help?"

"The wine will purify the water," said Annie as she added some water to her drink. "That is what Avrick hath foretold."

"Avrick?"

"Aye, the castle physician, milady. A great man."

"Oh, well, I guess I'll try it, then. Thank you, Annie."

Wine? This time of the morning? She sniffed the goblet and wrinkled her nose. Its odor was still strong even with the added water. She took a tentative sip and swallowed. Actually, it didn't taste as bad as it smelled. She took a large gulp and let the strong liquid slide down her throat. It instantly sent a warm feeling coursing through her body. Perhaps it was a good way to start the day.

She picked up the cheese and began to eat with gusto. The fresh bread was delicious and washed down easily with the wine. When her plate was clear, she sat back and looked around the great hall whilst finishing her drink.

The walls were covered with huge tapestries, beautifully crafted in bright colours. The floor was made up of large, flat stones, covered here and there with rushes, she presumed to keep in the heat and afford some sort of comfort. A couple of large dogs lay under one of the lower tables, one chewing happily on a bone. Other than the two people and the dogs, the hall was empty. Perhaps everyone had eaten already. What was the time? Her watch!

Quickly, Jenny rolled back her sleeve to see if she still had her watch, and it was there. Something she took for granted in her modern world. The time said nine-thirty. Was that late for a castle or early? Was she even in the same time zone? She had no idea! One thing she did know was that she needed to get back to the church, as that was where this whole fiasco had happened. That had to be the way back to her time.

With a determined tilt to her chin, she arose from the high board and walked towards the doorway exiting the hall. Just as she was about to step through, she found it blocked by the huge form of Sir Stephen.

"Oh!"

"In a hurry, milady?" He placed his arms on her shoulders and pushed her back slightly so that he could enter the hall.

"Come, join me whilst I eat. I would know more about thee."

"Well, I was just going to take a walk to the church and –"

She was stopped short as he bellowed, "Thou shall not leave this castle without a guard, doth thou hear? There are wastrels about and as thou art under my protection, I am duty-bound to protect thee until Hugh comes back."

Jenny couldn't help it. Her jaw was hanging open at his angry tirade. She hadn't asked for his protection; in fact, he could go stick his protection where the sun didn't shine!

She placed her hands on her hips and confronted him. "Excuse me, but I don't need your protection or anyone else's, for that matter. If I want to go to the church, I will!" She did an about-turn and began to march off, only to feel a strong hand clamp down on her shoulder once again, only this time, more firmly.

She suddenly found herself inches away from his face as he growled, "Turn thy back on me again and thee will find thy bottom over my knee and a sound pasting applied! Dost thou understand?" He shook her slightly and she gulped, alarmed at his anger.

"Y-Yes, but I only wanted to go to the church. Surely it's not that dangerous?"

"Art thou addle brained, lady? Hath Hugh not taught thee anything? Outside these castle walls there lie dangerous folk, folk that would as soon rob or maim thee as look at thee. Rest assured, milady, I mean what I say. Step one foot outside these walls without a guard and thou will pay dearly!"

Jenny looked at him and realised he wasn't going to budge. Good grief, it couldn't be that bad, could it? She studied him for a few minutes and realised that he was indeed serious about his intentions.

"All right. I won't go without a guard." She crossed her fingers behind her back.

He released her shoulders, satisfied that she would obey him.

"Come, sit with me and tell me something of thyself. I would know how thee came to Okehampton." He walked over to the food table and piled a plate high with bread, cheese and fruit before walking over to the high board. Jenny reluctantly followed him. She dreaded having to speak to him. What could she say?

He poured himself wine and held the jug out enquiringly to her. She nodded and held out a goblet, watching him beneath lowered lashes as he filled her cup.

Pulling her goblet towards her, she added a little water from a nearby jug. She sipped the strong wine and watched Stephen as he tucked in with relish to his morning meal. After a couple of mouthfuls, he paused to ask her a question,

"How came thee to Okehampton? Didst thou not hath an escort?"

"Oh, yes. He...er...left me at the church." Stephen frowned, so she quickly continued. "He had to get back to London quickly, so I told him I'd be quite safe!"

"Who was this man?"

"Oh...my cousin. You wouldn't know him."

He nodded slowly, taking in her words. "Didst thou think to stay at Hugh's abode?"

"Yes. I...er...didn't know he was away on the crusades."

"Next time, be sure thy accommodation is assured afore setting foot on the road. Thy mission was foolhardy!" She lowered her lashes as his eyes bored into hers. "I will keep thee safe under my roof until Hugh returns."

"Oh, there's no need, really."

"Nay, thee will be my guest. I willst not hath thee staying elsewhere without an escort." His voice brooked no argument, and wisely, Jenny decided to stay quiet. Stephen swallowed a mouthful of food and then calmly asked, "So, Jenny Perevel, why art thou still a maiden?"

Jenny almost spluttered on the wine. Maiden? Fuck! She was no maiden, in fact, her 'maidenhood' had been taken away four years ago. Guess that didn't happen so easily in these times. She swallowed a mouthful of wine before replying, choosing her words carefully. "I...er...just haven't found the right bloke yet!"

"Bloke? What is this word?"

"Oh er...man, partner...umm...husband."

"Truly, thy words art strange," he muttered, taking another bite of bread. "Hast thou not had offers?"

"Offers? What...offers of marriage?"

He nodded and chewed slowly on a piece of cheese.

"Well, I...umm...no! Not really! What's that got to do with you?" She stuck out her small chin indignantly.

"I am merely curious, Jenny. A pretty maiden such as thee dost not stay long in spinsterhood!"

"God...you make me sound like I'm fifty!"

"Do not take the Lord's name in vain, Jenny. Last warning!" He gave her a stern look before continuing. "Thou art certainly not fifty. Nay, it is unusual, 'tis all." He shrugged and pushed his plate away. "Wouldst thou like to travel out with me this afternoon?"