First Knight: Thornton Brothers Time Travel (A Thornton Brothers Time Travel Romance Book 3) (10 page)

They were coming. Jennifer looked around and just in time darted behind several barrels. She could see through a tiny crack where the barrels weren’t pushed all the way together, and watched as the girl checked to see if the coast was clear. Then she sent the man out, followed, and immediately called out to people in the kitchens, distracting everyone so they wouldn’t see the man slinking out.

One of the servants caught sight of Jennifer as she stepped out of the pantry in time to see the redheaded girl scowling at her. The servant frowned. “Lady? Why are you not in the great hall, where Lord Somerforth waits?”

The man with the scar was gone. Jennifer gave the girl a look as if to say,
I know you were up to something.
 

“Maude, fetch the bread.” The girl made a face and turned away.
 

“I got lost on my way to the hall.”

The servant nodded. “Somerforth is overlarge.” The woman led Jennifer to the great hall and up on the dais where Edward was sitting.

“I am pleased the dress fits. The color reminded me of the darker blue in your eyes. You look most fetching.”

Jennifer felt the heat travel up her cheeks and, against her will, found herself smiling. He was a force of nature. When he smiled, it lit up the entire room.

“It’s gorgeous. Thank you.” She didn’t tell him how much the other dress itched and kind of smelled. At least Brom had found her a dress, even if it came from a village wench. The one she wore now came from Edward. To know he’d picked it out with her in mind made her heart flutter.

There was a shallow basin of water on the table, and as she watched she noticed people washing their hands, so she did the same. As her mom said,
If you’re not sure what fork to use, watch everyone else.

There were pewter plates on the table. “You don’t use the trenchers at supper?”

“We do, but tonight we have an honored guest, so we feast.”

“Who?” She stopped at the look on his face. “Me?”

“Aye.” He poured the wine in her goblet and served her the choicest morsels, sharing his eating knife. There were tablecloths on the tables and large linen napkins for everyone, though instead of putting them on their laps, most people had them over their shoulders.

The wine was chilled and kept in pottery jugs. His men and the other diners had pottery cups instead of the silver goblets. She already knew a few trenchers would go to the dogs and the rest taken to the poor. Thank goodness she’d been found by the lord of the castle and not a peasant. What a different experience it might have been.

There were cherries in honey, and she wanted to take the whole bowl for herself. Mustard and salt was available, and most of the dishes were delicious. Edward obviously had lots of money, as evidenced by the spices and state of the castle. Money made a big difference in these times—heck, even in her own time the divide between rich and poor was becoming greater and greater.

The hearths in the room were huge. The floors gleamed and there was a mosaic inset in the middle of the floor that looked like it belonged in a museum. It must have dated from roman times. Jennifer remembered the professor talking about the mosaics and the first earl. To see them in person…she itched to sketch them.

“Lady? What are you doing?”

Jennifer was tracing the design on the tablecloth with a fingertip as Edward watched her.

“I was just thinking how much I’d like to paint your home.”

“You are a painter in your time?”

“I don’t make a living painting. It’s difficult to do so. In fact, I don’t have a job. Hopefully I was going to get one when the summer was over.” She went on to tell him about the dig and how she’d painted the various scenes.

“Would you paint Somerforth?”

“Are you kidding? I’d love to.” She took his hand, heard a noise, and found several pairs of eyes watching her intently. Snatching her hand away, she felt the heat bloom across her chest.

“Then it shall be so. After you break your fast on the morrow, I would show you around the gardens. The roses are in bloom.”

“I’d like that. I saw what was left of the rose garden…” She looked around to see if anyone had overheard.
 

Edward leaned closer. “The garden still stands?”

“It is overgrown, the walls falling down, but some of the roses are still there. I could smell them before I ever saw them.”

Then his face brightened as a huge platter was brought out and set before them.

“Is that… Oh wow, is that a swan?”

“Do you eat swan? They are quite good.”

Jennifer shook her head, nervously eyeing the bird in front of her. “I’m not sure if I can eat it. Somehow it seems wrong.”

“What do people eat in…Maryland?”

“Not swan,” she muttered. Then she caught him looking at her and felt her cheeks heat up again. “I’m sure some people eat them. But where I come from, we eat beef, pork, and chicken. We also eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. And don’t even get me started on junk food, soda, and chocolate.”

Edward’s eyes lit up. “I have heard tell of chocolate. Lucy is quite fond of the stuff, as are her sisters. They have not found a way to get it here, but I would not be surprised if they are victorious.”

“I hope I get a chance to meet them.”

He took a bite of the bird, and she averted her eyes as he chewed.

“There is much unrest, and I would not have them travel to Somerforth. Mayhap in the autumn.”

She was disappointed but understood. Still, she ached to meet others like her. “Is that why there are so many guards everywhere?”

He nodded, his mouth full. Jennifer wasn’t used to drinking so much wine, and she felt lightheaded. She was thinking about what she’d seen earlier in the pantry when talk at the table turned to politics and war and someone named Armstrong. After the whole gay fiasco, Jennifer wasn’t going to jump to conclusions until she knew something was wrong with what she’d witnessed. After all, maybe Maude and the man were having an affair?

Jennifer caught a glimpse of the redheaded girl as she brought in more wine. She touched Edward’s sleeve. “That girl. How long as she been at Somerforth?”

He looked to where she was pointing. “Maude. I took her in as a child. Her family were slaughtered because her father was English and her mother Scottish. We found her curled up in the hay.”

“I thought I heard her speaking what I’m guessing was Gaelic?”

“Nay, you must be confused. She has no Gaelic.”

She let it drop, deciding it wasn’t any of her business if the girl slept around. They married young here, so who was she to say what was appropriate behavior?

He saw her eyeing the swan, which seem to be eyeing her back. As if he read her mind, the corner of his mouth twitched. Edward reached out and turned the platters around so the swan was no longer looking at her. He met her gaze and grinned.

“Thank you. I know it’s silly, but I felt like it was looking at me.” He passed her vegetables and bread. “I didn’t think you ate many vegetables?”

“My brothers and I eat more than other nobles. We have heard over and over how good they are for you.”

It was her turn to grin. She could imagine getting a lecture from a modern-day woman on eating your vegetables. The carrots were in some sort of spicy sauce that had a bit of an aftertaste, but she shrugged it off, hungry as usual, and cleaned her plate, using bread to sop up the last bit of sauce.

After supper, Jennifer felt funny. Then again, she had traveled seven hundred years through time and had to look at a swan all through the meal. It was either lingering time-travel lag or nerves.

The tables were cleared and pushed against the walls, the benches stacked as men vied for the best spots to sleep. The knights slept out in the garrison. It was all very efficient.

Edward was speaking, and she tried to focus on the words but kept shaking her head to clear it. The man kept wavering in and out of focus. Better cut back on the wine tomorrow.

“Mistress, are you unwell?” The alarm on his face made her wonder how awful she looked.

“I don’t feel so good. Maybe I should go to bed. I’m sure I’ll feel better in the morning.”

Edward spoke to one of his men so quietly that she couldn’t make out what he said. He took her arm, the heat from him warming the chill spreading through her bones.
 

“Can you stand?”

She pushed back from the table. “Of course.” But when she did, her stomach revolted and her knees turned to jelly. The room spun and Edward’s voice sounded far, far away.

The floor was a ways away. She was floating. No, Edward was carrying her again. Jennifer held tight to keep from falling.

“I’m sure I’ll be…” She pressed her lips together, afraid to say any more. Saliva pooled in her mouth and she had a hollow feeling in the back of her throat. When Edward took the stairs two at a time, she had to close her eyes. Sensing her distress, he jogged even faster. As they twisted and turned, making their way up the stairs, her stomach rolled like a ship caught in a tropical storm. Any moment now she was going to lose it. Squeezing her eyes closed, Jennifer chanted under her breath.
 

“Please don’t let me throw up on him, please don’t let me throw up on him, please.”

Jennifer caught sight of the closed door before Edward shifted her in his arms, lifted a booted foot, and kicked the door open. The man practically tossed her down on the wooden stool.

He knelt in front of her. “Tell me what I may do to ease your pain?”

Her skin was clammy. She swallowed, waiting a moment before she spoke to the Edward on the left.

“Bucket.”

Eyes wide, Edward opened the door and shouted.

Weakly, Jennifer lifted her head. “Edward,” she whispered.

How he heard her she didn’t know, but instantly he was by her side.

“Please don’t. I don’t want anyone to see me like this.”

A knock sounded. He smoothed a hand down her hair. “As you wish.”

“Please, hurry.”
 

She heard him speaking to one of the guards. The door shut and he was back, thrusting a bucket between her feet.

“There is a guard posted at the door. No one will enter. I will tend you.”

It was no use. She couldn’t hold it in any longer. Jennifer leaned forward and out came supper. Mortified to be barfing in front of him, she wanted to scream, but could do nothing. There was no way some servant was going to stand there and watch her puke. If only there was a ladies’ room where she could lock herself in a stall until she felt better.

It seemed to go on forever. Jennifer heaved again and felt Edward’s hands on her shoulders. A memory surfaced. First year of college and her getting sick after a mean girl had put ipecac in her drink. This felt similar. It wasn’t the stomach flu. At first she’d thought food poisoning, but this was so much worse. The stabbing pains made her double over, feeling like she was dying, being ripped in two from the inside. Was it a side effect of traveling through time? She’d ask Edward if any of those other women were sick like this. Or had she messed up history and this was some kind of punishment?

Time ceased to have any meaning. Sometime, what seemed like days or years later, Jennifer managed to sit upright. Sweaty, clammy, and cold all at the same time, she felt like something even the cat wouldn’t bother to drag in.

“I’m so sorry. I feel so awful.”
 

“I will send for a girl to help you undress. You will sleep and be well on the morrow.”

She grabbed his hand, cringing that hers was wet and clammy. “Please. Don’t. It’s bad enough you’re seeing me like this. I couldn’t bear for anyone else to see me so sick. I have a hard time being around people I don’t know.” Another pain made her double over. “Just leave me. Aren’t you afraid you’ll get sick?” She knew how much people in this time worried about catching a fever.

He shook his head, the movement making her dizzy.

“Nay. I am never unwell.” He looked like he was about to say more, but gulped then averted his eyes as he asked, “Can you undress yourself?”

Undress? At this point she’d be lucky if she could walk.