“Let us go to Osbert now,” Richard suggested. He let her go and gathered his cloak. “We have much to do.”
Elias smiled at her as they reached the door.
As she stepped outside and looked around, she thought she should be happy for other reasons, such as they would all have a better chance of living by following him. But the truth was that she was most happy she was going to see the breathtaking land he had spoken of with its jagged mountain ranges that go on forever. She was happy she wouldn’t have to bid him farewell, happy that he cared for her husband, and the people here. And for her. If Richard found a cure, they would find a way to get it to the proper people, who would duplicate it and spread it throughout the world.
She followed them to Osbert’s house, walking behind Richard and Simon with Elias at her side. He felt big beside her, like a guardian. She felt safe. She liked it.
“How are we going to bring everything? ‘Tis overwhelming to think about. And what about the mothers who are alone with their children, like Clare and Agnes and Alice?” She suffered doubts about their ability to leave and her hands began to shake.
“Lily,” Brother Simon stopped her. “Do ye have much influence over the reeve?”
She shook her head no.
“Nor do I. Maybe we would do better by going to pray.”
She nodded and promised her husband she would pray for the best decisions to be made.
She walked with the brother to the church.
“Let us sit outside today,” Brother Simon suggested and turned toward a single bench behind the church, facing a narrow running stream.
Lily thought it a nice idea and smiled at him as they sat down to pray. A cool wind pulled at her hood, but it was not brisk or overly cold. That was coming, as well.
How long would it take them to reach Invergarry? Would winter find them traveling?
She asked the brother her questions after they prayed. “It should not take longer than a fortnight—with so many walking—”
“A fortnight! How will we all eat?”
“We will hunt and eat from the land.”
She wanted to laugh because it sounded so preposterous, but he said it with conviction and made her believe it.
So be it then. The choice was not hers to make and she did, now, see both points of view.
“Tell me about your life, Brother,” she said to set her mind on other things. She lifted her fingers to his scars. “I can give you oil to apply every day. ‘Twill help keep them from turning red.”
“I am already in your debt.”
She shook her head. “There is no debt. How did you get them?”
He gave her a surprised look and then a short laugh and she wondered when was the last time anyone showed interest in him.
“Ah, let me think now.” He set his fathomless, dark green eyes on the window. “I was eight when my mother died. Nine when I was sold to the Earl of Hampton in Norham.”
“Was servitude terrible for you?”
“Aye, most terrible,” he replied.
Lily didn’t come from a town or a city like London. She wasn’t aware of how lords and ladies treated their servants. Country folk, like her, didn’t have servants.
“Did your master do this? Why?” she asked when he nodded.
“Someone accused me of trying to gain his daughter’s favor.”
“And were you trying to gain it?”
“In truth, I was,” he confessed. “Rohesia has the face of an angel. I could not help myself from liking her. So to prevent the chance of his daughter returning my affections, he had me whipped once across the face. The three scars are from one strike coming around and getting me from the other side. I have more on my back. He turned me into a hideous monster.”