He was surprised to find a droplet falling to his cheek. Even more when he heard her sniffle beside him and then wiped her eyes.
“Are you going to tell me they found their bodies in the future? If so—”
“No,” she said quickly, placing her hand on his leg. “No, I’m not going to tell you that.”
Not that he believed her…fully.
“I think we should call it a night.”
He gave her, and then the window a curious look. “But’tisnight.”
She smiled. “Yes. It’s just a figure of speech. It means, it’s late and we should end our visit. Come on.” She held her hand down to him.
He took it, wanting instead to pull her down into his arms. He was mad. He stood up and stared into her eyes. He didn’t want the night to end. He ran the back of his knuckles over her cheek. “You are fresh air to my weary soul.”
He wanted to kiss her. He ached to do it.
Someone knocked at the library door, interrupting his thoughts. It was Elia.
“Word has arrived that Richard lodges in Kirkham Abbey,” she said coming inside. “He will be here by morning.” She looked at Kestrel and smiled, then cut her gaze back to him. “I thought you would want to know.”
“I do. Thank you, Elia.” He tossed Kestrel a regretful gaze. “We were just calling it a night.”
Elia crinkled her brow, then smiled, getting it. Clever lady. “Walk with us back to Kestrel’s room.”
“Oh, dear. I’m afraid I cannot. Cook wishes for me to prepare a list of things he needs for the kitchen. Some of the guardsmen are going to Brompton and you said he could have a list drawn up.”
“Aye, I did.” Nicholas said and turned to give Kestrel a knowing look. As in, he knew she had something to do with Cook and his list.
He dismissed Elia to her task and walked Kestrel back to her room.
She was making changes everywhere she went, bringing a little piece of her future to the fifteenth century. People liked her. She’d even won over Cook.
But the king was different.
Chapter Ten
King Richard IIIarrived at Scarborough Castle with all pomp and circumstance.
Kes could tell by watching his entrance from the bridge wall, that he enjoyed lording over everyone. Even his wave was practiced and stiff as he greeted the villagers closest to the castle.
He rode on a majestic white stallion in trappings of purple. He wore his crown as he rode in with his private guardsmen of forty men around him. Kes was certain the crown made him more of a target. His men probably worked that much harder to keep him safe.
His procession, waving purple and yellow banners, moved over the bridge and through the outer gate. Everyone scurried to and fro, preparing this thing or that. Even Kes felt a little excited.
The only one who remained calm and together was Nicholas. Now, Kes knew better. For what boiled just beneath the surface of Nicholas’ cool veneer, was fury, leashed and controlled. But for how long?
He stood against the wall, watching the king’s procession growing closer. He said nothing but waited.
Kes had found him in the great hall at dawn. They broke their fast together but Nicholas said very little except that he’d enjoyed their time together last night. So had she. When he had opened Monmouth’sHistory of the British Kingsand began to read, she thought she might have found the man of her dreams. He read about Arthur and him going to Avalon to be healed. Was it all just coincidence? But a brooch with the Pendragon name on it had transported her over five hundred years into the past. Why did Nicholas read that passage in particular? What did it mean? She didn’t know and neither did Nicholas. He had to believe her now. She believed he was afraid of such a tremendous truth.
How much should she tell him? Talking about buildings and modern marvels was one thing. She knew about the princes in the Tower. Their fates were common knowledge in the twenty-first century, as was the fate of the Yorks and the Lancasters.
She had to keep it all to herself. Changing this time in history could have terrifying consequences.
“Will he send for you?” Kes asked him as the king’s carriage rolled by them and the king’s gaze settled on his commander.
“The instant he is on his feet, if not sooner,” Nicholas let her know. “Reg chases him, and he chases me.”