On Sunday afternoon, Hamon and his henchman, Ancel were sitting by the fire they had recently lit in the clearing. They had managed to locate the former setting where they were sure that Robin of Locksley and his band of merry men had occupied three years prior. There were rumours that after the revolt in the Village Square in ninety four, when Locksley was slain and the rest of his rabble scattered, that the Sheriff, Gisborne, and a number of Nottingham's men had ventured back to the forest and burned down Hood's camp.
So it would seem the rumours were true. For when the men arrived to this location late Saturday afternoon, they indeed found the site. Most of the camp had been destroyed by the fire, but some of it remained intact. There were a few tree huts that were still usable as well as what appeared to be the bunks.
"What is the plan now?" Ancel asked his comrade as he took a sip of mead from his flask. They were seated upon a log by the fire.
"We wait in here for a day, then I must find out how to get near to the Sheriff's lady." Hamon said.
"They know you better than they know me." Ancel pointed out with his eyebrow quirked.
"Hmm. You do have a point for once, Ancel." Hamon mused as he rubbed his chin. "Yes. You will go there and ask some questions. Find out what the Sheriff's lady is up to. Perhaps we can catch her off guard when she ventures from the castle. Surely she's not with him all of the time, and he'll be looking for me anyway." Hamon said.
"Alright. Perhaps I should cut my hair?" Ancel suggested. "Those knights have seen me twice with you."
"Good idea. We'll give it a day. If we proceed now you might risk running into the Sheriff. He may have someone with him who shall recognize you. You'll never find out anything if he is hanging around." Hamon spat. Then he looked to his henchman thoughtfully. "I must say, Ancel, I don't know what you're doing to have developed a brain, but keep it up. It's about time you woke up!" Hamon huffed.
"Indeed." Ancel growled. He didn't know why he was continuing to help his friend with this foolish quest, but he figured he was in far too deep to even remotely hope to escape the Sheriff's wrath. Ancel was sure he had been added to Nottingham's wanted list by now. He sighed. "Very well. Tomorrow I shall begin." Ancel said as he took another swallow of mead from his flask.
The rain was falling softly outside of the window of the Sheriff's bedchamber on Monday morning. The Sheriff was lying in bed holding his lady to him. He had cancelled everything to free his schedule this morning. The town council meeting was postponed until next week. Nottingham had asked his Scribe to inform the various staff who generally participate in the meeting the day before.
He sighed as he held Rhiannon to him. He desired her but he didn't wish to cause harm to his child. She ran her soft hands along his smooth chest and purred.
"Mmm, my prince. It's a shame you must leave me." Rhiannon sighed.
"And even if I stayed you would have to wait, my lady." The Sheriff said with his eyes narrowed. He swallowed. "Look what happened to you the last time… we –"
Rhiannon sat up and leaned upon her elbow, and quirked her eyebrow at him. "Don't do this, lover. Do not blame yourself." Rhiannon said softly. "It was one of those things – a coincidence." She added.
"Oh, my angel, I cannot help but think that –" He stopped himself again and closed his eyes.
"All is well, my love. Do not worry about me." Lady Rhiannon smiled. She reached up and threaded her fingers through his silky, raven mane, and softly kissed the corner of his perfect mouth. His whiskers tickled her lips.
"Rhiannon…" The Sheriff sighed. He pulled her on top of him and kissed her hungrily. He pushed her long sable tresses away from her face while he did so.
She felt her knees weaken and a warmth come over her. She kissed him longingly then pulled away from him, breathless.
"God, George – do not tell me to wait to touch you until after the child comes in the spring." Rhiannon breathed as she kissed his cheek. "I will wait until our wedding night, although I do have a suggestion." She smiled at him seductively.
"What is that?" The Sheriff asked with a grin.
"Well, I have two actually. The first suggestion is this – if all remains quiet with me, promise me you'll ravish me when you return? I'm sure it will be okay." Lady Rhiannon smiled.
"Hmm. I'll think about it." The Sheriff said, suppressing a grin. "And what was the other suggestion?" He asked, curiously.
"There's something I can do for you that shall cause no harm to me. I can give you something to… remember me by." Lady Rhiannon whispered as she kissed him softly. Her hand eased down under his velvet breeches and began to stroke him lightly.
The Sheriff sighed. He was hard for her in an instant. "No, my angel. I would feel strange."
"Lover, you don't need to penetrate me to satisfy me." Lady Rhiannon winked.
"Oh, Rhiannon…" The Sheriff sighed and closed his eyes.
"I want to make you happy." Rhiannon whispered. She began to trail his chest with her soft kisses as she kept moving south, all the while stroking him until he was hard as steel for her.
"You do make me happy, lady – in more ways than one." The Sheriff breathed.
It was too late. She had already unlaced his breeches and teased him lightly with her tongue while she continued to stroke him.
"Rhiannon!" The Sheriff gasped. His head thrashed from side to side upon the silk covered, soft down pillow, and he reached down and gently held her head in his hands.
She took him in her mouth and pleased him for the next glorious hour. He felt bliss he never felt before when she willingly let him release inside of her sweet, hot mouth.
Later that afternoon the Sheriff and his Lieutenant were leading the others as they traveled down the main road that would take them from Nottingham, heading south to Portsmouth. Adam, Mordrid, and the Bishop were some distance behind them, about twenty yards, so the Sheriff seized the opportunity to speak to his cousin privately.
"I saw the toys you made for my son, cousin. Thank you for that. My son especially loves his rattle." The Sheriff smiled.
"You're welcome, cousin. The child needed something to occupy him. I was already making toys for my little girl anyway." Guy grinned.
"You make me laugh, Gis. You're convinced you're going to have a lass!" The Sheriff chortled.
"I cannot describe it, cousin. I've never predicted anything in my life, but I've had a strong feeling since Meridwyn told me she was carrying my child that I was having a daughter. I do not think it – I know it." Guy stated firmly.
"It will surely be interesting if you're right." The Sheriff said as his eyebrow shot north. "I have no thoughts about the gender of my child that's on the way. Tell me, cousin – do you?" The Sheriff asked as his eyes narrowed curiously.
"Excuse me?" Guy asked, bewildered.
"Can you tell me if the child Rhiannon is carrying is a boy or a girl? Since you're so good at predicting that of your own child, I thought maybe you could tell me?" The Sheriff said with a deviant grin.
"Well, no, cousin. I have no feeling at all about your child. Sorry." Gisborne said.
"That's too bad, cousin. Oh, well. I do like a surprise!" The Sheriff laughed.
"My little girl already has a name." Guy announced with a smile.
"You're jesting! Aren't you getting ahead of yourself, Gis?" The Sheriff exclaimed, incredulous.
"Oh, it's fun to plan these things, cousin!" Guy laughed. "It was my lady who thought of it. My daughter will be Eve Elizabeth." Guy smiled proudly.
"Eve… your mother's name." The Sheriff said. "Indeed, cousin, 'tis a sweet name for a little lass. If she's anything like your mother was she will be a lovely lady indeedy. Alas, you've just reminded me how I miss my Auntie Evie." The Sheriff sighed. He looked to Guy knowingly as his eyebrow shot north. "Your mother was very kind to me when I was a young lad." A beat. "A shame the two greatest ladies in our family were taken so young, before even we could know them – their sons!" The Sheriff huffed.
"Aye, cousin. Sometimes I wonder if we would have turned out differently if they had lived? I'm glad you could know my mother. I wish I had known her, and my Aunt Aelesia." Guy said. He shook his head. "How did we get on this topic anyway?"
"We were discussing our children." The Sheriff sighed.
"You and I – fathers. It's still a rather perplexing thought, isn't it?" Guy chortled.
"Indeed, Gis, but maybe it will make us better men?" The Sheriff grinned.
"It's true our mothers were great ladies. Now the great ladies in the family are my wife and your wife to be." Guy said as his eyebrow quirked knowingly.
The Sheriff smiled. "Indeed you're right, cousin. Thank Zeus we grabbed them before anyone else did!" He exclaimed as a wicked grin formed. "God, what she did for me today." The Sheriff sighed.
"Cousin?" Guy asked, bewildered.
"My lady gave me something to remember her by. She's very clever with the manner in which she uses her tongue." Nottingham smiled.
"You best hope she doesn't have another episode like Saturday, cousin." Guy stated as he narrowed his steel blue eyes upon him.
"I didn't say I took her, Gis! I said that she's very clever with her tongue." The Sheriff grinned. Then his eyebrow shot north as he noticed his cousin still looking at him rather puzzled. "Must I spell it out for you, Gis? She pleased me – but she was left untouched!" The Sheriff remarked with an evil grin.
"Oh, my. That is quite a lady you have there, cousin!" Guy grinned. "I do hope your lady and mine discuss these matters as well. I need Meridwyn to find out about this little trick, but I don't want to be the one to suggest it." Guy sighed.
"Yes, I see what you mean, cousin. Luckily for me, I never had anything to do with it." The Sheriff smiled.
"My! Well, that is surely surprising!" Gisborne chortled.
The Sheriff looked at him and shook his head as he urged his equine to move faster. Gisborne kept up the pace alongside him.
"I had nothing to do with it!" The Sheriff spat. "My lady is a gift. I don't know how I got so lucky. I ask myself that all of the time." The Sheriff sighed happily as he thought of his beautiful Rhiannon.
On Tuesday afternoon Ancel was riding through Nottingham village and decided to stop at the market. He decided he was in no particular hurry, so he found a place to secure his horse. In the morning he had shaved his beard stubble and cut his long, dark brown hair. Hamon exclaimed that he indeed looked like a different person. Ancel smiled as he strolled through the market. The air was chill. He pulled up his hood and held his long black cape about him as he wandered past several vendors and villagers that were gathered there this day.
Suddenly his eyes spotted a pretty lady about twenty feet ahead. His lips upturned in a smirk. It had been too long since he had bedded a maiden. The lady was slender and of medium height. She wore a navy blue gown with a matching cape over it. Her shiny, dark hair was fashioned elegantly in a chignon upon her head and some loose ringlets framed her face.
He slowly walked toward her. "Good day, milady. You shouldn't be wandering about the village unaccompanied." Ancel said.
The lady looked up and quirked her eyebrow. "Not all of us have someone available to accompany us. Not that it's any concern of yours but I am a widow, and now I am employed by the Sheriff's lady." Lady Rebeccah remarked sharply as her eyebrow stayed quirked over her soft brown eyes.
Ancel stiffened. He sighed. "Ah, so you work at Nottingham Castle then?" He asked smoothly. He cast her a seductive smile and burned his gray eyes into hers.
Rebeccah looked up at the tall, attractive man and sighed. It had been so long since a gentleman had shown interest in her. She knew that was the reason she was being careless with her tongue when she tormented herself thinking of this very conversation later. For in the weeks that would follow, Rebeccah would feel guilt for what she said to him during this chance meeting. She would blame herself for what would happen to the Sheriff's lady. Unfortunately, she would only know this in hindsight, thus she continued to be lured by the stranger's charms.
"No. I've never been inside of the castle." Lady Rebeccah said. "I am minding Lady Rhiannon Wordsworth's manor. She is presently staying in the castle." Rebeccah explained.
"Oh. Do you ever take any visitors?" Ancel asked suddenly.
"Milord?" Rebeccah asked.
"If I were to come to call on you. Would that be alright sometime, milady?" Ancel asked as he continued to seduce her.
"I think so." Rebeccah said with her eyebrow quirked.
"What might I call you, lovely lady?" Ancel asked as he kissed her hand.
"I am Rebeccah." She smiled. "And whom might you be?" She asked.
"My name is Aleyn." Ancel lied. He decided to use his deceased brother's name. Better nobody in Nottingham know who he was.
"A pleasure to meet you, Master Aleyn." Rebeccah said.
"Likewise." He smiled. "Tell me – have you heard when their nuptials shall be? I heard the heralds announce the news three days ago, but they never did mention a date." Ancel shrugged.
"I'm told it will be November eleventh." Rebeccah replied. "Hopefully the lady shall be recovered by then." She added. She frowned as she thought of the Sheriff delivering the news yesterday morning. He came by the manor on his way out of town. He said that his lady was recovering from an illness, so Rebeccah shouldn't expect her to come by this week to check on her manor.
"Oh, well that's too bad she is ill." Ancel sighed.
"Why do you care so much?" Rebeccah demanded.
"Well, if you're invited to the wedding then I know I shouldn't bother to call on you on November eleventh." Ancel replied smoothly with a wicked grin.
"Oh!" Rebeccah laughed nervously. "Indeed." She smiled.
"I'll look for you, milady. You've been most helpful. Expect to see me upon the doorstep of this manor you're minding one of these nights." Ancel winked.
The Sheriff and his men arrived in the coastal town of Portsmouth on the south coast of England on Tuesday, a few hours past midday. The Sheriff and Guy both had a map, but Guy led the Sheriff and the others through the village since he had been to the outlaw's estate before.
It was near dusk when the men arrived at Hamon's estate. The men secured their horses and proceeded to the door. The Bishop stayed behind them for he did not bring a weapon to protect him. The Sheriff turned to Gisborne and his men.
"Draw your swords!" Nottingham ordered them.
His men obeyed and the Sheriff banged on the door of the manor with his fist. He waited a few impatient moments then broke down the door by kicking it in.
"Where are you, you lowly insect!" The Sheriff bellowed as he stormed inside.
He turned to Mordrid and Adam when they stood inside the manor. "You two – up the stairs and search for him. Find me the sodding bastard! Yank him by the little amount of hair left on his pathetic head – and drag his sorry backside down here to me this instant!" The Sheriff demanded as he pointed to the stairs.
"Aye, milord." Mordrid said. He nodded to Adam and the two knights proceeded up the stairs.
Nottingham looked to Gisborne with his eyebrow quirked knowingly. "Let's start looking, Gisborne. Find me the evidence!" The Sheriff commanded.
The Bishop stood with his back against the wall nervously as he observed them begin to tear the room apart with their search.
Adam and Mordrid came down the stairs ten minutes later.
"We found nothing, milord." Adam said. "There are no signs of life up there."
"The two of you take a look around outside the manor then." The Sheriff said firmly.
Gisborne looked over at the Bishop. The Bishop was occupied watching Adam and Mordrid just then on their way out of the door, so Guy took the opportunity to get his cousin's attention. The Sheriff looked over at Guy with his eyebrow quirked. Guy looked over again to the Bishop, he was still not paying attention to them. Guy nodded to the tall bookcase that stood near to a desk by the window.
The Sheriff walked toward the bookshelf and began to pull the dust covered books and transcripts from the shelves and tossed them carelessly to the floor. The dust wafted up from the floor as every one of them landed with a thud. The Bishop began to cough. The Sheriff looked upon him and snarled, and the Bishop looked downcast. The Sheriff went back to his task. He had emptied the top two shelves and looked to Gisborne with his eyes narrowed suspiciously. Gisborne shrugged. Finally, after he pulled some more books from the third shelf, he saw them. The Sheriff grinned deviously as he took the shiny silver pentagram medallion, the double edged dagger, and the book of shadows from the shelf. They had been carefully, and cleverly hidden behind some dusty books and transcripts. He looked to Gisborne as his eyebrow shot north and smiled.
Nottingham took them over to the Bishop and placed Hestia's belongings into the Bishop's hands. "Is this adequate for the proof you seek, your grace?" The Sheriff asked as his eyebrow shot north knowingly.
The Bishop swallowed as he looked down into his hands. "Aye, milord Sheriff. I do believe this is more than enough evidence to present at the tribunal." The Bishop of Hereford sighed.
"What of that dagger?" The Sheriff asked as he pointed to it in the Bishop's hands. "I've never seen one like that before." He added.
"The witches call it an athame. They use it somehow in their rituals, though I do not know how." The Bishop explained. He looked up to the Sheriff and shuddered. "I do not wish to know, milord." He added with a frown.
"Indeed." The Sheriff snarled. He wondered if Mortianna owned one of those?
"What is the plan now, cousin?" Gisborne asked.
"He should have been here by now if he was telling Luke the truth on Saturday." The Sheriff huffed. He thought of it a moment, and then his eyes widened. "Unless – he was bluffing. He mentioned something to Luke about keeping an eye on my belongings again. What if he's planning to sneak his way into the castle?" A beat. "He's planning to steal my gold!" The Sheriff spat.
"He would never gain entrance, milord, and even if he did and then found his way into one of your vaults he'd never survive. You know that! You have it rigged for several crossbows to fire arrows from every which direction, and it would fill with sand in moments after that!" Gisborne pointed out.
"That is correct, cousin, but I'm almost certain he is still in Nottingham. Now that I think of it, it makes perfect sense." The Sheriff countered. "His exact words to Luke were to tell me I have something I must keep an eye on because he is watching it too! Curses! How can he watch my possessions from here in Portsmouth, Gis? Telling Luke he was on his way back here was a total bluff!" The Sheriff spat as he kicked at the leg of a nearby table.
Adam and Mordrid came back into the manor just then. Mordrid looked to his master and shook his head regretfully.
"Never mind, lads. He's not here!" The Sheriff huffed. He nodded to the items in the Bishop's hands. "We have the evidence we need. Now all we need is the heretic. Our outlaw is still in Nottingham, men. We must get back there and you will be assigned to search every square inch of Nottingham and surrounding areas until you find me this little bastard!" The Sheriff barked.
At dusk Ancel was back at camp reporting his findings to Hamon.
"Very good, Ancel, but you forgot one tiny thing. Where is the manor?" Hamon spat.
"I'll find it. I'm sure Rebeccah is known through the village, and anyway someone might know where the Sheriff's lady's manor is." Ancel pointed out.
"I'm trusting you'll follow that through." Hamon snarled with his eyebrow quirked. He sighed. "So, the lady is ill, is she? Isn't that too bad." He spat.
"She's probably confined to her bed." Ancel sighed as he folded his arms.
"Well, I cannot risk going in there. There's only two of us but Nottingham has several men guarding the place. Curses! We shall catch the cursed, little bitch on her wedding day, or at her manor!" Hamon seethed. "I think it's time you pay a visit to your little Lady Rebeccah, Ancel. I'm sure Miss Wordsworth visits her manor from time to time to check on it. Aye!" Hamon exclaimed with a wicked grin. "Go there! Find out when the little wretch goes there. We'll catch her there and we'll burn the little bitch and her cursed manor just like that sorry monster of hers did to my sister!" Hamon laughed maniacally.
Ancel looked at him and smirked wickedly. He didn't mind playing along with this part of the plan. Not if it meant he could satisfy his needs with the lovely Rebeccah in the meantime!
On Wednesday afternoon, Lady Meridwyn entered into the Sheriff's private chambers for a visit with her friend. She found Lady Rhiannon to be seated in the chair by the window. She was wearing a long sleeved lavender shift and was reading a large book.
"Rhiannon! You're supposed to be in your bed!" Lady Meridwyn admonished as she walked toward her.
"Actually, I was granted permission to move about freely by the physician today." Rhiannon smiled.
Lady Meridwyn regarded her with her eyebrow raised suspiciously.
"Relax, Meridwyn. I must stay confined to these chambers. I'm only allowed to walk about a little bit as long as I stay off my feet as much as possible. All is well. All is quiet." Lady Rhiannon smiled.
"That is good to hear." Meridwyn said.
"Aye, and Luke is stationed outside of the door now. Every cursed minute of the day. I'm sure that was purposely planned by the Sheriff. Don't worry. Looks like I'm stuck in here." Lady Rhiannon sighed.
For some reason she kept having this feeling of deja vous come over her. As if she'd been in similar circumstances before? Held in a room in the same condition she was in now. Sometimes it would come to her in momentary flashes, but she thought she was being ridiculous. It had to be the wine? This was her first child! How could she feel like this had perhaps happened in some other time? Was it a nightmare she was recalling?
Lady Meridwyn moved to the window and gazed out of it. She turned to face Rhiannon. "I wonder where they are now?" She mused.
"They may be on their way home to us." Rhiannon said.
"Indeed." Meridwyn smiled. "And I shall give him the nicest welcome when he arrives." Meridwyn commented absently. She sighed happily as she thought of how she wished to please Guy when he returned to her. She looked up at Rhiannon then coughed nervously. "Oh, sorry, honey. That won't do you any good – my speaking of such things. Since you can't –" She stopped herself then and looked away, embarrassed.
"Can't what?" Rhiannon asked.
"I'm sure it wouldn't be a good idea for you to be intimate with him." Meridwyn said, her eyes downcast.
"I gave my man something to think on before he left me on Monday." Rhiannon smirked.
Meridwyn looked up and narrowed her blue eyes upon her, then folded her arms. "You didn't? You mustn't, Rhiannon! You're asking for trouble!" Meridwyn admonished. "I can't believe he gave in, knowing what could happen to you!"
"Don't worry. He didn't touch me." Lady Rhiannon said matter of factly.
"What? I don't understand?" Meridwyn exclaimed, incredulous. What was she going on about? Meridwyn cursed herself for forgetting to speak to the midwife about the wine treatment.
"Tell me, Meridwyn – have you ever… slowly sucked on a sweet – like toffee, or a piece of fruit to savour it?" Rhiannon asked pointedly with an evil grin.
Meridwyn's eyes widened. "What?" She asked slowly.
"Aye, friend. Imagine it if you will." Lady Rhiannon smiled knowingly. "Trust me. It's not that bad. In fact, it pleases me almost as much as him. I wouldn't do it for any other, believe me." She said firmly.
"And – does he… like it?" Meridwyn asked, curiously.
"Indeed he does." Rhiannon grinned.
"Hmm. Interesting." Meridwyn muttered as she pondered the idea. She must try this little trick on Guy. She wondered if he would be pleased about it – or insulted? She sighed as she thought of pleasing him. "Damn it, Rhiannon! Now you're going to make me miss my man more than I already am. I was already planning what I would do for him when he returned to me, but I was trying not to think of it too much." Meridwyn huffed.
"I know. It's enough to drive a lady to madness." Rhiannon agreed.
"You know what I miss most about him when he's away, besides the obvious things?" Meridwyn commented to her friend.
Rhiannon shook her head.
"His voice. Oh God, that amazing, gravelly, deep voice of his." Lady Meridwyn sighed and looked up thoughtfully. She glanced back down to her friend. "It just makes me melt, Rhiannon! He can make me putty in his hands sometimes just by whispering to me. He's not always good at it but when he eloquently phrases things on top of that voice of his, I bend to his will every time." Meridwyn smiled.
Rhiannon giggled. "I suppose I shouldn't laugh. It's funny you say that because that's one of the things about George that does it for me too. I love his voice. I think it's like melted chocolate, it's so smooth and seductive. George is very skilled at phrasing things perfectly. Sometimes I think he knows that and that's part of his whole game with me. He knows he can get my attention that way." Rhiannon winked. "There's other things about him that drive me mad about him, but I've already said too much. I'll tell you this though – I'm not letting this child stop me from pleasing my man. I can't have him satisfying his needs elsewhere." Rhiannon said.
"Indeed." Meridwyn agreed. "So, did you find out where the Sheriff was the other day? You never did tell me." Meridwyn asked.
"He said he was with your husband, my brother, and one of his knights. He said he had a matter to take care of." Rhiannon replied.
"Hmm. I wonder if it had anything to do with what Guy took care of, but my husband said the Sheriff sent him, so I assumed Guy went alone?" Lady Meridwyn mused.
"Oh. What was Guy doing?" Rhiannon asked.
"Apparently your man had asked him to deal with a merchant in Nettlestone who was reluctant to relinquish his taxes." Meridwyn explained.
"Well, that sounds like something George would ask of him." Rhiannon said. "Isn't that where your husband's manor is? Nettlestone?" Rhiannon asked.
"Indeed it is. I'm sure it's only a coincidence." Meridwyn said.
"Perhaps." Rhiannon nodded. "Tell me – have you seen Isabelle since Saturday?" She asked.
"No, I haven't. I thought perhaps I would see your brother and Isabelle at mass on Sunday. Especially after the way your brother spoke at dinner last Thursday eve. Oddly – I didn't see them at all?" Meridwyn remarked with a shrug.
"I'm telling you – there is something strange about that." Rhiannon sighed.
"They've only just moved into the castle, Rhiannon. Perhaps your sister in law is finding it strange adjusting to her surroundings? It was only a week ago she stood on the scaffold by order of your betrothed!" Lady Meridwyn pointed out.
"Indeed. I suppose you have a point." Lady Rhiannon nodded.
Still she couldn't help but think there was something very strange going on. She tried to put it out of her mind. In two days time if all goes well, her lover would return to her. She would let him ravish her, and then she would get to the bottom of it!
On Wednesday just after dusk, Ancel showed up at Lady Rhiannon's manor with a bouquet of wildflowers in his hand. Lady Rebeccah opened the door and smiled up at him.
"Master Aleyn. You found me, I see." Rebeccah said.
"Indeed, milady. It took a little longer than I thought but here I am. I hope you do not mind." He said.
"No. Not at all. Please come in. I was just having a cup of tea." She said as she beckoned for him to enter.
He walked past the threshold and she closed the door. He passed the flowers to her. "For you, milady Rebeccah." Ancel said smoothly.
"How kind you are." Rebeccah smiled as she took them from him. "Would you care to join me for a cup of tea?" She asked.
"That would be fine, milady." Ancel said.
She nodded toward the sitting room and he proceeded inside. She took the flowers to another room and found a vase for them. The flowers were placed in water in the vase, and she carried both the vase and a cup when she returned to the sitting room. She set the vase on the mantle above the fireplace and took the cup to the handsome gentleman who came to call on her.
"So, do you live in the village?" Rebeccah asked him as she seated across from him upon a chair.
"No, milady. I'm from the south. I'm only visiting for a time, but who knows? I may decide to stay." He grinned.
She sipped at her tea and smiled. "Yes. You never know." She said.
"I can't believe you are still alone, milady Rebeccah. You're a fair lady indeed." Ancel said. "How long have you been widowed?" He asked.
"Oh, my, many years now. Just over a decade, perhaps twelve years or more. You flatter me, Aleyn." Rebeccah sighed happily.
"It is the truth. Are you alone here most of the time?" He asked. He took a sip of the tea and suppressed the urge to make a face. He would have much preferred mead.
"Much of the time it's just me and the other servants. The lady comes by once a week to check on things usually, though." Rebeccah said.
"Oh. When does she come?" Ancel asked as innocently as he could.
"Usually on Tuesdays. Sometimes she comes on a different day though. Why?" Rebeccah asked pointedly with her eyebrow quirked.
"Well, I would hate to be here visiting you on those days, dear lady. Your lady might not like that you're entertaining… guests." He pointed out as he pierced his gray eyes into hers.
"Oh, yes. Indeed you're right." Rebeccah smiled.
Ancel finished the tea then arose from his chair.
"I mustn't keep you, milady. You were very kind to offer the tea but I don't wish to overstay my welcome." He smiled warmly at her.
"It is no trouble, milord." Rebeccah grinned.
"May I come to call upon you again, Rebeccah?" He asked.
"Aye, Master Aleyn. That would be fine." Rebeccah smiled.
He sighed. He stood at the door a moment as he bid Rebeccah farewell.
"Thank you for coming." She smiled.
"It was my pleasure, my lovely Rebeccah." Ancel smiled seductively.
She looked up at him and sighed at the way he spoke her name just now. He leaned down to her and slowly, softly, kissed her lips. She let him kiss her and willingly kissed him back. It had been too long since a man had touched her. She had forgotten how pleasing a kiss could be with a dangerously handsome man.
Ancel smiled when he was walking toward his horse. Rebeccah was being very forthcoming with him. Hamon would be pleased with the information he had gathered indeed. Then he shook his head and sighed. Rebeccah was a very attractive lady indeed. He desired her. He wished to God she wasn't associated with the Sheriff's lady. He was still deciding if he would touch her or not. She seemed just as infatuated with him as he was with her. Indeed, he certainly found her to be very pleasing. It was such a shame. Ancel took a breath and frowned. Too bad lovely, Lady Rebeccah would likely have to die along with Lady Rhiannon.