Page 16 of Dancing On Air

Chapter3

The rain let up, and Eleanor found herself still feeling shaken as well as anxious later that day. It wasn’t only from having attended the hanging, but also because of seeing Connor once again. She walked through the courtyard of St. Anne’s Abbey holding the hands of Margaret and Lena, two of the orphan girls who were two and four years of age. Seven-year-old Bertram and five-year-old Hamlin followed right behind her.

Eleanor had dedicated her time helping out at the abbey. While she didn’t feel the need to take her vows and become a nun, she also hadn’t been able to bring herself to get married if the man wasn’t Connor. After her betrothal to Connor had been broken five years ago, she felt so disheartened that she told her parents she needed to be of service at the abbey instead of being betrothed to another man. Thankfully, her mother, who used to be a pirate, was able to convince her father to give her the time she needed to be healed from this traumatic event.

“I’m scared,” said little Hamlin from behind. “I don’t want to leave here, Lady Eleanor.”

“Well, I do,” said Bertram, who was much too old to even be there anymore.

Eleanor’s job was to tend to the orphans, and to help find them good homes amongst the commoners, where they could live and help work the land or the business, if the families were merchants. Unfortunately, she had become so attached to the children that she hadn’t really been looking hard for families for them lately. However, in the past few days, she came across a farmer and his wife who had recently lost their sons to sickness. They were ready to take in not just one, but both of the boys.

Eleanor stopped and turned around to face the boys.

“Edna and Albert Woods are wonderful people and very kind,” she told the boys. “They recently lost two sons to sickness and need your help plowing and planting the fields.”

“I can do the work of a man,” bragged Bertram, even though they all knew it was a lie.

“Mayhap someday that will be true,” she told the boy. “But for now, it’ll take both of you to make a difference in their farming.”

“I’ll miss you.” Hamlin barreled into her, almost knocking her down, throwing his arms around her. She released the hands of the girls and hunkered down to hug the little boy.

“You know that I will visit often. And if you are unhappy for any reason at all, you can tell me. I’ll be checking up on how you’re doing at least once a week.”

“Are we leaving too?” asked Margaret, reaching out and taking Lena’s hand. They were all like siblings, even though as far as Eleanor knew, none of them were really related. The boys had been orphaned three years ago when a sickness spread through the village killing their families. Both of the girls had been babies dropped off at the door of the abbey, most likely by parents who could no longer care for them. Usually, the families kept the boys to help with the work, but the girls were not valued as much.

“Nay, Margaret. You and Lena will stay here for now. But someday, you will have families to live with as well.”

“Mother,” said little Lena, looking up with big blue eyes, breaking free of Margaret and clinging to Eleanor. The girls had never known another mother, and considered Eleanor the one to fill that position. She actually enjoyed it and felt as if they were her children. It broke her heart every time one of the orphans was placed with a family and left the abbey. Still, she knew it was what was best for them.

“Lady Eleanor, Mr. and Mrs. Woods are here for the boys,” said Sister Barbara, who often helped Eleanor care for the orphans. She had also become a good friend of Eleanor’s over the years.

“It’s time,” said Eleanor, kissing Hamlin on the head and standing up. “Sister Barbara, will you watch over the girls? I will take the boys to meet their new parents.”

“Of course,” said the nun, taking the hands of both the girls.

“Come along, Bertram,” said Eleanor, holding Hamlin’s hand so the boy wouldn’t be scared and run. “I want both of you to be respectful of Mr. and Mrs. Woods. Do you understand? Treat them no different than you would me.”

“I wonder if I’ll have my own room,” said Bertram. “Or if Mrs. Woods will bake pies and cakes. I like pies and cakes.”

“So do I,” said Hamlin, his interest suddenly piqued. “But I’m scared.”

“There is no need to be frightened,” Eleanor assured them. “Bertram will be with you, and you two will be brothers now.”

“What about Margaret and Lena?” asked Hamlin. “They are our sisters.”

“I will be sure to bring them by for visits.”

“Ah, there you are,” said the abbess, standing at the side of a wagon with Mr. and Mrs. Woods. “Come along, boys. Get in the wagon. There is work to be done back at their farm.”

The Woods were serfs who were bound to Lord Sampson, farming his land. They had to pay him taxes as well. However, they did have a plot of land that was their own. They were the poorest of peasants, and worked hard to make a living. Eleanor’s heart went out to peasants. She always tried to help them as best she could. Albert had been skeptical about taking both the boys, but Eleanor talked him into it, since his wife wanted them both badly. Eleanor also felt it would be an easier transition for Hamlin if he would stay with Bertram, since he was the more sensitive of the two. She also promised to help the family out financially as much as she could, whenever it was possible.

“Hello there,” said Edna Woods, a round, plump lady with a big smile on her face. “Which one of you is Bertram and which is Hamlin?” she asked.

“I’m Bertram,” the older boy said, standing up straighter, acting very proud. “I’m seven but Hamlin is only five.”

“My dear, these boys are so small and very young,” Albert told his wife softly. “This might be more of a burden than a help to us right now.”

“Oh, nay, I assure you, these boys will be more than helpful,” Eleanor told the couple. “As a matter of fact, they’ve already been quite the help in the orchards here at the abbey, picking fruit.”