Page 55 of Dancing On Air

“You want my wife to help the hangman?” Rook didn’t sound at all happy about this idea.

“Well, I was hoping there was something she could do.” Eleanor wasn’t feeling so hopeful anymore.

“Of course, I can,” said Rose, but Rook did not agree.

“Rose, you are doing no such thing. I don’t want you near the hangman and his family.”

“Rook, stop it,” Raven told her twin brother. “Connor is a good man and he needs our help.”

“We are nobles. We won’t be helping a hangman or his family,” were Rook’s final words.

“I didn’t think you would, Lord Rook. After all, you don’t usually even talk to anyone from below the salt.” Connor glared back at him.

“That’s not true,” protested Rose. “Rook married me, and I was just a commoner.”

“Connor just pulled a heavy plow off my leg and dug up my entire garden,” Albert told them, struggling to get out of the wagon. “I agree with Eleanor. He is a good man.”

Connor hurried over to him. “I’ll help you to the house, Albert,” he said, putting his arm around the injured man.

“I have to kill a chicken for our meal first. Mayhap two since we have so many guests,” said Albert.

“I’ll do it for you,” offered Connor, causing everyone to become quiet. “After all, isn’t that what executioners do?” he asked snidely, staring at Rook.

“There’s no need. We’re not staying,” said Rook.

“Why not?” asked Rose. “I would like to accept their kind invitation.”

“So would I,” said Raven. “We’ve worked up an appetite harvesting the peas.”

“God’s eyes, Raven. We are nobles,” Rook scolded her. “You need to stop doing the jobs of peasants. You shouldn’t be out in the fields at all. You should be sewing in the ladies’ solar instead.”

“Brother, I am usually out in the practice yard with my weapons, so don’t think I’m going to listen to you when you tell me not to do something. Besides, I thought you changed when you married Rose. I didn’t think you’d still be acting so high and mighty.”

“Excuse me, Lord Noble,” said Connor, helping Albert to walk, exiting the barn. He stopped and called back over his shoulder. “Don’t worry about helping my father. After all, nobles shouldn’t be seen with commoners. Especially not with such a low-life like me.”

He walked to the house with Albert. Eleanor felt the tears welling up in her eyes. As soon as he left, she walked over and slapped Rook across the face.

“What the hell was that all about?” asked Rook, holding his stinging cheek.

“That’s for the way you treated Connor when he didn’t deserve it.”

Raven walked over and slapped her brother next.

“Raven, this isn’t funny,” growled Rook, his anger growing.

“That is for being a pompous ass,” said Raven, walking away.

“My turn,” said Lark, reaching out and slapping him across the face as well.

“And what was that for, dear Cousin?” asked Rook, scowling.

“No reason. I just wanted to get in on the fun,” giggled Lark, making Rose giggle as well.

“I’ll help Connor’s father, don’t worry,” Rose told her. “But first, I’d like to accept their invitation and stay for dinner. It seems to mean a lot to them, and I don’t want to disappoint them by leaving now.”

“I agree. I want to stay to eat, too,” said Raven.

“A meal for all of us? In that little cottage?” Rook looked out the door into the pouring rain. “We won’t all fit inside.”

“Then we’ll make up a table out here in the barn,” suggested Eleanor.

“We’re going to eat with the animals?” asked Rook, blowing air from his mouth. “I don’t think so.”

“I knew I should have left you back at Rookrose Manor, husband,” said Rose. “Now, stop giving us trouble. Eleanor, I will help you set up a table right here in the barn.”

“Word of this better never get out. Do you all understand?” asked Rook.

“That’s better. Thank you, dear,” said Rose, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.

Eleanor’s heart swelled. This was so wrong for nobles to eat with peasants, especially out in a barn of all places. It was even worse that they were going to eat with an executioner, but she didn’t care.

Everything about this was preposterous.

The only thing she couldn’t understand was that if it was so wrong, then why in the world did it feel so right?