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She finished eating and felt an urge she had not had in a while, to take a ride on a horse. Inspecting her dress to see if it was fit to ride in, she deemed the cotton suitable and after donning her cloak, she went to the stables. Men and woman greeted her as she passed by and she waved back.
Approaching the stables, she stopped at the door and sucked in a deep breath. The stables were cleaned every day but the lingering smell of horse manure always made her nose sting. Braced for the smell, she entered the room and saw a stable boy named William snoozing in the corner. His battered hat was pulled over his eyes and the knees of his breeches looked worn.
Almost seventeen years of age, he was a good man and always treated her kindly. She didn’t want to wake him but she had to. She reached over and knocked on the wall behind him. He jerked awake and she leaned away.
“My Lady,” William said, not-so-surreptitiously wiping his mouth. “What can I help with today?”
“Please saddle Isla for me,” Adelaine said. “I’d like to take a ride.”
“Right away, My Lady,” William said and went get the horse and the saddle. He soon came back with the dappled mare and while he went to get the saddle, Adelaine patted the mare under her jaw. William worked quickly, settling the blanket on first and then the saddle.
“Pardon me if I’m being too bold, My Lady, but is true that the prisoner who His Lordship carried here is the one who killed Viscount Daffield?”
Adelaine was ready to defend Caelan but on the moment she going to, thought better of it. “Seems so, William.”
“He should die for that,” William muttered under his breath.
“Now that is too bold,” Adelaine nearly rather icily. “No man can be sent to death without a proper trial.”
“My apologies, My Lady,” William said with red over his neck and cheeks. “T’was not my place.”
“Just…” Adelaine sighed, “be careful what you say, William,”
“My Lady, a few of the squires have seen you go into the keep,” William then added. “If the man is as dangerous as they say, and if what the squires say is true, shouldn’t you stay away from him?”
Carefully considering her words to omit her from lying, Adelaine said, “It’s true, but I go to see if the man who took my brother from me is the killer they say he is. I think it is my duty to my brother to get the truth.”
“Oh,” William said with an embarrassed blush. “You are mighty brave, My Lady, for doing so. Well, Isla is fit for you. May I help you up?”
“Thank you,” Adelaine said and held out a hand to grasp the pommel of the side-saddle. William helped her up. She settled her body on the horse and smiled. “I’ll be back soon.”
As soon as she felt the cold air buffeting her face and the smooth gait of the horse under her, Adelaine remembered why she loved riding in the first place. It was freedom, excitement, and control all wrapped up in one. She felt freedom and excitement from the swift pace of the animal and she felt control when the mare responded to her merest touch.
The open trails around the compound’s ground had been constructed when she was three years old, according to Peter. They had been extended as she grew older and she had found the love for riding. Peter never failed to accompany her on these jaunts around the grounds no matter how busy he was.
I miss you brother.
She spotted the stump of the large oak tree where he had told Caelan she and Peter had often played under as children.
We shall still play b’neath ye old oak tree.
Peter had been in pain and hadn’t known what he been saying. She
was sure about that. She felt an urge to go over toward the stump but did not have the heart. Sadly, she turned away and went back to the stables.
Chapter 10
The days were getting shorter as winter came closer. Daylight was weak and the darkness was heavy down in the dungeons. Caelan alternated his time between praying, pacing to keep his body warmth in, thinking of home and thinking of the lass.
Earl Daffield had not come again and Caelan did not know or care why he was absent, he just was glad to never see the man again.
How such a brute could have ever brought lovely Adelaine into this world, I’d never ken. God must have infused his seed with the soul of an angel instead of the devil it was bound to be.
The lass had been absent but her presence was not. Every morning, a woman came and gave him food, be it porridge, warm milk, and bread or lentil stew. His other meal, which the jailer Leicester came with, was now always warm soup. The scabs on his back were getting dry again and he took care to not lean heavily on the wall to irritate them.
‘Tis been four days now and I havenae seen the lass. I wonder if she’s well.
Caelan was staring at the tiny square of a window and musing when he heard the jarring scrape of the door above. Listening closely, he did not hear the echo of hard-soled boots or the shuffle the cook had so it had to be the lass.
