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CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO
Jonan led themto the shade of the trees, knowingLeah would enjoy it because the sun cast a lot of dancing shapes on the ground beneath.
Amelia placed the basket on the grass and a blanket on the ground.
“Shall we play a game?” Leah asked eagerly.
“Yes, I was—” Amelia started before she was interrupted by Jonan.
“Or we should head into the water,” he suggested.
“Aye! Aye!” Leah leaped off the blanket. “Would Amelia be swimmin’ with us?”
“No, I would catch a cold,” Amelia said with a knowing smile. “The two of you should swim. I shall stay here and watch.”
As a result, Jonan ended up swimming alone in the stream with Leah, while Amelia sat on the bank, watching them.
Jonan with the girlon his back, propelledthe two of them against the current. His dark hair cascaded on his face and his bare chest was inviting.
Amelia had prepared some extra sheets for them to dry off with after they finished swimming. She'd brought some bread, cheese, and cured meats, and theyate under the trees, overlooking the gently flowing stream.
“Amelia!” Leah shrieked again. “Tell us a story.”
“I can tell a story another time,” she answered.
“I would like to hear some of yer stories,” Jonan added.
“Alright, let me think… On a damp and rainy day, I snuck out of my father’s manor,” Amelia started her tale.
“Why did ye sneak out?” Leah interrupted.
“My father was not as kind as yours,” she said to Leah. “I snuck out of the manor because healways kept us inside.He didn't want me to see the town or its people... but I did. I pleaded with him for days and nights, but he refused...”
“…I was about five andten at the time, and it wasn't myfirst time doing this. I went into the village to see my friends and brought them food, they were less fortunate than us, you see. However, time flew by and my father eventuallysent men to look for me. I knew I would be in trouble if they found me, so I hid myself in my friend’s house…”
“...His mean butler, Henry, led themen. He was a short, about this tall man—" Nora raised her hand so Leah could see Henry's short stature. Leah burst out laughing while maintaining a frown on her face.
Amelia told the story with jokes to make Leah laugh, but Jonan could see the pain behind her eyes. Her journey had not been easy.
“… 'We seek an English girl, daughter of Lord Turner,' Henry barked as he led my father's men into the village. If anyone knows where she is,come forward. Ifany of you helped her, there will be consequences,” she said with a deep voice.
“...But no one in the village betrayedme.Henry and the men knocked on every door, but none of them stated my whereabouts... ”
Because ye brought food to many of them, Jonan thought.
“...I stayed up all night with myfriend and crept back into the manor and into my room in the wee hours of the morning.”
“Did they ken that ye were gone?” Leah asked.
“No,” Amelia said, shaking her head. “Even though my father suspected I had left, they gave up because my sister, Amelia—"
“Ye mean Nora?” Jonan offered.
“Yes, yes!” Amelia answered a little flustered.
Her reaction seemed odd but he thought little of it.
“Were ye caught?” Leah asked impatiently.
