Lady K Memory

The Lady Katherine Chronicles, Number 13

Lady Katherine And The Elusive Memory

By Sazzy

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Codes:	uber J/7
Rating :	NC-17
Setting:	April 1192, Nottinghamshire, England
Thanks:	Mercy, Jay, Solise and MF for beta reading this for me :)
Disclaimer:	This is a work of fan fiction but uses characters that bear a striking resemblance to those that are copyright of Paramount Pictures. No infringement on their copyright is intended by the author in any way, shape or form - this is just a bit of fun. This story includes an all female relationship, so if you don’t like that then look away now.

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Chapter 1

Lady Katherine of Markham thrashed frantically against the cloying blackness surrounding her. She tried to keep her mouth shut, jamming her teeth together to resist the urge to open it and take a gulp of air. Every reflex was telling her to do it, to breath in. Yet her mind knew she couldn’t. It knew it wouldn’t be air she was breathing in, but a deadly mouthful of water.

Which way was up? Where was the surface?

Her head was pounding as her oxygen faded making it hard to think. Meanwhile, the water tossed her around like a piece of driftwood, tumbling her over and over. She had long since lost any sense of direction. She kicked her legs and prayed it was the right way.

Then suddenly the chill night air hit her in the face. She was startled by the shock of it, gasping it gratefully in. Katherine coughed and spluttered while her arms and legs pumped furiously to keep her chin above the churning waters. All the time the river still pounded mercilessly against her, carrying her further downstream.

“Anne!” There was no answer from the darkness, save the sound of rushing water. “Anne!” she tried again, her tone growing more frantic. Where the hell was she? Katherine went to call out a third time, but the river threw up a slew of water in her face. Katherine gagged as it hit the back of her throat.

The coughs were still hacking through her when suddenly something thumped into her back. Desperately Katherine flung an arm out to stop herself going under again. Her fingers found solid wood and her nails scratched at bark. Katherine clung onto the branch, thankful for the meagre lifesaver.

She shouted out again, trying to raise her voice above the tumult. “Anne!”

Her eyes scanned around, but it was hopeless - she couldn’t see anything in the unremitting darkness. The sky above was black, with the moon and stars obscured by storm clouds. She knew Anne had been tossed into the swollen river at the same time as she had, but then she had lost track of her.

The two of them had been on their way from Katherine’s current home at Markham to her childhood home at Stratford. Katherine had received a letter from Lord Robert of the manor there, informing her that she was welcome to visit at any time. On hearing that, Katherine had wasted no time organising a trip. She and Anne had come to the conclusion that it should be their next port of call on the trail of a secret organisation and a deadly weapon. They already had two parts to the puzzle that would lead them to the weapon, and hoped to find more clues at Stratford.

Katherine had viewed the trip with some trepidation for a number of reasons. For one there was the whole reason they were going and the sense that they were in a race against time to beat the sinister Ares Syndicate to the weapon. For another there was the prospect of being reminded of her father at every turn. She had grown up at Stratford, lived there until she had gotten married at twenty-one. In that entire time she’d had no idea that her father was actually the head of a nefarious group, one that sought to accumulate wealth and power by any means possible. Finding that out had been hard for Katherine – she had always placed her father on some sort of untouchable pedestal. He had now fallen crashing from it.

Finally there was the faint anxiety about seeing Robert again. They’d shared a short romance when Katherine was only eighteen and he was twenty-one. It was before she’d met and married Mark. The affair had burned briefly and brightly before they’d both moved onto more responsible and sensible things. Yet even when she’d gone back to Stratford for her parents’ funeral some eleven years after, there had still been something there - a tiny spark of chemistry that neither of them could deny. However, she hadn’t seen him once in the intervening nine years - she had been married after all, as had he been. Now she was curious and not a little frightened as to what might happen when they did meet. Of course she loved Anne, more than anything in the world, and yet she couldn’t help wondering.

Katherine knew Anne shared some of her concerns about the trip, though Katherine wasn’t sure which of them preyed most on the young woman’s mind. Anne probably wouldn’t admit to it, but Katherine suspected it was the last of them. Katherine had spotted the first stirrings of jealousy whenever Robert’s name was mentioned, and knew that it would probably only get worse once they got to Stratford. It wouldn’t help that, once there, Anne would have to pretend to be one of Katherine’s maids – a task she had been rather unsuccessful at last time they’d attempted it. However, it was the only option to explain her presence with Katherine, especially as it was just the two of them who were left making the journey.

When Tobias had heard of Katherine and Anne’s intentions to take the trip by themselves, he had been less than amused. Yet after her father’s written warnings about trusting people, Katherine wanted to have as few people involved in the quest as possible. Not that she didn’t trust Tobias completely. After Anne he was probably the person she trusted most in the world. Which was why she needed him back at Markham. However, Tobias had argued long and hard that it was dangerous for two women to travel alone and had eventually persuaded them to take two of this men plus a small carriage. Katherine agreed since she supposed it would look faintly suspicious if just she and Anne turned up at Stratford without any sort of escort.

Yet now that was what was going to happen anyway. They had only been three days out of Markham when suddenly one of the men had fallen ill. They had rested up for a day but his condition seemed to be worsening if anything. In the end she had ordered the second guard to take the carriage and one of the horses and carry his ill comrade back to Markham where the friar could tend him. The guard hadn’t been too happy about it – no doubt Tobias had given him quite specific instructions about staying with Katherine. Tobias hadn’t been there at that moment, though, and Katherine’s persuasion had won out. She and Anne had detached Delta from the carriage and continued on alone.

Now Katherine was beginning to wonder if it had been so wise to do so. However, they could hardly have predicted what was going to happen with the weather. It was April, so they had expected rain showers. What they hadn’t expected was a flash flood.

It had hit suddenly. The heavens had opened just as they were contemplating making camp for the night. Katherine had never known rain like it; the drops drilled down and actually hurting with their force. They had tried to gallop for cover, the two of them on Delta’s back, but before they knew it the path was being washed away by a torrent from an overflowing river. Delta had been unable to stand and both women had been pitched into the churning waters. Katherine had gone straight under, losing sight of Anne. God knew what had happened to Delta.

Another wave crashed over Katherine’s head at that moment, soaking her hair once more and dripping down into her eyes. Katherine desperately blinked the droplets away, not wanting to close her eyes for a second, just in case she might spot Anne in that moment. However, she wasn’t sure how much longer she could hold onto the branch, what with her clothes pulling heavily at her, sapping the strength in her arms. The wood seemed precariously small in the raging waters. Katherine realised she had to try and get to the bank, wherever that was. Perhaps then she might have a better chance of spotting Anne. She ignored the terrifying thoughts that she might not spot her at all. Anne was a strong swimmer – she would be all right. If Katherine repeated it enough times she could almost convince herself. She pushed away recollections of the last time they had fallen in a river together, when Anne had hit her head and nearly died.

Katherine picked a direction and started splashing through the water that way, one arm still clinging onto the branch. The current in the river was much stronger than normal, and her progress was slow. Her waterlogged boots felt like lead weights on the ends of her legs as she swam on. After a couple of minutes of swimming there was still no sign of dry land, and Katherine had to hook both her arms back over the branch, breathing heavily as she tried to gather her strength. All her muscles were aching remorselessly now.

She leant her head onto to sodden branch for a moment, the water continuing to splash over her in random bursts as she was swept along. She heard a faint creaking noise and then a loud snap as the branch finally gave up the fight. Caught unawares, Katherine plunged down under the surface again. She tried to kick up, but her legs didn’t seem to want to obey. It was like something had hooked onto her from the riverbed and was tugging her down. Her hand stretched up, seeking out something, anything…

And suddenly there was something; something gripping onto her collar, hauling her towards safety. She bobbed up to the surface as a strong arm encircled her waist from behind, holding her up.

Katherine hardly needed the look behind her to know who it was. “Anne! Thank God!” Her relief was overwhelming, despite the fact that they were still in the middle of a raging river, the spray from it continuing to slap her in the face at intervals.

“Are you all right?” yelled Anne, having to shout over the sounds of the storm. Katherine could feel Anne’s body banging into her from behind with each of Anne’s kicks to keep them afloat. Each little jolt was a welcome reminder of her presence.

“Yes! Just tired!” shouted back Katherine. “Do you know which way the bank is?”

“I think it’s this way!”

Anne started swimming, pulling Katherine backwards with her. Katherine knew it must be incredibly difficult for Anne, fighting through the water with an added burden. After a moment she indicated to Anne that she was all right to swim alone, not wanting to drag the young woman down with her. Anne looked dubious but Katherine was determined, finding some more strength from somewhere to plough through the current under her own steam. She was starting to question her show of bravado when finally something dark and solid loomed up ahead.

Katherine’s hand shot out, gratefully latching onto a tuft of grass. The river still tugged at her body, trying to drag her on down its course. She determinedly struggled up out of the water and onto the earth, making a quick check that Anne had also reached safety before she flopped down onto the grass and closed her eyes. The rain was still drumming down around her as she took one deep breath after another, but she didn’t really care – she could hardly get any wetter.

She could hear Anne’s laboured breathing from close by on the ground, and Katherine’s fingers snaked out across the slick turf finding the chilled flesh of Anne’s right hand. She squeezed it reassuringly as she rose up into a sitting position.

“Thanks for saving me….again!”

Anne’s eyes didn’t open, but she smiled to herself while she lay on the floor. The raindrops tracked across her pale skin, running over her cheekbones and down onto the earth. When she eventually sat up her black clothes clung to her body as Katherine’s did to her own. “You’re welcome.” Her face quickly took on a more serious look. “But I wouldn’t count yourself as saved just yet.”

Katherine’s brow furrowed, her eyes starting to take in their surroundings now they had gotten used to the dark. She immediately saw why Anne looked so concerned. They might have been on dry land, but they were also right in the middle of the river. The level of the water was still rising and soon their island refuge would be no more.

“Damn! So it’s back into the river then?”

“I’m not sure either of us would make it,” said Anne honestly.

“Unless you have any better options, it looks like our only choice,” pointed out Katherine, “Short of sitting here and praying the water doesn’t come up any higher.”

“I might have one other option,” said Anne, unhooking the bow that was still strung across her back. Katherine was amazed she’d managed to hold onto it in the river; even more stunned to see she also still had her bag.

Anne opened it now, pulling out a quiver of arrows. She withdrew one and removed the tip, replacing it with an odd shaped hook device. To the other end she tied a rope. Katherine thought it was good job one of them had come prepared.

“Here, tie this end of the rope around that tree,” instructed Anne, handing it to her.

Katherine fumbled with the cord, her numb fingers having trouble making the knot. She cursed a couple of times before she finally secured it. Anne was on her feet, notching the arrow in her bow.

“It might be time to start that praying,” she suggested.

The raindrops cascaded off the bottom of her bow as Anne sighted it out into the darkness. Katherine couldn’t see anything in the direction she was aiming, no matter how much she strained and squinted. She hoped Anne’s eyesight was better than her own. Then the arrow was gone, sailing out into the night. The rope whipped out after it, quickly uncoiling. There was the barest sound of a thunk from somewhere over the river.

“You hit something,” noted Katherine hopefully.

Anne pulled the slack of the rope up and wound it around the tree on their island so that it was a few feet off the ground and a few more above the fast-flowing river. “Let’s just hope it holds.” She made a couple of test tugs on the rope. “I don’t think it’s wise for us both to go at once. You go first and I can hold onto the rope at this end in case the arrow dislodges itself. When you get to the other side you can do the same for me. Whatever you do, don’t let go of the rope.”

“Right.” Katherine tried to rub some life into her hands before embarking on her crossing. She placed a hand on the rope, taking a deep preparatory breath.

“Wait!”

Anne was at her side, and for a moment Katherine thought there was something wrong. Then the young woman was closing the distance between them and placing her lips on Katherine’s.

They were surprisingly warm and Katherine didn’t want to let the moment go. Yet she could also feel the water starting to lap round her feet. Anne eventually pulled back no doubt sensing the urgency too. “Good luck.”

Katherine couldn’t help smiling back. Despite the fact she was being buffeted by the wind and rain, and that she was possibly about to be dunked right back in the river, the feel of Anne’s kiss never ceased to raise her spirits. She could almost believe she could accomplish anything. Gripping the rope tightly she hooked her feet up onto the rope too. Then she started to ease out over the water, hand over hand.

The rope quivered precariously with her progress, her back almost touching the surface of the water as it bowed with her weight. Once or twice her hands slipped on the rain-lashed cord and she was almost down in the turbulent froth. Each time she clung on desperately before gathering herself and continuing on. Finally she could crane her head back and see the welcome sight of dry land. Lowering herself from the rope onto it, she flexed her fingers a few times to remove the stiffness from them.

“I’ve made it!” she shouted back across the river. “You’re good to go!”

A creak from the rope indicated that Anne had clambered onto it, though Katherine couldn’t see her yet. She glanced back to where Anne’s arrow had hooked between the branches of a tree. A few splinters were already starting to pop up from it. Then suddenly the arrow wasn’t there anymore – it had been wrenched free.

It whipped out in the direction of the river and Katherine flung herself for the end of the rope as it slithered across the ground. It ripped at her palms as her fingers closed around it and she bit her lip to stop from crying out. It was still sliding towards the river though, Katherine being dragged across the ground with it. Anne must be in the water, guessed Katherine, her weight on the other end hauling Katherine inexorably forwards. Katherine swivelled onto her back and dug her feet into the muddy bank before she was pitched right off it. With a final grunt she came to a halt. She tightened her hold, ignoring the pain in her hands. She just had to hope Anne was pulling herself up the rope towards her, since Katherine didn’t think she could do any more than just hold on.

The repetitive jerk on the other end told her that Anne was doing just that and eventually a blonde head literally swam into view down in the swirling waters. Katherine only had to cling on for a few more seconds before Anne had hauled herself out. With a relieved sigh Katherine dropped the rope, its imprint still fresh in her palms.

“Thanks for saving me!” said Anne gratefully.

A loud whinny behind her stopped Katherine’s own words. She jumped at the sudden noise, whirling round to see her wayward mount, Delta. “I might have know you would be all right,” she said half-scornfully, though in reality she was relieved he hadn’t drowned. She caught hold of his dangling reins. “I think we all need to find somewhere to shelter.”

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Chapter 2

The rain had finally stopped by the time Anne had found enough dry wood to get a small fire going in the place they had chosen to make camp. Katherine sat close to it as it flickered higher, fingers stretched out in an attempt to get warm. Her clothes still clung uncomfortably to her body in random damp patches, but she wasn’t rushing to take them off. She didn’t have anything dry to change into and didn’t really relish the prospect of sitting naked in the forest - at least not until the fire got a lot bigger and a lot warmer.

Next to her, Anne peeled off the single fingerless leather glove she wore on her left hand, flexing her fingers a couple of times.

“Is it all right?” Katherine leant over to join Anne in looking at the palm. It had a bright pink scar right across it; a stark reminder of what had happened with Alan a couple of weeks previously. The outlaw had sliced through Anne’s hand when she had been trying to protect Katherine. Now Anne had taken to wearing the glove to protect her own skin as it healed.

“It’s a bit sore after hauling myself up that rope, but nothing serious,” said Anne, curling her fingers again. “I think I’m going to have a permanent scar though,” she added ruefully.

“There’s nothing wrong with the odd scar,” said Katherine, “I think they add a touch of character to someone.” One of Katherine’s fingers trailed provocatively across Anne’s brow and down around her left eye as she said the words. Anne had a small scar entwined with her eyebrow too – that one a present from the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Anne smiled at the intimate gesture, the light from the fire glinting off her white teeth. “Now the fire’s going, I suppose we ought to get out of our wet clothes.” The eyebrow scar quirked up. “Do you need a hand?”

Katherine laughed. “After last time? We were lucky our clothes didn’t get burnt to cinders!”

“Good point,” said Anne, “And I certainly wouldn’t want that happening this time.” She delved inside her black vest, pulling out some soggy paper. She carefully unfolded it, laying it down by the fire and weighing the corners down with small stones.

Katherine looked down at them and then incredulously at Anne. “Are those pages from the Friar’s book?”

“Yes,” answered Anne honestly, “I didn’t want to leave them behind since they give the key for translating the inscriptions.”

The pages held writing in a strange language Katherine didn’t understand. Fortunately Anne had been able to work out the meaning, and had used them to translate the writing on the two Ares objects they’d already collected. That writing had led them to believe there were three other objects and a key needed to find the weapon the Ares Syndicate were also on the trail of.

“He’ll kill you if he finds out you ripped them out,” Katherine said, knowing it wasn’t an understatement. The friar treasured books and would see it as desecration to defile one so. “You could just have brought the whole book.”

Anne favoured her with a doubtful look. “You’ve seen the size of that thing! If I had, I’d be at the bottom of the river right now.”

“True,” conceded Katherine, “We just won’t mention it to him then. Since you brought the pages, I suppose you’re hoping we’ll find another item at Stratford, that you’ll need them to translate the inscription on it.”

“Your diagram seems to indicate as much,” agreed Anne, “Did you bring it with you too?”

Katherine quickly checked in one of her saddlebags. “Yes, it’s safe and sound.” She pulled out the letter from her father. “I thought the trip might give me some inspiration for deciphering the rest of it.”

“And has it?”

Katherine looked at the confusing mass of pictures on the page. “Not so far!” The diagram had been designed so that only Katherine could understand the meaning and use it to find the other objects. However, so far she was as much in the dark as anyone else as to what the odd pictures and patterns indicated. She found it hard to spend any length of time studying it though. Every time she sat down to peruse it she found herself painfully reminded of her father. She would try to conjour up happy images of him – him carrying her home when she was too tired, him teaching her to shoot a bow, the pair of them sitting by the river just watching the day float by. However, every time dark thoughts of what else he might have been doing around that time flooded in to swamp the good memories.

“Perhaps you need something else to give you some inspiration?”

Katherine glanced up at Anne, able to see the young woman looking at her from below seductively lowered eyelashes. She pushed thoughts of her father to the back of her mind; he could wait.

Katherine inched closer across the ground. “Something that might expand my mind?”

Anne made a small nod. “Or perhaps just blow it?”

Katherine laughed. “That sounds like some promise.”

“And one I intend to keep.”

Anne’s fingers trailed up Katherine’s arm, across her shoulder and snaked around the back of her head. For a moment they merely stared into one another’s eyes while Anne stroked the fine hairs at the back of Katherine’s neck. The tantalising contact sent shivers through her whole body. Then suddenly the distance was closed and they were kissing. Katherine forgot all about watching out for their clothes as they were discarded over the ground.

Her skin quickly grew hot despite the night air as Anne’s body pressed up tight against her. They rolled across the ground, smooth limbs sliding between one another. Katherine groaned as Anne’s thigh brushed her sex. Anne took the cue to tease Katherine some more. She was on top of the smaller woman now, holding herself up on strong arms as she rubbed her thigh seductively up and down. Her hard nipples grazed across Katherine’s own chest as she moved.

Katherine watched the erotic sight for a moment, feeling the wetness spreading between her legs as her arousal grew with each gyration. Then she couldn’t watch any more; she needed Anne. Katherine wrapped her arms round the young woman’s neck and pulled her down, hungrily devouring her lips. Her fingers slipped up higher, loosening the ponytail at the back of Anne’s head so they could freely stroke through golden hair.

The two of them tumbled over again on the ground a couple of times as the fervour overtook them. They were a mass of roving hands and fingers and limbs, sliding against one other in lustful delight. Somehow Katherine found herself on top, not really being aware of how she had got there. Anne hands were tangling in her hair now as Katherine’s teased stiff nipples between her teeth. There were gasps and moans floating up to the night sky from both women.

Katherine felt Anne’s fingers tracking over her back. Fingernails scratched provocatively over the protruding bones of her spine. Anne’s hands gripped onto Katherine’s backside for a moment on their journey lower, clutching her close to the young woman. Katherine glanced up to see Anne was grinning wantonly at her. The look contained such naked desire that Katherine had to lever herself up and consume Anne’s lips once more.

Meanwhile, Anne’s fingers had slipped in between Katherine’s legs, tickling the inside of her thighs briefly before searching out the wetness above. They slipped easily inside, Katherine breaking contact for a second to groan with pleasure as she felt the intimate caress.

Katherine was on her knees now, legs spread wide over Anne to allow the penetration. She thrust in time with each of Anne’s finger movements, maintaining a lock of her lips the whole time. Katherine had lost track of how many fingers were inside her, but it felt like Anne was filling her completely. Every tiny movement delivered a rush of unbridled ecstasy.

The heat from the fire prickled over her spine as she arched up over Anne, resting her hands back on the ground behind her for support. There was one final thrust from the probing fingers and then Katherine was gone. She tipped her head back and cried out into the night with pure abandon. A couple of nocturnal animals answered back with their own feral sounds.

Then Katherine fell forwards and collapsed against Anne, sweaty and spent. The forest was quiet now, save for her own hard and fast breathing. Anne kissed the side of her head where it rested on the young woman’s shoulder.

“Feeling inspired yet?”

Katherine laughed. It bubbled up and up until she was guffawing into Anne’s shoulder. She clutched on to the young woman as her merriment continued unabated. A few tears of laughter wet the pale skin, by which time Anne was chuckling quietly too.

Finally Katherine managed to calm herself enough to raise her head. She pushed her flopping auburn hair away from her eyes and strove to maintain a straight face. “Actually I think might need to explore the possibility there might be some elsewhere.”

“And where might that be?”

A hand rested lightly on Anne’s pubic bone. “I think it might be somewhere in this vicinity.”

A small half-smile bent Anne’s lips. “Well, I wouldn’t want to keep you from inspiration so you better explore away.”

………….

The following day was much fairer than the stormy one before and the sun actually made an appearance from behind the clouds as Katherine and Anne continued their journey. In fact the land bore little sign of the devastating rains and flood of the night before, apart from a more muddier than normal road beneath Delta’s hooves. The rest of the landscape appeared unscathed, the greens of the trees and grass highlighted by the morning sun. Katherine might have thought the flood had all been some dream if it hadn’t been quite so vivid. If the events of later in the evening had been a dream, though, then they had certainly been one of the most pleasant ones she’d ever had.

Delta seemed buoyed by the fine weather too, making good progress along the road despite carrying two passengers over the choppy ground. They were in their riding clothes and fortunately didn’t appear to be drawing too much attention to themselves even though they were two women alone. As they travelled further south it became less and less probable that anyone would recognise Anne as an outlaw, or Katherine as a noblewoman for that matter. The common people’s knowledge of affairs didn’t tend to extend much beyond their own immediate land or estate. It took someone particularly infamous like Robin Hood himself to be known further afield than his immediate locality. The nobility and their troops were another matter.

It was quite possible that someone like the Sheriff of Nottingham may have made them aware of Anne’s existence, since she was notable enough to warrant such a mention. There weren’t many female outlaws, especially not stunningly attractive ones like Anne. The Sheriff was a notorious philanderer, and Katherine could just imagine Anne being a drunken talking point when the Sheriff entertained. She suspected that any tale of the time he had briefly captured Anne at Nottingham Castle might be somewhat different to the reality in its details though. He would hardly want anyone else to know how easily she had escaped for a start. At least it would sound easy. However, at the time Katherine had been petrified sneaking around the castle and bludgeoning guards with stools. She had grown increasingly used to such occurrences over the past year.

However, even if the Sheriff or anyone else had mentioned Anne to their fellow nobles, it would still take quite a leap to make the connection from a blond female outlaw to someone who was being presented as Katherine’s maid. As long as Anne didn’t go around showing off any un-maidly skills or traits then they should be safe. And therein lay the problem. Acting servile did not come naturally to the headstrong young woman, and Katherine just prayed Anne had learnt something from their previous trip to Keighley. At the very least she hoped Anne wouldn’t be ending up in any prison cells this time.

“How much further do you think it is?”

The question broke Katherine out of her thoughts and she pulled Delta up before she answered.

“Hopefully we should get there tomorrow.”

Anne nodded at the information. “Then we have time to stop for a break and some water?”

“Feeling a bit warm are we?”

“Yes,” said Anne, “Must be the sun I suppose, or being pressed up against your hot body.”

Katherine laughed as she lowered herself off the horse. She eased the hours in the saddle out of her thighs and backside by doing a series of stretches. “Actually, now you mention it, I feel a bit warm too.” She put her hand to her forehead, feeling a few beads of sweat. “Must be the weather as you said. At least it’s better than being drowned by rain.”

Katherine led Delta off the road to a small stream that bubbled through the neighbouring field. He eagerly bent his head to the cool water as she kneeled to dab some on her hot brow.

Next to her Anne followed suit, scooping up handfuls of the refreshing liquid. A few odd drips escaped her fingers and dribbled down her chin and neck. “So are you getting excited as we get closer? Or maybe nervous?”

Katherine started out of her study of the water’s progress over Anne’s skin. “A bit of both I guess. It’s been nine years since I visited and nearly eighteen since I actually lived there.”

“And what about who we’re going to meet there?”

Katherine frowned at the edge to Anne’s tone. She sat back onto the grass that was slightly damp underneath her. “Anne, I thought we’d already discussed this. Yes, obviously I’ll be happy to see Robert, we are old friends.”

“And former lovers.”

Katherine bit her lip to stop any immediate retort. “Yes, and that,” she eventually said, “The operative word being former. Not only will it be good to see him again, he also might be able to help us out.”

“Unless he was in league with Coleville,” pointed out Anne.

Katherine made a scoffing laugh. “Hardly! He seemed shocked by the revelation about Coleville if his letter was anything to go by.”

“Maybe he was just putting that on for your benefit,” suggested Anne, unwilling to let it go, “Maybe he inherited more than a manor house from your father.”

Katherine was starting to get annoyed by Anne’s persistence. “Now you’re just being ridiculous,” she stated, “Robert is one of the kindest, noblest men I know.”

Katherine could see Anne making to say something and then catching herself as if she thought better of it. What had it been? Had she been about to make some comment about Katherine’s father? After all Katherine had thought he was kind and noble too, but that assessment seemed incorrect now.

She decided not to press, not really wanting to find out what the unsaid comment was. “Why don’t you wait until you meet Robert to pass judgement?” she suggested instead.

“All right, I’ll wait until I meet him.”

“Thank you.” Katherine got up, stretching her stiff legs again. “Now I suppose we ought to be getting on our way.”

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Chapter 3

Anne took hold of Delta’s reins and started to lead him back to the road. She hoped Katherine was right about Lord Robert, and that he wasn’t hiding some dark secret like Katherine’s father. She was naturally suspicious of him, but wasn’t sure if that was justified or merely a by-product of her jealousy. She tried to restrain those feelings, yet it was hard to know that this man had such a long history with Katherine. Something in the way Katherine spoke of him also made Anne think it wasn’t all entirely in the past.

Anne was back up to the road when she realised Katherine wasn’t behind her. Swinging round she could see that the other woman was still down by the stream having not got more than a few steps. Katherine was leaning heavily against a tree. Her head was also bowed, her auburn hair flopping loosely around her face.

“Katherine?” Concern was quickly surfacing in Anne. “Is everything all right?”

Katherine glanced up with uncertainty in her blue eyes. She went to take a step and then she just pitched forwards, collapsing face first on the grass. Anne dropped Delta’s reins and started sprinting down the slope.

“Katherine!”

There was no reply from the downed woman, and Anne’s heart was in her mouth by the time she reached Katherine’s side. She knelt down, quickly turning Katherine over. Her eyes were closed and it was with a creeping fear that Anne reached out to feel for signs of life. Thankfully her fingers found the beat of her heart, still strong beneath the skin. Yet that skin was alarmingly hot.

“Katherine!” Anne tried gently shaking her to no avail. What was wrong with her? She had seemed fine a moment ago, and now all of a sudden she was burning up with fever. Was it a result of falling in the river? Had she caught a chill? Or was it something worse, like plague?

Anne looked desperately around her for nearby habitation – somewhere she could take Katherine where they might have a healer. Yet there was nothing in view, just endless vistas of grass, trees and rolling hills.

If only I still had my healing powers! Anne thought to herself in frustration. It occurred to her that perhaps she could try and tap into them still - maybe they hadn’t gone completely. Maybe she just needed a situation like this to give her that extra edge. If ever she needed them it was now.

Anne closed her eyes, trying to calm her thoughts and find that place inside her where she could feel the power of nature welling up, filling her. It was difficult with nervous anxiety continually pricking at her concentration. Yet she strained with all her might.

“Damn you!” she cried out to the pagan gods who seemed to have deserted her. “Come on you bastards! Just this once!”

They didn’t reply to her curses. It was no good; there was just nothing there.

Opening her eyes again she looked down at Katherine, who seemed to be even paler than before. The anxious pain in Anne’s own chest was growing with each passing second. She knew she had to get Katherine somewhere warm, somewhere where she could be cared for properly. She hooked an arm under Katherine’s shoulders and another under her legs and hefted her off the ground. Carrying Katherine back to Delta, Anne could feel the heat radiating off her small body. This was not good, not good at all.

Anne held tight to Katherine as she clambered onto the waiting horse. Then she turned him for Stratford and set off at a gallop.

…………

Anne wasn’t entirely sure how long she had been riding as she finally pulled Delta up for a rest. The day had turned into night and back to day again during the time she had been on the horse’s back, yet not once had she thought about stopping and making camp. Her cargo was too precious to consider delaying.

Katherine was shivering again now, trembling uncontrollably in Anne’s arms. Anne tightened her hold for a moment, clutching Katherine to her chest as if she could somehow force her own strength into her that way. The bouts of chills had come and gone on their journey, while the rest of the time Katherine had been scarily hot. At no time had she regained consciousness.

Anne had ploughed on through the night, keeping a watchful eye for any sign of change in Katherine’s condition. Delta seemed to understand that he had to keep going too. He was panting as they stood at rest now, his breath clouding in the cool morning air.

Eventually the shudders racking Katherine slowed and stopped, her head resting limply against Anne’s chest once more. She seemed so small and fragile, lying there helplessly. Anne brushed the damp strands of hair from Katherine’s sweaty forehead. She was burning up again now the shivering had stopped.

Anne put her hand to her own forehead. It was equally warm. She could pretend that it was the ride that had caused it, but deep down she realised that whatever was ailing Katherine was starting to affect her too. Anne was having trouble keeping her eyes open, and a couple of times the jolt from Delta’s hooves on the road and jerked her awake. Her whole body ached from within, and she knew that was nothing to do with the ride either. Yet she was resolved to keeping going, she had to get Katherine to safety. Only then could she rest.

She geed Delta on again, hoping that Stratford was close. If she didn’t get there soon she might slip into unconsciousness like Katherine and then they would both be done for. When she came over the next hill and saw the impressive manor house sitting amongst the smaller houses of the town her relief was so great she could have whooped for joy. Yet they weren’t safe yet. She urged Delta into as fast a gallop as he could manage, the colt speeding over the remainder of the distance as if he too knew this was their destination.

The house grew more imposing as she barrelled towards it with the wind whipping fast past her face. It was much larger than Markham, looking something more akin to a castle than the more rural Nottinghamshire manor. It had several stories where Markham only had two and many more outbuildings dotted round its courtyard – at least the parts of it she could see beyond the thick stone walls that surrounded it.

Luckily the gate in the defensive walls was open and Anne swept straight on into the courtyard, ignoring the cries of the guards for her to stop. By the time she was dismounting, they were running across the grass in her direction, swords drawn.

“Oi! You! What do you think you’re doing?”

Anne already had Katherine off the horse and back in her arms, holding her close. Anne’s legs were worryingly unsteady under the extra weight. Normally she would have no problem carrying Katherine. “Lord Robert is expecting us,” she said quickly to the guard, “I’ve come with Lady Katherine of Markham,” she added, eyes indicating the woman in her arms, “She’s ill.”

The men looked at her doubtfully and Anne suddenly realised what they must look like. Certainly neither of them looked like they were anything to do with the nobility. Katherine was still in the riding clothes she had been wearing when she collapsed and Anne was in her customary black. Both of them looked like they hadn’t slept or washed for a couple of days. She hadn’t for a second thought she should have stopped and changed to add credence to her story.

“Right you’re nobles, of course,” said one of the men sarcastically, “I don’t know, you peasants thinking you can just come in here whenever you fancy it. Go and see your own healer and stop bothering his lordship.”

“No, you don’t understand…,” said Anne, desperation colouring her tone.

“No,” interrupted the guard, “You don’t understand. I said be off with you, before I throw you in the cells.”

Anne stared incredulously at him. Her mind was finding it hard to formulate the right words to make her case, everything seemed to be jumbled up in a cloudy haze. So instead she just started running for the front door.

“Oi! Come back here!”

Anne barged through it, eyes scanning the large room on the other side. “Lord Robert!” she called out frantically.

The guards came crashing in behind her, quickly grabbing hold of her arms. “Right, I tried to tell you nicely,” said one of them, “Now I’m going to have to make good on my threat.”

“No, I have to see Lord Robert!” Anne tugged at them, but her strength was fading fast, it was all she could do to keep hold of Katherine.

“Why do you want to see me?”

The guards swung round to the speaker, carrying Anne round with them. He was a tall, fairly slender man, with black hair and dark eyes. Those eyes widened in shock as he saw the form in Anne’s arms.

“Katherine?” He came closer, a hand reaching out to tenderly touch Katherine’s face. Anne had an irrational urge to bat it away. Unfortunately she didn’t have a free hand.

A surprised guard quickly released Anne. “This is the Lady Katherine?”

Anne rounded on him. “That was what I was trying to tell you before!” she spat furiously. Her head was starting to hurt too and she didn’t have time for fools.

“What’s wrong with her?”

It was Lord Robert speaking again. Anne turned to him, seeing the obvious concern in his eyes. “I don’t know, we got caught in a storm on the way here, and then she just collapsed.”

“We need to get her into bed,” he stated with assurance, “I’ll call for my doctor straight away. Here let me take her.” He held out his arms.

“No! I’ll take her!” Anne pulled Katherine to her chest as if her life depended on it. She was so hot now she could barely think straight. Part of her knew she shouldn’t be speaking to a noble as she was, but if there was one thing she was certain of, it was that she had to make sure Katherine was all right. Lord Robert merely appeared bemused by her reticence to let go. “She is my mistress after all,” added Anne by means of explanation. Of course that was nothing to do with it, but she could hardly tell him why she was so desperate to go with Katherine.

Robert was still studying her curiously. “You don’t look so good yourself,” he noted, “I think it might be better if I held onto her, before you drop her.”

As soon as he pointed it out, Anne could feel her arms starting to shake and weaken. Anne glanced down at Katherine, her heart clutching painfully once more. Reluctantly she offered the fragile body to Lord Robert, knowing it was best for Katherine. As he took her it felt like Anne’s heart was being ripped away with the other woman.

Robert immediately started making for the stairs. “Thank you, we can take it from here.”

“No!” The objection came out far more harshly than Anne had intended. She could see Lord Robert had turned back, looking at her like she might be a bit crazy; she was certainly doing a good job of giving that impression. She realised he could easily have been offended by her tone too, considering she was of a lower class, yet he was being surprisingly patient and understanding. Anne tried to calm her voice, though it was getting harder and harder to focus. Her head was starting to swim, the walls seeming to press in on her. She blinked a couple of times trying to clear the dizzying effect, wiping at her sweaty brow at the same time. “I have to make sure she’s all right.”

“I admire you attention to your duty,” he said kindly, “But she’ll be fine, we’ll look after her now. You go and rest.”

Anne shook her head. “Please, I have to…” The blackness swirling up was so sudden she didn’t even get to finish her sentence. Her whole body went limp, and she flopped onto the hard floor as she passed out.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 4

Katherine floated along, somewhere halfway between sleep and the waking world. She was soaring along with the clouds in the sky, watching the world pass by beneath her, far away, nothing to do with her. Her thoughts drifted lazily along with the meandering trail. They flowed back over time and space to Stratford and seemingly endless summer days when she roamed the fields of the estate without a care in the world. The River Avon was there too, cutting its constant path through the landscape. Many a time she had sat by it with her father, waiting for the fish to bite.

Now somehow she found herself down by it, not recalling how it had happened. She was walking along the bank, able to feel the grass beneath her bare feet. It was slightly damp with dew, and a faint chill tickled at her skin too making her think it was early morning. There was no one else along the river that day and she looked out over the waters, seeing a couple of large boulders amongst the fast flowing current. The spray flew up over them as the river constantly battered the smooth rock.

Suddenly another movement caught her eye and her eyes drifted to the far bank. There was someone else out and about after all. To begin with Katherine couldn’t quite make them out clearly. Slowly she got an impression of a few strands of blonde hair being picked at by the fresh breeze. The figure continued to coalesce. It was a woman. She was just standing, directly opposite Katherine and not moving. Katherine still couldn’t quite see the face, but found herself frozen to the spot too as if mesmerised.

As she watched she felt a strong yearning building inside her. She wanted to go to the other side, despite the natural boundary separating her from the woman. The other woman must have sensed her presence, her head finally turning in Katherine’s direction. A pair of blue eyes latched onto her.

Anne…Anne…Anne…

“And who might Anne be?”

Katherine’s eyes shot open, bringing her resoundingly back to the real world. It was stark in its brightness after the dream. She blinked a couple of times before discerning that she was lying in a bed, on the edge of which was perched a man. His lips were held in an amused half-smile as he gazed down at her.

“Robert?” Katherine asked dumbly, as if she couldn’t quite believe it. The name had barely been audible from her parched lips, yet his smile broadened at her recognition. He hardly looked any different to the last time she had seen him. He still had that slightly boyish look, even though he was just past forty now. In all her visions of how their first meeting in nine years might go, this hadn’t been one of the ways she had imagined.

Katherine glanced around the room uncertainly, taking in the familiar surroundings. “I’m at Stratford,” she stated as she got her bearings. Worryingly she had no recollection of getting there. She didn’t remember anything after being by the stream with Anne, certainly not how she came to be lying in one of the rooms at her old home, feeling like death warmed up and wearing a night gown that wasn’t her own. Obviously someone had removed her clothes. Had it been Robert?

“Is it your maid?”

Katherine looked back to Robert in confusion. “What?” she asked stupidly.

“Anne,” he repeated. “You were saying the name over and over. I wondered if it was your maid who was travelling with you.”

“Yes, that’s right,” agreed Katherine, just about lucid enough to remember her cover story. She looked around the room again. Where was Anne? She had obviously brought Katherine the rest of the way to Stratford, yet now she was strangely absent.

Robert could see her worried glances, guessing what she was thinking. “I’m afraid she’s not well,” he explained, “She has the same malaise as you had – a raging fever. She’s downstairs in the servants quarters, resting.”

“What? I have to go and see her.” Katherine tried to rise up only to find her body was less than willing. All her muscles ached alarmingly and she let out a small gasp at the effort of trying to move.

“Steady on,” said Robert, putting a gentle restraining hand on her shoulder, “You shouldn’t be going anywhere.”

Reluctantly Katherine sagged back onto the pillows, closing her eyes and taking a couple of deep breaths. “But is she all right?” she asked, when she had gathered herself. “Is she being cared for?”

“You seem very concerned for your maid.” There was slight suspicion in his tone. “Though I can see why you wouldn’t want to lose her – she was practically dead on her feet when she carried you in here, yet even then she didn’t want to rest until she knew you were all right. Those peasant women certainly are made of hardy stuff.”

“Yes, Anne is very…” Katherine paused. She could see Robert studying her intently, curiosity piqued by the odd relationship between the two women. “…dear to me,” she added finally. She knew it had been the wrong choice of words; it just made it sound even stranger. Why would a noble ever consider any of their servants ‘dear to them’? It just didn’t happen. “She’s been very loyal,” added Katherine, trying to come up with a more plausible explanation for her anxiety.

“It’s all right, you don’t have to justify your concern to me,” Robert said, stepping in to save her, “I’m very close to some of my servants too, they become almost like family don’t they?”

Katherine regarded him curiously. She got the distinct impression he knew more than he was letting on, that he somehow knew exactly why Katherine was worried about Anne. She sincerely hoped she hadn’t been rambling more than just saying Anne’s name while she’d been asleep.

“Anyway, she’s doing fine,” he added, oblivious to her inner concerns, “She just needs rest like you did. But I can check with the doctor if you like?”

“Thank you.”

That settled, Katherine’s eyes drifted aimlessly around the room once more. She desperately wanted to go to Anne, but instinctively she knew her body wouldn’t make it. She supposed she could ask Robert to carry her down there. However, not only would that be rather undignified, but also it filled her with a strange mix of fear and excitement. She found her gaze had naturally come back to him where he still sat perched next to her. He smiled again when he saw the study. She was reminded of the many times in the past when she had seen that smile directed at her. The years seemed to slip away and it was like it had only been yesterday when they had been two young people in love.

It was Robert who finally broke the silence. “This certainly is a strange way to meet after all these years,” he began, “I’ve been looking forward to seeing you again so much.” The words were said in a much softer voice. The longing that undercut it was plain to hear. Then he seemed to catch himself, switching back to his normal confident tone. “And then you turn up here half-dead - you had me scared witless.”

Katherine smiled at the show of concern. “It’s nice to know you still care.”

“I’ll always care.” The soft tone was back again and the look Robert was giving her was also making Katherine feel slightly uncomfortable. This was all in the past…wasn’t it?

She needed to change the subject fast. “I was sorry to hear about Mary,” said Katherine, settling on the more sombre topic of Robert’s departed wife.

“Thank you,” he answered, “Thankfully her passing was quick and relatively painless. My condolences on your loss too.”

“Thank you.” Katherine always felt faintly guilty when accepting such wishes in regards to Mark. Not that she had killed him herself, but she couldn’t help feeling somehow responsible.

“It was quite a surprise to hear he wasn’t killed on the Crusades after all,” continued Robert, “And even more shocking to hear he met his end so soon after his miraculous return. It must have been terrible for you.”

Katherine tried to force the grieving widow expression onto her face, as she tended to do whenever Mark came up in conversation. As far as everyone else was aware they had still been faithfully married at the time of his death. They certainly weren’t to know she had long since stopped loving him and had found someone that she truly cherished. “I managed to get by,” she said vaguely.

“I’m sure you did,” noted Robert. The smile was twitching at his mouth again and she sensed he was aware her grief wasn’t as genuine as she was trying to make out. He had been one of the few people to question her decision to marry Mark all those years ago, thinking she was doing it more out of a sense of duty and obligation than because she was truly in love with him. The ironic thing was he had been right. Katherine knew now that she had never really been in love with Mark. He had been stable and dependable and a good companion, but now she had Anne she knew that was all it had been.

“So to what do I owe this immense pleasure of seeing you again?” continued Robert, “Is this something else to do with Hugh Coleville? Your original letter was very cryptic – all talk of him being after something from your sister. I didn’t even know that was where he had gone. Needless to say I feel very foolish having employed such an obvious scoundrel.”

Katherine reached out to place a comforting hand on his arm. It was an entirely natural gesture to her, yet once her hand was there it seemed oddly inappropriate. She could feel the muscles of his arm beneath the fine material of his shirt and for some reason there was a fleeting impulse to actually stroke it. She forgot what she was going to say for a moment before she regained her senses. “You weren’t to know,” she managed.

She swiftly removed her hand and looked up into his face, scanning his features and trying to discern if he was being truthful. Was he really unaware of Coleville’s actions? Deep down she felt she could trust him, though whether that was because their history was clouding her judgement she couldn’t tell.

“I sincerely hope he didn’t hurt either of you.” Robert looked genuinely perturbed at the thought of harm coming to her. “If he wasn’t already dead, I’d give him a sound thrashing for causing you such trouble. What was it he wanted from your sister anyway?”

The words almost spilled forth of their own accord, encouraged by recollections of shared secrets in the past. Yet something held her back, common sense overriding any persuasive effects of wistful memories. “Just an object that belonged to my father,” she said evasively, “I’ve since learned that Coleville may not be acting alone and there are more of these objects. I need to find them before any of Coleville’s friends do.”

“And you think one of them might be here?”

“Possibly,” allowed Katherine. She determined that wasn’t revealing too much. She might need Robert’s help and she could hardly go traipsing around his house and estate without giving him some indication of what she was doing. Better to take him in to at least part of her confidence. “Or maybe some clues as to there whereabouts,” she added. “The objects have a…connection to my father, so this seemed like a good place to come to follow the trail.”

Robert nodded. “It all sounds very mysterious, though I sense you’re not telling me everything.” He always had been perceptive. “I can understand that after your experience with Coleville – you have to be careful who you can trust.”

Katherine didn’t want to offend him, but he was partly right. “It’s not that I don’t trust you,” she said, “I just don’t want to get anyone unnecessarily involved in this – the fewer people who know the better.”

“It sounds rather dangerous,” he noted, his face taking on a more concerned look. “Are you sure you should be pursuing this alone?”

“I’m not alone.”

Robert looked at her inquisitively. The words had slipped out before she could stop them. Katherine decided her best option was to not say anything further.

Eventually Robert gave up waiting for her to elaborate. “That’s on a need to know basis too is it?” he deduced.

“Something like that.” He appeared to accept that and Katherine was grateful he wasn’t pressing for details.

“If I can help you in any way you just have to ask,” he offered. “In the mean time you’re free to go anywhere in the house or on the estate as part of your search - I’ll make everyone aware that they should extend you every courtesy.”

Robert levered himself off the bed. Katherine caught the faint sound of joints clicking. Maybe some things did change with time. In her memories he was young and athletic, but even he couldn’t physically cheat the years. “Now I think I should leave you to get some rest.”

Katherine was still reminiscing to herself as he leant forwards. For a startled second she thought he was going to kiss her. Instead his lips were placed delicately on her forehead in a show of seemingly platonic affection. The tiny glint in his eye as he pulled back indicated that might not entirely be the case.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 5

Katherine searched through the drawers, carefully removing each item one at a time so she would know how to replace them the same way. She didn’t want anyone knowing she had been in here after all. As her search continued she grew more frustrated – it had to be in here somewhere, he had put it in here. She pushed her unruly auburn hair back away from her face for the umpteenth time, finally managing to secure it at the back of her head to stop it getting in the way. It would be so much easier if she could get it cut.

“Katherine, is there any reason you’re rifling through my bureau?”

She spun round to see her father at the door. His hands were on his hips. She knew he was trying, and failing, to look stern.

Katherine surreptitiously slid the drawer shut behind her. “I was just looking for…” she searched for something plausible, “…a quill.”

Her father laughed, relaxing his posture at the same time. “Now I know you’re lying.” He started across the room towards her. “Since when has any red-blooded ten-year-old like yourself wanted to stay indoors writing on a day like today? Plus your hardly going to find something like that in here – you’d be better off looking in my study desk.”

He was standing towering over her now. She craned her head up from his midriff so she could look into his warm blue eyes. They were starting to show the signs of age in the wrinkles at their corners, as was his hair that now had a few strands of silver amongst the brown. He eventually knelt down so that his eyes were level with hers. “Now are you going to tell me what you were really looking for?”

She squirmed for a couple of seconds, but she knew it was hopeless trying to lie to him. He always had this knack of dragging the truth out of her without even trying. She resolved that when she grew up, she would learn how to deliver the same look she was receiving now. She hoped she would be able to employ it with equal quiet authority.

“I was looking for your fishing knife.”

Her father’s brow furrowed. “And why would you want that?”

“To go fishing with,” stated Katherine. Sometimes adults could be rather stupid.

“On your own? Or are you meeting that boy again?”

“What boy?” The attempt at innocence was pointless she knew.

“I think you know full well what boy I mean. Robert Ashdown from the village. Don’t think I haven’t heard how you two have been getting up to all sorts of mischief. Only yesterday I had Father Martin here moaning to me about you climbing the yew trees in the churchyard.”

“But they’re so good for climbing, they have all these low branches and when you get to the top you can see right out over the river and near all the way to Leamington…”

Katherine stopped her rambling explanation when she saw the exasperated look from her father.

She hung her head. “Sorry, father, we won’t do it again.”

Two strong hands came out to rest on her shoulders. When she didn’t look up, he gently tilted her head up with a single finger. “Katherine, it’s not that I don’t want you to have any fun. I want you to be happy, and if running around the countryside acting like a boy is what makes you happy for now then who am I to stand in your way. God knows your mother would be appalled to hear me say it, though. She thinks you should be at home learning feminine things like embroidery and cooking. As far as I’m concerned there’s plenty of time for that when you are a woman, without forcing you to do things you don’t want to do now. Unfortunately you’ll soon learn a woman’s place.”

Katherine didn’t answer, wondering what this ‘woman’s place’ was. It didn’t sound like it was somewhere favourable if people forced you to do things against your will. She decided there and then that no one would make her go there.

“But,” continued her father, “I am the lord of the manor and it’s hardly seemly for me to have my tenants coming to me complaining about my wild and wilful daughter and her latest escapades. All I ask is that you try and show a touch more consideration and judgement, please.”

“I will, father, I promise.”

He sighed, accepting the statement, though whether he believed she was capable of upholding it she wasn’t sure. She was determined to prove she could. She didn’t like disappointing him.

“So, you want to go fishing do you?” he asked, switching back to the original subject.

Katherine nodded.

“How about we go together then, tomorrow?”

Katherine bounced eagerly on her feet. “Can we really?” Then reality hit home. “What would mother say though?”

“How about we don’t mention it to her, eh? I’m already in enough trouble with her over showing you how to shoot a bow.”

Katherine recalled her mother’s reaction when she had brought her archery practice inside and managed to skewer one of Phillipa’s dolls right through the centre. Katherine thought it had been most impressive – she had been a good twenty feet away at least. Yet her mother didn’t seem to share her enthusiasm and Phillipa had burst into tears when she’d seen her doll’s fate. Katherine had determinedly held back her own tears when she got a resounding smack for her trouble.

“Right.” Katherine tapped the side of her nose. “It’ll just be our secret.”

……………

The sunlight was streaming in low at the window when Katherine awoke. The beams tracked across the floorboards, picking out the fine dust floating in the air as they did. With a certain surprise she realised it must be morning again, meaning she had been asleep for the best part of a day. Obviously her body needed to do some serious recuperating after her sudden illness. She tentatively sat up in the bed, finding that she felt much more alert and together than she had the day before. It was fortunate she hadn’t blurted out anything too important to Robert in her befuddled state. Not that he couldn’t be trusted, but as she’d said to him the day before she just wanted to careful. It had been odd seeing him after all this time, and yet in a way it was as if nothing had changed. He’d seemed just as she’d remembered him. Take away the few extra lines and grey hairs and it could have been twenty years ago. She wondered if that was why she’d been feeling those odd sensations in his presence. Were they just echoes of the past or were they something else?

With perfect timing the door to the room swung open and Robert crept in carrying a tray. He had tiptoed a few steps when he spotted she was actually awake already.

“Good morning.” His smile was wide as he set the tray down on the bedside table. “How are you feeling today?”

“Much better, thank you.” Katherine eyed the food on the tray. “Is it normal for the Lord himself to deliver his guest’s breakfast?”

Robert grinned as her lowered himself onto the end of the bed at a respectable distance. “No, I think you’re the first to receive that honour.”

Katherine picked up some of the bread. It felt cottony in her mouth as she tried to chew on it and it took a few gulps of water to wash it down. She was acutely aware of Robert watching her the whole time, seemingly fascinated by her every movement.

Katherine decided she should tackle him face on. “What?”

“Sorry, was I staring?” he said apologetically, “It’s just so bizarre seeing you here like this. I like your hair by the way, very daringly short.”

Katherine just about resisted the urge to blush like a girl receiving a compliment from a suitor. “It was Phillipa’s idea,” she confessed. She subconsciously ran her fingers through the bob. It was sticking up at odd angles at the back from where her head had been resting on the pillow and she attempted to smooth it down.

“Ah, I might have known she’d have a hand in it. So do you feel well enough to perhaps take a short walk? A bit of fresh air might do you good.”

Katherine took another bite of bread. “I think I’d be capable of that. Though I’d like to check on my maid first.” Katherine paused for a moment, forcing as much nonchalance into her tone as she could muster. “How is she doing by the way?”

“She’s still full of the fever I’m afraid,” he replied seriously, “She doesn’t seem to be able to shake it off like you did.”

Katherine nodded, not trusting herself to speak for a moment. Suddenly the bread tasted sour in her mouth and she put the last of it back down.

Robert wasn’t slow to pick up on her shift in mood. “Would you like to go now?”

“Yes, thank you.” Katherine made to get up, realising she was still in her nightgown. “What happened to my clothes and belongings?”

“Don’t worry they’re safe and sound in the wardrobe.” Robert got up and walked to the door. “I’ll give you a moment.”

As soon as he’d closed it behind him, Katherine dashed over to the wardrobe and searched through her bags. She was thankful to find that her father’s letter was exactly where it had been. At least it appeared to be exactly where it had been. She shook her head at her own paranoia. Of course no one would have been going through her belongings – why would they?

She quickly pulled on a plain dress and joined Robert in the corridor. He led her through the house and down the stairs to the servants’ area. Each step brought back fresh childhood memories – the whole house was positively alive with them. She couldn’t turn a corner without being reminded of her father or mother or Phillipa. Sometimes she even thought that if she listened hard enough she could hear the traces of their voices in the walls.

Eventually they stopped at one of the doors on the lowest level. Katherine paused for a moment on the threshold and took a couple of deep breaths to try and soothe her racing heart. She knew she couldn’t show anything more than a lady’s concern for her maid in front of anyone else. Inside her emotions might be skittering erratically in all directions but outwardly she had to appear calm and controlled.

Finally she stepped into the small room. Her eyes went immediately to the occupant of the single bed and she had to work hard to hold back a cry of dismay. She was quickly at Anne’s bedside gazing down on the sickly woman. She was deathly white and her cheekbones stood out prominently under the sallow, sunken skin of her face. Anne’s normally lustrous hair fell lifelessly over her pillow, sections of it plastered to her sweaty brow. Katherine took the opportunity to brush some away and feel her brow at the same time. It was frightenly hot.

Katherine steeled her voice before she turned to Robert. “How long has she been like this?”

“Since she got here. Though she’s not always been this placid. Apparently she has bouts of delirium when she starts muttering to herself and thrashing around. The servants have had to restrain her a couple of times.”

Katherine’s eyes flicked to Anne again. It was scary to see her like this. She was normally so full of life, so strong, and yet here she was laid low by illness. Katherine tried not to think about other people she had seen taken by fever, especially not the ones who had never recovered.

“But I wasn’t this sick, was I?” she asked Robert, trying to find some explanation for it. Maybe then it would seem more tangible, like something they could beat with the right medicine.

“No,” he agreed, “It is puzzling.”

……….

Katherine. The call had sounded in her own head, but Anne knew it hadn’t passed her lips. For some reason she couldn’t get those to open. Katherine was standing in the room, talking to a tall, dark-haired man…Lord Robert…that was it.

Anne’s head felt fuzzy, her vision clouding in and out of focus. It was almost like a

dream, with her lying there watching and unable to participate.

Katherine and Robert seemed to be standing very close as they talked. Anne couldn’t make out the words of the conversation though. There was just a constant drone in the background; it hurt her ears. Then Katherine was stroking Robert’s arm, smiling. He smiled back.

No! This wasn’t right. Anne tried to sit up, move, do something, but it was as if she was pinned to the bed by an i