Page 76 of Never Leave Me
She glanced around at the other tables. Closest to the head table sat the most important members of the household including the armed men, the chaplain, the chief of household servants, and the marshal of the stables. The lesser servants dined at the far table,including the gardener, baker, brewer, blacksmith, and others she couldn’t name.
After Dad’s prediction of the earthquake earlier, what would they say about her or Dad if Harrison vanished before their eyes?
Her heart resumed beating but at a frantic pace. She had to get Harrison out of the room. “He’s injured. Take him to one of the bedchambers, immediately.”
“No need to fret, love.” Harrison allowed Ellen to guide him on one side while the ruddy-faced servant held him up on the other. Dizziness plagued Harrison with every step, but he fought against it.
Ellen kept glancing over her shoulders down the stairs, anxiety creasing her forehead.
As they reached the landing, he extricated himself from the servant. “I’ve got a bump. That’s all.”
Ellen kept her arm around Harrison’s waist and attempted to hurry him down the hallway. “I’ve got him from here, Thad. If you’ll be so kind as to get me some warm water, soap, and clean towels, I’ll tend to Harrison’s injury.”
Thad hesitated at the top of the steps, obviously uncertain about leaving Ellen alone with a strange man. In that one move, Harrison liked the man. Immensely.
“Don’t worry,” she called to the servant, tugging Harrison along unrelentingly. “I know Harrison well. And he won’t harm me in any way.”
Even with the assurance, the servant lingered.
“Hurry, now,” Ellen whispered. “Hopefully Dad will distract everyone from coming after us, at least for a few minutes.”
Ellen guided Harrison into the closest room and then shut the door behind them. Once they were alone, she expelled a breath andlet her shoulders sag. “We’ve already given the servants reason to think we’re witches. I can’t have you vanishing into thin air. They’d likely take us right out and burn us at the stake.”
Before he could formulate a reply, she pushed him down into a chair beside the door.
“What happened to your head?” She gingerly began to comb through his hair.
“I think I may have landed on a rock after I made the time crossing.”
Her fingers came to a standstill.
He was agog with everything he’d seen since the moment he’d awakened half an hour ago and found himself lying in the long grass behind the greenhouse—which was a barn in 1382. In the waning evening light, he’d almost felt as if he were dreaming. As he’d made his way around the barn, the scent and sounds of the livestock told him it was all too real.
He’d wanted to stop and explore each of the buildings that belonged to industries a manor like Chesterfield Park needed to survive—a forge, brewery, barracks, mill, bakehouse, and a storehouse with a staff dormitory above. A grove of fruit trees filled part of the walled acreage as did raised beds with what appeared to be both herb and vegetable gardens. Even a bee colony stood along the far end of the property.
Except for chickens and geese, the yard was deserted. As he made his way toward the house, he knew he was lucky no one was around to question him. He guessed they were at supper. And the guards on the walls were too busy watching the outside of the manor to pay attention to a lone man inside. It gave him a little time to gawk, everything appearing the way Marian had described after her time crossings.
The front yard was overgrown with trees instead of the artfully arranged flower beds. The house was still three stories high withthe tower on the east end, but everything was simpler and basic with areas that appeared to have recently sustained destruction.
He’d wanted to run his hands along the cold stone, touch the thick opaque windows, graze the grainy timber frames. But he forced himself to keep going toward the front entrance.
It wasn’t until he’d reached the portico that he realized he was injured. And as the ruddy-faced servant opened the door, Harrison swayed on his feet and almost fell. He introduced himself as Lord Burlington, which got no reaction. When he mentioned his name was Harrison, the man’s eyes widened, and he ushered him inside.
Now Harrison was sitting inside the historic home—Ellen’s room in the past and his in the present. He recognized it from the previous times he’d crossed. Only now, he took stock of it more carefully. The double-sized bed was comprised of a rope-slung frame and fitted with a feather-stuffed mattress. The tapestries were thick and tasseled, the chair cushioned with the same rich damask, and the wood furniture a dark mahogany, the detailed carvings on each piece exquisite.
“What do you mean, time crossing?” Ellen stepped back from him and regarded him warily. “Are you here to stay this time?”
“Yes—and no.”
“Harrison, please tell me you didn’t get captured by Lionel and forced into the past.”
“No. They don’t have me. I’m safe.”
“Then why are you here?” Her voice rang with distress.
“I came to find out where Lionel is holding you. Then I intend to awaken, tell my investigator, and rescue you.”
“And how will you awaken?”
