Annavieve simply lay upon the bed, arm across her eyes. She was unusually pale. Then, she burst into tears.
“I found her,” she sobbed.
Kevin was confused. He went to sit on the bed beside her, a gentle hand on her arm. “Found whom?” he asked.
Annavieve was deeply grieved. “Her,” she said. “My mother. Lady Alys. I found her.”
Realization dawned on Kevin, somewhat. At least now he had some kind of reason behind her abrupt behavior. The grip on her arm tightened.
“How on earth did you find her?” he begged softly. “Sweetheart, please tell me everything. What happened to make you run away?”
Annavieve was struggling to compose herself. She wiped at her face but the tears wouldn’t stop falling. “She is a nurse to the Earl of Hereford’s children,” she said. “I sat next to Lady Vietta de Lohr today in the lists, and Lady Alys is her nurse. I was introduced to her and I told her my name, but she did not know me. She did not know me at all.”
Now, the situation was starting to make a good deal of sense. Kevin squeezed her arm sympathetically. “Mayhap she simply does not recognize your name,” he said helpfully. “It is quitepossible that the nuns at Sempringham gave you the name. Of course Lady Alys would not know that name.”
Annavieve wiped at her eyes furiously. “That is not true,” she insisted. “Magda told me that it was my name when I came to the priory, that I was named for my mother’s mother and her mother before her, Annabelle and Genevieve. My name is a combination of the two names. It is an unusual name, so of course Lady Alys would know it, but if she did, she did not acknowledge it. She does not want to know me.”
Kevin sighed sadly. He didn’t know what more to say. Leaning over, he kissed her on the forehead. “I am so sorry, sweet,” he comforted. “But mayhap there is a reason behind it. You must not judge the woman until you know.”
Annavieve wouldn’t accept that statement. She rolled onto her side, gazing up at Kevin with big, watery, red eyes. “I know that she did not acknowledge me,” she said. “That is all I know. I… I had to run away. I could not look at her, knowing who she was and knowing that she refused to acknowledge me. I had to run away and hide.”
He stroked her dark head. “Here?”
Annavieve nodded, closing her eyes as he stroked her head. “Here,” she murmured. “It was the last place I saw Magda. I still feel her here. She was the only mother I have ever known. I feel as if I have lost two mothers today and I am not sure how I can bear it.”
The tears came again, quieter now, and Kevin felt a great deal of pity for her. He continued to stroke her hair, hopefully giving her some comfort as she spent her grief in a day that had been full of horrors. It didn’t seem possible that one day should see so much tragedy and drama, but this day was living proof that such days did, in fact, exist. There had been tragedy and drama for them both.
“I am so sorry,” he said again, unable to think of anything more to say. “This day has seen a good deal of upheaval for you. First the attack this morning, then the incident with Magda, and now this. I know it seems like a great burden to deal with but I also know you are a strong woman. I have seen it. Strength runs in you, Anna. You must believe that.”
Annavieve simply lay there, now without the sobbing. It seemed as if, for the moment, she were all sobbed out. Kevin continued to stroke her dark head until she finally looked up at him.
“And you?” she asked softly. “Were you victorious today? I fear that I missed the end of the battle.”
He smiled faintly. “I have six new horses,” he said triumphantly. “I will ransom nine knights back to their houses. I will be a very wealthy man.”
He seemed quite happy about it and Annavieve smiled faintly. “I am proud of you,” she praised him. “You are quite skilled and impressive.”
He nodded, his movements slow and vague. “I should hope so after all of these years of indulging in the knighthood,” he said. His smile began to fade. “Anna, I have been thinking about the situation between us. When you went off with Victor and Salisbury today, when they took you to the tournament field, it made me realize how much I need you. I cannot have you out of my sight, not even for a minute. With the horses and money I will gain from today’s tournament, I will have enough money to provide very well for you.”
She grew serious. “What do you mean?” she asked. “Provide for me how?”
He nodded, thinking more and more decisively as he went. “You may be married to the duke, legally, but it was I who consummated the marriage,” he said. “In my view, that means you belong to me. It is my children you will bear and it is myheart you keep. We can flee, together, and go to Ireland or even Saxony. They are always looking for excellent knights there. We will live as man and wife because, surely, no husband has ever loved a wife more than I love you. Will you go with me?”
Annavieve didn’t need to think about it. Nodding emphatically, she reached up and threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly.
“I will go anywhere with you,” she said fervently. “To hell and back will I go with you, Kevin. Anything you ask is yours.”
He held her against him, drawing strength from her warmth and life. “Then I want you to do something for me.”
“Anything.”
He loosened his grip, pulling back to look her in the eye. “I want you to pack lightly,” he said. “We cannot take all of these trunks of clothing. Take only durable and serviceable things and make sure to pack all of your jewels. We may need to sell them. I want you to be ready to leave tonight.”
She nodded eagerly. “I will,” she said. “When will we leave?”
Kevin sighed thoughtfully. “There will be a great feast at the meeting hall of Longcross this night,” he said. “We will leave during the feast, when everyone is occupied. We will both need to make an appearance, of course, but once we have and the feast commences, we will slip away.”
She gazed at him a moment. As much as she loved him and wanted to be with him, much of what he was saying was weighing heavily on her. All of this was happening so quickly; what he was planning was a life-changing decision. Was she really so selfish that she would allow him to ruin his life, his reputation, for her? Was her happiness more important than his honor? She struggled to slow down and to think rationally, but it was difficult. She was far too swept up in him.
