Page 34 of Dancing On Air

Chapter6

“What were ye and Connor doin’ up on the hill yesterday?” Lark asked Eleanor the next morning. “Ye never told us.”

The two girls were staying in the guest house of the abbey that was used for travelers. Now, however, they were all in Eleanor’s room, since she had overslept and they came to wake her.

“We were picking apples,” said Eleanor with a yawn, having had a good night’s sleep. She’d been dreaming of kissing Connor and didn’t want to get up. “What do you think we were doing?”

Eleanor quickly dressed, knowing that Sister Barbara and the orphans would be waiting for her down in the courtyard. She had promised to take the girls to town today if the weather was nice. They were also going to visit Hamlin and Bertram again as well, since the girls said they wanted to play with their dog.

“We thought you were kissing,” said Raven. “Or at least that is what it looked like to me.”

“Oh!” Eleanor pulled the gown over her head and fixed her bodice. “We were,” she admitted. “Your guard didn’t see us, did he?”

“Nay. Lark kept him occupied looking at her since the guard seems to like her.”

“Remember, I’m married now, Raven. I dinna think Dustin would like to ken that ye told me to flirt with that man.”

“It was for a good purpose, and to help Eleanor,” said Raven. “We couldn’t have the guard seeing her being so careless, could we?”

“I wasn’t being careless.” Eleanor sat down on a stool to put on her shoes.

“Well, what would you call kissing an executioner out in plain view?” asked Raven. “Even I knew if I wanted to kiss a commoner to do it in private.”

“Me too!” said Lark.

“Well, Connor isn’t a commoner. Or at least he didn’t used to be.” Eleanor stood up and brushed the wrinkles out of her gown.

“Sit down and I’ll braid yer hair,” said Lark, pushing Eleanor back down on the stool as she started to braid.

“So, what shall we do today?” asked Raven.

“Anything that doesn’t consist of trying to talk me out of liking Connor,” mumbled Eleanor.

“I dinna ken how ye can like an executioner.”

“I was mean to him at the hanging, like everyone else. But then I realized that there is still hope,” said Eleanor. “Connor is not a bad man. He doesn’t deserve what has happened to him.”

“What does that mean?” Raven sat on the bed polishing her sword with a rag.

“It means, I thought he was the one doing the executions, when he was only assisting.”

“What is the difference?” Lark finished the braid and tied a ribbon around the end. “Either way, he is still executin’ people.”

“Not really. He is not directly responsible for killing innocent people.”

“I wouldn’t call the people being executed innocent,” said Raven.

“Mayhap not, but don’t you see? Connor doesn’t yet have that sin on his soul.”

“Sin on his soul?” asked Lark. “Och, Cousin, are ye sure ye are no’ really a nun after all?”

“I am far from being a nun, because even when I thought Connor had executed him, I couldn’t let him go. He has been in my heart so long that it doesn’t feel right to just abandon him. He needs me. I know that now.”

“I say we start our day and forget about all of this for now.” Raven put away the rag and got to her feet, pushing her sword into the scabbard hanging from her waist belt.

“I’m taking Lena and Margaret to visit the boys today, and we’re stopping in town. Do you two want to join me?”

“Why no’? I promised Florie I’d bring her a present when I return,” said Lark. “Mayhap we can find a shop that sells somethin’ little girls would like.”