Page 43 of Dancing On Air

Eleanor addressed Raven next. “And you, Raven, did everything in your power not to have to marry a noble that you didn’t know or love.”

“True,” answered Raven. “But I found Jonathon, and a true love that I would have never known being naught but the prize of a competition.”

“Jonathon Armstrong,” said Eleanor. “A blacksmith. Another man from below the salt whom noblewomen are not allowed to marry.”

“Jonathon is an armorer, not a blacksmith. Not really,” said Raven, looking bothered by what Eleanor said. “Besides, he’s a master armorer now, and is paid well and respected highly by the nobles.”

“Dustin is the castle scribe and respected by the nobles as well,” Lark was sure to get in.

“I know,” said Eleanor with a deep sigh. “I didn’t mean to sound snobby, I’m sorry. I like Dustin and Jonathon very much, and I am happy for both of you.”

“Well, we like Connor, too,” said Raven softly.

“I am in love with Connor,” said Eleanor, looking down and wringing her hands together. “I’m not ready to give up hope that we can still be married someday. I know he’s no longer a noble, but he used to be one. And you two married men who were never nobles until they gained their courtesy titles by marrying the two of you.”

“So, ye think yer father as well as Uncle Corbett will allow ye to marry a hangman?” asked Lark.

Raven blew air from her mouth. “My father might have accepted an armorer and scribe into the family, but I assure you, he’ll never welcome an executioner with open arms. It is unthinkable.”

“I agree,” said Lark. “And yer father, Eleanor, being Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports cannot allow it or the king would have his head.”

“Then we need to figure out a way to change all this.” Eleanor refused to let her cousins talk her out of it. She still wanted Connor, and she had to find a way to make that happen.

“Change what?” asked Raven. “Eleanor, I’m sorry, but you need to accept the fact that when Connor’s father took the position of hangman to save his life, he also decided the future of his children. Especially Connor.”

“That’s true,” agreed Lark. “They realized what they were gettin’ into before they agreed to it. It was their choice, and now they must live by it.”

“It was his father’s choice, not his.” Eleanor fought for Connor.

“Nay, Eleanor.” Raven shook her head. “I’m sorry, but we all know it was Connor who made the decision for his father that day.”

“So, you’re saying he purposely chose to give me up—to lose his wealth, his title, and his chance of being a knight and married to me? That it is was what he wanted?” She could feel her heart about beating out of her chest. She didn’t want to believe this. It just couldn’t be true.

“Aye, it was his decision,” said Lark. “I’m sorry, Eleanor, but it’s too late for ye and Connor to ever get back together.”

“Nay!” shouted Eleanor, her hands balling up into fists. “I won’t accept that. I don’t believe it.”

“Eleanor, please.” Raven walked over and put her arm around Eleanor’s shoulders. “There is nothing we can do. You just have to accept it.”

Eleanor couldn’t help it, and started crying. Lark walked over to hug her and comfort her.

“Ye ken we would go to the ends of the earth to help ye if we could,” said Lark. “There is just no way out of this one.”

“But I love him,” said Eleanor, sniffling. “I will only love him, and never another man. Connor doesn’t deserve this. It just isn’t right.”

The church bells started ringing, being heard clearly even with the shutter closed.

“Let’s go pray for him, then,” suggested Raven.

“I think that is a good idea.” Lark walked over and opened the door. “If we canna help him, then mayhap God can.”

“I’ll pray for his soul, but I’m not sure Connor even believes there is a God anymore,” said Eleanor, leaving the room with her cousins, not sure she believed either.

* * *

The church bells rang loudly,filling Connor’s head with silly thoughts like weddings. Marrying Eleanor to be exact. He jumped off the wagon, picking up a shovel from the back, feeling the eyes of every nun and monk burning into him, pitying him for the man he had become.

“Ugh, it stinks back here,” said Leoric, making a face. Usually Connor and his father cleaned out the garderobes while Leoric hunted and tended to the other children. With his father being too ill to help him, Leoric had come in his place.