Page 35 of Christmas Secrets

“God’s eyes, nay!” Holly quickly shut and locked the shutter and paced back and forth.

“Is he going to punish us for running away?” asked Noel with sad eyes. “I don’t want to go back to Kestwick. I want to stay here with you and Percival. Holly, don’t let them take us back.”

“Hush, Noel. I am trying to think.” She continued to pace, fingering the heart brooch on her bodice. Then, almost as if she could hear the voice of her dead grandmother, she heard... or mayhap thought... that they needed to get out of the cottage and hide somewhere until Lord Neville left.

“Holly, what are we going to do?” asked Noel.

“Fast, put on your shoes,” she told him, helping the little boy. They didn’t have cloaks or anything to wear to keep them from the cold since they’d left them at Rothbury Castle. She could take a blanket but it was bright colors and would be too easy to spot. “We are going to hide outside until Lord Neville and his men leave. But I need you to remain really quiet, Noel. No matter what happens, you have to promise to stay silent.”

Noel started to cry. “I want Mother.”

“Please, Noel. You need to cooperate. Now, let’s sneak out a back window so they won’t see us.”

“All right,” agreed the little boy. “But why isn’t Percival here to help us?”

Holly wondered the same thing, feeling a little disappointed. The only thing she could think of was that Percival found out they were runaway serfs and wanted nothing to do with them ever again.

She took Noel out a back window softly closing the wooden shutter behind her. Her eyes were drawn to the standing wooden grave markers of Imanie and Mazelina. They would be able to get behind them easily and they were large enough to cover their presence. Or at least she hoped so.

She got Noel over to the graves, but realized that their tracks in the snow could be easily followed. Picking up a dead branch of a tree, she went back and used it to brush away their tracks and then hunkered down behind the grave markers with her brother.

“Shhh,” she told her brother, holding a finger to her lips. She could hear Lord Neville and his men. They were going through the house looking for them. Things crashed and broke inside, and then the door slammed open.

“They aren’t in the house so they must be out here,” announced Lord Neville. “Search the grounds and also the barn. They can’t have gone far. I want them found and returned to me. Do you all understand?”

“Yes, my lord,” answered his guards. She kept her head down, holding her brother, hearing the guards run past the grave and toward the barn.

Holly’s heart beat so loudly that she was sure Lord Neville could hear it. Then, just when she started thinking that mayhap they’d gotten away with this, Lord Neville reached behind the grave marker and pulled Noel to his feet.

“I’ve got them,” shouted Neville. “Over here.”

Noel kicked and screamed and tried to get away.

“Leave my brother alone!” Holly rushed out from her hiding place and grabbed Noel and pushed him behind her.

“Such a brave little serf.” Neville laughed in her face and grabbed her hair and twisted. She screamed out in pain and fell to her knees in the snow.

“Why are you wearing the gown of a noble?” asked Neville. “Hamilton must have given it to you. I knew they were lying. They’ll be punished for this too and will curse the day they decided to help you.”

“Nay! Don’t hurt Percival and let go of my sister!” Noel rushed at him and when he did, Neville grabbed him with his other hand.

“Guards! Get over here. Where the hell are you?” shouted Neville.

“They’re a little tied up right now,” came a voice that Holly knew only too well. Still cringing in pain, she glanced up to see Percival throwing one of the guards into the snow next to two others. They had their legs and arms tied with rope.

“What?” Lord Neville turned in surprise. “How did you do that by yourself?”

“He wasn’t alone,” came another voice, and Bedivere walked up next to his brother. Holly saw Branton, the squire, holding his sword over the three guards lying in the snow.

“Percival!” Holly cried, tears of joy in her eyes.

“Let them go, Neville,” warned Percival.

“Nay. These are my serfs. You have no right to tell me what to do with them. I’ll have your head for this.”

There was commotion at the garden gate and a large group of people entered. Holly saw Lady Maira atop a horse with her sword drawn. Lady Morag and Lady Willow were on horses right behind her. And with them were their fathers, Lords Reed, Rowen, and Rook, the Legendary Bastards of the Crown.

“God’s eyes, not the Bastards,” spat Neville, letting go of Holly but not Noel. Holly ran over to stand with Percival who had his sword drawn.

“Now the boy,” commanded Percival. “Let him go as well.”

“Nay, I won’t do that,” said Neville. “This one, I have a personal interest in.”

“What the hell does that mean?” growled Bedivere, holding an ax and coming closer.

“This one,” said Neville, calling out loud enough for the Legendary Bastards to hear as well. “This one is more than just a serf to me. You see, Noel is also my son.”