Free Treasure So Rare (Women of Strength Time Travel Trilogy) by Grace Brannigan Page B

you read? Do you
know the year?"
    Edward looked perplexed, then a bit wary. "Her mind is
not foggy, although she likes to speak in riddles, my lord Camdork. It is 1228
in the reign of Queen Eleanor of Brittany."
    Stranger and stranger. Time traveling. He knew of it but how
was it so? It was what he had surmised, but to have it confirmed...
    "Queen Eleanor of Brittany? She was never queen,"
he said, thinking back to the bits of British history he knew. "She was
imprisoned most of her adult life."
    Edwards eyes grew wide. "B-but my lord --"
    "What of Henry the Third?"
    Edward frowned. "He is imprisoned, my lord, at Bristol
Castle."
    Erik nodded, not really understanding any of it. "So events
are reversed and twisted."
    The sooner he discovered what Camdork was really about, he
could find Jock and depart this unwelcome and cold heap of stone. He had to
convince Iliana to come with him. He had to make her remember him. Erik knew
there was always a way, so he didn't ponder anything other than eventually
returning to his own time. He thought of the child, surely less than a year
old. Whose child?
    The young maid he had seen in Iliana's room earlier was
nearly halfway down the stairs, her arms laden with linens.
    Erik frowned, thinking he saw a shadow moved swiftly behind
her. The maid looked behind her and up the steep stairs and she began to lose
her balance. Teetering precariously on the wooden steps, she looked about to
fall backwards. With a screech, her arms flew upwards and neatly folded linen
sailed in various directions as she attempted to keep herself from falling.
    Reacting quickly, Erik lunged up the steps. His fist
clenched material and he pulled her towards him. He heard the material of her
tunic tear in his hand. She did not plummet down the stairs, but flung herself
toward him as he heaved them toward the wall and away from the open stair. She
landed heavily against him, her face inches from his own, her breasts bare and
heaving upon his chest.
    Pushing wispy blond strands from her eyes, for she had lost
her cap, Agnes stared with wide eyes at him, then down at his arms which had
crushed her to him, examining their position with something of a bold grin, and
an invitation if he chose to acknowledge it as such.
    "Are you all right?" Erik asked.
    Agnes smiled at him shakily. "I swear I felt a hand on
my back, my lord. "'Twas my own fault for not paying closer attention to
where I put my feet." As if just realizing how her breasts were exposed to
his view, and that of young Edward's, she made an attempt to cover them with
her hands.
    "Agnes! What --"
    Iliana, no doubt having heard Agnes' screech, stood at the
bottom of the stairs.
    Erik could imagine what went through her mind. For all
intents and purposes it appeared he'd waylaid her maid, torn her tunic in his
eagerness, the remnants of which were still between his fingers and her bare
breasts next to his hands.
    "Agnes," Iliana said in a cool voice, "please
cover yourself and retrieve the linens."
    "Mistress --" began Edward, his voice imploring.
    "Edward, I see you have found my Lord Camdork, as I
asked you to do.  Now I believe you are needed to help with the serving of the
repast. Cook has begun to carry in trenchers."
    Edward ducked his head and scooted down the hallway.
    Agnes scrabbled around, trying to reach the once-clean linen
she'd been carrying. She grabbed several, holding them against her breasts as
she rose, then accepted the hand Erik offered, her eyes offering him silent
apology.
    "Agnes!"
    "I am sorry mistress, but the laundress will need to
clean this linen once more. Oh, 'twas my fault," Agnes babbled, "in
truth I was not looking --"
    Iliana advanced down the stairs. "Agnes, leave
us," she said patiently.
    The maid fled.
    Iliana looked him as he remained unmoving on the stairs.
    "Perhaps you think to enjoy all the young women in this
castle," she bit out furiously, "but I will not have it. You will
respect my wishes not to be made a fool of and