Free Beloved Pilgrim by Nan Hawthorne Page B

further into herself.
    The morning Reinhardt left she was forced to
attend him. She stood hollow-eyed and distracted, causing the man's
soldiers to elbow each other and laugh about how busy their lord
had kept the wench. Reinhardt himself was grim but with a subtle
air of self-satisfaction. He had made it clear to her that he
expected her to quicken with child and to make him wait no longer
for a son and heir. She nodded dumbly and watched him mount his
horse and ride out of the gates.

    Elisabeth never wanted to return to the hall,
but she forced herself to do so the next day.

    Over the ensuing days Elisabeth tried to go
through the motions of keeping house. She quickly discovered that
she had little to do. Reinhardt had informed her steward that if he
wanted to keep his position, he would now only answer to himself
and his representatives left behind to keep an eye on the girl and
her possessions.
    Elisabeth went looking for her only remaining
ally, fearing that he, Albrecht, had decamped along with everyone
else in spite of his protestations, a decision for which she could
not fault him. She turned to go into the hall only to find herself
face to face with Hans, one of Reinhardt's squires who was posted
to keep an eye on her for his master. The young man's obscene smile
startled her so she stepped backward. "Hans, remember yourself!"
she demanded hotly.
    The man stepped back and made a deep bow. "My
lady," he acknowledged in an ironic voice.
    "Just exactly why did he leave you here?"
    Hans stood up straight and inclined his head.
"I am to keep an eye on the feisty little bitch. Do not blame me!"
he snapped as she lifted a palm to slap him. "I am just answering
your question with the very words your husband used."
    She scowled and passed him, not seeing the
amused look he cast after her, a look that slid down her back to
her rump, appraising.

    "Oh good, you are here," Elisabeth whispered
as she stepped through the stable door and saw Albrecht with
Carlchen, his horse, currying his coat in a patch of sunlight.
Carlchen was smaller than a destrier, but still big and chestnut in
color.
    The squire did not smile as he looked up,
though he did make a short bow. "My lady, how come you here?"
    She went to the gate of the stall, pulled it
open and slipped in and alongside the horse. In the stall next to
them, Elias's horse Gauner, a huge gray, nickered and put his nose
over to be stroked. She went to him and put her hand on his
forehead. "Oh Gauner, you miss him as much as we do, don't
you?"
    Albrecht continued to move along Carlchen's
side with the currycomb. He waited for Elisabeth to turn back to
him.
    When she did at last, she seemed to be
thinking how to say something. Slowly she began, "Albrecht, do you
still mean to leave here?" Her eyes pleaded with him.
    He sighed. Continuing his task he replied,
"Yes, I must, with your leave of course. I know the Baron's type,
same as most such. If he has any idea about Elias and me, I will be
dead in no time."
    Elisabeth stared uncomprehending. "You really
think he would kill you?"
    "It happens all the time."
    "But you are from a noble family! They would
never permit it!" she protested, recalling Sister Magdalena's
words.
    Albrecht's look was sardonic. "Perhaps, but
at the stake or on a gallows is not the only way to be killed. A
word in his guards' ears and I would be as good as dead. The best I
can hope for is that he says nothing of his suspicions to any other
knights."
    Frowning, Elisabeth walked to the other side
of the horse, letting her hand trail along its flank soothingly.
"Could you go to the new crusade?"
    He stopped brushing the chestnut coat of his
horse and leaned back against the stall. "I may have to, my lady.
Knights don't usually take on other knights' squires. You usually
spend a long time with a family. Just as I did . . . here." His
voice broke and he looked away.
    She could not see him over the large horse's
back, but she heard the emotion in his voice. She too