Will You Love Me in September

I was awakened by the clatter of horses' hoofs below. More arrivals, I guessed, and I listened a while to the voices of the grooms and the host. There was some sort of argument going on, and I imagined the trouble was of that nature which was not unusual on journeys like this. Someone had arrived too late to get a room. I and my party had taken up a fair amount of space, I knew. Well, it was only two rooms-the four grooms were in one, I was in another. However, the altercation seemed to go on so long that I slipped out of bed and looked out the window.

I half wished that I hadn't. One of the horsemen down there was Frenshaw, whom I still thought of as the man in the brown frieze coat. What was he doing at the inn?

I had a horrible fear that he was looking for me.

I waited at the window, keeping well in shadow. The host was wringing his hands.

His inn was full. It was most unusual. The Rising Sun was not a big inn, my lord must understand. He could accommodate three of the party, but unless they all wished to sleep in one room, some of them must go elsewhere. The Stag and Huntsmen was only two miles up the road. There were a lot of travelers about ... which was strange at this time of the year.

They seemed to come to terms. Frenshaw and one other would stay. The rest would go on to the Stag and Huntsmen.

I did not go back to bed. We must be off very early in the morning. Before dawn perhaps.

I guessed that Frenshaw would be on the lookout for us, and it was very possible that he was here looking for me.

I hastily dressed and went along to the room where the grooms were sleeping. I had made up my mind that we should leave without delay-steal away when the inn was quiet and settled for the night.

I tapped on their door. It took a little time to wake them, for they were all fast asleep. When I told them we were to leave at once they all looked dismayed.

"The horses need a night's rest, mistress," said Jim.

"I know, and so do we, but we must get away from this inn. We left in a hurry because my uncle feared for us. I know now that we have been traced here, and we must go at once and quietly. I settled with the landlord last night, so we can get away quickly. But we must be quiet.”

It took me a little while to impress on them the urgency of the situation, but at last I managed to do so. They had heard the rumors that there was trouble in the north, for they had talked with other stablemen at Hessenfield. At length they roused themselves and said they would be in the stables preparing the horses without delay.

I went back to my room, collected my things and was ready to leave.

It was a very starry night and about two in the morning when we rode out of the inn yard, and I was very relieved when the Rising Sun was several miles behind us. We had passed the Stag and Huntsmen and I had looked anxiously at the inn as we passed, wondering how many of Frenshaw's men were there.

With the coming of the dawn my spirits rose and I found I was enjoying the adventure.

We should make our way to York and in doing so would pass the little village of Langthorne.

Our jaunt at the fair there seemed a long way in the past. I had almost forgotten Lance Clavering, because, I supposed, so many impressions had been imposed over that one, but it would be exciting if, when we arrived in York, he was still there.

It was midday. I had meant to get food from the inn, but there had been no time for that. There was a little of the capon and bread left and also some ale, but it had lost its freshness and the meal was not as good as it had been on the previous day.

We had come to a wood. We were very tired and the horses were in need of a rest.

There was a stream nearby and Harry took them down to it. We stretched out under the trees and before long were fast asleep.

I awoke with a start. I was cramped and cold. The sun would be gone in another hour, I reckoned. It was a pale wintry sun, but at least it was there, and I was annoyed that we had slept so long. We should have found ourselves an inn for the night by now.

The four grooms were fast asleep and the horses were tethered to trees. I felt the need to stretch my legs before awakening the men, so I walked down to the stream.

My mouth felt parched and dry, and perhaps the water would be fresh and clear.

It was not far, I knew, because Harry had taken the horses there. I knew the direction.

There it was-clear, pure water.

I looked back. The grooms and horses were hidden by the trees. I must not be long, for they would be alarmed if they woke up and found me gone. Moreover we must be on our way if we were to find an inn before nightfall.

I was about to kneel by the stream when I heard a movement behind me. I turned. I was suddenly caught in a pair of strong arms. I gave a little scream and a hand was immediately clapped over my mouth. Something like a hood was slipped over my face so that I could not shout.

"Good work," said someone. "Now to the horses.”