Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 98745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
“To see what you’re up to, who you may be meeting, what you may be planning, and taking his time in deciding your fate,” Noble said.
Wendell paled.
Mother Abbess entered the Great Hall and Wendell hurried to his feet and ran to her, bombarding her with questions about Adele.
“Wendell!” Noble called out firmly.
He turned, his eyes turning wide once again, realizing his actions had been improper. He lowered his head as he approached Noble.
Mother Abbess walked alongside him and spoke in favor of the young man. “He cares deeply for Adele, and I believe it would be wise for him to go and sit with her, hold her hand, let her know he is there, and encourage her to survive.”
Wendell kept silent and let his eyes do his pleading.
Mother Abbess continued to speak. “Novice Angelica is tending to Adele. She is needed there more than with Finley, who insists he is fine and needs no fuss made over him. Though it would be wise of him to rest for at least another day or two before resuming his duties.”
“I will see that he does and, Wendell,” Noble said, turning his attention on the young man and seeing hope gleam in his tear-filled eyes. “You may go sit with Adele. I will send word to Lord Slayer explaining what happened and request that you be allowed to remain here until the issue can be resolved.”
“Bless you, sir, bless you,” Wendell said, bobbing his head and looking more hopeful.
Wendell rushed from the room as soon as Mother Abbess explained where he could find her.
“Sit and I will have a brew fetched for you,” Noble offered.
“I cannot stay. My knowledge of wounds far surpasses any of the nuns here with me. There is much that needs doing if Adele has any chance to survive. I wanted to make you aware of what I know so far.” Mother Abbess paused briefly before she continued. “Adele has not regained consciousness yet, which is far better for her since she would be in tremendous pain if she woke. There is only one wound and, thankfully, it does not go as deep as I feared, and I do believe nothing vital was damaged inside her but only time will confirm that.”
“So, she was stabbed only once?” Leora asked.
“Aye, only one wound,” Mother Abbess said.
“No wounds elsewhere?” Leora asked.
“I looked but there is only one. Now if that is all I really must return to Adele,” Mother Abbess said.
“Keep me apprized,” Noble said, and the nun took her leave, and he joined his wife to sit at the table. “I can almost see your thoughts churning.”
“Yours must be as well,” Leora said, eager to share her thoughts with him. “Adele had no wounds on her arms or hands meaning she didn’t try to defend herself, which could also mean that her attacker could have surprised her. But what had taken her to the barn in the first place when she was so eager to get to her secret meeting spot in hopes of seeing Wendell?”
“Or Chief’s barks and sudden entrance into the bern could have stopped the attacker from finishing what he started,” Noble suggested.
“Or he realized he had the wrong person,” Leora scrunched her brow. “But if that was so, and I was the one he intended to find, why not attack me when I entered?”
“Fear the pup’s barks had drawn attention or—” Noble turned silent.
“Or what?” Leora asked, impatient to hear what sudden thought had turned him silent.
Noble didn’t respond right away, his mind still working on a possibility.
“You have me breathless with anticipation,” Leora said, growing more impatient.
Noble lowered his face near hers to whisper, “I would prefer to have you breathless another way.”
She gave his lips a faint kiss. “That can be arranged later… if you no longer keep me in suspense.”
“You make my thoughts drift, wife,” Noble complained and shook his head to clear it. “With how many sentinels I have stationed around, it is unlikely the attacker got past them, which means the attacker is here among us. And that he did not attack you when you entered could mean only one thing—”
“He would be missed if gone too long from his chore,” Leora finished. “Let’s go find out who may have been missing.”
Noble grabbed his wife’s arm when she went to stand. “I will not chance your safety on this.”
Leora tapped his chest. “Need I remind you that I am a lot safer being with you than without you.”
Bloody hell, why did she always have to make sense? How many times had he thought that now? When was he going to accept that his wife not only had a quick mind but a sensible one?
She tapped his chest again. “I can tell by your silence that you realize the wisdom of my words.”