The Court of Love (2 page)

Kat felt the first vestiges of panic set in. Her palms felt damp and she brushed them against her dress. She still wore the same clothes as before.  At least she would fit in.  She needed a plan that would rescue her friend from being burned alive as a witch.

First, she would have to reassure the man in front of her. “Of course not.” She raised a hand to the necklace she wore and wrapped her hand around the warm metal.

“Good. I would hate to see one such as you meet with the same fate. Now, what is your name?”

“Katerina Heart. My friends just call me Kat.”

He strode forward and took her hand. Kat felt a small charge course through them as their skin touched. He leaned down and brushed his lips over her knuckles. “Well met Lady Kat. I am Lord Michael Guthrie.”

“I have him! I brought the doctor!” A voice sounded from the doorway. Two men walked in, and Kat knew she was no longer in her own time. This confirmed it. The doctor walked forward carrying a satchel which he set on the little table beside the settee.

Kat quickly rose and immediately swayed in place. Her hand reached out and met with solid muscle as Michael caught her. She let her arms go around his waist to support her. “Please.” She looked up into his eyes. “No doctors. I’ll be fine.”

Humor lit Michael’s eyes. “Why don’t I believe you?” He started to seat her back onto the settee.

She gripped his strong arms in her hands and felt his muscles bunch under her palms. “Please.”

Michael and the doctor exchanged a glance. “He will not do anything unless you tell him it is okay. Will that be all right?”

She didn’t want this doctor with his leeches and medieval practices to come anywhere near her, but she didn’t see where she had much of a choice. “Fine.” She sat back down, reluctantly letting go of Michael.

The doctor stepped closer. “Young lady, I understand you had a bit of a fall.”

“You could say that…” Right into another time.

“Let’s see your head.” He began to prod around the back of her scalp. Kat winced when his fingers came into contact with the goose-egg she’d found earlier. “Hmmm, that is a rather nasty bump.”

“Will she be all right?” Michael asked.

“She’ll be fine in a few days. Until then, I recommend rest.” He stepped away from her and Kat breathed a sigh of relief. No leeches, yay!

“Thank you Doctor. We appreciate your time.”

“Anything for a family friend.” The doctor left the room and they were once again alone together.

“Now, can I see you home?”

“Ummm…” Kat stumbled over her words. She didn’t know what to say. He didn’t know her, and she couldn’t very well tell him she was from the future. “I’m here for the feast?” She was taking a giant stab in the dark that they would be holding a Valentine’s Day feast.

His smile grew. “Of course you are. And we wouldn’t want you to miss out.”

“No.” She grinned back. She would need to get to the basement to find her friend and return to the future. 

“The festivities are well underway. However, the doctor ordered rest. Would you like to come and watch the tournaments?”

“I think I’ll just rest for a while, and then come out. Is that okay?” She gave him a beseeching smile.

He looked slightly disappointed that she had turned down his offer to watch him fight, “That will be fine. You can use this room. I will be on the tournament field. Should you need anything you have only to send one of my pages and I will get it for you.”

“Thank you.”

He turned and left the room. Kat tried not to feel sorry that he had gone. There was a connection between them that she would have liked to explore further, but now was not the time. If Magdalena was indeed trapped in the dungeon, then it would be up to Kat to rescue her. Kat’s head throbbed as she stood and walked to the doorway. It had been several minutes and she made sure Michael had plenty of time to leave before she made her move. The door squeaked as she opened the heavy wood, and a young man stepped in front of the opening as she moved to leave.

“I am here to serve you Lady Katerina. What might I do for you?”

Kat was a modern girl, and she tried not to snicker as all sorts of naughty things ran through her head; the man was perfectly serious as he asked the question and she needed to get rid of him. “Actually, I am quite hungry. Could you please retrieve me some bread and cheese. Perhaps some wine as well.”

“At once, my Lady.” He scurried off, in what she could only presume was the direction of the kitchen.

Now, to find the stairs.

Chapter Three

Kat made her way down the hall. Stone walls hung with tapestries caught her attention as she moved past. She briefly wondered where they were. Perhaps somewhere in England? The men definitely had a British accent. Sexy.

Sounds of laughter and gaiety came down the hall toward her. A snickering couple stepped into the hall, and Kat stood frozen like a deer in headlights. They must have thought they were alone. The woman’s bodice had been worked loose and the man had his fingers down the front of her gown.  His other hand fished underneath the woman’s skirts. He popped out her breast and bent to take a nipple into his mouth as the woman worked the door handle to the room behind them. The door flung open and they fell into the room in a gaggle of laughter.

Kat stood for a moment to pull herself together. Her breasts ached to be touched, and her womb clenched. Now was not the time. Magdalena needed her. Kat clenched her fist around the heart pendant her friend had gifted her with and continued down the hall with determined steps. 

The ball was in full swing. Night had fallen, and candles were lit around the hall. Shadows danced as the flames licked upwards, and groups of people took advantage of the night. Evidently the couple she’d seen before were not the only ones getting it on. Kat had always been a passionate person and she hadn’t had sex in a while; she was not unaffected.

She shook her head to focus. And they thought Magdalena was the heretic.  Kat’s eyes searched the room. The stairs she needed to get to the basement were located across the hall near another entrance. If she could make it, then she would find a way to save her friend. Dancers pranced around the middle of the room sharing flirtatious glances with each other. Kat barely missed being sideswiped by the skirts of a lady spinning in a circle.

She bumped into another gentleman who grasped her by the arms. She could smell the sweet mead on his breath.

“Well, what do we have here?” He asked boisterously. His doublet was halfway undone and his tunic un-tucked.

“Hello Sir.” Kat obediently did a quick bob of her head in acknowledgement glad that she was schooled in etiquette.  She tried to move out of his reach, but he stopped her.

“Not so fast my lovely. I have a gift for you.” He held out his meaty palm with a cloven orange in it. He waited for her to take it.

She knew this game. The game of the cloven fruit. She took the orange from him and pulled a clove from the skin with her fingers. She didn’t want to kiss the man, so instead she leaned forward and pecked him on the cheek before he had a chance to do more. If she had taken out the clove with her teeth, it was tantamount to an invitation. He wasn’t her type. A flash of Michael’s face popped in her mind and Kat sighed. She smiled up at him innocently. “I thank you, Sir.”

He laughed and patted her on the head as though she were just a child. “You’d best run along my lamb, before someone gobbles you up.”

Kat hurried away from him and she heard his hearty laughter follow her. Gobble her up indeed, she could hold her own with the best of them, but she didn’t have time.
No more distractions
, she told herself as she hurried across the hall. She was almost there.

Chapter Four

The yawning chasm of the stairwell opened before her. Torches were lit along one side. Kat glanced around. No one paid her any heed. They were too far into their cups, and didn’t care what a lone woman did. Kat steeled herself as she started down the stairs. There was bound to be a guard.  She tested the stretch of her gown across her shoulders as she continued on her search. If she got into a scuffle the dress would be toast. As it was, she could barely move her arms. The fabric cut stopped her before they even lifted to her shoulders.  Kat sighed. She’d spent hours making the damn thing.

Oh well. Her foot reached the bottom step, and Kat stopped abruptly. Sure enough, a guard stood at watch near the cells. A large keychain hung from his belt.  He turned and noticed her for the first time.

“What are you doing down here?” He took a belligerent stance and placed both his hands on his hips, one palm on the sword at his side.

Kat flexed her hands and when the prickly spines of the cloves bit into her skin she remembered she still had the cloven orange. She gave a little pout and fluttered her eyelashes at him. “I felt bad that you were missing the party. So,” she held out the fruit, “I thought I’d bring the party to you.” Kat leaned forward so the man would get a nice glimpse of her ample cleavage. She loved corsets for just that reason.

The guard looked from the fruit to Kat and a lecherous smile crossed his features. He reached out and lifted the orange from her hand. As he took it, he pulled Kat closer to him, by her wrist. She smiled at him not wanting to reveal her plans.

“You’re thoughtful lass.”

She grinned at him and moved closer. “You have no idea.”

The guard pressed her against him, and moved in for a kiss. She moved quickly, dodged his lips, and reached for the sword at his side. It cleared the sheath in seconds, and Kat stepped back into a fighting stance. She was suddenly grateful for all the fighter practices she’d attended in Seattle where she had learned to handle a sword and fight.

The guard froze. “What are you doing?”

“Rescuing a friend.  Now, I need you to open Magdalena’s cell.” She pressed the sword point to his neck.

He reached out to grab the sword. Kat took a step back and swung with all her might. At the last second, she turned the blade so the flat side hit the guard against the temple. She felt her dress rip as he fell beneath the blow, unconscious. He hit the floor hard with a thud. Kat rushed forward and fumbled with the keychain that hung from his belt. The man wouldn’t be out long.

“Magdalena?” She whispered into the empty length of passageway. “Magda?”

“Here. I’m here.” A tiny hand waved at Kat from the third cell down.

Kat almost tripped again on her heavy skirts as she made her way to the cell. The keys were huge, and she tried each one until she heard the clunk of the door unlocking.  Kat yanked on the heavy door and pulled it open. Magdalena stood in the center of the room, wringing her hands. As soon as she saw Kat, she rushed forward.

“What are you doing here?”

“I’m here to rescue you, of course. Silly woman, did you think I’d let you burn?” She hugged her friend to her chest, and then stepped back. “We have to go.”

Magdalena nodded in understanding, and moved out into the hallway. Together, they grasped the guard by the arms and moved him into the cell. Kat locked the door behind them. They couldn’t have anyone finding out too soon that she had helped Magdalena escape.  Once the cell door was shut, Kat leaned against the wall for a second to catch her breath. 

“How did this happen Magda? How did I get here?”

Magda stared at her then reached out to touch the heart-shaped pendant hanging around Kat’s neck. “Who gave this to you?”

“You did.”

Magdalena shook her head. “No dear, that wasn’t me.” The look she gave Kat was full of benevolence. Then understanding dawned in her gaze. “I see.”

“See what?” Kat was totally confused. “You gave this to me earlier today, only not today.”

“Not here. We will talk, but not here. We must go. It is no longer safe for you now that you have helped me.”

“Fine. But as soon as we reach a safe place, you will tell me what is going on.”

Magdalena nodded again and took off in the opposite direction from the stairs.

“Where are you going?”

“There’s another entrance that leads directly outside. We will take that one. There is less chance of being discovered before we make our escape.”

Together, they moved rapidly down the corridor. Flickers of light from the torches, their only lighting source, cast the hallway into eerie shadows. Kat tried not to jump as they moved. She could hear squeaks and creaking like the building was going to eat them alive. The floor gave way to a large stairwell, and they climbed to the top. There was no door, only a large archway, and the sound of clashing swords lit the night sky as people cheered. The tournament Michael wanted her to attend was still in full swing. Kat stifled a giggle at the pun, and followed Magdalena who seemed to know just where they were going.

A large, long building lay to their left. As they approached, Kat smelled the manure and knew this must be the stables.  Kat could see her breath come out in puffs before her in the cold. She had no cloak and was thankful that the dress she wore was made of thick velvet and brocade. It was no wonder the people in Tudor times wore such heavy clothing. She’d heard it was a mini ice age, but she didn’t fully understand what that meant until now.

They hurried into the stables and Magdalena dipped into a room and came out with two bridles. Kat took one from her.

“We don’t have time to saddle the horses, can you ride?”

Kat grinned. It had been a while, but she’d taken horseback riding lessons for years. “Yeah, I can ride.” She took one of the bridles.

“Good. Pick your mount and we will go.”

Magdalena moved to one of the stalls. Kat glanced around. Several stalls down, she heard a horse pawing the ground. She approached the stall and saw the large black Percheron standing there, pawing the ground impatiently as though he’d much rather be out running. Puffs of vapor filled the air from his velvety muzzle, and Kat was instantly in love. She moved into the stall.

“You want out of here more than I do I think.” She held out her hand palm up and the large horse moved forward its powerful muscles bunching and glistening in the torchlight. It sniffed at her hand and then nuzzled her shoulder.  Kat couldn’t help the laughter that escaped from her lips. “Okay, let’s get out of here.” She placed the bridle on the huge beast and led it from the stall.

Magdalena smiled at her when she saw the mount Kat had chosen. “Interesting.”

Kat patted the horse’s neck and walked it over to the stepping stool placed in the middle of the floor. She climbed up and launched herself onto the horse in one leap. The stallion didn’t move, and patiently waited for her to get settled. Once positioned, Kat grasped the reins and a handful of mane and turned the horse towards the entrance of the stables where Magdalena waited on her own horse, a smaller dapple-gray.