Diamonds Fall by Rebecca Gibson Read Free Book Online

into following her up the ladder, knowing they would be safer curled together on her make shift bed in the roof. At least it would be more comfortable than the floor. Yet, he refused to be away from the horses. Sighing softly, with a physical and emotional exhaustion she had never felt, Annabel climbed back up into her new bedchamber. Lifting the ladder, so no unwanted visitors could reach her, she instantly fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.

Chapter Seven
     
     
     
    Annabel woke the next morning to a panicked voice somewhere below her. She rolled over groaning and reached down to pull her warm quilt over her shoulders. Her hand groped into thin air, scraping against the rough fabric of her medieval style dress. She groaned louder this time, as she felt the prickle of straw beneath her and remembered where she was. The panicked voice had reached a louder volume, screaming an abbreviated version of her name.
    "Anna!"
    Annabel poked her head over the rafters and called down. Patsy spun around sharply, letting out an audible sigh of relief.
    "Thank God, I thought you'd run away or summit. Well - not that you could, really - there's a lot o' eyes on you."
    Annabel lowered the ladder, swallowing her fear at that last statement. Not yet used to the narrow rungs, she slipped several times before she made it to the safety of the floor. Patsy immediately handed over another large bundle. The intoxicating smell of food made Annabel sink to her knees, ripping it open. What she found made her mouth water. There were two slices of fresh bread spread with a thick layer of dripping, a shiny red apple and a small leg of meat - a rabbit perhaps. Annabel literally jumped on the food, devouring it without so much as taking a breath. She moaned, in a way that would normally have filled her with revulsion, as the juice from the sweet apple dripped down her chin. Half way through she wrenched it away from herself, remembering Billy. She looked around - the cool, sticky juice of the apple had now dried on her face - but she couldn't find him. Registering her intentions, Patsy spoke.
    "It's okay, Billy's had some already. He's out today. This is all yours."
    That was all the invitation Annabel needed. She lunged on the second half with just as much vigour, polishing off every last crumb of bread and sucking on the rabbit bone until all the traces of meat had gone. When there was no more food to eat, Patsy passed over a jug full to the brim of water. Annabel guzzled this down, spilling some of it down her front in her haste.
    "Thank you," she said with tears of gratification clouding her eyes.
    "You really needed that, huh?" Patsy giggled, whilst understanding hung in her own intense gaze.
    Both girls laughed; giddy with the simple pleasure of the moment.
    "Look a' the rest." Patsy gestured to the bundle surrounding the smuggled food.
    Annabel took her time unfolding these stolen gifts, allowing herself some joy at the discovery of a thick moth eaten nightdress, a new apron and a pair of crudely carved wooden clogs. The best of the bundle though, was a thick patchwork quilt, badly hand sewn in a hurry from squares of sheep wool and cow hide. Tears slowly made tracks down Annabel's cheeks. She had received more presents in her lifetime than an army of people have room for, yet this one, so full of devotion and kindness, was her favourite by far. She smiled up at Patsy who was looking a little anxious.
    "Do you like it?" she whispered. Annabel nodded, unable to speak through the lump building in her throat.
    "Made it meself, been smugglin' pieces of fabric for days. I saw a blanket like this in the town when I was a littelen an' always wanted to make one. I did make one for Billy a few years back. It kills me that he's in `ere with nothing. I try to bring him things but it's right nasty when I get caught, we both get it pretty bad-"
    Annabel sat listening in silence, fingering the loose threads on her new blanket. Watching Annabel's elegant