Broken timeline - Part One

Chapter Eighteen - The Window

OMG ! OMG ! OMG ! Maggie went to retrieve a robe, to cover my very see through nightgown. I pushed the bag, under the wardrobe with my foot and curtsied.

'Why were they here ?'

"Lady Emma, forgive the intrusion, but I was told by one of my page boys that you were unwell" started to say Henry, with a hint of concern in his voice, while his friend looked at me, with an indecipherable look on his face.
"Sir Thomas was absolutely disturbed, and insisted on accompanying me, to make sure that you had been properly taken care of !"

'Taken care of... right' I thought.

In criminology, they say that criminals always return to the scene of the crime... And right now, I didn't know if he had been the person behind my poisoning for sure.
But one thing I'm certain about, was that he looked like a potential suspect.

"I do feel a little better your Majesty, thank you !" I said trying to stand up straight, "But you shouldn't have troubled yourself for me"

"On the contrary ! I felt at fault since the last person you were seen with last night was me... I pray you shall find it in your heart to forgive me" he said.

'What ? The king is apologizing ? To ME ?'

"No need to apologize Your Majesty, as you can see I am quite recovered !", I said. Henry looked pleased, he was about to say something, when he was interrupted by Sir Thomas.

"Yes, you did make quite a quick recovery... May I ask what did you take to be so quickly on your feet ?" he asked, looking weirdly concerned about my the fact that I felt a lot better, minus the stomach ache still happening.

Okay now, I really started to suspect that he had something to do with what had happened to me.

'Why would he want to know that ?'

I started panicking, clearly I wasn't going to tell them that I had my "special" medication from the 21st century.

"I... I took a tonic that one of his Majesty's physicians kindly gave me. », I explained, half stuttering.

'God, I should really start working on this anxiety.'

"Physician ? Which physician would that be ?" he continued asking.

"Erm... I didn't really see him Sir, for you know, I was in a very distressing condition. My maid here went to fetch him for me earlier this morning" I said, pointing at Maggie.

She was standing in the corner of the room, attentively observing me with very inquisitive eyes, while still holding the vial of medicine. She was naive but definitely not stupid and she could tell that I was obviously lying, since she didn't see me taking it at any moment.

Sir Thomas looked very surprised by what I had just said. He turned around and walked to her.
"Do you know this physician ?" he asked her. But she shook her head and said "No... I... just happened upon him in the castle corridors".
She looked scared and wouldn't look up to him.
He took the vial from her and started inspecting it very carefully, holding it up to the light.
He mumbled something through his breath, that was too unintelligible from where I was standing. He took the vial an slipped it in his pocket.

"Well, your Majesty, if you'll allow me, I believe that I shall take my leave. Lady Emma seems to be well, but should still rest for a bit before coming back to court."
He looked like he wanted to get out of the room as quickly as possible and tried to rush the King out as well.

"Yes Sir Thomas, I do agree. Lady Hastings" started saying Henry holding my right hand, "I do hope to see you again tomorrow. Myself and a few noblemen shall be participating in the jousting tournament and I should be very delighted if you attended it, fully recovered and chanting for me ". He bowed and put a light kiss on my hand.

"Erm... well yes your Majesty, I do look forward to it." I answered, flushing.

'Oh boy, this ain't good ! Shit. Shit. Shit. I am never going to be able to leave this place am I ?!'

After they left, Maggie came running towards me, totally panting.
"Oh My Lady, I've never seen the King behave this way towards anyone ! He must really have taken a fancy to you ! But My Lady you lied to Him ! You didn't drink the tonic !" She exclaimed, looking strangely more hysterical than usual.

'Okay Em, you gotta think quickly on this one'

"Yes I did, but it was for the sake of his Majesty. I couldn't offend him by saying that I had refused to take it, for I feared that it would cause him a lot of pain...." I said, trying to sound worried about Henry's feelings. I was hoping that she would believe this very weak explanation.
But Maggie was very responsive towards how people felt, and I was honestly, trying to take full advantage of that. Luckily, she didn't take it any further.

"Oh I see... You were protecting him ! How thoughtful of you", she continued, "Well you must listen to him and go back to bed this instant, if you want to be fully rested by tomorrow".

"Yes I will, thank you very much for caring for me Maggie, I shall never forget it. You should go to the kitchens and eat something, you look really tired too" I said, hoping that she would get the hint and leave me alone.

'I'm exhausted and need a nap ASAP!'

Maggie thanked me and left, leaving me alone again. She locked me in, to make sure that I was safe while she was gone.

I was sound asleep when I heard people talking right outside my room.
I slowly got up and walked towards the door. I could distinctively hear two men whispering. They sounded like they were heavily arguing.
After a few seconds, I recognised their voices and suddenly froze.

'Oh no ! It's them again ! They're coming in to finish what they've started ! Em we gotta go now !'

I tried to run but, I was petrified by fear and couldn't move my legs.

'Okay Em, breathe. The only way out of the bedroom is through the windows. Oh damn it, they should really start considering the use of emergency exits !'

I didn't know how high I was, but I was sure that jumping out would seriously injure me, if not kill me.

I considered facing them, only for a second, before clearly hearing one of them say : "You know what he said, there is no time left, she has to die tonight"

'Oh shit ! oh shit ! oh shit !'
My anxiety was taking over and my vision became blurry as I was trying to find a solution. I was shaking and could barely walk when I started making my way towards the window.
I slowly unlocked it when I heard them moving closer to the door and slowly turning the doorknob. I was trembling, but I tried to stay calm and bent over through the window.

'Girl, there is no way we're jumping out !' Shouted my mind
"I know !" I hissed, "But what do we do ? If I stay here, I'll get killed and if I jump, I might die !"

The second option sounded more appealing right now. I could hear them trying to insert the key through the key hole.

"How did they get the key ?!" I whispered

'Emma ! Now is not the time to think ! Do something !'

I know, but what should I do ?!