The PROMISE

THE STORY SO FAR: Seventeen-year-old Lady Elinor has been captivated by a mystery knight, Sir Henry Latimer. Scullery maid Joan and kitchen boy Tom smuggle her out of the manor to meet Sir Henry in secret, but her uncle, Sir Gerald, arrives unexpectedly with his men. Sir Henry has to flee as Sir Gerald is determined Elinor will marry Sir Richard Tremaine, to whom he owes money. Wrongly believing that Joan and Tom have betrayed her, Elinor sacks them both. Sir Gerald discovers that Sir Henry has the de Bohun family seal, entrusted to him by Elinor’s dying father Sir John, to give to Elinor’s mother Lady Margaret. Sir Gerald wants Sir Henry dead and sends his men to kill him. If he can get his hands on the seal, he can secure his position as head of the household, and Elinor will have to marry the man of his choice. But Elinor promised her father she would only wed a man she truly loved…

Joan trudged along the forest path. The injustice of her dismissal still stung – neither she nor Tom had breathed a word! There had been harsh words enough at home, though. Now she was just another mouth to feed, so she’d got up at first light to find mushrooms to add to the family’s meagre meals. Even worse, she had cost her friend Tom his job. She’d talked him into helping, and he’d have had