Текст книги "Enemy of My Enemy"

Автор книги: Carm Nicosi

сообщить о нарушении

Текущая страница: 8 (всего у книги 14 страниц)

Chapter 12

Brant was in the hall with Nathaniel, Hannah, and Rosamund, when the sentry announced guests approaching the Castle. A short while later, Sir Richard, and a Lady whom Brant did not recognize, were escorted in. Richard quickly introduced Lady Ann, Isabel's mother, to her son-in-law. Brant acknowledged the still very attractive woman, of maybe thirty-five to forty years old.

Introductions made, Richard dove in to their purpose in coming there.

"Ann contacted me quite distraught, over your actions to retrieve Isabel, and the child. I agreed to lend my assistance in approaching you, about the situation," Richard said.

Ann then forged ahead with stating her case.

"Your marriage to my daughter was intended to be of a temporary nature, to protect her, and aid you, in defeating Avery. The goal was to finally end the ongoing fighting, between the two of you, which has been accomplished. I was quite shocked about the infant. Particularly, when I was informed about the ruse that lead to your siring the babe, which was certainly very unwise of Isabel. But it breaks my heart, to think of my only child's whole life, being determined by one impulsive act, when she was a mere child of one and seven years." At this, Brant raised an eyebrow, momentarily causing Lady Ann to pause. But, she continued on, "Particularly, when Rosamund told me, that you may have treated the poor girl rather roughly. I mean, Rosamund said that she had bruises on both wrists, and her jaw, and was quite shaken up."

Brant, having heard enough about the poor girl, responded in his defense, "I do not think I could have treated her that badly, Lady Ann, or she would not have been back for more, two days later. Or again, a couple of days after that."

"What?" Lady Ann asked in surprise, as she slowly sank onto the bench behind her. Turning to look at the serf, Ann continued, "Rosamund, you said 'that one night'. How many times did this occur?"

Avoiding eye contact with Lady Ann, Rosamund answered, "A whole lot."

"Why did you lead me to think, that it was only one night?" Ann asked.

"Isabel said I had best shut up, or she would assign me to do the washing, or something else bad," the serf replied, with her eyes focused on the floor.

When the serf offered nothing more, Ann ordered, "You will tell me the truth, Rosemond. All of it."

"I could not keep ‘er away from him. At first, she said she needed the babe. But even when she knew she were carrying ‘im, she kept going back. I told ‘er if she were worried about him, get ‘im some other girl. All she would agree to, was to ask him if ‘e wanted another girl, or the same one. She would not stay away from him. Even when ye got her from ‘is Castle, she left him a message with the gypsy pointing ‘im to ye," Rosamund admitted.

The maid fell silent, looking painfully uncomfortable, under the Lady's disapproving glare. Brant watched the exchange, amused both at the serf's discomfort, and the mother's shock.

"This happened many times?" Lady Ann asked, as she turned to confront Sir Richard. "Richard, where were you, when this was going on? How could you not know? I believe you assured me, you would do your best to see to Isabel's safety."

"I knew nothing about any of this," Richard responded, in his defense. "The only thing I was told about any of it, was on the one evening that I noticed Rosamund getting Isabel a glass of wine. She seemed very shaky. But, when I asked if something was wrong, Rosamund just replied that her husband, who 'would not bed the child,' had no such concern, with bedding a similar aged, servant girl."

"I was counting on you to keep her safe, as you promised you would. Now you tell me, you had no idea what was going on?" Lady Ann asked, in astonishment.

"You know, I knew nothing about any of this. When you told me Isabel was going to have a babe, I was as shocked as you were," Richard reminded Ann.

"My God! The child may have been safer with Avery. The Duke, Niles, told me he was quite surprised when he returned from Normandy, to discover Isabel wed to you, and Avery gone. He said they had some negotiations about a betrothal, before he left on his trip. Mayhap, he would have known how to treat a Lady," Ann finished, giving Brant a glare.

"Oh no, Me Lady, ye do not want that Duke anywhere near Isabel. ‘Im and Avery, that is what started all this, in the first place," Rosamond said.

She stopped, realizing she may have said something she should not have. All eyes turned toward the serf, who seemed determined to say no more.

At Rosamund's reluctance to say more, Lady Ann demanded, "How, did they start all of this?"

“I do not know exactly what they did, they made me leave. I just know she had marks on ‘er wrist, that looked like they were from a rope, and one of em hit her. Bloodied ‘er lip. I thought the Duke might of forced ‘imself on her, but she said he did not,” Rosamond responded, hesitantly. “But, I guess while she was with them, Avery was telling the Duke about how ‘e was going to grab His Lordship’s sister. That is how Isabel came up with the idea to grab him,” Rosamund paused briefly, as she indicated toward Brant with a thumb. “I told her it was a bad idea, since she knew nothing about ‘im. Better the devil ye know, I always say.”

Ann sensed that there was more to the story, when the serf stopped speaking.

Lady Ann prodded, “I want the whole story, Rosamund. Now.”

“Well, Isabel said when it came to Avery, and that disgusting little man, the enemy of ‘er enemy, were her friend. And if that Duke got near ‘er again, she was going to slit ‘is throat, or....” Rosamund stopped her tail again, blushing.

“Or,” Ann demanded.

“Or castrate ‘im,” Rosamund finished hesitantly. After a pause, she continued, “I think Isabel is better off with His Lordship. At least I have not heard ‘er saying anything about sticking ‘im, with her dagger. Well... not yet.”

“She has a dagger?” Lady Ann retort, in shock.

At this point, a young man who had just entered the hall, interrupted, “Me Lord, Lady Isabel is at the stables, asking to have ‘er horse saddled, to go riding. John says he can go with her, but to ask, do ye want someone else to go, too?”

“Saddle my horse, too. I will go with her. Make sure she does not leave without me,” Brant replied, glancing toward Nathaniel, who was sleeping in the cradle. Rising, he said, “I trust you can keep an eye on the babe.”

When the women nodded, he went to the stairs. A minute later, Brant came back down the stairs, on his way out of the hall.

Isabel was standing in front of the stables with John, one of the Castle Knights, wondering what was taking them so long, to saddle her horse. When she saw her horse being lead out along with her husband’s, she glanced around to see Brant approaching.

When he drew near, Brant asked with a smile, “Are you ready to go?”

“Mayhap, I have changed my mind, about going riding. If you are going along, that defeats part of the purpose of going,” Isabel answered.

“Your mother is here. I am sure she is anxious to talk to you,” Brant responded.

“That would be the other part, of the purpose in going riding,” Isabel said.

“Rosamond is filling her in, on how frequently you perpetrated your ‘Alisa’ ruse on me. Oh, and telling her about Avery, and your friend, the Duke,” Brant told her, with a grin. “If you would like to stay here, I am sure your mother probably has some questions for you.”

“Aye, I believe I am ready to go riding,” Isabel said. After Brant helped her mount Matilda, she continued, “Mayhap by the time I return, my mother will have gained some grasp on reality.”

“You will go slowly, and be careful, or I will bring you right back here, understood?” Brant asked.

She nodded in the affirmative, so he handed her the reigns. Once her escorts were mounted, they rode out of the open drawbridge, and followed the road, in the direction of the nearby village. For a while, Brant rode beside Isabel in silence, with the Knight John riding a short distance behind them, so they could talk privately, if they so desired.

Finally, Brant asked, “Exactly what is it about your mother’s arrival, that has sent you fleeing my Castle?”

Isabel replied, “I intended to come down to the hall when she arrived, but I heard her from the passageway. You were there for her, ‘innocent young girl, who acted very unwisely’ speech.”

When she stopped speaking, he said, “You forgot your disastrous marriage, that should not ruin your whole life, as it was only supposed to be temporary, to protect you from Avery.”

“I must have gone to change before that, because I missed that part. I took the back way out,” Isabel said softly, thinking she could not deny, her marriage was pretty much a disaster, right now. She continued, “Did she get into discussing options, to see to Nathaniel’s care? Or didn’t you get that far?”

"Options? For our son's care?" Brant asked.

"Oh, aye. The almost three weeks we were staying with my mother, the subject of our 'options', as to who should raise Nathaniel, came up several times. All my mother needs to do, is end our marriage, and get someone to raise our son, so I am not burdened with that error in judgment," Isabel said, with a hint of annoyance. "Then, she will have her virginal, debutant daughter back, to parade around London, or mayhap Normandy, to introduce to the gentry, and all the eligible bachelors."

Brant laughed, before replying, "So, your mother needs to get rid of your husband, and child, so she can help you find a husband, with whom you can have a family? She does not think that on that issue, you are already past the point of no return? Rather, stuck as it were."

Hearing him laugh about her situation, grated on Isabel's already frayed nerves. She was very distraught about her mother's attitude that they could just make her child go away, and all of Isabel's memories would go with him. No doubt, Isabel was married to a man who was largely a stranger to her. But she knew it would be devastating, were her first born child to be taken from her. And her husband was laughing. She spurred her mount into a gallop, to get away from Brant. He was such an insensitive clod.

"Isabel, slow down," Brant yelled, as her horse sped off.

She continued on at the same pace for a short while, until Brant caught up with her. He drew close beside her, and lifted her off her horse and on to his, with one large arm around her waist.

“Leave me alone, you clod,” Isabel yelled, struggling against his hold, as she tried to hit him.

“I told you to go slow, or you were going right back to the Castle. I will not let you do anything that might cause harm to yourself, or the babe,” Brant said angrily, as he brought his destry to a standstill.

Isabel stopped struggling, to whisper miserably, “You know?”

John had caught up with the couple, so Brant instructed him to go after Isabel’s horse. Through the tears that had sprung to her eyes, she could see that Matilda had slowed to a walk, several hundred feet down the road.

“Yes, I know. You are over a week late,” Brant said as he dismounted, then lifted her down. Leading her to a grassy area along the road, he continued, “What is it now, nine, ten days?”

Brant sat down on the ground, pulling her down beside him.

With a wicked grin, he continued, “It reminds me of that green gown, you wore for our wedding. Wearing green for your wedding, is supposed to be a prayer for fertility, is it not? It appears your prayers have been answered.”

“You are insufferable,” she cried, trying to push him away.

Brant pulled her close against him, and said, “Speaking of our wedding, I believe I have changed my mind. I believe I do, want to seal the bargain with a kiss.”

He grasped the back of her head, to hold her immobile, and gave her a long slow kiss, that drained all desire to resist him, from her body.

Isabel had no idea why he was talking about their wedding, but she was definitely wishing, he had stood by his declaration that ‘he would not bed the child’. What was intended as a short term arrangement, for the benefit of both of them, had become very complicated. There was no way to undo it, without someone, most likely her, being hurt quite badly. While these thoughts ran through her mind, she absently watched John return with her horse. Without speaking, Brant rose and helped her up. They walked silently to the horses, to return to the Castle. The ride back was equally quiet, with both the Lord, and the Lady, lost in their own private thoughts.

Upon arriving back at the Castle, they were informed that Robert had arrived for a visit, also. Isabel was in no mood to deal with her mother, so Brant walked her up the back stairs to the Solar, avoiding the hall. When he descended alone, a short while later, Nathaniel was crying so he instructed Rosamund to take the child up to Isabel, before greeting Robert.

“Good day, mon ami,” Robert said, jovially. “Richard demanded that I joined him here, to talk some sense in to you, he said. I already told him, that we did strongly encourage you to marry Isabel. So, if you want to keep her, you have every right.”

Then, Robert grinned broadly at Richard.

“Why has my daughter not come down? I want to see her,” Ann demanded, changing the subject.

“I am sure you will see her, later. Isabel is rather upset right now, with both of us, I think,” Brant said.

“What have I done?” Ann demanded.

“She is upset with you, because you seem to think if you can get rid of Nathaniel, and I, you will have your little girl back. I believe, she does not think that it is such an easy prospect, to just forget her child,” Brant responded.

Brushing Brant’s words aside, Ann asked, “Why is she upset with you?”

“While it is still early to be sure, Isabel is likely in a delicate condition, again, among other sins. You know, like not letting her gallop off on her horse at a dangerous pace, this afternoon,” Brant said.

“You are not wasting any time, are you?” Robert asked, laughing.

Lady Ann merely covered her face with both hands, and shook her head at this new, disastrous revelation.

Nora appeared, to ask if all the guests would be staying the night, putting an end to the conversation. Lady Ann asked to be shown to her chamber, to rest before the evening meal. After her departure, the men turned to lighter topics, over tankards of ale.

Isabel was conspicuously absent, from the Lord’s table, at the evening meal. However, with Esme seated between Lady Ann, and the always jovial Robert, the meal progressed amiably.

With the meal past, Brant went upstairs to retrieve Nathaniel, from his mother. Upon his return to the hall, he instructed Rosamund, who was near the hearth with Hannah, to escort Ann up to visit with Isabel. He reminded the serf, that he was now the one in the position to assign her an unpleasant task, before telling her to stay with them, to be sure they were not plotting against him.

When Ann was lead into the Solar, by Rosamund, she immediately went to hug her daughter.

She drew back, saying, “I have been so worried about you. When he came after you, Brant was so angry. He is quite a large man. I swear he could break you in half with his bare hands.”

“I am fine,” Isabel replied. “He has not hurt me, physically. Brant is just a rutting boar, with my feelings. He always seems to be making flippant remarks, about things that bother me. He did that again this afternoon, so I took off on Matilda, to get away from him. He chased me down, and accused me of trying to lose the babe.”

Ann was unsure if her daughter’s strained expression, was more to do with the babe she carried, or the cloddish sire.

“You know if you do not want the babe, there is the root mixture that will likely make you lose it, right? Would you tell me, if he was hurting you?” Ann asked.

Isabel closed her eyes, and took a deep breath, before saying, “Rosamund, please leave us. I need to speak with my mother alone.”

She stepped over to stand near the door, so that she could watch the serf exit the antechamber. After she made sure they were alone, she shut the inner chamber door, and turned to her mother.

In a low voice, Isabel said, “Since their sire was killed several years ago, Brant has been raising his sister, Esme. When Esme’s mother died, her half-sister Hannah had no one to see to her care, so Brant took responsibility for her as well.” After a short pause, and a pointed look to Ann, she continued, “When you arrived this morning, I overheard you talking about me being ‘an innocent young girl, who did something unwise’. You must stop, mother. Your being here making demands, just reinforces the perception, that I am another child he must be responsible for. If I am an adult, I do not need my mother to fight my battles, so you are a meddling mother-in-law. While you may mean well, you are not helping. What is more, you cannot help me deal with my husband. Can you see that?”

“I had not thought of that,” Ann said. “I am sorry, if I have undermined you. I was just so worried that he was hurting you, after Rosamund mentioned those bruises. Men can be quite brutal, you know.”

“I had never been with a man before. It hurt. I fought,” Isabel explained.

“I did not think of that,” Ann responded, blushing slightly. “Are you sure you can deal with him, all by yourself?”

The tone of the mother’s voice, reflected her doubt about the younger woman’s ability. Doubts that Isabel shared, but knew she was going to have to overcome.

“No, but I do not see, where I have any other choice,” Isabel replied.

As she finished speaking the door opened, and Brant entered carrying Nathaniel. Isabel smiled at the thought that Rosamund must have gone straight to him, when she made the serf leave.

“He seemed to be a little fussy. I thought he might be missing his mother,” Brant said, handing Isabel the babe. “Are you ladies coming downstairs, this evening?”

Isabel smiled, thinking the babe being fussy, sounded like a plausible lie to check on them. Obviously, her husband did not want her talking to her mother in private, and had sent Rosamond up as a spy.

With a wry grin, she responded to his question, “Aye, I believe I will go down to the hall, for a while. Mother?”

“I think I would enjoy a glass of wine, before bedtime,” Ann said, wondering what had suddenly amused her daughter. Isabel had seemed rather despondent, only moments earlier.

Isabel stopped rocking Nathaniel's cradle, as the babe appeared to be fast asleep. In the hall that evening, he had been all smiles and coos, for the amusement of his sire. Brant's enjoyment in playing with the child, made it difficult for Isabel to believe, he was as angry as he implied with her. Despite his frequent barbed reminders, of how she had deceived him into fathering the child, his actions told a different story. It was even harder to trust his anger, when the man claimed intentionally trying to sire a second child with her, was some type of revenge. Unless his ultimate intent was to separate her from both her children. That fear, was never far from Isabel's mind. Though, Brant did not seem to be that vengeful.

Isabel snuffed out all but one of the candles, and got into bed. As she relaxed under the covers, she realized for the first time in well over a year, she was not tense with fear of something. There was no doubt that her father had been her security, as a child. Her mother was frequently visiting, or even staying at one of the family properties, far from her father's stronghold, where Isabel grew up. Rosamund had raised Isabel, at least as much as her mother, Lady Ann had. When her sire died, and Avery claimed guardianship, fear had set in. The feeling had continued with Brant, and the babe. She was not sure what had happened today, but a good amount of the fear, Isabel had felt for a long time, was gone.

Sometime later that night, she felt gentle caresses roaming over her body. In a drowsy dreamlike state, somewhere between asleep, and waking, Isabel responded to her husband’s love making. Afterward, she quickly drifted back to sleep in his arms.

When Nathaniel's cries awoke her in the morning, Isabel was alone in the bed. However, she recalled Brant whispering, "just relax", and "everything will be alright", as he made love to her, during the night. Or she thought, she remembered that. Had she dreamed it? No, he had removed her gown during the night. As she rose to get the babe, Isabel wondered, if when Brant whispered everything will be alright, he was thinking about last night, or everything in general.