Enemy of My Enemy

Thesentry cried out word of travelers, approaching the Castle. A short whilelater, a serf entered with word that Lord Reginald of Talishurst, and his wife,were returning home from London. They were requestingaccommodation, for the night. Although, Lady A

Afterdi

"Aye,"A

A

Theolder woman chattered on, saying, "My eldest son is two and three. I wishhe would settle down, and give me some grandchildren. Unfortunately, his onlyinterest in women, seems to lean toward tarts. I haveeven tried, to get his sire to arrange a betrothal contract. But he will notagree to that."

Thatcomment, earned Isabel another pointed look from her mother. Once again, themessage was clear. Robert had said pretty much the same thing, about Brant. Ithad been eight months, since he had been released from her dungeon. Isabelwondered how many lewd tarts he had found, in that time. She realized theconversation was really a

Brantwas in the meadow, beyond the road, that passed his Castle, with Ha

Assoon as the Lord and Lady descended from the coach, Brant asked, “How were yourtravels?”

Reginaldresponded, “They were quite fruitful.”

Brantushered them up the stairs. Reginald waited until they were seated at thetable, in the hall, before he continued.

“Wedid just as pla

Hewas interrupted by a serf who brought some refreshments. When the serfdeparted, Muriel joined the conversation.

“Butthat is not all we discovered. Esme is there, too,” she reported.

Brant,who had almost given up hope, of ever knowing what had happened to his sister,asked sharply, “Are you sure?”

“Aye”both responded, nodding in the affirmative.

Then,Reginald assured him, “She seemed to be doing well enough, though she seemed alittle sad.”

Brantrealized that while this was very good news, it also complicated the situation.As her husband, he had every right to go there, and demand they send Isabel andthe child, out to him. Lady A

Then,Brant asked the most pressing question, “Did you see the babe?”

“Aye”Muriel said. “He appears to be very healthy, and well cared for. But I thinkthere was quite a bit of tension, between Isabel and A

Brantfound himself once again, wondering exactly what had happened, while he wasbeing held prisoner, by Richard, and Isabel. Had he been drugged, so that hedid not remember, all that happened there? Then Lillian’s gossip jumped intohis mind. ‘No honorable knight would maul a Lady’ and Isabel had replied‘therein lies the rub’. He never looked at Isabel, but she was about the sameheight, as the serf Alisa. He realized that several times, the girl came inwhen he was in bed, in the dark. Had Isabel switched places with the serf, totrick him into siring the child? Was that the whole point, in providing thegirl to him? That was a definite possibility. He did not know what to think,but Brant was sure, he was going to get Isabel back, from her mother. Then, hewould find out the truth.

Brantspent the rest of the day with his aunt and uncle, catching up on family, andreminiscing about the past. As the couple were leavingthe next day, Brant thanked them again, for their carefully arrangedaccommodation, at A

Itwas a beautiful day in the middle of May, and Esme was practicing impatience.Isabel allowed Esme to ride her horse Matilda, thathad arrived a few days after Isabel, with a stable hand named Robbie. Isabelseemed to think that situation, some big jest that she would not explain to theyounger girl. However, to go riding, Esme had to have a couple of the knightsfrom the Castle go with, for safety sake. They tended to spend the eveningsdrinking, or chasing the castle tarts, and waking quite late in the morn.

Finally,her escorts were ready to go, and they set out in the direction of the village.Lately, Esme was finding that riding out of the Castle gates, held a sense ofrelief. Lady A

Whenthey reached the village, her escorts suggested that they turn back toward theCastle, as they always suggested. Escorting the Ladies to go riding, itappeared, was not on their list of likeable duties. However, Esme was in thehabit of riding on. The short distance from the Castle to the village, was notmuch of a diversion. Most of her days here, were spent on her sewing. A