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AsBrant rode toward his stronghold, more questions assailed his mind. He recalledthat only some of the men at the evening meal, weredrugged. Some of those who were not, he had thought were his men. However, hewas not able to think clearly enough to be sure, or determine which ones, ifany, might have been working against him. Then, there was the question of whatthe leather binder that had been placed in his belongings,was. As soon as he got home, he would have to examine that, to see if he couldgain any clues from it. Twas almost like he was lured to her Castle, but why?She had seduced him, after reminding him of her comments, about keeping him inher dungeon, as a plaything. Twas as if she set out to convince him, he did notwant to be with her. Then prove to him, she could make his body respond tophysical feelings, his mind was opposed to. Why?
Eversince the Lady Isabel had forced her way into his life, Brant had been leftwondering, if he knew what was going on. He kept discovering the answer to thatquestion, was no. On the other hand, whatever was going on, his wife was in it,right up to her neck.
Itwas late in the afternoon, when Brant arrived home. A
“Haveyou ever seen this?” Brant asked Lady A
“Aye.That was my husband’s. I saw it several times, but never paid much attention.He said it was something he was given to keep, when he was betrothed to LadyGwenivere, by her father,” A
“Yourhusband was married to another, before you?” Brant asked.
“Nay,”A
Brantanswered, “It was placed in my duffle, with this note to hide it someplacesafe. Is that Isabel’s handwriting?”
Heheld the note up for A
“Aye, that looks like her writing,” she answered.
Brantcontinued, “I believe she may have gotten herself into something dangerous. Shewas at the Castle when we arrived, but her people drugged my men, and I. Thismorning, her and Nathaniel were gone. Her serfsclaimed they had no idea where she was going, other than, that she was going tomeet with some Count.”
Brantpaused, looking at A
“Anyway,”he continued, “While I try to discover what is going on, please do not mentionto anyone, that we have had any news of Isabel.”
Takingthis as a dismissal, A
Alonein his bedchamber, Brant opened the binder to look at the contents. The firstpages were clearly a betrothal contract. His attention quickly peaked, as henoted the name of Lady Gwenivere’s dower property. He was certain that thelisted fief, was now held by his cousin, Niles. Branthad assumed that the fief was part of Niles’ inheritance. Yet, twenty yearsearlier, it was this Lady’s dowry. How could that be?
Brantdecided to search out Rosamund to question her, again, about Isabel and theDuke. However, when he opened the door into the passage, she was thereconversing with A
“Rosamund,did Isabel ever say anything about Niles, other than what you mentionedbefore?” Brant asked, once they were ensconced in the chamber.
“Nay,Me Lord,” she replied. “Oh, except when she was told Avery was dead. Isabelsaid she wondered, who the Duke would get to do ‘is dirtywork, now. Do you think ‘er disappearance has something to do with ‘im?”
“Hehas been here several times, asking if we have any information on herwhereabouts, has he not?” A
“Ihave no idea what is going on. Therefore, there is no way to know, who might beinvolved. I would not think my cousin, would be involved in anything nefarious.However, not knowing what the situation is, I ca
Bothwomen readily nodded in agreement. Brant was sure that phrasing it asprotecting Isabel, would keep both women silent.
“Ifyou think Isabel may be in some danger, mayhap, it would be best if I returnhome. That would give her another place to turn to for help. What do you think,Brant?” A
“Thatmay be a good idea. I need to give this more thought, so if you will excuse me,ladies,” Brant said, dismissing the two women.
Afterthe women left, he looked through a few more pages, from the binder. Theymainly consisted of diagrams, or layouts of various Castles, and Keeps. All properties, appeared to be those held by either him, or hiscousin. So the matter, likely involved both of them, though Brant was not sureif Niles, was a friend, or a foe. As Isabel seemed tobe suspicious of Niles, he decided it would be best not to share anyinformation with him, yet.
Twasthe height of the harvest time, and Brant had much todo, in seeing to preparations for winter. His tenants paid some of their rentfor lands they farmed, in a share of their crops. Therefore, he had put themysterious binder away, where he believed it would be safe, while he dealt withthe harvest. He also increased the number of men he had ride with him, when heleft the Castle. Not knowing whether he was in danger, as Isabel said, he wasaverse to straying too far. He had even sent his best accounts people, to someof the more distant properties, rather than going himself.
Threeweeks after his visit to Isabel’s Castle, he still had no word from his peoplethat were watching the place, that his wife or son, had been spotted. Lady A
Tosay the least, the message was not to Brant’s liking. It basically said thatIsabel, now one and eight, had petitioned the Crown, on compelling grounds. Shewas asking for an official order, granting her complete control, andmanagement, of her properties, and vassals. The missive further stated, that unless Brant could prove irrefutably, that shewas incapable of managing her estates, the King was wont to grant her petition.
Ina few rare instances, woman were allowed control oftheir holdings, but mostly this only covered dower properties. Brant was sure,he had never heard of the Crown granting control of land holdings to a woman,without her husband’s consent. Yet, according to this message, such was aboutto be granted to his wife. If that happened, Brant was afraid he might neversee his son, again.
Themessenger was standing there, nervously waiting for Brant's reply. So, he toldthe messenger that he strongly objected, to his wife's petition being granted.He would consent to it if, and only if, his son Nathaniel were immediatelyreturned to his care, to be raised in his home. Did the King grant Isabel'spetition, without ordering the return of Nathaniel to him, he would have nochoice, but to declare war on his wife. Thereby, allowing him to knock down herfortresses, one by one, until he found the child.
Bythe time Brant finished speaking, the messenger, and his escorts, all appearedto be looking a little pale. When the messenger spoke, his voice seemed towaver, slightly.
"Aye,My Lord. Is that your complete reply?" he asked.