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Isabelgreeted the others there by the hearth, all the while, hugging her babe to her.She deflected any questions about where she had been, these past few months,offering no explanations. Minutes later, Rosamund appeared with Cora in tow.Isabel went to meet the women halfway.
"Haveyou been seeing to that matter, I asked you to take care of for me, Cora?"Isabel asked, without preamble.
Corareplied, "I did the first time, but Nora said the second time, that ye wasgone. She was not going to do it, unless ‘Is Lordship says it is alright. Yeknow how she feels about that. So I just gave ‘er some of the money yeleft."
"Isee," Isabel said. "If I have Nora get the supplies ready, could youtake them to the village? Mayhap, you can have William go with you?"
"Byronwould be better, Me Lady. I think he is sweet on her," Cora countered.
Isabellaughed, and replied, "By all means ask Byron,then."
Aftergiving Nathaniel one more big hug, Isabel handed thebabe over to Rosamund, and headed to the kitchens, to find Nora.
Brantwatched this exchange from across the room, listening intently to every word.He found himself very uncomfortable, seeing his wife talk so amiably, with hisformer favorite tart. He wanted to know what this matter, they had discussedwas. This was his Castle, he had a right to know abouteverything going on here. Assuming Isabel would not be telling him about the'matter', he sent one of his knights to the village, to wait for Cora, and seewhere she went. Brant himself, suggested that a coupleof his men joined him out in the practice yard, to cover his interest inIsabel's activity.
Twas about a half an hour later, when Brant saw Cora andByron, leaving to complete their errand in the village. They were carrying what he guessed were supplies fromhis Castle. He was going to find out where they were taking them, and why.
Laterthat day, Brant was directed to the hut in the village, where his supplies hadbeen taken. He tapped at the door, and it was opened by a young woman, who wasfamiliar to him. It took him several moments, to recall that her name was Ruth.
“MayI come in?” Brant asked, pressing forward without waiting for a reply.
Brushingpast Ruth, he spied the only other occupant of the hut, a young girl of aboutseven years of age. He stopped short, noting how much she looked likeNathaniel. He tried to move closer to the child.
Ruthstepped in front of him, and said, “Leave us alone, Me Lord.”
Henoted that her voice wavered slightly, and she looked really frightened of him.Yet, she placed herself between him, and the child.
“Howis it, that my wife was here for only a couple ofmonths, and Isabel knows about her. While I have lived here her whole life, andI am just now finding out?” Brant demanded.
“Mesire went to the ol’ Lord, about how ye hurt me. When I knew I was to ‘ave thebabe, I did not want ye to know. But me father said,ye should see to ‘er needs. Yer sire agree to see to her, and not tell ye, cause we was afraid ye might hurt me, again. He ‘ad suppliessent for her, until he died. Cora brought Isabel here about Mary, cause things‘ave been bad, since yer sire has been gone,” theterrified woman said, before falling silent.
“Cora,knows about her? And she went to Isabel, not me?” Brant asked.
“Yersire brought Cora ‘ere, to try and keep ye away from the maids, in the village.Cora were wed once, but when she could not have no babes, her husband set ‘eraside. The old Lord told ‘er about Mary,” Ruth said.
“Inthe future, you will let me know what you need for her, alright?”Brant asked.
Ruthnodded with a reluctant look, that said she wouldrather confront a pack of wolves. He looked at the child for a few moments more,before turning to leave the hut, without another word.
AsBrant rode back to his Castle, he thought about the night he had Ruth broughtto him. He had been about a score years old, at thetime. She was about five years younger, and untried. He had spent most of thenight riding her body, though she had told him ‘no more’ several times, evenbegged him to let her go. He recalled at first she had merely, passively laythere, while he mated with her. He had not thought much about her pleas, thathe was hurting her. He was heir to these lands, trying out the maids in thevillage was his right, if he so desired. The Lord was responsible for thesafety of his people, from raiders or invaders. And each serf and their family, owed certain labor, and deference to the Lord, andthe knights, who protected them. He had to have the archers, and trainedforces, to protect his lands, and people. That was the way it was, so why washe feeling as though, he had done something wrong?
Isabelknew about his treatment of the maid. She had lured him to her Castle, andseduced him, even though he had said, he did not want to do that. Was this ataste of his own medicine? Mayhap there was method, toIsabel’s madness. She certainly was making him think. Now if he could just findsome answers.
Brantwas in a much better mood, when he, and the knights who had escorted him to thevillage, returned to his Castle. Even when he could not fathom what she wasabout, Isabel seemed to know, just what needed to be done. Mayhap, whatever shewas up to, would in fact be resolved soon, as sheclaimed. He had to admit, his lack of any control over his wife rankled him.But Brant suspected, that doing anything other, thangoing alone with her, would likely land him back in some dungeon. It seemed unlikely,that she was operating solely on her own agenda.
Shortlyafter the evening meal, the sentry a
WhenIsabel gave her husband a so what look, and squeezed his hand, Brant said,“Niles has come here, with a most peculiar tale. Actually, he has a ratherunbelievable accusation, against you.”
WhenIsabel looked blankly at Niles, he began his angry accusation, “Late lastnight, I awoke to find myself quite groggy, and barely able to move. To mycomplete shock, I discovered your wife in my private chambers, in my Castle,with two of her knights. She instructed them to move me to the foot of the bed,where I was tied with my hands behind my back, to the bedpost. She then,instructed her men to strip my shivies from me. I was left there, unable tomove or free myself, in a most embarrassing position, for my serfs to find.”
Isabelglanced at Brant raising an eyebrow, as if to say, are you crazy, beforelooking back to Niles.
“Letme get this straight. You, My Lord, are alleging that I somehow, got over yourCastle wall, and past all your security forces. Mayhap, by flying onbroomstick? Then, invaded your private chambers, with two men?” Isabel paused,holding up two fingers. Continuing, she said, “Then drugged you. Tied you to a bedpost, naked. And left youthere. Do you have any idea how insane that sounds, My Lord?”
“Iknow it was you. I saw you. I heard you,” Niles stated, emphatically. Then,turning to Brant, he said, “I demand you do something about her. She must bepunished for this outrage.”