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Branthad to go deal with the properties, that passed tohim, upon Niles' death. He had held two fiefs, thatwere not part of the estate of the Duke. One of them,was to be the dower property for Penelope, Niles' sister. Both would now go toher, upon her marriage.
Penelopewas a score years old, and wanted to wed the eldestson of a nearby Lord. Niles had opposed the match, claiming her beau wasbeneath her. The sister felt, that Niles had not wanted to lose control of herincome, as he was a very poor manager, of his lands. Brant made inquiries, andmet with the young man. He decided that Penelope was likely right. Niles haddelayed what was a suitable match, for his own benefit, so Brant approved thebetrothal. He had come home for a few weeks. Then, he had to leave for severalmore days, to escort Penelope to her future in-laws, for the wedding.
Assoon as Brant realized, that Isabel was still carrying their second child,Beautrice and Rosamund, were instructed that she was not to carry Nathaniel up,or down, the stairs. They were to see to that. When he was with her, Brantcarried the child.
However,the biggest change occurred, within a few days of her return, to Brant'sCastle. After she had put Nathaniel in bed, she went to change into her nightclothes, but was a little uncomfortable with her growing belly, since Brant hadstayed there. Isabel had put her gu
Isabelwas little disconcerted, by his actions. She half wondered,if this was his idea of a punishment. Twas difficult for her to believe, hecould desire her distended figure. Yet, afterward he had turned her away fromhim, and held her gently, with her back against his chest. Not that she minded, that had always been good between them. After that night,she found herself subject to a repeat of his actions, every few days, when hewas home. Being honest with herself, Isabel knew sheneeded the intimacy with him, to reassure her. No matter what her mother said,this was her life. She was wed to Brant, she had a son Nathaniel, and she wouldhave her second child with her husband, in a few months.
Throughouther sixth month, and well into her seventh, Isabel fell asleep most nights, inher husband’s arms. Frequently, she awoke in the morning, with her back stillpressed to Brant's chest. Many times, she discovered his hand resting on thebabe, feeling for its movements. All of which, made her feel ever more tightlybound to him. She was his wife. The babe that grew in her,was his. There really was no way to separate herself,from him.
Isabelwas more than agreeable with that, except for her mother. Before A
Sheknew her mother could not force them to set aside the marriage. However, Isabelalso knew her mother. Lady A
Whereasthe girl, was quite well aware of the fact that her marriage not being theshort, temporary arrangement, that had been envisioned, was squarely Isabel’sdoing. From her encounter with Niles, she had expected his cousin to be somedandified imbecile, she could ignore. After watching Brant fight with the fourguards present at their wedding, she had somehow found herself fascinated withhis body. Rosamund, or several other serfs, could have gone to tend to hiswounds, but she wanted a better look at him. When he did not recognize herdressed as a serf, she had been certain he never looked at her during theirwedding, so she could safely go back. Robert had said,Brant amused his physical pleasures with lewd tarts, pretty exclusively. Ani
Chapter 19
AsIsabel approached her eighth month, early in February, Rosamund was returned tohelp the Lady. Beatrice was given the care of Ha
Isabel’sa
WhenBrant came in from the antechamber, after dismissing the slim, obviouslywilling young serf, Isabel said irritably, “Mayhap, you should reconsiderletting me take the room across the passage. Then, Rachel would not have tohold back. She could just climb in the bath with you.”
“Jealous, Alisa?” Brant asked, laughing.
“Doyou think I should be pleased, listening to some trim young girl fawn over you,while you have me looking like I swallowed a roast boar, whole?” she responded.
Brantlaughed heartily, letting his eyes roam over her.
“Thegirl certainly does have a trimmer figure than you, right now,” he replied,picking up Nathaniel. “However, I find there are very desirable benefits, tohaving you look like you ‘swallowed a roast boar whole’. Besides, you did wantto be my wife, right? Something tells me, if you were sitting here thin, andtrim, and she was waddling, that is what you said right, you would be in aneven fouler mood.”
“Sheis just so blatantly obvious. She knew full well, I was in here with the babe.I am miserable enough, without having to listen to her throw herself at you,”Isabel lamented.
“Twillonly be a few more weeks,” Brant said. “Then,hopefully, we will have another child just like this little lad.”
Hemotioned to Nathaniel, who was rubbing his eyes sleepily, cradled in hisfather’s arms.
“Iam giving you a daughter, remember?” Isabel asked, smiling.
“Ifyou must,” he replied, as a knock sounded at the door.
OnBrant’s order, Rosamund entered to get Nathaniel ready for bed.
Nathanielhad his first birthday, on the 27th of February. Twas twoweeks later, when Isabel found herself feeling extremely uncomfortable, with abackache, and no appetite, at the evening meal. As soon as the meal wasover, she asked Brant to help her upstairs, to rest. However,lying down seemed to increase the pain in her back, so she rose to sit by thehearth. After a short time, she realized sitting was not helping,either, so she tried standing. She walked slowly around the room, which reducedthe pain, a little. Brant who had stayed with her, was asking for the tenthtime, ‘is it the babe’, when she felt a slight tightening in her abdomen.