Страница 43 из 46
"Actually,I believe I am done," Isabel said, and she attempt to rise.
"Noyou are not," he replied, moving a leg to hold her in place. "I havenot washed your back, yet. And you certainly, have not washed mine. Just thinkabout all the work, we are saving the serfs."
"Aye.And that is, how I plan my activities," Isabel said, smiling in responseto his words, and the accompanying grin. "By whatever will spare the serfswork. Are you going to turn around, so I can reach your back, My Lord?"
Brantmoved the leg that had restrained her, and pulled her toward him so she wasstraddling both his legs, causing her to blush. Brant had barely touched her,since about a month before Eric was born. Now, with both of them naked in thebath tub, Isabel was feeling very nervous.
"Canyou reach my back, now?" he asked, taking the soap she was holding, andputting his arms around her, to lather her back. He continued, "I do notthink I want to smell like this flowery soap."
Whenhe was done, he leaned forward to pick up a second bar of soap, from a stoolbeside the tub. He handed it to Isabel, then pressedher against his chest. She was left with little choice, but to slip her armsaround him, to soap his back, while she wondered how far he intended to takethis.
Whenshe was done rinsing his back, he said, "Thank-you, My Lady."
Then,Brant moved her away from him far enough to lower his head, and place a kiss oneach of her breasts. He raised his head to give her a wicked grin, and a quickpeck on her lips.
"Ibelieve I can manage from here, if you would like to get out," he said.
Helet her go, and she rose to get a bath sheet, to dry with. Brant watched asIsabel dried off, and do
Helathered his hair, then asked, “Is there any clean water left to rinse, Alisa?”
Shewalked over to the tub, and picked up the bucket of clean water, as she said,“Aye, but it is not very warm. Is that alright?”
Brantnodded in the affirmative, so she poured it to rinse his hair. When that wasdone, he stood to step out of the tub. Isabel turned to get towels for him todry with. Just then, there was a knock on the door and Brant responded come in,even though he was standing there naked. Greta opened the door, and stopped,looking uncomfortable for a moment.
“Williamneeds to speak with ye, Me Lady,” the serf said. “When ye have a moment. Would ye like me to find your robe?”
“Nay,tell him I will be out shortly,” Isabel answered. Once the woman exited, andclosed the door, she asked Brant, “Was thatnecessary?”
Hetook the towel she was holding, and replied, “It is not like she has not seenit before. Cora was not always available, you know.”
“Really?”Isabel asked. “I wonder why no one mentioned her, to me?They told me about Cora, Ruth, and a couple of others.”
Sheturned to her trunk to find her robe, so she could cover the thin kirtle, whilehe was left wondering what else she had been told.
Thenext morning, the couple had a meeting at the palace. Or, Isabel and her sons, had a meeting. Brant was left to amuse himself with agroup of knights, most of whom he did not know. However, the ones he wasacquainted with, were aware of his newly acquiredtitle, which made him someone all of the others wanted to get to know. He, onthe other hand, just wanted to know what was going on with his wife, so Branthad some trouble keeping up with the conversation. It was over an hour, beforehe was escorted in, to where Isabel was.
Halfand hour later, Brant was dismissed, with an order to return to the palace inthe evening for di
Leavingthe palace, Brant walked with his Knight Hyram past the I
"So,what is the verdict?" Robert asked, as his friend approached.
"Apparently,Isabel is unwilling to leave our children, so she will be remaining with me, ifwhat I have been told can be believed. Although, they arestill determined to protect her. I have been warned that do I make theLady very unhappy, she could become a widow, and keep the lads," Brantsaid.
"Anyexplanation as to why, they are protecting her?" Robert asked.
"Aye,though I have been sworn to keep it quiet," Brant said.
"Iwas placed in the middle of this, I think I have a right to know why,"Robert argued.
Brantlooked around to be sure they were not overheard. Seeing that the serving girlwas approaching with fresh tankards, he waited for her to leave, beforeanswering.
"TheLady Sophia was a relative to the King. Forty-five years ago, she was betrothedto a son of a very wealthy, and powerful family. Shewished to wed a lower born Lord. Her family would not agree, or give her adowry, to marry him. The family felt they needed the alliance, with the morepowerful family. Her chosen groom's family, was also against them because shewould have no dowry. So the couple ran away and wed, anyway. Then, they sent aransom note to her family, which the family paid, but the girl did not return.The two geniuses used the ransom money, to buy a large estate from adebaucherous Lord, who was in dire straits. Her family, to avoid repercussionsfrom breaking the betrothal, spread the story that the Lady had died, suddenly.Twas years before they discovered what had become of her. The young Lord shehad wed, claimed she was from the continent, and they had wed when he was inNormandy, to ally suspicion. Later, Edmund's sire inherited some of hisrightful lands. However, because of the unpopular marriage, the land holdingswere split between two brothers, which is what gaveAvery and his sire their start, in poor management. Edmund,also provided services to the Royal family, gaining grants of additional lands.So my wife is quite wealthy, and powerful," Brant explained.
"So,Isabel is a protected relative, but the deception will continue?" Robertasked.
"Aye,they still feel it would be a destructive scandal, did the truth come out.Though, no one is saying who the family they offended is. So let us not speakof it, again," Brant said.
Hewaited for Robert's nod of agreement.
Brantcontinued, "Anyway, Isabel and I, are to have the evening meal at thePalace, so that by tomorrow, it will be common knowledge that she is my wife.Lady A
"Ifyou can trust what you have been told, as you said," Robert replied.
"Iam not being given free reign. She will retain control of her property, andpeople, which I was told, I am agreeable with," Brant said, laughing."Right now, my big concern is that I was dismissed, but Isabel and the lads, are still at the Palace."
"Well,what you have been told sounds good, at least," Robert reassured hisfriend.
"Aye.Yet, I am not going to relax too much, until the four of us are on our way hometogether," Brant said.
Thetwo men had a couple more tankards, and talked about other things for a while.Then, Brant and Hyram, made their way back to theirI
Chapter 22