Masters of Medieval Romance: Series Starters Volume II

by Kathryn Le Veque

  Therefore, leaving Gaerwen to his castle, the inhabitants of which included a strange old man who liked to sleep in a wardrobe on the first floor of the keep, as well as legends of nearby serpents, Gallus and Jeniver had departed Rhydilian to return to Isenhall. Gallus was looking forward to telling his mother that an heir was on the way. He knew she would be greatly pleased, but he was also eager to know of her current health. That, perhaps, made him push the horses just a bit faster as they continued along their way.

  Jeniver didn’t seem to mind the pace. It was true that she wasn’t eating much and at night, she slept heavily and exhaustedly, but she never complained once about the journey or the pace. She knew Gallus was eager to return to his sickly mother and her own discomfort or pains didn’t much matter. She never uttered a word otherwise, no matter how she felt, and there were times when she had felt truly terrible.

  But today was fortunately one of the better days. The landscape, with its melting snow and overflowing streams, had her attention as they plodded down the road.

  “Gal?” Jeniver spoke. “When do you think we shall return to Rhydilian? I asked you once before but you did not answer me.”

  Distracted from thoughts of his mother, his wife, and their coming child, Gallus turned to look at her. “I know,” he said. “Mostly because I did not have an answer for you. After our son is born, at least.”

  Jeniver was quiet a moment. “I thought so,” she said softly. “I was hoping he could be born in Wales but I suppose that I knew better. His father is English and he shall be born in England.”

  She seemed rather saddened by the thought. “And this displeases you?” Gallus asked.

  Jeniver shook her head. “Nay,” she said truthfully. “But along with the de Shera bloodlines, he will carry the bloodlines of the last of the kings of Anglesey. It will be his hereditary title, inherited from my father. I want him to know his Welsh heritage.”

  “He will,” Gallus assured her. “But he will also be the Earl of Coventry at some point. Our son will be a mixture of two great noble lines.”

  She peered up at him. “I…I have not mentioned this before but I suppose I should,” she said. “I do not wish for you to become angry about it.”

  He frowned gently. “I could never be angry at you,” he said, as if she should already know such a thing. “What did you wish to say?”

  Jeniver thought on the best way to express her thoughts, finally deciding to simply come out with it. “Our son,” she said. “I do not want him to have a Roman name. I know it is tradition for the de Sheras, but he will already carry the name de Shera, a proud and noble name. All men will know him by it. It is important to me that his Welsh heritage is also part of his name, so I would like for his given Christian name to be Welsh.”

  He smiled at her. “I think that is a very good idea.”

  She appeared vastly relieved. “You do?” she asked, surprised. “I am very thankful. I did not wish to offend a de Shera tradition.”

  Gallus shrugged. “Mayhap we will have more sons and one of them can have a Roman name to carry on the tradition,” he said. “What did you wish to name him?”

  Jeniver smiled faintly as she thought on the question. “My mother’s father’s name was Bhrodi,” she said. “I have always liked the name. Bhrodi ap Gaerwen de Shera is what I should like to call our son. After my grandfather, my father, and you.”

  Gallus was thoughtful. “Bhrodi?” he repeated. “I like it.”

  “Truly?”

  “Truly.”

  Jeniver was both pleased and relieved. Instinctively, she touched her belly as they continued down the road, thinking of the child within.

  “I have been thinking something else, too,” she ventured. “Someday he will want to know how we met. I think every child wants to know how their parents came together. I do not want to tell him the truth. I would rather tell him that you and my father were friends and that is how our betrothal came about. That seems so much more pleasant than my father being attacked by outlaws and begging you to marry me because he thought he was dying.”

  Gallus didn’t quite see her point. “I am not entirely sure why we would need to shelter him from such a tale,” he said. “It is the way of things.”

  Jeniver shrugged. “But it sounds as if I were forced upon you,” she said before realizing it sounded as if she were indulging in some self-pity. “What I mean to say is that it simply doesn’t sound very pleasant.”

  Gallus’ gaze was moving out over the Warwickshire countryside now. The town of Coventry was in the distance and he could see the top of the cathedral. He knew they were quite close to Isenhall now.

  “You were not forced upon me,” he said, distracted. “If I truly had not wanted to marry you, I would not have. I thought we were clear on this.”

  Jeniver felt ashamed. “We are,” she said. “I would just like our son to believe that our meeting was divine providence.”

  “It was.”

  She looked at him, seeing he was grinning at her, flashing that big dimple in his right cheek. She smiled in return as he turned around and pointed at the cathedral in the distance.

  “That is Coventry,” he pointed out. “Isenhall is about an hour beyond that.”

  Jeniver shielded her eyes from the sun as she peered into the distance. She could see the town on the horizon, somewhat misty in the weather that was struggling to clear. Moisture was rising off the fields in the sunlight, filling the air with a soft mist.

  “The weather was poor when we left Isenhall for Wales those weeks ago and I did not see Coventry,” she said. “It was snowing then. It is a very big city?”

  Gallus nodded. “Big enough.”

  “But it is not as big as London or Paris?”

  He shook his head. “Nay,” he replied. “Someday, I will take you to London with me and we shall visit the Street of the Merchants. I will buy you all manner of jewelry and finery that you do not need. We will be very frivolous.”

  Jeniver laughed. “Then everyone will think I made you waste money on me,” she said. “I do not know how I shall show my face in public after that.”

  He very much liked her sense of humor. “You will show your face easily and frequently,” he said. “All will know I have married the most beautiful maid in all the land.”

  “You flatter me, sir.”

  “I speak the truth.”

  Grinning, Jeniver looked at her hands, a gesture of modesty and also of delight. No one had ever showered her with compliments as Gallus did. In fact, he was quite liberal with his praise and it made her feel very warm and appreciated. It was also endearing him to her quite a bit. The more the days passed and the more conversations they had such as this, the more and deeper she fell in love with him. Aye, she loved the man. She couldn’t remember when she hadn’t. But she hadn’t told him yet because it had never been the right time. She didn’t want to seem trivial with her emotions, declaring her love for her husband too soon. But, God help her, it was the truth.

  “Are you to go back to London any time soon?” she asked after they had moved down the road for a few minutes. “And if you go, will you take me?”

  He shook his head. “I have no plans to go to London in the immediate future,” he said. “As for you, you are going to remain at Isenhall until this child is born. I do not want you traveling all over the place, risking your life and the baby’s life. I want you both safe.”

  “Will you remain there, too?”

  He turned to look at her. “I will try,” he said. “But you know that I am expected at Kenilworth soon. I told you that before we left Rhydilian, remember?”

  She nodded. “I do.”

  “After that, I do not know where I shall go or what I shall do, but in any case, I will try to stay with you as much as I can. But I do not want you to become sad if I must leave you for a time. You must remember that I will always come back to you.”

  Jeniver thought on his words as they plodded down the muddy road. They were simple
words but there was something gloomy to them, she thought. It was the way he said them that made her take notice; I will always come back to you. She knew the man was involved in the tussle between de Montfort and the English king although he’d not gone into detail with her. There simply hadn’t been the opportunity for it. Moreover, she suspected he didn’t want to frighten her or burden her with information she could not change. What he did for de Montfort was his own business. They’d spent the past several weeks coming to know one another in a perfect world that she did not want damaged. She didn’t want him damaged.

  She prayed, wherever he went and whatever he did, that he held true to his word. She prayed that he really would come back to her.

  “She is not well at all,” Scott told Gallus in a low voice. “Come, we must speak before you go up and see your mother. There is much you should know.”

  Having arrived at Isenhall just before sunset, Gallus had been met at the gatehouse by Scott and Troy. When Gallus asked where his brothers were, Scott simply shook his head and beckoned him into the keep as Troy sent the horses to the stables. With Jeniver on one arm, Gallus fought down his sense of apprehension as he followed the de Wolfe brothers into Isenhall’s big, dark keep. While Troy took Jeniver up to Gallus’ chamber, lugging her baggage with him, Scott pulled Gallus aside.

  In the same room where Gaerwen nearly bled to death, the dark and richly appointed entry of the keep, Gallus faced his knight with anxiety he was increasingly unable to control.

  “What has happened?” he demanded quietly. “Tell me all that has happened and be quick about it. I want to see my mother.”

  Scott sighed heavily, holding up a big hand to still his liege. “Gallus, you must listen to me,” he said quietly. In private, he was permitted to address Gallus informally. “Hugh Bigod came here more than three weeks ago. He was on his way to Kenilworth and stopped here to bring you and your brothers along with him. When he discovered you had gone to Wales, he became quite agitated. He accused you of going to Wales and remaining there for the sake of your wife. He began to wonder if your loyalties were to England or to the woman you had recently married. Maximus nearly came to blows with him and your mother insulted him as only Lady Honey can do. It was not a pretty sight, Gal. Bigod is out to slander you. We can all feel it. Because of that, Max and Ty went with him to Kenilworth to at least keep him under control so he wouldn’t start feeding de Montfort rumors.”

  Gallus was scowling at the man by the time he was done. “But he knew I was going to Wales,” he said, at a loss to understand Bigod’s behavior. “He knew it and de Montfort knew it. Why is he suddenly so suspicious of my activities?”

  Scott shrugged. “Maximus accused him of being embittered because you did not marry his daughter,” he said. “Maximus said that if you had chased Hugh’s daughter into Wales, the man would not have had a thing to say about it. That seemed to set him on end.”

  Gallus’ scowl turned to rage. “That fat bastard,” he seethed. “He is going to find a way to undermine me because I did not marry his repulsive daughter. He is going to punish me any way he can.”

  Scott nodded. “That was our thought as well,” he said. “Max and Ty have been at Kenilworth for nearly three weeks so it is my suggestion that we leave for de Montfort’s fortress immediately. There is no time to waste.”

  Gallus was thinking that, also. He was also thinking about wrapping his hands around Bigod’s neck and squeezing. But then he also thought of his wife and mother on the floors above him and his desire to run off to Kenilworth cooled. He looked at Scott.

  “My mother,” he said. “What is the matter with her?”

  Scott tried to be gentle. He knew how close Gallus and Lady Honey were. “Max and Ty left Troy and me behind to manage your mother as well as the castle. Your mother has greatly weakened since they left. Three weeks has seen her deteriorate significantly. She can no longer walk and the physic says it is because the cancer has entered her spine. You must go to her, Gal. She has been asking for you every day.”

  Gallus looked at his knight, his friend, and he suddenly felt ill. “Nay,” he breathed. “Dear God, it cannot be… she cannot be dying.”

  Scott put a hand on his shoulder. “The physic says her life is to be measured in days,” he said with regret. “I am truly sorry, Gal. Go and see her now. She is waiting for you.”

  Gallus realized he was biting back tears. God, he didn’t want to face this. His mother was strong and powerful. She could not succumb to something as common as a cancer. He wasn’t ready to lose her but he knew that death would not show him mercy. It never had before. It was time to face what was happening to Honey and share what little time she had left.

  Swallowing hard, he put a hand on Scott’s arm, acknowledging the man’s comforting words.

  “My girls?” he asked hoarsely.

  “With your mother,” Scott replied. “She does not want them out of her sight.”

  Gallus sighed heavily. Collecting himself, he headed up the big staircase, taking the steps two at a time until he reached the top. Immediately, the corridor opened up to the three rooms on this level. His mother’s chamber was directly to his left and the door was open. He could hear soft voices inside. Taking a deep breath for courage, he entered.

  The first things he saw were Violet and Lily on the floor, playing with the puppy. They were being surprisingly quiet until they saw their father. Squealing, they ran to Gallus and he bent over, scooping them up into his big arms. He kissed happy, little cheeks before turning his attention to the great bed.

  It was a big jumble of bed clothes and pillows, and somewhere in the middle of it was Honey’s small frame. Gallus was not surprised to see Jeniver standing next to the bed, holding Honey’s hand. Gallus smiled briefly at his wife before he turned his full attention to his mother, propped up with pillows. He thought he was doing quite well until their gazes locked and suddenly, he felt like a child again. His mother was about to leave him and he couldn’t stop the gut-wrenching sorrow he already felt. He was smiling at her but the tears were forming. He couldn’t stop them.

  “Greetings,” he said to his mother, his throat tight with emotion. “Instead of finding you lying in a quiet room, I discover a party going on with you in the middle of it. Children, dogs, and women. How are you supposed to get any rest?”

  He was teasing and Honey forced a smile at her beloved boy. “I do not want to rest,” she said. “I will rest when I am dead. For now, I want life around me, even your screaming daughters and that puppy who likes to urinate on my floors. Disgraceful.”

  Gallus and Jeniver laughed at the woman’s exaggerated distaste. “I will see what I can do about training him not to relieve himself indoors,” Jeniver assured the woman, squeezing her hand. “I will also see what I can do about training the children not to scream, at least not inside.”

  Honey smiled faintly up at Jeniver. “I am glad you have come back,” she said softly. “I truly did not know if you would ever return. For Gallus’ sake, I am glad.”

  Jeniver could see how sick the woman was. Her eyeballs were yellowed, indicative of her advanced disease, and she truly felt for Gallus. She knew what it was like to lose a parent, or at least almost lose a parent. Her heart was breaking for the man.

  “I am glad to be back also,” she assured Honey. “All is well in our world. You needn’t worry.”

  Honey sighed. Although she was glad to hear such a thing, she wondered if Jeniver was saying it for her benefit only. But when Gallus came up beside Jeniver and Honey saw the expressions that passed between them, she knew in her heart that Jeniver had told the truth. As she had prayed for, all was well in their world again. That would make her passing easier for Gallus if he had someone to lean on. It would make it easier for all of her sons if there was a strong woman to help them through it.

  “Then I am content,” Honey said softly, looking between Jeniver and her son. “Gal, Bigod was here a few weeks ago, the pompous ass. He took Max and Ty to Kenilw
orth with him but you must go as well. Did Scott or Troy tell you what has transpired while you were away?”

  Gallus nodded, feeling his anger at Hugh rise again but he fought it down. He didn’t want his last minutes or hours or days with his mother to be laced with negativity.

  “Scott told me,” he replied. “He said that Hugh was concerned that I had gone to Wales, which makes no sense considering he knew. De Montfort knew, too. He is trying to twist my purpose to suit his own jealousies.”

  Honey nodded in agreement. “Then you know what he is doing,” she said. “Max and Ty went with him to prevent him from sullying your reputation until you can get there. You must not leave your brothers to deal with Bigod alone. His contention is with you. You are the only man who can deal with him.”

  Gallus thought on the nobleman he was very much coming to hate. “Scott says they have been gone nearly three weeks.”

  “That is true. You must go to Kenilworth, Gal. Time is of the essence.”

  Gallus’ jaw began to tick. “And I will deal with Bigod at the appropriate time,” he said, “but for now, I do not wish to speak of him. I do not want that maliciousness entering this room. Let us speak only on pleasant things.”

  Honey watched him as he kissed Violet on the cheek and set both girls down so they could run back to the puppy, which had found a pair of hose and was happily chewing on one of them.

  “But, Gal,” she pressed. “You cannot delay. There is no knowing what has happened in your absence.”

  Gallus put up a hand to silence her. He truly did not wish to speak of it. “I will go to Kenilworth soon enough,” he assured the woman, somewhat irritably. “For now, I only wish to speak on things that do not involve the fate of England. In fact, I have some news for you that I believe you will be very happy to hear.”

  Honey could see that she would have a difficult time ordering Gallus to Kenilworth. He made it clear that it was secondary in importance. Reluctantly, she let the subject go, at least for the moment.

  “I am listening,” she told him.

  Gallus looked at Jeniver. The man had a glow to his face when he looked at her, a glow of joy that had been sorely lacking from his expression since Catheryn had passed. Now, the joy was back and the grief over losing Catheryn had faded into a memory of a first wife that would always be remembered with warmth instead of sorrow. Healing had taken place, healing that Jeniver had provided. It was healing that he had allowed her to provide, so subtle, he hadn’t even realized it until now. Gallus put his arm around Jeniver’s shoulders and bent down, kissing the woman on the cheek.