As the baby was being attended to, the shocked and weary mother tried to get a look at her child as Norma and Willa bathed the baby, whose cries were gaining in strength. As Chadwick delivered the afterbirth, Willa brought the baby over so Teodora could see her – a pink, perfect, and very little girl. Teodora had burst into tears as she cradled her daughter to her chest.
Her baby.
But the baby would not be soothed and Willa, who’d had a child many years ago, suggested that Teodora nurse the infant. Unfortunately, Teodora was truly ignorant about such things so Willa and Norma helped her expose a breast and all three of them put the baby on the nipple, trying to coax the little girl into latching on. She did, finally, but it took some doing, and Teodora nursed her child, having no real idea if she was even producing milk. The child was early, from what she could see, and her body didn’t seem to be very ready for the infant other than to expel it.
The baby suckled and cried, suckled and cried. Chadwick made the determination that it was because it wasn’t gaining any nourishment and somewhere in the middle of the madness, Sloan came knocking on the chamber door, but a sharp word from Chadwick sent him away.
With the question of the child’s nourishment at stake, Willa fled down to the kitchens, hunting down a young serving woman she knew had a three-month-old infant. It was the kitchen wench who had come up to the lavish chambers and gave the baby her first feeding, her big and rosy breasts full of milk. Teodora had watched with tears in her eyes, adoring her baby more than she ever thought possible and feeling very sad that she hadn’t been able to feed her as a mother should.
But Chadwick assured her that her milk would come in soon, which made her feel a little better. At least she didn’t feel like a complete failure. When the baby was fed and dozing, Willa gave the infant back over to Teodora, who simply gazed down at the baby as if beholding a true miracle.
The miracle of little Holly.
Teodora had decided on that name one day whilst riding back to Rockingham from one of the outlaw engagements. It had been close to Christmas and there had been holly bushes, their berries bright red against the green leaves. It was nearly the only greenery against the winter-dead land, such beautiful leaves and vibrant berries. Holly bushes were strong and ever-green, always alive and thriving. She very much liked the name for her winter-born child.
Holly Rose.
Soon enough, Teodora had fallen into an exhausted sleep with her equally exhausted daughter sleeping next to her, and Chadwick had left them like that for the rest of the afternoon. While Willa watched over the pair, Chadwick went about looking for some kind of cradle or bed to put the child in while Norma went about finding linens to wrap the baby in and other things to use for the unexpected child.
Having found no bed or cradle for the child, Chadwick found a perfectly usable manger in the stables and he had the stable master scrub the thing with lye and wash it clean before he would take it for the baby. It was basically a V-shaped receptacle with sturdy legs supporting it, but it was good enough for his purpose, and he carried it back to the keep just as the first of the returning army began trickling in through the gates.
Though Chadwick should have given a thought to the Rockingham and Cerenbeau armies passing beneath the gatehouse and the wounded they would have likely brought with them, he didn’t give them a second thought. He had more important things on his mind. Fortunately, John and Barric and even Sloan where nowhere to be found as Chadwick made his way back into the keep and up to Teodora’s chambers.
Now, he stood over the fussing baby in Norma’s arms as Willa put a cushion in the scrubbed manger and fashioned it into a very comfortable baby bed. Little Holly really was adorable, as perfect as she could be, but he knew she was fussing because she was hungry again. When Willa was finished fixing up the bed, he sent the woman to bring back the wet nurse.
“She is hungry.”
Teodora spoke from the bed and Chadwick turned to see that she was awake, watching them. He smiled as he went over to the bed.
“Indeed, she is,” he said. “Until your milk comes in fully, she will need to suckle from the kitchen servant, who seems to have more than enough milk to spare.”
Teodora’s gaze was on the infant as Norma snuggled the child, sitting close to the warming fire. “She is so tiny,” she said. “Are you sure she is well, Chad?”
He nodded. “Listen to her cry,” he said. “She is perfectly healthy even if she has been born a little early.”
Teodora’s gaze never left the baby. “She is so beautiful,” she said rather dreamily. “I never thought I would have such a beautiful babe.”
“Why not?” he asked. “Look at the child’s mother. It is natural that you would have a beautiful babe.”
Teodora smiled faintly at the compliment, but the expression was quickly gone. In fact, she seemed to sober a great deal. “What happened in front of the king,” she said, stumbling over her words. “Now, he knows. They all know, Chad. God’s Bones, I have never been so embarrassed in my life. Or afraid. What do you think will happen now?”
Chadwick’s gaze moved from Teodora to the baby and back again. His thoughts began to turn to Rockingham, to the predators John and Barric, and to his own desire to remove Teodora and the baby from the situation.
A situation that was now critical.
Chadwick’s feelings for Teodora were only growing stronger, especially now that they were bonding over a baby that he had delivered. His feelings toward her had become something he could hardly control but, even so, he’d been hesitant to say anything to her, knowing she was grieving for the love she had lost. He hadn’t been brave enough to tell her what was on his mind, fearful of her rejection, but now that the baby had been born, he was feeling emboldened. Even if he had to use the excuse of protecting the child, he would do it – anything to convince Teodora that she should leave with him and let him take care of her and little Holly.
Perhaps now was as good a time as any.
“I do not know,” he said honestly. “With the king, it is difficult to anticipate anything he will do.”
“Did you tell him about the child?”
He shook his head. “Nay,” he said. “I have not seen him. But in truth, I have not sought him out. He sent Sloan up here to inquire but I have sent the man away, so for now, we will simply let things lie. The king will find out when I decide he should. But at this moment, I want you to listen to me very closely. Will you do that?”
Teodora looked up at him. “Of course I will,” she said. “What is it?”
Chadwick opened his mouth but he was interrupted by someone knocking on the chamber door again. Pounding was more like it. Frowning, he left Teodora and crossed into the other room where the entry door was to her suite of rooms. If it was Sloan again, he was going to punch the man right in the throat. However, when he opened the door, it was to Sean’s grimy, sweaty face.
“De Lara,” Chadwick said, somewhat surprised to see him. “What –”
Sean was edgy and weary. Having just come from sending a hasty messenger off to William Marshal to tell him of what had happened, and most especially of the wounding of Cullen de Nerra, he was in no mood for chatter. When Chadwick started to open his mouth, Sean cut him off.
“You must come with me now,” he said quietly. “And Lady Barklestone – she must come as well.”
The big knight still seemed to be in battle mode, his body tense as if ready to defend himself from the next flail aimed at his head. Chadwick eyed him with concern.
“What is the matter?” he asked. “If you have wounded, bring them into the hall and I will tend them there. But Lady Barklestone is unable to attend them also.”
Sean opened his mouth to stay something but it was obvious that he was frustrated. He pushed Chadwick by the shoulder, shoving him back into the chamber and then entering himself. Shutting the door behind him, he spoke in a low, swift tone.
“I do not have much time to explain this, but for your sake, I
will,” he said. “I have a fallen knight that you must tend, but I cannot bring him here. That is why you must come with me. And why is Lady Barklestone unable to come?”
“A fallen knight?” Chadwick repeated. “Who has fallen?”
Sean sighed sharply and pulled off his helm, revealing a sweat face and dirty hair. “Not one of my men if that is what you are asking,” he muttered. “Not even one of the mercenaries, for I would not lift a finger to help them. They can deal with their own wounded. The knight I speak of is a man I have known for years, a man who I discovered fighting with the outlaws we have been doing battle against these many months. Chad, I know you were a knight once and you and I have discussed in the past that the outlaws have been led by someone with tactical and military experience. Today, I found out that my suspicions have been correct; they were led by a warrior. A warrior, in fact, driven into hiding by the king. It is this man who has fallen and you must come with me right away.”
Chadwick’s expression was full of shock, but not for the reasons Sean thought. Chadwick had a very bad feeling about this, knowing that Cullen was fighting with the outlaws. He’d known that Sean was setting a trap to catch the criminals, and subsequently catch Cullen, but he knew Cullen was fast and skilled. He didn’t expect the man to be caught.
But now…
“A knight who has been fighting with the dregs of the forest?” he said ominously. “An outlaw himself?”
Sean nodded his head, a sharp gesture. “Only because he had no choice,” he said. “He is wanted for crimes against the king, crimes for which he is not responsible. But I do not have time to tell you all of it. You must come with me now and wherever Lady Barklestone is, we must find her and bring her.”
“But why?”
“I am not entirely sure,” he said. “But I think he needs to see her. Do not ask me more because I do not know. Will you come or not?”
Chadwick knew who this knight was, or at least he thought he did. But why the request for Lady Barklestone? That made no sense to Chadwick, but he couldn’t spare time for it now. Then, he asked the fateful question.
“Who is this man, Sean?”
“Cullen de Nerra.”
Chadwick’s closed his eyes, briefly, as the news hit him like a hammer blow. “Cullen?” he gasped. “He was injured in your ambush?”
“Chad, he was orchestrating the raids. He plunged head-first into my trap.” Sean suddenly eyed him suspiciously. “Why did you ask such a thing? Do you know him?”
Chadwick felt sick. There wasn’t much more he could do other than admit it because his initial reaction to the news had given him away. Therefore, he faced it headlong.
“Aye,” he said after a moment. “I know him. And I knew he was part of the outlaws that had been leading you on a merry chase.”
It was Sean’s turn to be astonished. Furious was more like it. “You knew, yet you did not tell me?” he said, outraged. “Why did you not tell me what you knew?”
Chadwick sighed heavily. “Because Cullen told me he was a wanted man,” he said simply. “I came upon him quite by chance, but I swore upon my oath that I would not tell a soul that I saw him. I could not break my word. I know Cullen and his family, and I have for many years. I was not going to betray him, Sean, not even to you.”
Sean wasn’t sure how he felt about that. Chadwick had no loyalty to him, of course, but as he thought about it, he understood the man’s position. Cullen was a wanted man and given that Sean was loyal to John, certainly Chadwick wouldn’t have told him what he knew.
He would not betray an old friend.
“Then you had your reasons,” Sean said. “There is no use in arguing about them now. Hurry and gather your things. Let us be gone.”
“What is his injury?”
“He took two arrows, one to his lower abdomen and one to the torso.”
Chadwick winced. That was never a pleasant or easy situation. In fact, it was usually a mortal one. “Very well,” he said. “I will gather my instruments and bag.”
Sean grabbed his arm as he turned away. “Wait,” he said. “Where is Lady Barklestone?”
“I am here.”
They both turned to see Teodora standing in the doorway. Pale and weary in body, the intensity coming from her eyes was the strongest thing in that chamber at the moment. She simply stood there, gripping the door jamb, the draping sleeves on her arm trembling because her entire body was quivering. She was one giant mass of quivering flesh.
In truth, Teodora wasn’t feeling too terribly physically. She was sore, and a little stiff, but all things considered, she wasn’t feeling too badly. But mentally, she felt as if her mind were a swirling mass of broken pieces and she was trying desperately to grab at them, remnants of her sanity that had exploded when she heard the conversation between Chadwick and Sean.
Cullen…
Truthfully, she hadn’t been eavesdropping, or at least she hadn’t planned on it. The door was open between the chambers, however, and she could plainly hear the conversation going on between de Lara and Chadwick. She hadn’t paid much attention until she’d heard her name… Lady Barklestone… and then she was obliged to listen. She thought the conversation would be about her, but it wasn’t. It was about a fallen knight, someone who desperately needed Chadwick’s healing. And then it came…
Cullen de Nerra.
Somehow, she’d made it out of the bed and, now, she was standing in the doorway, looking at the two men and having no idea how she got there. One moment she was on her bed and in the next, she was standing in the doorway. Something had propelled her off that mattress by sheer force of will.
Her attention was on Sean.
“Tell me who is injured, de Lara,” she said, her voice quivering. “Tell me what you told Chad.”
Sean wasn’t quite sure why Lady Barklestone looked so shaken but, on the other hand, Sean had told Bradford that he had loved his liege’s wife. Looking at Lady Barklestone’s face, he could imagine that the feeling must have been mutual.
He could see that very plainly.
“I said that Cullen de Nerra was injured,” he said, somewhat gently now. “You know the knight, Lady Barklestone. He was your husband’s champion.”
Teodora couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Of course I know him,” she breathed. “But he is dead. Who is this man spreading lies and telling you that he is Cullen de Nerra?”
Sean shook his head. “My lady, I know de Nerra,” he said, seeing her shock. “This man is not lying. He is Cullen de Nerra. Your father recognized him, too. It was your father who sent me back to Rockingham for Chadwick and for you. He says you must come.”
Teodora slumped against the door jamb; she couldn’t help it. All of her strength seemed to leave her even as Chadwick rushed to her side.
“It is not possible,” she said. “Cullen was killed by the king’s men. I was told that he was killed.”
Sean could see that the lady was ashen and weak and he, too, went to help her. “My lady, he was not killed,” he assured her. “He escaped the king’s men and has been on the run ever since. Who told you otherwise?”
Teodora thought back to that moment when she was in her locked chamber, the one that faced the river. That horrible moment in time when she was told of Cullen’s death. It had been the very moment that sent her life spiraling into oblivion, sucking everything from her.
“Sir Godfrey and Sir Hamilton came to tell me,” she murmured even as Chadwick propped her up. “You let them into my room, de Lara. It was the night after the incident with the king and Barric. You let them into my room and they told me that Cullen had been killed.”
Sean knew that Godfrey and Hamilton had been traitors to de Lacy, but he wasn’t sure why they told Lady Barklestone that Cullen had been killed. “My lady, I assure you that Cullen was not killed by the king’s men,” he said. “But he is badly wounded and I must take Chad to him. You will come, too.”
Teodora stared at him. She didn’t have the energy or
the ability to respond as the reality of his words sank in. The nightmare she had been living, the grief she’d been wallowing in, had been unfounded. Sean would not lie to her; she knew he wouldn’t. Sean was many things and an honorable man was among them, so it wasn’t a matter of disbelieving him. It was the realization that she’d been lied to by others.
Cullen was not killed by the king’s men.
It simply wasn’t true.
Unable to respond further, Teodora’s knees gave way, causing her to falter. It was all too overwhelming, overcoming her already-fragile senses, and Chadwick was there to catch her as she collapsed. Hauling Teodora up into his arms, he pushed into the bedchamber.
“She cannot come with us, Sean,” he said frankly. “She has just given birth. Look at her; the woman must stay in bed.”
Sean had followed them to the doorway of the bedchamber, but the news that the lady had given birth had him reeling with shock. “A… child?” he said. “Lady Barklestone was with child?”
Chadwick nodded as he lifted Teodora up and put her on the bed. “Aye,” Chadwick said quickly. “Quite a surprise to us all. But her infant daughter is in that little bed over there if you care to look. Let me get my bag and we shall be gone.”
With that, Chadwick darted out to the main chamber where he’d left his things, leaving Sean dealing with the stunning news. He didn’t enter the chamber to look at the child, but he could hear it mewling, a tiny little baby with an old maid to watch over her.
It was all the more astonishing because Sean knew Lady Barklestone had ridden to battle up until several weeks ago. That meant she had been pregnant while fighting the outlaws. Perhaps that was why she’d been so irrational and annoying; pregnant women were known to be fickle creatures. Genuinely astounded, Sean thought to, perhaps, congratulate the lady on the child but a knock at the chamber door interrupted him.
Noble Line of de Nerra Complete Set: A Medieval Romance Bundle Page 40
