Stoteville lowered his head in acquiescence while a terrified Helwise grabbed his hand under the table.
Morville stared at his brother-in-law a moment longer then took hold of his wife’s chin, tilting her head and pushing her hair and fillet away from her forehead to expose the now ugly bruise and gash on her pale skin. ‘That is what those rogues did – to their lady! The lady who cares for their troubles, feeds the poorest and most wretched, and advocates for their needs. This is what they did!’ He thrust Helwise’s face away, ignoring her cry of pain and the tears that had escaped her lashes.
‘You are hurting her, My Lord,’ William de Stoteville said, his tone low and calm.
Morville stared at him a moment and let go of his wife’s face. ‘Steward!’ he roared. ‘Where in Christ’s name is the venison?’
Jack leaned forward to speak in his lord’s ear. ‘Begging your pardon, My Lord. Many of the cooks and servers were at the market today. Not many have returned to the castle.’
Morville stared at him. ‘Ensure that they are replaced forthwith,’ he eventually said. ‘And bring out that bloody venison.’
‘Yes, My Lord,’ the servant said, bowing and taking the half-full platters of leftover pork and skylark down to the lower tables to be gnawed over.
The venison arrived half a dozen goblets of wine later. Morville was morose, FitzUrse and Tracy loud and belligerent – mainly with each other, to the relief of everyone else present – whilst Brett gazed around him with unfocused eyes and a vague smile.
Nobody spoke to Morville, FitzUrse, Tracy and Brett except Morville, FitzUrse, Tracy and Brett, and the only ones who noticed were Helwise and William de Stoteville. Stoteville caught the eye of his vassal, Nigel de Plumton, Lord of the Manor of Plumton, who looked worried. Stoteville would have given anything to hear the opinions and words of his peers, but was reluctant to leave his sister’s side when her husband was in such foul spirits.
She leaned into him, knowing her brother well enough to guess where his mind had turned. ‘Go and join them,’ she whispered. ‘With my husband so hated, we must strain to retain good relations with our friends.’
William nodded and moved to stand but was stilled by Morville’s roar.
‘Hated? How dare you speak of your husband as such?’
The chatter and music silenced and the entire room of near two hundred souls stared at their lord and lady. Helwise wisely said nothing, knowing any attempt at appeasement would result in more ire.
‘Am I not your friend, wife?’ Morville asked.
Helwise nodded.
‘Then do not betray me.’ The words were uttered calmly, so calmly that Helwise only understood them when her husband’s fist connected with her cheekbone and she fell, screaming from both the pain at the blow, plus fear at the crack she heard on its impact.
William stayed silent, but pulled his dagger as he climbed on to the bench and threw his entire weight at his brother-in-law.
Helwise crawled to safety as the other knights jumped to their feet. FitzUrse, Tracy and Brett attempted to heave Stoteville away from Morville, and the local nobles tried to heave FitzUrse, Tracy and Brett away from Stoteville.
Soon the entire hall was at odds with each knight’s men fighting their master’s rival’s men. Staring at the carnage, Helwise was reminded of hunting hounds fighting over a kill. She alone witnessed William de Percy, favourite of King Henry, enter the hall, stare around him in contempt, then abruptly turn, his scarlet cloak swirling, to leave the troublesome knights to their brawl.
Chapter 19
11th July 2015
‘Dan, no, I have a headache.’ Sarah wasn’t quite sure if she’d spoken the words aloud, she was still more in sleep than out of it, and Dan didn’t stop. He rolled her unresponsive body on to her back and her entire focus was on keeping her legs together.
He persisted. There was no sensuous touching, no loving caresses, just fingers between her legs, trying to force them apart and gain access.
Sarah forced herself awake to again grunt, ‘No,’ then rolled back on to her front. She despaired when she felt those same fingers still seeking the depths of her body. She held her legs together, determined not to be used like this.
She tumbled back into dreams, thinking she was safe, then jerked awake as she was intimately touched.
‘No, Dan, stop, let me sleep,’ she mumbled, curling up into a ball.
‘Oh come on, Sarah, it’s been ages,’ Dan said and smacked her backside.
Sarah started awake – properly now – sat up, and pulled both covers and legs up.
‘What the hell’s wrong with you, Sarah? I thought we were doing better lately.’
‘I’m not against a little morning glory, Dan, but I was asleep and woke to you mauling me. I feel like a piece of meat.’
‘Is it so wrong for a husband to desire his wife?’
‘Of course not, if the husband takes the time to turn his wife on, so that she wants it too, rather than just taking what he fancies.’
‘You make it sound like rape!’
‘Well, to be honest, waking up like that kind of feels like rape.’
‘But you’re my wife!’
‘Yes, and I love making love with you. But not when I’m asleep!’
‘You bitch. You are shagging Mike, aren’t you?’
‘Oh my God.’ Sarah rested her head in her hands. ‘For the last time, I am not having an affair with Mike. I wouldn’t do that to you.’
‘How can I believe that? You don’t even want to have sex with me any more.’
‘Of course I do, I’d just like to be an active participant, that’s all!’
‘There you go again with the rape accusation.’
‘I didn’t say that, you did.’
‘But how can a man trying to have sex with his wife be rape?’
‘Are you kidding me? What, are you living in the Middle Ages now? You do not have an automatic right to my body. It’s my body. And if I want to say no, then you respect that.’
‘You are sleeping with Mike, aren’t you?’
Sarah stared dumbfounded at her husband. How many times could she deny an accusation without foundation? ‘No, Dan, I’m not,’ she said, weary.
‘Then who?’
‘No one. And unless you can trust me, not you.’
‘Fucking bitch!’ He bent over her as she lay whimpering in their bed. ‘Going off sex is the first sign of cheating,’ he hissed in her ear. ‘I know you’re being untrue. I know it.’
He jerked back and stormed naked out of the room, fists clenched. Sarah stared after him, knowing she’d had enough and wondering how she could separate their lives in a divorce. And where the hell could she go?
*
‘Hi Helen,’ Sarah said as Helen stood to embrace her friend.
‘How are you?’ Helen asked. ‘I’ve been worried about you.’
The women both sat and Sarah shook her head. ‘I don’t know what’s got into Dan lately. He was jealous after that love scene with Mike in the last play, but nothing like this, it’s exploding out of him now.’
‘Exploding? What do you mean? Has he hit you?’
‘Oh no, no,’ Sarah shook her head, then paused. ‘Not yet. No more than the slap he gave me in the pub the other week, anyway.’
‘Not yet?’
‘No. No, sorry, I’m being silly. I didn’t sleep well. There is no yet. Dan isn’t like that.’
‘He did a damned good impression in the Bailiff,’ Helen pointed out.
Sarah stayed silent for a moment, then said, ‘I’m going to the bar, what would you like?’
‘No, I’ll get them, you need a bit of TLC.’ Helen reached across the table and squeezed her friend’s hand, aware that Sarah’s eyes were glistening.
‘Large dry white wine, please. Thanks Helen.’
‘Anytime.’ Helen stood then sat back down. ‘You know if it gets too much and you need some space, you’re very welcome to stay with me.’
&nbs
p; ‘Thanks, but things aren’t that bad. He’s my husband and he’s clearly going through something. You know what men are like, he’ll tell me what’s going on eventually.’
‘Yes, when it’s all sorted.’ Helen laughed, then went to the bar.
‘I got a bottle,’ Helen said, and stepped aside for the barman to put it and two glasses on the table. There were some advantages at least to having a broken wrist. ‘I have a feeling this is going to be a long lunch.’
Sarah laughed. ‘You know me so well.’ She picked up the bottle and poured two large glasses, while Helen sat down.
‘He does like you, you know.’
‘Who, Dan?’
‘No, Sarah. Mike.’
‘Well, we’re friends.’
‘He likes you more than that and you know it.’
‘Oh don’t be silly.’
‘I’m not, it’s obvious to everyone – except you it seems.’
Sarah said nothing but looked thoughtful.
‘Oh, you like him too, don’t you?’
‘Helen, no, I’m married with two kids.’
‘So? I’m not asking if you’re sleeping with him, just if you fancy him.’
‘Helen!’
‘You still haven’t answered the question. You do, don’t you?’
‘Well okay, he’s sweet.’
‘Sweet? Could you find a more insulting compliment?’
‘It’s a married women’s compliment,’ Sarah said with a grin, ‘and all I’m giving.’
‘Giving me, anyway,’ Helen said, laughing.
‘Giving anyone,’ Sarah insisted. ‘Mind you, I’m paying the price as if I were giving Mike more – might as well do the crime if I’m already doing the time. Cheers.’ She raised her glass and took a large gulp while Helen spluttered over her own wine.
‘I’m joking! Only joking!’ Sarah said as they both descended into helpless giggles.
‘Well, be careful who you tell that joke to, Sarah.’
‘Only you.’
‘That’s good.’ Helen was serious again. ‘You know, I am worried. Not only about you but the rest of the players too. If Dan’s cracking, it could fracture the whole group.’
‘Thanks.’
‘Oh don’t be like that, Sarah, you know I’m here for you.’
‘Yes, of course, sorry Helen. I’m just tired. Sick and tired of my husband and my marriage.’
Helen leaned over again to squeeze her hand. ‘Is it really that bad?’
Sarah looked at, eyes steady. ‘Pretty much, yes. We’ve fought before, but this time I just don’t have the energy to fix things.’
‘You don’t love him any more.’
‘I didn’t say that.’
‘Yes, Sarah, you kind of did.’
Chapter 20
‘Are you sure we can afford this, Charlie?’ Helen said as Charlie got up to get another round in.
‘Absolutely. We still have a large chunk of the grant money left. We deserve a celebration, and as treasurer I officially declare that we can afford to do it in style.’
‘Okay, if you’re sure.’ Helen relaxed and beamed. ‘I still can’t quite believe that we got funding.’
‘It’s about time,’ Charlie said. ‘We’ve been operating on a budget for years. It feels good to earn before the doors even open.’
‘Well, hurry up and get the drinks in then,’ Helen said with a laugh.
‘Yeah, get a move on, mate, we’re dying of thirst here,’ Paul said.
Charlie flicked two fingers at him, then went to the bar.
‘Oh, bloody hell, that Catherine lass is here – no wonder he was so keen to get up for the next round,’ Paul said. ‘He’s not beating me with this one, too.’
‘Oh don’t tell me you two have bet on a woman again,’ Sarah said.
‘It’s just a bit of fun.’
‘No it isn’t, it’s degrading. Why don’t you try to be nice and – I don’t know – talk to her?’
‘Where’s the fun in that?’ Paul asked.
‘Yes, you might win the bet that way, mate,’ Mike said at the same time.
The others laughed at the comical impression of a light bulb illuminating that Paul was barely aware he’d done, before he hurried to the bar asking Charlie if he could give him a hand.
Sarah smiled at Mike, pleased he’d taken her part, then glanced at Dan as he slammed his empty glass on the table. ‘Off for a piss,’ he said and got to his feet, knocking the table, and staggered off in the direction of the gents.
‘Is he okay?’ Ed asked.
Sarah sighed. ‘He’s fine, just drunk. He’s been drinking all day,’ she said, her exasperation with her husband clear to her friends.
‘How long has that been going on?’ Alec asked.
Sarah shrugged.
‘We should try and talk some sense into him,’ Alec added.
‘Won’t do any good, even if you can get him when he’s sober,’ Sarah said.
‘We have to do something,’ Helen said and laid a gentle hand on her friend’s arm. ‘It’s affecting his performance on stage – I won’t let him ruin this for us.’
Sarah shrugged again. ‘I don’t know what to tell you. I don’t know what to do,’ she said, tears threatening.
‘Shush, it’s okay, love,’ Mike said, putting his arm around her shoulders and pulling her close. ‘We’re all friends here, and we’re here for you.’
Helen widened her eyes at Sarah in warning, but she either didn’t see or she refused to see. She patted Mike’s knee. ‘Thanks, Mike.’ She straightened before Dan came back. Mike reluctantly dropped his arm and gave her a small smile.
Helen froze. Shit, he’s in love with her, she thought. Oh shit, shit, shit. I didn’t realise it was that bad. Her thoughts were interrupted by Dan thumping back down in his seat.
‘Have they got the drinks yet?’ he said, peering at the bar in search of Paul and Charlie.
‘Could be a while yet,’ Ed said, turning and spotting them both talking to Catherine. ‘Doesn’t look like they’ve even ordered them.’
‘Bloody amateurs,’ Dan sneered and levered himself back to his feet to hurry up his mates. Ed, Alec, Helen, Sarah and Mike looked at each other in silence.
‘He’ll be okay,’ Mike said, patting Sarah’s back. ‘He’ll sort himself out and soon.’
‘What if he doesn’t?’ Sarah said. ‘What then?’
‘Then we find someone else to play FitzUrse,’ Helen said.
Sarah looked at her. ‘That’s not what I meant, Helen.’
‘Sorry.’ Helen flushed and looked at the table.
‘I’ll have a word with him,’ Mike said.
‘I don’t think that’s a good idea,’ Alec said. ‘Ed and I will do it.’
‘Why?’
Alec didn’t reply, but turned to Ed. ‘You’re up for that, aren’t you?’
‘Yeah sure, whatever I can do to help,’ Ed said.
‘Here you go, sorry about the delay,’ Charlie said as he put two pints and a couple of gin and tonics on the table, followed by another four pints from Paul. Everyone held the table steady as Dan retook his seat – just in case – then the other two sat down.
‘Took you bloody long enough,’ Mike said.
‘Ah, but it was worth it,’ Paul said, holding up a scrap of paper with numbers scribbled on it. ‘Pay up, Charlie.’
Charlie grumbled, but got his wallet out. ‘Enjoy it while it lasts – I’ll get the next bird, then you’ll be giving me that tenner back.’
‘When did you two get so callous?’ Sarah asked, disgusted with her friends, then erupted into giggles as Catherine poured her drink over Paul’s head and plucked the tenner out of Charlie’s fingers.
‘That’ll pay for the drink I’ve just wasted,’ she said. ‘Grow up, boys.’ She sashayed to the door, turned and gave Sarah a wink before she left.
‘I bloody paid for that drink,’ Paul shouted after her, to even more amusement from his friends.
‘I
’m off to clean up,’ he said. He punched Charlie on the arm. ‘We both had a lucky escape with that one.’
Charlie tried to retort, but could not form any recognisable words through his laughter. Eventually, holding his stomach, he managed to say, ‘Priceless, bloody priceless, well worth a tenner. I think I’m in love.’ He collapsed into helpless laughter again, infecting the whole table – including Dan.
When Paul returned to the table, still wet, but at least not quite as sticky, Helen couldn’t resist. ‘Now careful, guys, we’re already barred from the Borough Bailiff, we don’t want to get barred from here too. We’ll be running out of pubs at this rate.’ Even Paul managed to see the funny side.
‘I’m off to the loo, will you let me out, Dan?’ Sarah said once the giggles had subsided enough.
*
Exiting the ladies, she was surprised by Mike, who grabbed her arm and pulled her into a hug.
‘Mike, what are you doing?’
‘Shush,’ he said. ‘Don’t worry, I just want to say, well, I know things aren’t great with Dan at the moment . . .’
‘Mike, this isn’t the time, we’re both pissed and if Dan sees us, he’ll kick off big time.’
‘No, it’s okay, the boys are having a word with him, he didn’t even see me leave the table.’
Sarah nodded. ‘Okay.’
‘Sarah, I just want to say . . .’
‘Well hurry up and say it then.’ She laughed to take away the sting of her words.
‘I just want to say, if you’re not happy, you know, with Dan, you don’t have to stay.’
‘Mike, he’s my husband and the father of my children.’
‘I know, I know, but if he’s making you unhappy . . . oh, sod it,’ he said, grabbed Sarah’s head and kissed her, hard.
Sarah squeaked and tried to push Mike away, but as he persisted, she found her resistance wavering, replaced by tingles in her belly and a quickening of her pulse. As she melted into Mike’s kiss, the tingling spread until she was kissing him back with the same intensity.
Mike pulled back to look into her eyes as she pushed away, horrified at the realisation of what she’d done.
Ghosts of Yorkshire Page 32
