“Do you feel guilty for her death as well?” It had never occurred to Marina that Christiana felt guilty as well.
“Yes, I do. So does Eva. We all think we should have done more, but the truth is there was nothing more to be done. We did all we could, and more than we should have. When someone is meant to die, then they die. It’s how God wants it to be.”
Marina looked down at her hands. “For a while I was even angry with God for letting her die.”
“That doesn’t make you a bad person. I went through the same thing. I wish I’d been more open about my grief and feelings of guilt. Mayhap you’d have felt less guilt then.”
“I doubt it.” Marina sighed. “You’re right though. She was meant to die, so we could grow stronger. If we’d always had her to lean on, we may have lost this battle.”
Christiana nodded, her face sober. “But she didn’t die in vain. We’ll make her proud when we defeat Walter. I promise.”
Marina smiled slightly. “You’re right. We’ll make her very proud.”
Chapter Nine
For the next few days, the mood in the manor shifted. The castle was still being built, but it was done by experienced men with no direction from Roland. All of Roland’s efforts were concentrated on battle strategy. He knew they would be taking on an army with men of power, much like his wife and her sisters, and not knowing what the powers would be left some things hard to anticipate. With Joseph at his side, he pored over maps of the area, deciding good routes to take to conquer the men.
Christiana reminded him every morning that the battle would not be fought with men and swords, but he waved her away, convinced he could keep his wife and sisters from a terrible battle with his army. Christiana went back to training her sisters, insisting on running up and down the stairs daily and allowing Marina to do more and more healing.
Every afternoon, after healing the ever-growing line of peasants who came to them, the sisters would walk with a half dozen of the men from Roland’s army. Hugh or Charles was always outside the door guarding them, and every day both men would accompany them on their walks.
The fickle English weather was the only thing that kept their walks from being perfect in Marina’s eyes, for who doesn’t want to walk along in the countryside with the man you love holding your hand? It wasn’t quite as much fun when it was raining on you, but she said it didn’t matter. She was pleased to be outside.
There were either fewer men who were being sent by Walter, or the men were getting better at hiding the fact that they were coming from the three sisters. One particularly cold day, they walked out toward the castle building. It was taking shape quickly, and Charles explained that many of the materials for the castle had been brought over from Normandy.
“I thought it would take years to build a castle,” Marina said, staring at the half completed building.
“Normally that would be the case. King William instructed that enough materials for many castles be floated across the water along with the army. Roland was fortunate enough to call some of the materials his own. This structure will be up quickly, and then he will build a stone castle after it’s done.” Charles never tired of explaining the difference in their ways to Marina, who seemed to soak up all information she could. Now that they weren’t constantly fighting as they had when he’d first arrived, he was recognizing her keen intelligence.
“Why did you agree to come with your brother to England?” she asked. She knew he wanted land of his own, but was that the only reason?
He shrugged. “Our older brother is somewhat of a—well, a pig is a good description. He works constantly and lords it over everyone that the land will be his. Roland wanted his own land and was willing to do what it took to get it. I knew Roland would never act the way of our brother, and I was always closer to Roland. I followed behind him and Hugh wherever they went as soon as I was able to walk.”
“I’m glad you did,” she said simply.
“So am I. Working alongside Roland is very different than working under my other brother. Roland is the master, and we both know that, but he treats Hugh and me as friends instead of underlings. It makes a big difference in how we relate to one another and feel about ourselves. I will happily live with this brother as one of his men for the rest of my days. I couldn’t have done the same back in Normandy.” He brought their joined hands up and kissed her fingers. “You’re cold. We should get back. It can’t be good for the babe for Christiana to be wandering about in the cold.”
Marina shrugged. “I think Christiana’s babe is stronger than any of us are willing to admit. Nothing we’ve done so far has hurt him as far as I can tell. He seems to thrive on her use of her powers. I have no idea why or how, but I cannot complain. I want him to be strong.”
Cold rain began to fall, and they all hurried back toward the manor. Marina was laughing as she hurried inside, her hand still grasped tightly in that of her husband.
Roland walked from his table where he’d been mapping out battle plans and shook his head. “Marina, if everyone gets sick because of you running around in the cold rain, it will be your job to heal them.”
Marina curtsied, lifting her dress high as if she was at court. Roland growled at her as he got back to work, but Marina saw the twinkle in his eye. “I’m off to put on dry clothes. Thank you for an exciting walk, milord,” she said curtsying to Charles.
Charles laughed as he bowed low. “I do know courtly manners, but I have no desire to have to live them every day of my life.”
Roland looked over his shoulder. “Charles, get over here. I want to get your opinion on something.”
Charles walked to his brother, looking down at the map, his wife apparently forgotten for his duties.
Hugh escorted the ladies up the stairs and took up his guard position at the end of the hall, while the three sisters hurried to their chambers and changed out of the wet clothes. They converged in Christiana’s room as they always did, each of them picking up their embroidery they were forever working on, but mostly ignoring, as they spoke to one another. It was ladylike to constantly be working on embroidery, so that’s what they did.
Christiana eyed Marina as she stabbed her needle into the middle of her embroidery. She had no idea what she was making, and truly didn’t care. She wouldn’t be doing busy work like this if she had the freedom to do as she wanted these days, but she agreed with her husband that she and the baby must come first.
“Have you asked Charles how he feels about you yet, Marina?” Christiana asked softly. “I have been watching the two of you together on our walks, and no man would spend that much time doting over a woman he doesn’t love.”
Marina shook her head. “If he loved me, he’d tell me. Charles is not a man to hide things like that.”
“Mayhap he thinks you already know,” Eva suggested, her eyes meeting Christiana’s.
“Why is it so important to the two of you that I tell Charles how I feel?” Marina asked, frowning at the two of them.
“We just want you to be happy,” Christiana said. “We were both much happier as soon as we knew that our husbands loved us. We know it would be the same with you.”
Marina shrugged. “At the moment, I’m happy knowing that he cares enough to take us for walks every day and to spend extra time with me.”
Eva leaned forward over her perfect embroidery. She was a great deal more visual than her sisters. They’d always felt that it was due to her power being visual. “Talk to him tonight.”
“Why?” Marina asked again. “Shouldn’t I be the one who decides if I feel the need to have this talk with my husband?”
Christiana leaned back and closed her eyes. “You’re right. I’m sorry I brought it up.”
“Are you tired? Sick?” Marina leaned closer to her sister, using her hand to assess her. “Is the babe giving you trouble?”
Christiana laughed. “I barely know he’s there.”
Marina closed her eyes. “You don’t seem to have any trouble with h
im, and he’s strong as a horse. I’m surprised at how strong he is.”
Rubbing her hand over her stomach, Christiana smiled. “I know I should be frightened that it’s a boy, but I’m so excited!”
“So far all is going well. Mayhap if we have the final part of our battle over by the time you deliver all will be fine. I hope so anyway.” Marina frowned. “What I really hope is that my powers will have strengthened by the time your pains are upon you, and I will be able to save you both.”
“Would be nice if it was both, wouldn’t it?” Eva asked, her head bowed over her embroidery.
Hugh popped his head into the room. “Time for supper.”
The sisters set their embroidery down willingly. Marina wished there was something else for them to do in the quiet hours other than sew. Mayhap someday women would be freer with the things they could do with their time.
That night, as she lay in bed with Charles, Marina couldn’t stop thinking about her sisters’ suggestions that she tell Charles of her love. Mayhap they were right. She would definitely feel more secure if he told her he loved her, and she knew she loved him. She could simply say the words first, and see what happened.
Of course, she would be devastated if he didn’t return her feelings, but her sisters would help her mend her broken heart. She took a deep breath, turning toward him, propping her head up on her hand. “I love you, Charles.” Now she wished she’d stayed lying flat. It would have been better not to see his face. She held her breath, hoping for the answer she needed.
Charles gathered her close. “And I love you, Marina. More than I had ever imagined possible. I would never have stayed here instead of seeking my fortune otherwise.”
“You do? You really love me?” Marina knew her voice sounded…well needy, but this was something she did need. More than she’d ever realized she needed anything.
He pressed his lips to the top of her head. “I do. I’ve loved you from the first moment I saw you.”
“And I you. Why did we fight so much?”
He smiled at that. “I fought with you, because I thought you were going to keep me from what I was supposed to do. I couldn’t imagine that I was meant to stay here and work with my brother, but now, I can’t believe that I should be anywhere else. My brother needs me. You need your sisters and they need you. This is where we’re both meant to be. Together.”
The following morning, after their training exercises, and after Marina had successfully defended herself with a dagger when Charles tried to take it from her, she sat down with her sisters. The joy in her eyes told them before she said a word.
“He told you he loves you!” Christiana said. “Do you feel any different?”
Marina narrowed her eyes at her sister. “Why would I feel different? I feel happy if that’s what you mean.”
“I believe that our powers expand when we realize we have found love with someone who returns it—by finding the mate of our souls.” Christiana jumped up, grabbing Marina’s hand. “Let’s go find Roland and see if you can finish his healing.”
“If I finish healing him, he may immediately leave to go and try to find Walter,” Marina said with a frown.
Christiana shook her head. “No, he feels like he and Joseph are within a few days of having the perfect battle plan mapped out. He won’t go yet. He wants to be certain of victory.”
The three sisters sped down the stairs into the main hall where Roland and Joseph were working, Charles right behind them.
“You will stay where we put you!” Charles said angrily.
Marina turned on her husband, and put her hands on her hips. “Do you really think you will be allowed to order us about as if we are empty-headed ladies who know no better? We’re women of power, Charles. We will continue to do as we know we’re meant to do, whether you are guarding us or Hugh is. I don’t care if the entire Norman army is guarding us. We will do what we feel is best for us!” She couldn’t believe how freely she felt she could talk to him, now that she was sure of his love.
“Well, then you’d better realize that what I ask you to do is the right thing for you and do that, because I will accept nothing else from you. You continue to be strong, and I will continue to care about you and need to keep you safe.” Charles took a step closer to his wife, trying to intimidate her from his greater height. He should have known it wouldn’t work.
“We came down here to prove or disprove a theory Christiana has. We believe there is a chance that I can finish healing Roland now. A chance that my powers have expanded as we’ve been wanting.”
Charles’s eyes grew wide. “I hope you are right!” He looked at his brother. “Roland!”
Roland looked up from his map, annoyed to see that his planning time was being interrupted by his wife and her sisters. “Ladies, this is the time for you to do your morning training. Mayhap you should go back above the stairs from whence you came.”
Marina walked to her brother-in-law, her hand outstretched. She could feel the wound within him, almost healed, but the magical part was still throbbing. She wondered how he could stand for the pain it must bring him. Never before had she felt so clearly what was going on within him. She focused her power into her hand, and watched within her mind as his body mended itself, thrusting the magic injury away.
When she was done, she smiled at him, amused at his stunned look. “It worked, didn’t it?”
Roland ran his hand over his side. “It did. The pain is completely gone.” He stared at her, and then his eyes met Christiana’s. “Her powers are complete.” He grabbed Christiana in his arms, swinging her off her feet as if she weighed nothing. “You won’t die now!”
Christiana laughed. “I don’t believe I was destined to die anyway, but yes, Marina having her full healing powers will make it much more likely that I will live to a ripe old age, and we will have grandchildren playing at our feet someday.”
Roland wrinkled his nose. “I’m more concerned about having our children play at our feet. That’s what must happen first.”
Christiana turned to her sisters and held her arms out. The three of them embraced, tears rolling down their faces. The first of the obstacles was done. They had the power they needed. Now to face down the enemy.
Marina continued to heal in the afternoons, but she now needed no help at all from her sisters. No matter how serious the wound, or how close to death the peasant, her power was sufficient to restore full life to her patients.
It was three days after Marina healed Roland that he announced the majority of the army would be leaving the following morning. They would go in search of Walter, to win the final battle once and for all.
“Will you take me with you?” Marina asked. “I could quickly heal anyone who becomes injured.”
Charles turned to Marina, gaping at her as if she’d lost her mind. “No, you may not go!”
Marina shrugged. “Seems to me that if he sees your army coming, he’ll come here immediately. He wants to separate us. That’s when he would have the chance.”
Roland began to pace back and forth. “Having you with us would ensure fewer casualties among my men, but would you be safe? I would not be responsible for killing my sister.”
Marina shrugged. “I would happily lay down my life if it meant saving another.”
“No!” Charles said, refusing to hear another word. “You will stay here where you’ll be safe.”
“I don’t know why you think I’ll be safe here!” Marina said. “Right at this moment, Walter could be just outside the manor, waiting for your army to leave. ’Tis obvious to anyone with eyes it will happen soon!”
Christiana nodded. “I was thinking we should send out a token army. Have Eva buff it up and make it look like there are hundreds riding out, but only send five or ten men.”
Roland stared at her in shock. “What if he’s not watching?”
“He’s watching. I can feel him.”
“How long has he been here? Why haven’t you said something?”
&
nbsp; “You were having so much fun planning your battle that I didn’t want to interfere!” Christiana smiled sweetly at her husband. “Besides, I’m in no hurry for you to face him. I think you should let him come to us. We are better equipped to defend, because we are comfortable here. We have food. We can sneak in and out. There’s no need to go searching for the enemy. He’s here.”
“Where is he exactly?” Roland asked.
Christiana shrugged. “My power doesn’t work that way. He’s close. Close enough that I can feel his hatred for us—His desire to get his hands on Marina. He’s angry because we’ve killed so many of his men. He’s very close, but exactly where I can’t tell you.”
“You should have told me!”
Marina shook her head. Christiana had told her and Eva, but they’d decided together not to tell the men. “No, she shouldn’t have told you. This is not your battle. This is our battle. A battle we’re destined to fight.”
Roland shook his head. “We’re not going to sit back and let our ladies fight a battle without us. Have you lost your minds?” He was obviously exasperated, but Marina and her sisters were not about to back down.
Eva frowned at Roland. “We haven’t. We’ve been training for this battle from the moment we were born. We’ve always known this was coming. We’ve done everything we can to prepare for it. Now we’re going to fight it.”
“Not without us!” Hugh said, anger apparent on his face. He moved to his wife’s side. “Did you know Walter was near?”
“Of course, I did. How could I not? My sisters and I tell one another everything.”
Roland looked as though he wanted to shout at the three women, but he knew it would do him no good at all. “So what do you want us to do? Sit back and watch you fight them and do nothing?”
Christiana smiled, walking close to her husband. She put her palm flat against his chest. “We know that’s not possible. We know you will be part of this if you can be.”
“If I can be? What do you mean by that?” Roland glared at his wife.
Seduced (Thrice Blessed Book 3) Page 11
