The Unconventional Maiden

by June Francis

  If the evening had not already taken on an air of unreality, it would have done so when they came to a door set in a wall. Gawain lifted the large handle and banged it. He was obviously expected because the door was opened almost immediately by a religious. Smiling, she ushered them inside and they were led across a courtyard to a building that loomed up dark against the starlit sky. At the door they were greeted by a man dressed in the brown habit of a Franciscan friar.

  ‘Beth, this is my kinsman, Brother Thomas,’ said Gawain easily.

  The friar took Beth’s hand and held it a moment. ‘I am pleased to welcome you here, Mistress Llewellyn. Please, follow me.’

  Gawain took Beth’s hand and she gripped it tightly as they hurried after the friar. They, in their turn, were trailed by Jane. The interior felt damp and was lit by just a few candles. The musky smell of incense hung in the air and a vase of autumn leaves and berries stood at the foot of a statue of St Clare.

  The service did not take long and Beth and Gawain’s eyes never left the other’s face as they plighted their troth, taking each other for better and for worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death parted them. Unfortunately, Gawain had forgotten to buy a ring, so with a teasing smile, Beth tugged the one that had belonged to her mother from a finger and gave it to him. With a wry smile he pushed it on the third finger of her left hand before raising it to his lips and kissing it.

  Beth heard a sob escape Jane as Brother Thomas pronounced them man and wife. She remembered how she had made a list of those traits in a husband that she considered most desirable. Now she knew that which was most needful in a marriage: a companion whom you could love without reservation and who would love you for yourself. Although Gawain had yet to say he loved her—but how could she doubt him when he had done so much in order for them to marry? Even so, she experienced a little ache inside her, wanting to hear him say those words. They left the chapel as they had entered it, hand in hand. As they walked through the darkness to the guest house attached to the abbey, Gawain told Beth that in the morning he would return with her and the children to Raventon Hall.

  ‘I deem it likely that going back there could give them bad dreams, but sooner or later they will have to return home, so best they do so in our company. Lydia is also worried about my aunt.’

  ‘You will not tell them yet that we are married?’ she asked, gazing up into his shadowy features. ‘That would be too much for them to cope with so soon after losing their mother.’

  ‘I would not dispute that and, knowing that your return so soon to Raventon Hall might set tongues wagging, it is perhaps sensible that we keep it quiet for a while,’ he said. ‘Still, I deem it best for us to behave boldly and face up to people and speak the truth about what the children saw. We must let our local people have a description of the murderer and that will make them sit up and think. Besides, I must talk to my aunt if she has gained consciousness. The servants and our neighbours surely know how fond you were of each other when you stayed there during the summer and that should be reason enough to explain your presence at Raventon.’

  ‘Obviously you believe it will be safer there than if we remain in London?’

  ‘Aye,’ said Gawain. ‘Sam sent a boy with a message, telling me that Father Hugh did not go to York Place as I expected, but to a house a short distance away from Pater Noster Row in Cheapside. It is possible that he plans to remain nearby so as to keep an eye on your home. I have sent Benjamin to relieve Sam so he can have some rest. It is possible that during the night hours Father Hugh might decide that it is safe for him to slip away unnoticed.’

  He fell silent as they reached the lodging house and were ushered inside, followed by Jane. ‘We are staying here tonight?’ whispered Beth, gazing about the dimly lit entrance hall.

  Gawain brought his head close to hers. ‘I know it is our wedding night and it is my dearest wish to spend it with you, but—’

  ‘We will be sleeping in cells,’ said Beth, unable to conceal her regret.

  ‘Alas, but I promise you I will make that first night we spend together as man and wife unforgettable,’ he whispered in her ear.

  She could feel herself blushing. ‘I already deem that this evening has been unforgettable. Now you must reassure your children that you are here for them.’

  ‘You will come with me now?’ said Gawain, drawing a little away from her.

  She shook her head. ‘It is you that they need, not me.

  Pray God there will be time enough in the future for them to get to know me and become used to the idea that I am to be their new mother.’

  He gazed down at her and squeezed her hand. ‘You are right. At the moment they could be a little jealous of you. I do not think all women would understand that.’

  Two of the nuns suddenly appeared and Beth knew it was time for her and her husband to take their leave of each other. ‘Until the morrow,’ she said.

  He nodded, regret in his dark blue eyes.

  Beth sighed and went with one of the nuns to her solitary cell. It was not the wedding night she had imagined earlier in the day but she looked forward to Gawain keeping his promise.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Beth ran through the swirling sleet towards the entrance of Raventon Hall with her arm held protectively around a struggling Lydia, whom she had covered with a fold of her own cloak, and Cerberus was at her heels. Jane followed Beth, carrying Tabitha. It was only three in the afternoon, but it seemed much later. To her dismay Beth found the front door barred to them and had need to hammer on it and shout to be let in.

  It seemed an age before she heard dragging footsteps approach the door and quavering tones asked who it was demanding entry. ‘Sir Gawain is not at home, so if you wish to speak to him, please go away.’

  With a flood of relief Beth recognised the voice and obviously so did Lydia, for she cried out, ‘Aunt Catherine, please let us in or we will die of the cold out here!’

  ‘Child, is that you or someone pretending to be you?’ asked Catherine.

  ‘It really is me,’ shrilled Lydia, ‘and Tabitha and Mistress Llewellyn and her Jane are with me whilst Papa and Benjamin have taken the horses to the stables.’

  Then came Tom’s voice from inside. ‘Mistress Ashbourne, you should have stayed in your bedchamber and left this to me or one of the servants,’ he scolded, drawing back the bolts.

  ‘Don’t fuss, Tom. A miracle has happened and they are returned to me. I—I cannot believe it,’ said Catherine, as the door opened. ‘But what was my nephew thinking of travelling on—on such a cruel bitter day?’ she gasped as a flurry of sleet hit her in the face.

  Beth and Lydia almost fell inside. The hound slunk past them, followed by Jane and Tabitha. As soon as Beth recovered her balance, she put her arms around the older woman and hugged her. ‘I feared the worst and I am so pleased to see you on your feet.’

  ‘It was no thanks to that devil in skirts,’ said Catherine fiercely, who had a bandage tied round her head.

  Lydia tugged on her skirt and Catherine place a hand on her head.

  ‘You remember?’ said Beth.

  Catherine snorted. ‘Not immediately. I woke up, but then I heard his voice in my ear and I knew it was him come back to haunt me.’

  For a moment Beth wondered if the knock on the head had affected the older woman’s wits. ‘I don’t understand,’ she said.

  Catherine freed herself from Beth’s embrace and said, ‘Remember my telling you how during the twelve days of Christmas, we’d have the mummers come dressed up in costumes and some would wear masks and one in particular frightened me? I’ll never forget that hissing voice. It reminded me of a serpent. I am now convinced it was Hugh Tyler!’

  ‘You are certain?’ asked Beth, her eyes alight.

  ‘I’d swear it on holy writ that it was him then and now. And him a priest, too,’ she said with a sniff. ‘He’s not a man to be trusted and I was a fool to have not seen his true colours earlier.’


  Lydia tugged hard on Catherine’s skirts. ‘Why must you speak to her? You are my aunt and you should be heeding me!’

  Catherine looked down at Lydia. ‘Oh, by the virgin, you look like a drowned rat! Now over to the fire with you. Where is Tabitha?’

  ‘I have her here, Mistress Ashbourne,’ panted Jane, setting the little girl down.

  ‘Well, take her over to the fire quickly, too,’ said Catherine. ‘Then, off with their clothes and into dry night rails. They can go into my bed, which will be warmer for them than their own.’

  ‘I’ll see it’s done,’ said Tom, hurrying from the hall.

  Beth would have placed her arm around Lydia and ushered her over to the fire, but the girl shrugged it off and clung to Catherine. Beth sighed, recalling how Gawain’s elder daughter had resented any attention that her father had given to her on the journey. She guessed that it was going to be more difficult for Lydia to accept her than she had thought.

  The older woman let out a yelp at the sight of the hound stretched out in front of the hearth. ‘Where did that monster come from?’ she cried.

  ‘He belongs to Benjamin, who is in Papa’s employ, and is here to protect us if Papa is out on the Weald or at the shipyard,’ said Lydia. ‘He can bark very loudly.’

  ‘My nephew has dogs. I only hope this hound does not eat them alive,’ said Catherine.

  ‘I should not think so once Ben or Gawain intro duces them to Cerberus,’ said Beth, following them over to the fire.

  Catherine gazed at the hound doubtfully. ‘That is an unusual name for a hound.’

  Beth would have explained if Lydia had not said, ‘My fingers are frozen, Aunt Catherine. Will you help me remove my cloak and hat?’

  ‘Of course, my little chick. You know I will do anything for you. Now here comes Tabitha, we must not neglect her. Beth, perhaps you can help her.’

  Tabitha shot a glance at her sister and then pressed her face against Jane’s stomach. ‘Don’t want her. Jane will help me.’

  Jane glanced at her mistress. Beth found herself blinking back unwelcome tears. ‘Go ahead, Jane,’ she said gruffly. ‘I will see if Sir Gawain is on his way.’

  Beth hurried away before Lydia decided to change her mind and follow her to demand her father’s immediate attention instead of that of his aunt. Beth left the hall by the rear entrance and sped along a passage and out of a side door that led into the stable yard. She stood in the doorway, gazing towards the stables and thinking about the actions that Gawain had taken on the way here. He had spoken to several people of his acquaintance, telling them of the mysterious woman whom it was suspected was a man in disguise and responsible for murdering his wife and leaving his aunt unconscious. He had given a description of the suspect and said that he planned to give a reward to anyone who might have seen this person and had information that could lead to an arrest. He did not doubt he would get some folk coming, saying they’d had sighting of the murderer just to gain a reward, but maybe amongst them there would be someone who had seen the culprit. Gawain also hoped that his action would help to quash the earlier rumours implicating himself. Beth did not have long to wait before her husband appeared. Thinking of him in such a way still felt unreal in the circumstances, she thought, watching him come striding across the yard.

  ‘What are you doing standing here, Beth?’ he demanded, ushering her inside and kissing her swiftly. ‘You should be by the fire,’ he added, holding her tightly for a moment. ‘You must take care of yourself and not forget the babe you carry. Or is it that you had bad news for me?’ he added anxiously.

  ‘No, no, not that,’ she said. ‘I was not needed and I wanted to speak to you alone.’

  He gazed intently into her face that was flushed with the cold. ‘What do you mean, you are not needed? I need you.’

  ‘And I need you,’ she said softly, her hurt being replaced by the warmth of his response. ‘I wanted to tell you what your aunt said without the children listening.’

  Swiftly she repeated her conversation with Catherine and when she had finished he said, ‘I certainly believe her, but will a court of law? They might say she is an old woman who had a knock on the head and was imagining things.’

  ‘You’re saying that we need someone who has naught to gain and is regarded as reliable,’ said Beth.

  ‘Aye,’ he said grimly. ‘But that is easier said than done.’

  ‘We must hope and pray, nevertheless that such a person will turn up,’ said Beth.

  Gawain agreed. ‘I need to speak to Wolsey, but I don’t want to leave you,’ he said, brushing her cheek with the back of his hand.

  ‘Can you not send a message to Wolsey?’ asked Beth, who was also reluctant to be parted from Gawain. ‘The sooner he knows the truth the better.’

  ‘I agree,’ he murmured. ‘Although some matters are best discussed face-to-face.’

  ‘Then what will you do?’

  ‘I will send Tom to London and he can see if Sam has any further news of our quarry. Then hopefully he will be able to gain an audience with Wolsey at York Place. If not, he must try Westminster Palace. I will write down all the information I have so far and Tom can take it to him. With luck the weather will have improved by morning and he can leave then.’

  ‘And in the meantime we must hope that Father Hugh stays put,’ said Beth.

  ‘As we will stay put,’ murmured Gawain. ‘I only wish that we did not need to keep our marriage a secret.’

  ‘I, too,’ said Beth. ‘I hear footsteps. Perhaps you should take your arm away,’ she added with a sigh.

  He grimaced and began to walk with her towards the hall, saying loudly, ‘It will be interesting to see what response comes from my offer of a reward.’

  ‘What is this about a reward, nephew?’ asked Catherine, appearing in front of them.

  ‘Aunt Catherine!’ He smiled and kissed her on both cheeks. ‘I am so glad to see you up and about and was very interested in what Beth has told me.’

  ‘Hugh Tyler always was a strange young man. He had a beguiling way with him at times. Very fond of your father, though. Hopefully he will soon be apprehended, but I feel sorry for James and Mildred because his arrest will create a scandal.’

  ‘Then let us keep names out of this for now,’ said Gawain. ‘You must not speak of it to anyone. We will play a waiting game.’

  ‘And hopefully the king won’t be sending for you for a while,’ said Catherine.

  ‘Now that I had not thought of,’ said Beth, dismayed.

  ‘If he does, then he will not want me until the twelve days of Christmas,’ reassured Gawain.

  Beth had said no more on that matter and after supper they all retired to their bedchambers. As she undressed, Beth half-hoped that Gawain would come to her during the night and she left her door unlocked, but as the moments passed and there was no sign of him, she drifted into sleep, guessing he was being sensible for both of them, knowing there must be no gossip amongst the servants.

  She was woken by a shift in the change of temperature as the bedcovers lifted and the next moment she felt an arm go around her waist and the long line of Gawain’s muscular body press against her through the fabric of her night rail. ‘I could not keep away,’ he murmured, caressing her ear with his tongue.

  ‘I am glad you have come, but you must be careful not to be seen,’ she whispered, turning in his hold to face him.

  ‘Stop worrying and let us make the most of this time together.’

  ‘But you are wearing your nightshirt,’ she rebuked, wanting his flesh against hers.

  ‘Alas, I thought I might have to leave you in haste if the girls should wake and demand my attention.’

  She understood his reasoning and swallowed a sigh as he kissed her ardently whilst removing her night rail. She caught her breath as he began to kiss and caress her exposed skin, arousing in her feelings that reminded her of that dawn when they had made love for the first time. Instinctively her hands dived down and found the hem of his garment
and delved beneath it. She felt him jerk away from her as she touched him tentatively.

  ‘Careful, wife,’ he gasped, ‘or it will be over too soon for both of us.’

  ‘Aye, husband,’ she said meekly and heard him chuckle.

  ‘It is what I wanted to be to you from that first moment I kissed you,’ he said, nuzzling her breast.

  ‘So soon?’ she asked.

  ‘I wanted not only to possess you, but to have the taming of you,’ he admitted with a chuckle.

  ‘The taming?’ she said with mock indignity.

  ‘Aye! Now shush, wife, for who knows how much time we have before we could be disturbed,’ he said, taking a moment from kissing her belly where he hoped their son lay, to kiss her lips with a sensuous sweetness that caused her expectancy of approaching bliss to soar.

  ‘It is not I who is doing all the talking,’ she said, once she had breath again.

  ‘Then I will say no more,’ he whispered.

  She felt so full of love for him that she could not keep silent, especially when he caused her such delight and took her to heights beyond even that which he had taken her that glorious first time. Afterwards she had fallen asleep in his arms.

  When she woke, it was only to find him gone. It was no more than she had expected and it caused her a momentary sadness, but at least he had kept the promise he had given her on their wedding day. If only he had spoken words of love to her. Yet she had much to be thankful for and pray to God that she could look forward to many mornings when she would turn and see his beloved face on the pillow beside her.

  They did not have to wait long before the first informer arrived at the house, intent on gaining some reward. A couple of days after Tom had left for London a boatman arrived, but he had little of real interest to give them; even so, Gawain did not send him away empty-handed. There were other men who came and he doubted the truth of what they also had to say. It seemed that Father Hugh had the ability to disappear like a wraith. In the meantime Beth was trying to make friends with Lydia and Tabitha, but it was an uphill task. Lydia was careful not to be impolite to her when her father was present, but when he was not there, for a girl of her age, she was surprisingly able, without a word, to make Beth know that she did not ever intend to accept her as a loving member of the family. Beth did not speak of it to Gawain, believing he had enough on his mind, and tried to be as patient and as kind to the two girls as she could.