Beloved Abductor

by June Francis

  ‘Why should I die? My condition has improved, due to the excellent care I’ve had. I know I’ll always have difficulty with my shoulder, but even so I’m stronger than you think.’ He smiled down at her. ‘Now where is Steven? Then I should go after Edmund, he could be in need of assistance.’

  ‘No, he left ages ago! I’m sure he can manage without your help. I think we should go back to the house and get help for Steven,’ insisted Joan.

  Before Dickon could say what he thought of her suggestion, there came the sound of voices and a splashing from the ford. ‘By the saints, that sounds like my sister’s voice!’ Dickon made haste towards the river, taking Joan with him.

  On catching sight of two riders, he called, ‘Nell, is that you?’

  ‘Dickon! I feared, when Felicia sent for me, that you might be dead by the time I arrived,’ called Nell, looking relieved.

  Joan sidled behind Dickon as his sister slid from her horse and held out both hands to her brother. He squeezed them tightly. ‘I am extremely pleased to see you,’ he said.

  ‘You look better than I hoped for!’ She stretched up and kissed his cheek. ‘But what are you doing here in the rain? I cannot believe you came looking for me during such a storm.’

  ‘No, it is by chance that I am here with Joan.’ He released his sister’s hands.

  ‘Joan?’ Nell raised a questioning eyebrow.

  Dickon drew Joan forward. ‘Joan is Felicia’s cousin. My sister, Mistress Nell Seisdon, Joan.’

  ‘I’m pleased to meet you, Mistress Seisdon. I welcome you to Chipbury on my cousin’s behalf,’ said Joan shyly.

  Nell pushed back a damp curl with an unsteady hand and thanked her, adding, ‘I heard that there had been a great battle and the Montfort was defeated. I thought that Edmund might have returned here in its aftermath.’

  ‘He did but he had to leave again,’ said Joan hastily. ‘But we should not linger. Dickon is soaked through and, no doubt, you are weary after the journey, Mistress Seisdon. We should hurry to the house where I will see that a hot meal is prepared for you. Come!’

  ‘No, wait,’ said Dickon hastily.

  He drew Joan aside and whispered in her ear at some length.

  Watching the pair, Nell frowned.

  Dickon turned to his sister. ‘May we borrow a horse?’

  Nell looked startled but nodded to one of her outriders, who dismounted. Joan asked him to assist her into the saddle. Whilst he did so, Dickon went over Nell and said in a low voice, ‘You have not forgotten Steven Beaufort, have you?’

  She looked startled. ‘Steven! Why do you ask?’

  ‘I ask because if you still have any warmth of feelings towards him, you might wish to help him. I have not seen him for myself but Joan informs me that he is wounded and lying within yards of this spot.’

  Nell gasped and put a hand to her breast. ‘You jest!’ gasped Nell, putting a hand to her breast.

  Dickon frowned. ‘Would I jest about such a matter?’

  ‘But I don’t understand! Did he fight in the battle alongside Edmund and he brought him here?’ asked his sister.

  Joan was about to say that it had not been like that at all but a speaking look from Dickon silenced her. ‘I’m sure Steven will explain everything to you,’ he said, kissing Nell’s cheek. ‘When you and Steven have sorted everything out between you, then come up to the house. It is not so difficult to find, just follow our tracks.’

  ‘But …’ began Nell, only for her voice to trail off as her brother mounted the horse and he and Joan rode off. Confused and exasperated, she stared after them, then she became aware that her feet were sinking into a patch of mud. She groaned inwardly and turned to her groom. ‘Henry, start searching for a wounded man nearby,’ she ordered.

  Henry had barely began his search when she heard her name being called and almost jumped out of her skin. She gazed about her but could see no one but her heart had begun to pound. Where was the owner of that voice.

  ‘Over there, Mistress!’ called Henry.

  Nell’s gaze followed his pointing finger and she caught sight of a figure staggering out from behind a hawthorn bush. He managed only a couple of steps before falling face down. She gave a cry of distress and hurried over to him. Henry turned him over gently. She drew in her breath sharply at the sight of the bloodied face.

  ‘Steven, is it really you?’ she gasped.

  His eyes opened and he stared up at her. ‘Nell, it is you.’

  ‘Aye, it’s me!’ She reached out an unsteady hand to the golden strands of hair sticking to the dried blood on his forehead. ‘What was Edmund thinking of leaving you like this?’ she asked angrily.

  ‘He needed to catch the man responsible and rescue his wife.’

  ‘Wife!’ gasped Nell. ‘I deem our injury has scattered your wits. He has no wife!’

  ‘Indeed, he does. The erstwhile Mistress Meriet whom her cousin abducted.’ Steven coughed and lay back exhausted.

  His words silenced her and then she managed to say, ‘Was it her cousin who did this to you?’

  Steven nodded wearily.

  Nell turned and spoke to her groom before lifting Steven and cradling his head in her lap. She took a napkin from Henry and gently began to clean the wounded man’s face. As she did so, she told Henry and the outrider to go up to the house and bring back a wagon.

  The men nodded and left.

  ‘I’ve never stopped thinking of you, Nell. I’ve been no good without you,’ said Steven.

  ‘Haven’t you?’ Nell had an overwhelming urge to burst into tears.

  ‘I suppose it’s too late for us?’ He attempted a smile.

  Nell took a deep breath. It was not in her nature to throw caution to the wind and so it was now but she, too, had never forgotten how it had once been between them. Edmund would never have been the love of her life if they had married. Obviously he had known that was so. She kissed Steven gently and said, ‘I deem everyone deserves a second chance at happiness.’

  Epilogue

  ‘Joan is almost her old self,’ said Felicia as she and Edmund walked through the orchard. ‘She can never be that innocent maiden that she was in the past but Dickon is bringing out the best in her and watching them together is a joy to see.’

  It was a month later, and the next day there would be the harvest celebration, as well as three weddings. She reached up and plucked an apple from a tree, crunching into its cool flesh and then offering it to her husband.

  ‘Steven and Dickon’s injuries are almost completely healed,’ said Edmund, after biting a chunk out of the apple and chewing thoughtfully. ‘But Steven will always bear the scars which Philip inflicted on him but he never did value his looks highly: Harry is convinced he won the scars in battle and admires him for it. As for Dickon, he’ll always have a weakness in that shoulder, so it would be wise of him to no longer attempt to play the lute. Even so all things considered, the six of us have come through the last few months amazingly well,’ he added, reaching for an apple from a different tree and handing it to his wife.

  ‘I agree,’ said Felicia promptly. ‘And it is good to have friends one can rely on, although part of me can’t wait for the morrow to be over, so we can be alone for a short while before making the journey to Meriet and then afterwards visiting the manor your father willed to you.’

  ‘But we will return here for the Christmas festivities,’ said Edmund, slipping an arm about Felicia’s waist. ‘I have become fond of Chipbury and because it is smaller than our other two manors, it will be less arduous for the servants to keep the fires burning in the hall and kitchen, as well as the brazier in our bedchamber.’

  She slanted him a mischievous glance. ‘But surely we will have our love to keep us warm?’

  He tossed the half-eaten apple aside and drew her against him. ‘God willing, we shall have sons that will bear the name of de Vert.’

  ‘Perhaps even now I am carrying the first of many,’ she said softly.

  He cocked an eyebr
ow. ‘You think so?’

  ‘We have made love dozens of times, so do you not consider it likely?’ Her eyes smiled up into her husband’s. ‘But if you want to be absolutely certain…I know a place along the river where it will be quiet at this time of day.’

  ‘I think I know it, too,’ said Edmund. ‘Shall we go?’

  They went.

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