Robert_A Seventh Son Novel

by Kirsten Osbourne

  “Did not you hear her say they were a gift? No, you will wear them on your wedding day. They will go beautifully with your hair.”

  Matilda’s hair had never been cut. Her mother had always insisted that her beauty was magnified by her hair. It had been a nuisance most of the time, but her mother had promised her that when she married, it would cease to be a problem. Instead she would be happy it was long and beautiful. “As you wish. If I lose them, you will only have yourself to blame, though.”

  “You will not lose them. It is not like you are going to be running about the castle grounds today. You will be followed everywhere you go. I doubt if Lord Robert will allow you out of his sight.”

  “Is it bad that I am happy he is nervous as well? I want him to be as nervous as I am about this wedding.”

  “He is probably just nervous he will accidentally make people fly about during the service in his nervousness.”

  Matilda giggled. “Does everyone know about his powers?”

  “Most of the castle servants do, but none of us will ever say a thing. Mayhap that is the reason the family is so wonderful to us, so we will keep their secrets. Between Lord Robert’s making things fly about, and Lady Lina causing storms inside the castle, there are many things that would frighten people.”

  “They are Christian, are they not?” Matilda could not believe she would never thought to ask the question before.

  “Aye, they are, and they are good Christians. Lady Lina always wears a cross around her neck, and you will find that Lord Robert has a cross on his armor as well as another at the hilt of his sword.”

  Matilda nodded, knowing that the family was not evil. Surely, she would know if they were. The servants would be afraid of them and not nearly so loyal.

  When Mary finished with her hair, Matilda walked over to the window overlooking the yard below. It was completely swarmed with peasants, and Matilda’s eyes searched through the crowd, hoping against hope to find her parents. Suddenly she let out a gasp. “I see them! They came!”

  Mary hurried to the window with her. “Your parents?”

  “Aye, see? They are just past the portcullis. Can you see them?”

  Mary looked to see if she could tell who Matilda was speaking of, but she gasped instead. “I see my parents as well!”

  Matilda turned to Mary and hugged her close. “Please say a prayer that Mother and Father will stay in the cottage that Lady Lina has offered them. I need them close.” Being married to Robert and having her parents living close by where they could help as needed . . . well, it almost seemed like heaven on earth at that moment.

  “I think having them here for the wedding means that they are willing to stay. Will you try to talk to them today?”

  “Absolutely, if I can find a way.” Still watching, she smiled as she saw Robert bow before her father, his arms waving with wide gestures. A moment later, her parents were following him. “I believe Robert has convinced my parents to accompany him into the castle. This is good!”

  Mary smiled as she watched Matilda’s face rather than the scene unfolding below. The sheer joy on her face made her seem to almost glow with pleasure.

  Within moments, there was a knock at the door, and Mary hurried to open it. “Aye?” she called as she opened it just far enough to see who was there.

  “You know that Matilda has been eager to see her parents. Let us in so they may speak to her before the wedding,” Lord Robert said.

  “No, sir. I will let them in, but you are not going to see Matilda until the wedding. Go away, milord.”

  Matilda put her hand over her mouth, surprised at the way Mary chased her betrothed away. It amused her to see a loyal servant treat one of the children of the castle that way—especially since it was one who would be the master the following day.

  The door opened then, and her parents stepped into her chamber, looking wary. Matilda rushed to her mother, embracing her immediately. “I am so glad you came! Will you stay in the cottage?”

  Her mother sighed, looking into her face. “What would we do? We have worked all our lives, child.”

  “And that is why you should not have to work now. Move into the cottage, and if you want, I am sure Robert will see that you have jobs to do around the castle. Mostly, I just want you both here.” Matilda took her mother’s hand and led her to the bed where they both sat. “Robert is the seventh son of a seventh son. The family has had generation after generation with seven sons. I want my mother to be close while I go through pregnancy and childbirth. I want my children to know all of their grandparents. Please.”

  Her mother frowned at her for a moment and then nodded. “I never could tell you no, could I?”

  “I am so glad.” Matilda buried her face in her mother’s shoulder, so happy she was there.

  There was another knock on the door, and a loud voice called, “It is Lady Lina!” Mary hurried to the door and opened it. “The wedding is to start in a short while. Is your father to walk you to Robert?”

  Matilda turned her attention to her father, who shook his head. “No, I will not. I will be there, though, and we will proudly watch you marry your man.”

  Matilda started to argue, but she knew with the way her father was dressed, he would not feel comfortable walking by her side to the priest. “It is fine. I can walk alone. I am just happy that you are here and you will stay.”

  Lady Lina smiled, clapping her hands together. “You will stay? The cottage was readied, and we were hopeful, but we were not certain. I am so pleased to meet you.”

  Matilda realized then she needed to introduce her parents to her future mother-in-law. “Lady Lina, may I introduce my parents, John and Esther? Mother and Father, this is Robert’s mother, Lady Lina.”

  “Please just call me Lina. We will be grandparents of the same beautiful boys after all.” Lina smiled at her mother, who smiled back tentatively. She seemed very nervous to be addressed by a lady.

  “It is good to meet you,” Esther said. “Thank you for taking care of our daughter in our absence.”

  “Matilda is already a member of the family.” Lina walked over and took Matilda’s hand. “I am going to lead your parents, and the rest of your wedding guests, into the chapel. After you see that all have disappeared, you may walk down to join us with Mary.”

  Matilda nodded, looking over at Mary, who had a serene smile on her face. “Aye, milady,” Mary said.

  After the others were gone, Matilda looked over at Mary. “Please tell me one more time that I am doing the right thing. All these people are here for my wedding to a man I just met three days past. What am I thinking?” She knew her emotions were rapidly changing, and she felt as if she was losing her mind. One minute she was determined to be the best wife she could possibly be for Robert, and then next she was questioning whether she should marry him at all.

  “You are definitely making the right choice, Matilda. For you, your parents, and for me as well. And for Robert, who has never been happier than he has since your arrival. You must marry him.”

  The two women watched together as the others hurried away from their view, and once the courtyard was cleared, Mary smiled. “It is time.”

  “I can do this, right?”

  Mary chuckled softly, linking her arm with Matilda’s. “You can do this in a way no other can. In a few hours, you will be mistress of this castle, and you will love it. All the servants are excited to help you learn.”

  “They do not hate me for trying to rise above my station?”

  “Not at all. We are all happy for you. We talked about it in the kitchen just this morning.”

  Matilda frowned. “It just occurred to me that while all the other peasants on the land get the day off, the people who work here have to work harder than usual. It is not fair!”

  “No one begrudges it. Give them time off if you can or slip them an extra coin for Christmas. All will be happy with that.”

  “I will talk to Robert about it soon.” It was late summer, far from
Christmas, but she was certain Robert would approve of her plan. She could not believe she had not thought of the extra work for the castle servants.

  As the two of them walked down the stairs and toward the front door, Matilda realized the entire staff of the house was lined up between her and the entrance to the castle. Many of them said kind things as they passed and finally, when she reached the front door, the last person there was Alice, who had welcomed her to the castle kindly when she still felt weepy from leaving her mother.

  “Proud of you, girl. We all are. Make our lord happy.”

  The words were simple, but Matilda felt herself tearing up. “I will do my best.” Matilda smiled at the older woman, touching her arm gently as she walked past.

  Mary smiled. “I hope you know they decided to do that to show honor to you.”

  Matilda sniffled. “I do not deserve it, but I am so happy they do not hate me.”

  “They all feel like they can do more in their lives because of what you have done here. No one hates you. We all respect you. Me most of all because you have changed my life with your own.”

  “Thank you for being at my side.” They had reached the chapel, and Matilda put her hand over her chest to keep from panicking. She forced her breathing to be even. “It is really time, is not it, Mary?”

  “It is!”

  “Can we just take a moment here? Before we go in and my life changes forever?”

  “But your life is changing for the good, not the bad. Remember that as you are walking toward Lord Robert, Matilda. Your groom is a wonderful man, and your future mother-in-law already loves you. How can you not want to walk in that door?”

  Matilda smiled and stood straighter, her shoulders back. She was going to marry Robert, who treated her as if she was a lady, not a maid. How could she not want to do that?

  Chapter Seven

  Matilda felt every eye on her as she walked between the two large groups of people toward the front of the church and her future husband. Robert stood at the front of the church, smiling at her proudly.

  As soon as they were inside, Mary stopped walking beside her and blended in with the others around her. As she walked, she thought of all the reasons marrying Robert was not the best idea in the world, and then she passed her parents. Her mother was watching her with wide eyes, a tear on her face.

  Her parents’ lives would forever be changed by what she was about to do. How could she not marry the man who stood beside the priest? She lifted her chin a little bit more, and she finished the long walk, stopping beside Robert.

  He held his hand out for hers, and she slipped her hand into it. After that, the service was held in Latin, and she stood and knelt as she was instructed to do. When the priest told them they were married, Robert grabbed her and kissed her. He looked down into her eyes, obviously pleased that they had made it that far.

  “Let us go and feast with the serfs, my lady.”

  She smiled. “My parents are going to live in the cottage.”

  “I heard, and it thrills me beyond belief. And do you know why I will be so happy to live with your parents so very close to us? Most men would not be thrilled, you know.”

  “Why are you happy about it then?”

  “Because it makes my new wife happy. Anything that brings a smile to your face pleases me.” He hoped she realized just how strong his feelings for her were. He knew she was the woman put on the earth just to be his bride.

  Matilda took his arm, and the two of them walked through the large crowd of people, all there to wish them well. Well, that was not fair. Matilda knew as well as everyone else that most of them were not there to wish her well. Instead they were there to get free food and not have to toil in the fields. It sounded like a good reason to be there to her!

  Many people stopped her and Robert as they walked through the crowds. Some were peasants simply wanting to tell their lord how their crops were. One man stopped them to tell him that the wedding would be the highlight of his entire life. “I never dreamed I would be invited to a wedding for my lord. Thank you!” He bowed his head, and his toothless wife smiled beside him.

  When they had finally reached the back of the church, his parents were waiting for them. Robert smiled at his mother. “Now you get to take over everything, and we are nothing but simple party-goers for the rest of the day, correct?”

  “Oh, absolutely! You two need to mingle and talk to people if you would like, but mostly you need to be together.” His mother pulled his head down and kissed his cheek. “My seventh son has finally found his bride, and I could not be happier.”

  “I am sorry I did not give you time to get your other sons and your daughter here as well.”

  “I am not. You did a good job, and I am so pleased with your bride.” Lady Lina hugged Matilda, kissing her cheek as well. “Welcome to the family.”

  Matilda smiled in return. “I believe that is the third time you have welcomed me to the family, Lady Lina. I thank you.”

  “Please, call me Mother, as Robert does.”

  Matilda nodded. “Thank you, Mother.”

  Robert’s arm stayed locked around Matilda’s waist as the day progressed. After just picking at her meal, Matilda found she was truly hungry. She and Robert shared a trencher at the head of the table at lunch. There were people all around the table, and more tables and benches had been put out in the courtyard. The peasants would eat in shifts, but they would all be able to partake of the feast offered to them there.

  At one point, Matilda saw a spoon float off the table, but she quickly caught it and lowered it before anyone noticed. “Your happiness is showing, milord,” she whispered into his ear.

  “How could it not?” He smiled at her, obviously thrilled that she was finally his. “I have waited for the day I would marry the woman who was created just for me for my entire life. Now that day is here, and I cannot stop smiling.”

  When the feast was over, there was dancing. Matilda was surprised to see that there were several servants who were still roasting meat, until she remembered that the party would go on through supper time. They would all need to be fed again.

  A man held a lute and sang while standing atop a platform. As soon as the music started, Robert took Matilda’s hand and led her in a simple dance. She hissed at him that she had never danced before, but he made sure to move slowly so she could easily follow his footsteps. It was his wedding day, and Robert was going to dance with his bride. It was as simple as that.

  At the end of the dance, they were both laughing, and many others joined for the next song.

  Through the whole long day of feasting, Matilda stayed close to Robert, and he kept a hand on her arm or an arm around her. Never did they lose contact even once.

  They both took time to walk among the peasants and talk to them of whatever was on their minds. Matilda felt her feelings for Robert grow stronger as she watched him give his full attention to each of the people he talked to throughout the long day. She knew he wanted nothing more than to carry her up the stairs to their chamber and spend the day there with her, but he never let on to other people. They all truly believed that he wanted nothing more than to stand there and talk to them. It was a great skill to have for a man in his position.

  Matilda stayed quiet and listened as he talked about everything anyone wanted to discuss. There was no nobility there other than his family. It was all peasants, so her parents would feel comfortable there. She was amazed at the sacrifices his family had made for her comfort.

  At supper at the end of the night, there were very few people invited to dine with her and Robert. The table consisted of Matilda, her parents, Robert, and his parents. “it is probably wrong to admit it, but I am pleased that it is just us at supper this evening. The constant crush of people was getting overwhelming,” Matilda said softly.

  Robert smiled. “That is why Mother arranged this. She was certain you would need a little time away from the big crowd.”

  “The lute player is very good. I ha
ve enjoyed his music.”

  Lady Lina smiled at her. “He is our horse trainer. He enjoys playing his lute every chance he gets. He has played for all eight of my children’s weddings.”

  Matilda’s mother turned to Lady Lina. “Matilda said everyone in your family had seven sons.” She seemed confused about the eight weddings.

  “I did have seven sons, but my husband and I took in a girl he found at the side of the road just before we met. Her family had been killed by fever, and she was brought to me to heal because I have knowledge of herbs and potions.” Lady Lina did not tell the rest of the story, not sure if her parents were ready to know just what her family was like.

  “I see. So if Matilda and Robert choose to take in a girl child, they are allowed to do so?” Esther seemed quite pleased with the possibility.

  “Aye, of course. Matilda will give birth to seven sons, but they may raise any girls they wish.”

  Matilda smiled at her mother, covering her hand with hers. “You will have many grandchildren. They will just be boys.” She wished it would be different because she had always had a special relationship with her mother, and she would like to share that relationship with a daughter.

  Her mother smiled at her, a smile that looked almost sad. “I will be pleased to have grandchildren, but I must also be allowed to work. I cannot sit idle simply because my daughter has married a wealthy man.”

  Matilda frowned. “I wish you could. I would love your help with the children once they begin to come. Perhaps you could be their nurse and help me raise them.”

  Her mother grinned at the prospect. “That sounds like a wonderful idea. What shall I do in the meantime?”

  Matilda looked at Lina, having no idea what positions needed to be filled in the castle or even what her mother should do. Lina saw the look and stepped in gracefully. “Matilda needs more clothes. Clothes that fit her new station in life. Currently she has the dress she is wearing and a dress my eldest once wore. If you are handy with a needle, Matilda’s maid needs some help getting all the sewing done as quickly as possible.”