Rowan's Revenge

by June Francis

Gwendolyn shrank from her. ‘You call me Lady, but you want to rule here. No doubt you’d like to trick me into drinking some foul brew so you could be rid of me.’ Her voice broke on a sob.

  ‘Now that’s foolish talk,’ chided Beth, bustling over to the other side of the bed. ‘Lady Catherine wouldn’t do that. Now, let me have a look at you. How flushed you are. Let me feel your skin.’ Before Gwendolyn could draw back, Beth placed the back of her hand against the young woman’s forehead and clucked her tongue against her teeth. ‘You are feverish, but I don’t think you are in any danger of dying—that’s not to say you won’t if you carry on acting so foolishly. Your breasts are swollen and painful, are they not?’

  Gwendolyn nodded, her eyes fixed on Beth’s face as if mesmerised. The older woman patted her hand. ‘We’ll do something about that. Your child must be sent for, so you can perform your God-given task as a mother and feed her. After that you will feel much better.’

  Gwendolyn found her voice. ‘Who are you?’ she demanded, pushing Beth’s hands away and hoisting herself up against the pillows.

  ‘I’m the Lady Catherine’s mother and I’ve come to save you,’ said Beth before her daughter could prevent her.

  Chapter Twelve

  ‘But the Lady Catherine’s mother is dead,’ stated Gwendolyn, staring at Beth suspiciously.

  ‘She means that she’s been like a mother to me,’ said Kate in a rush and would have hustled Beth out of the bedchamber if she had not dug her heels in.

  ‘That’s exactly what I meant,’ said Beth shortly, shrugging off her daughter’s hand. ‘Now, where is your babe?’

  Gwendolyn did not answer, but continued to stare at her. ‘I wanted a son. I told the midwife to let her die.’

  Beth gasped in horror. ‘Perhaps your mother and father didn’t want a girl either, but did they give you away?’ She pushed Kate in the direction of the door. ‘Fetch the child. The Lady will feel better once she has performed her maternal duty.’ She turned back to the bed. ‘Think of our Lord’s mother and her example of motherhood.’

  Furious with both women, Kate slammed the door behind her and hurried along the dimly lit passages. Worried about the outcome of her mother’s highhanded behaviour and thoughtless words, her imagination ran riot. She pictured Gwendolyn sneaking out of the house to meet the friar—who would then go to the Comte. Their suspicions roused, they would want to see for themselves the woman who had claimed to be the Lady Catherine’s mother. What if they had a band of mercenaries close by and attacked Rowan Manor? However bravely Owain and his brothers might fight, they could be killed. She, her mother and Diccon would be carried off and sacrificed by the Comte and the friar to appease the devil they worshipped.

  Kate was relieved to reach the hall where everything appeared so normal that her fears diminished. A watch could be kept on Gwendolyn to ensure that she stayed out of mischief, so there was no need to worry. She caught sight of Mistress Carver and went over and asked where she would find Anna and her wet nurse.

  It was with reluctance that the smith’s young wife handed the tiny girl to Kate. ‘A good feeder and not a scrap of trouble, my Lady,’ she said, bobbing a curtsy. ‘Less trouble than my own son.’

  Kate gazed down into the petal-soft face and the brown eyes fringed with reddish-gold eyelashes and was entranced. Whoever Anna’s father was, the child was entitled to a mother’s care. If Gwendolyn should reject her daughter this time, she must truly have a heart of stone. Kate thanked the woman and strolled back to the house, enjoying the feel of the baby in her arms and daydreaming of presenting Owain with an heir.

  She was halfway along the passage, leading to Gwendolyn’s bedchamber, when suddenly she came face to face with him. He caught her by the arms and gazed down at her with a puzzled expression in his eyes. ‘What are you doing with that baby?’ Despite being startled by his unexpected appearance, Kate was aware of that tingle of excitement his touch always ensured and, for a moment, could not think clearly. ‘What is it, Kate? I won’t bite. At least…’ He lowered his head and caressed the column of her throat with his tongue before nipping her skin lightly with his teeth.

  She sighed with pleasure. ‘You mustn’t.’

  ‘Aye, I mustn’t,’ he murmured, releasing her and gazing down at the child. ‘This is Anna?’

  She nodded. ‘You will be vexed…Mother and I visited the Lady Gwendolyn.’

  He frowned. ‘You surprise me.’

  Kate flushed. ‘We were told she was in pain and when Mother heard a little of her story, she felt sorry for her and wanted to help her. I knew I shouldn’t have fallen in with her wishes, but Mother can be very determined.’

  ‘Did Gwendolyn ask for her daughter?’

  ‘Nay, but if she feeds her then her discomfort and pain will ease…and perhaps her heart will soften towards Anna.’

  He reached out a hand and touched the baby’s cheek with a gentle finger. ‘She looks prettier than when I first set eyes on her. I would like it if she was my father’s daughter.’

  ‘That would make her your half-sister.’

  His lips twitched. ‘Thank you, Kate, for reasoning that out for me.’

  She smiled faintly and said wistfully, ‘I would like a child.’

  ‘Would you, Kate? I’d like to oblige right this moment but it would be somewhat awkward.’

  The colour deepened in Kate’s cheeks. ‘You are a rogue, Master ap Rowan. Now I must be on my way.’

  ‘Wait.’ He placed a hand on her arm. ‘You said that your mother pitied Gwendolyn. I agree that as a child she was to be pitied because she lost both parents whilst young—but my grandmother did much to make up for her lack of a mother. Gwendolyn is in the position she is now because of her own waywardness. Tell your mother not to be fooled into lowering her guard.’

  Kate sighed. ‘I have not told you all. Mother let slip that she was my mother.’

  His mouth tightened. ‘Tell me exactly what was said?’

  Kate did so and he swore under his breath. ‘Give me the child,’ he ordered, holding out his arms. ‘Time I visited Gwendolyn. Wait for me here.’ She handed Anna over to him and watched him walk away.

  Owain felt the baby stir in his arms as he knocked on the door of Gwendolyn’s bedchamber. He heard hurrying feet and the door was opened by Beth. Her surprise was swiftly replaced by a look of defiance. ‘Kate told you, did she?’ she whispered. ‘I only wanted to help and I’m not accustomed to telling untruths.’

  He nodded curtly and looked beyond her towards where Gwendolyn was sitting in a chair by an open window, combing her hair. He made up his mind then what stance he was going to take. Crossing the floor towards her, he said, ‘I have brought my half-sister to you, Gwennie. She is as pretty as a newly opened rose.’ Gwendolyn opened her mouth, but no words came out and it was obvious from her expression that she was struggling with her emotions. ‘Obviously, you did not expect to see me.’

  Gwendolyn glanced at her daughter and then lifted her eyes to his face. ‘You are here because she has told you what this woman said. She thought to fool me, but I am not so easily fooled. You have brought her here under false pretences.’

  ‘I don’t know what you are talking about,’ said Owain calmly. ‘I met the Lady Catherine in the passage and offered to bring the child to you. I was told that Mistress Archer thought it would be good for your well-being if you were to feed her yourself.’

  Gwendolyn looked less sure of herself and glanced at the baby. ‘I wanted a boy,’ she muttered. ‘I could have persuaded him if it had been a boy.’

  ‘Persuaded whom?’ asked Owain.

  She glanced up at him from beneath her eyelids and said with sly smile, ‘You know of whom I speak.’

  Owain continued to stare at Gwendolyn until she tore her gaze from his and said petulantly, ‘Give the child to me. You can both get out. Send Agnes to me.’

  Owain shook his head. ‘Mistress Archer will stay with you until you have fed the child and then she will take charge o
f her.’

  Gwendolyn’s eyes glinted. ‘If your father were here, you would not dare to speak to me in such a way. I should decide who is to take care of my child.’

  There was a responding anger in his face, but his voice was low and intense when he spoke. ‘If my father were here, you would not dare speak of another. You lied and cheated, but this child could still be his and so she will be treated as such. I will not chance you harming her. If you attempt to do so after I leave this chamber, then you will greatly regret it.’ He left the room without another word.

  He found Kate waiting for him at the top of the stairs. Some of the tension caused by the exchange with Gwendolyn left him and, smiling, he reached for her hand and drew it through his arm. ‘Do not look so worried. All will be well. That gown brings out the colour of your eyes.’

  She smiled. ‘You must know that I am not concerned about my appearance. How went your visit to Gwendolyn?’ she asked in a low voice as they began to descend the stairs into the rapidly filling hall.

  ‘I refrained from scolding your mother, but Gwendolyn is suspicious, although I do not think she has grasped the exact truth. I have told her your mother is to take charge of the child. Agnes must not be left alone with her.’ He hesitated. ‘You must take care and do not wander outside the house without company.’

  She nodded. ‘How long do you think it will be before Sir Thomas returns?’

  ‘I cannot say. At least his absence means that I have time to get matters sorted out here…and there is the harvest supper to arrange…and I must ensure that the thanksgiving tithes are presented to the priest.’

  Kate’s spirits lifted. ‘I will look forward to the harvest supper.’

  ‘Aye! Despite my father’s death we must celebrate and be thankful for a good harvest.’

  So it was that, a week later, trestles and benches were set up in the meadow nearest to the house. For several days Master Carver and his minions had been preparing the feast and delicious smells emanated from the kitchen and bake house. There was a great haunch of beef, as well as roasted geese, a spiced ham, loaves of bread, cheese cakes, buttered leeks, custards and apple tartlets.

  Children played ‘Hoodman Blind’, giggling as they hit one of their number wearing a hood back to front. Some of the adults formed a carol and moved in time to the music. Kate longed to join in, but was unsure whether it was seemly to do so due to the recent death of Owain’s father.

  But Owain saw the yearning in her face and, taking her hand, brought her to her feet. A thrill raced through her as his arm went round her waist and she looked up into his amused eyes and anticipated the pleasure of being held by him once more. They performed the steps sedately at first, but then pipes and drums increased the tempo of the music and soon they were twisting and skipping and leaping into the air as the movement of the carol took them. They danced until she was breathless and laughingly had to beg him to stop.

  Soon after the sky darkened and a bonfire was set alight. More ale and wine was poured and more food eaten. Arm in arm, Kate and Owain watched the burning wood crackle, sending sparks flying heavenwards. The flickering flames cast shadows but also lit up faces. Gwendolyn was present, watched over by Beth, Diccon and Jonathan. From her sullen expression it was clear the Lady was not enjoying herself. Kate wondered how much longer it would be before Gwendolyn rebelled and they had more trouble on their hands.

  During the month that followed Kate saw little of Owain during the daytime for he was taken up with the horses and other business on the manor. Occasionally, he made time to take her riding but they were seldom alone.

  One market day Owain asked if she wished to go to Chester with him. Gladly, she accepted, having in mind to recover the cushions in the parlour. But as soon as other members of the household heard of their outing, they asked if they might join them. Even Gwendolyn made a pretty request and reluctantly Owain agreed they might all go and ordered Diccon and Jonathan to keep a close watch on her.

  Whilst in Chester, Owain visited the family lawyer, leaving Kate and Beth to wander round the market stalls. Kate had in mind not only to make cushion covers, but also a new gown of linsey-woolsey to wear at Davy’s wedding. It was only later that Diccon told her that Gwendolyn had visited the abbey but, as she was never out of sight of Jonathan, Kate saw little reason to worry.

  In the days that followed, Kate, Beth and Megan gathered in the parlour each afternoon where they measured and cut, fitted and stitched, embroidered and finally admired the finished results of their handiwork. Kate had asked Gwendolyn to join them, but she had sneeringly refused, saying that she had no taste for such poor company. Kate could have answered just as rudely, but was relieved not to have to tolerate Gwendolyn’s presence. The three woman discussed Anna, who was thriving, love potions and recipes and Davy’s forthcoming wedding. The latter was to be a quiet affair and would take place on All Hallow’s Eve.

  Kate woke early on the morning of the wedding and slid out of bed to tiptoe over to the window and gaze out. Mist hung amongst the trees so that the bright colours of the changing leaves could scarcely be distinguished; grey blankets of mist lay over the fields, seeming to fuse with the greyness of the sky. She could only pray that it would lift and the clouds part to allow the autumn sun to shine through on Davy and his rosy-cheeked bride.

  Everyone who was able gathered in the nave of the parish church a few hours later; the interior struck chill and the smell of candles and incense filled the air, causing Kate’s dainty nose to twitch. The bride wore a green gown trimmed with coney fur; her pale hair hung down her back and was entwined with black and green ribands. She spoke her vows in a firm voice and, as she gazed up at Davy, it was obvious that his love for her was returned.

  Kate could not help feeling a little envious, but she swiftly quashed such emotion. Even so her hungry eyes could not resist gazing at Owain. She imagined him naked as he had been on the beach in Brittany. He must have sensed her watching him, because he suddenly looked at her and held her gaze. The expression on his face caused her heart to race and her knees to turn to water. Surely it shouldn’t be long now until they received word from Sir Thomas and Owain could claim her as his bride.

  After the ceremony, they returned to the hall for the wedding feast. Soon the chatter of voices and the clatter of spoons and knives against bowls and platters vied with the orders barked out by those overseeing the meal to their minions. There was no sign of Gwendolyn, who had refused to have anything to do with the celebrations. She had said that she would keep to her bedchamber until it was over. Beth had agreed to stay with her.

  Kate frowned as she gazed about the hall, realising that not only was her mother absent, but also that Diccon was not in his usual place. Knowing that he would never willingly miss a meal, she was concerned. He had been restless of late, chaffing beneath the restraints of the task Owain had given to him—and Merebury seemed to be on his lips more often. She wondered if he could have possibly taken one of the horses and set out there alone?

  Again Kate’s eyes scanned the hall and she realised that Agnes was also missing. She supposed it was possible that while they had been at the church, the old crone might have slipped upstairs to visit her mistress, but for what purpose?

  Kate glanced towards the window and saw that the sun was breaking through the mist. She decided she must speak to Owain about her worries, but he was in deep conversation with the bride’s father and she thought it would be rude to disturb them. What should she do? Dismiss her unease as groundless or slip upstairs to see if her mother knew where Diccon had gone. Making up her mind, she piled some food on a platter for her mother and slipped out of the hall.

  Even from a distance Kate could hear Anna crying, but when she reached the bedchamber and knocked on the door there was no response. She opened the door and saw Beth lying face down on the floor; nearby was an overturned metal pitcher. Kate darted across the room and fell on her knees beside her mother. She touched the back of her head and her hand came a
way sticky with blood. Her heart beat rapidly as she fumbled for a pulse, fervently thanking the blessed Holy Trinity when she found a strong one. Hurrying over to the bed, she dragged off the embroidered woollen coverlet and placed it over Beth. Then she kissed her mother’s forehead and whispered a prayer before leaving the bedchamber. Lifting her skirts, she ran along the passage with the baby’s cries following her.

  Heads lifted as Kate burst into the hall. Instantly Owain’s gaze reached out to her and he pushed back his chair. Making his excuses to his guests, he hastened towards her. ‘What is wrong?’ he asked in a low voice and reaching up a hand touched her cheek. ‘You have blood on your face.’

  ‘Mother has been knocked senseless and the Lady Gwendolyn is missing.’

  Immediately Owain signalled a nearby manservant and gave orders for a search to be made. ‘Although, I fear she might have already escaped,’ he said in an undertone to Kate.

  ‘Diccon and Agnes are missing, too.’ Her face paled as she recalled that not only was it All Hallow’s Eve, but also the Celtic festival of Samhain, celebrating the end of the old year and the beginning of the new. A time when the veil between this world and the spirit one is at its thinnest, a time when the natural order dissolves into chaos before re-establishing a new one. Tonight, a high priestess, who had ruled a coven since the feast of Beltane in the spring, would step down to allow a high priest to rule throughout the winter. Was it possible that Gwendolyn was a high priestess?

  Owain spoke, startling Kate from her reverie. ‘Perhaps Diccon or Jonathan saw her slipping out of the house with Agnes and decided to follow them. We’d best check the stables,’ said Owain, grim-faced, and hurried from the hall.

  Kate sat beside her mother’s bedside, sewing by the light of a candle. Beth had regained consciousness, but had not been able to tell them what had happened prior to being hit over the head. She did have some information for them, though, concerning Jonathan, who, along with Diccon, had been ordered to keep a watch on Gwendolyn. Apparently Beth had come upon them earlier that morning, whispering in a corner.