The Adventurer's Bride

by June Francis

  He checked the contents of the pot and ladled out more broth for himself and then sat down at table, wondering whether Jane would welcome Willem Godar’s offer to weave for her. If so, would that mean she would give him a definite nay to his proposal?

  Hell, he wished the weaver had not chosen today to arrive. Conscious of his aching head and painful shoulder, he closed his eyes and went over yesterday’s attack on him. He thought of Berthe and how she had seemed genuinely fond of Matilda. Could it be that her grief for her husband and baby had overturned her mind and she had decided that she must have a baby to replace the one she had lost? But why wait until they arrived in England to abduct his daughter? She could have taken her any time. It didn’t make sense!

  His thoughts drifted to his conversation with Willem Godar and he wondered whether Mortimer would be Jane’s next visitor. He was still a bit of a mystery to Nicholas. After an absence of twenty years, the older man had returned to England a rich man in search of the woman he had loved and the daughter he had left behind. Anthony’s twin brother had tricked that woman into marrying him and Rebecca had been reared as his daughter. He had come to work at the Hurst family shipyard every summer and that is how Nicholas and his brother knew her. It was because of Anthony Mortimer’s actions in seeking out his daughter that Nicholas had decided to return to Flanders and take responsibility for his own child. He sighed, considering that despite the emotional turmoil of what had taken place in Bruges, he did not regret any of his actions.

  He yawned and was on the edge of falling asleep when a noise close by disturbed him. Fully awake now, he became aware not only of the faint clacking of the loom in the other room, but that he was being watched by Margaret, Jane’s elder stepdaughter.

  ‘It wasn’t a dream after all and you are here,’ she said.

  He returned her smile and pinched his wrist. ‘Well, I’m certainly flesh and blood.’

  She laughed and cocked her head to one side. ‘What is that clacking noise?’

  Nicholas wished that Willem Godar was a dream. ‘A weaver has come to see if your mother wishes to avail herself of his services.’

  Margaret’s eyes rounded. ‘I wonder what she will say to him! I will have a peek at him in a moment.’ She pushed back the blanket and stood up in her chemise. Nicholas looked away and only faced her when she spoke his name. She was rolling up her pallet. ‘How is your shoulder today, Master Hurst?’ she asked politely.

  ‘Better than yesterday, thank you, Margaret,’ he replied. ‘And how are you feeling this morning?’

  ‘I’m pleased you are here and that you remember my name. Master Mortimer gets our names muddled up,’ she said, looking chagrined. ‘Perhaps it is because he is old like my father was. You’re not going to die, are you, Master Hurst? You’re not as old as either of them.’

  ‘I certainly hope to live a lot longer,’ said Nicholas, unaccustomed to such conversation, but wanting to reassure the girl.

  ‘Mama says that when you are properly Simon’s godfather it will be as if you are one of our little family. Does that please you?’

  Had Jane really told Margaret that? The thought warmed him and he said, ‘It pleases me very much.’

  ‘Good!’ Margaret sighed happily. ‘I am hoping that Mama will say that we can have a small feast to celebrate your being here.’ She smacked her lips. ‘Maybe she will kill one of the hens. It will make a change from fish or cheese or just vegetables and barley as is customary during Lent. Although one less hen will mean less eggs once they start laying again. Still, the hens are sitting on eggs and so there will be chicks in the hen house that will grow into more hens.’ She beamed at him and skipped over to the window and climbed onto the seat beneath. ‘Most of the snow has melted. Good. I will go and tend to the poultry as that is my first task of the day. Oh, and here is Mama with the bread and ale and Simon or...’ She scrambled down and looked into the cradle before turning to Nicholas. ‘Perhaps it is your baby because there are no babies here?’

  Nicholas agreed that it most likely was his daughter, Matilda. He forced himself to walk over to the front door and opened it and smiled down at Jane. ‘May I help you?’

  She frowned up at him and hesitated before carefully placing his daughter in the crook of his unaffected arm. ‘You should be resting. Matilda is fed and changed. I notice you still have no shirt on. Is there one in your saddlebags?’

  He nodded, gazing down at his sleeping daughter.

  ‘Good. You really should be resting.’

  ‘I will rest soon enough.’ He kissed Matilda’s cheek before carrying her over to the cradle and placing her down.

  ‘Have you eaten?’ asked Jane, thinking that he really did look drawn and weary.

  ‘I was about to do so when we had a visitor and Margaret woke up,’ he replied.

  Jane looked startled. ‘A visitor?’

  ‘Aye, can you not hear the loom clacking? The man says he has come from Kent with Sir Gawain. His name is Willem Godar.’

  Chapter Four

  Jane stiffened and stared across the room to the door of the workroom as if in a trance. No, no, no! she thought, hoping her face had not changed colour. ‘How is it that Sir Gawain has involved himself in my business?’ she cried, scowling.

  ‘Presumably Rebecca wrote to his wife about your need for a weaver. They are numerous in that part of Kent.’

  ‘Of course, that will be it! Beth and Rebecca will want to help me,’ she said, wishing they had not interfered. Slowly she walked over to the table and placed the bread and jug of ale down, hoping against hope that Willem had not mentioned to anyone what they had once been to each other.

  ‘His name is Flemish, quite a coincidence, considering I’ve not long returned from that country,’ said Nicholas.

  ‘Aye, but there are any number of Flemish weavers and brewers in England these days,’ she said brightly.

  ‘I would not deny it,’ said Nicholas, his gaze intent on her face. ‘Even so, perhaps you’d like me to speak to Master Godar on your behalf? He’s made himself very much at home, which I found irritating. Apparently he knows Witney, having visited here in the past.’

  ‘Most likely he came to one of the fairs,’ said Jane hastily. The last thing she wanted was Nicholas present when she confronted Willem. ‘I will speak to him myself. It could be that I will remember him when we come face-to-face.’

  ‘If that’s what you wish,’ said Nicholas politely.

  She could tell he was disappointed by her answer. Oh, why did Willem have to arrive now, making her life even more complicated than it was already? She glanced at the door to the workroom, which had been left slightly ajar. The clacking of the loom was momentarily silenced and she could hear Margaret talking to Willem. Pray God he did not say anything amiss to her.

  Nicholas’s eyes had followed Jane’s. ‘Perhaps you would just like me to be there?’

  Jane’s heart sank. ‘No, I will manage! I—I thought that perhaps you could go upstairs and change into a clean shirt. You are not looking your best.’ She did not wait for his response, but hurried over to the workroom.

  Nicholas made no move to do what she suggested and heard her tell Margaret to go and see to the hens before firmly closing the inner door. He was disappointed that she had turned down his offer. It was his belief that a woman needed a man at such times, but obviously she was of the opinion that his appearance set him at a disadvantage in front of the weaver. It could be that the well set-up Willem Godar was a man with whom she could work in tandem. Especially as he had the backing of Sir Gawain and no doubt would have Beth’s and Rebecca’s approval, too.

  Or was he reading too much in Jane’s act of independence than was there and he had no cause to worry? She might yet consider accepting his proposal if for no other reason than for the sake of the children.

  * * *

  On the other side of the door Jane was confronting Willem. ‘Why have you come?’ she asked angrily.

  He looked surprised. ‘Sir Gaw
ain spoke of you being newly widowed and needing a weaver, so I thought that fate was conspiring for us to be reunited.’ He moved away from the loom towards her with a hand outstretched.

  She was tempted to back away from him, but instead stood her ground, folding her arms across her breasts. ‘What of your wife?’ she asked scornfully.

  He smiled. ‘I’m a widower. I tell you, Jane, in all the years since we last met I’ve never forgotten you and look upon the time we spent together with great fondness.’

  ‘Well, that is more than I can say myself.’ Her eyes glinted. ‘You think you can come here uninvited and believe I will feel the same about you as I did when I was a young girl?’

  He shrugged. ‘No, I accept that although you were in love with me then, time changes us all. You have matured into a fine-looking woman so I will be honest with you. I wish to leave Tenderden and I have need of a helpmeet.’

  She stifled an hysterical laugh, marvelling that she should have three men interested in her. ‘You have come here believing I will marry you? Perhaps it is that you have children needing a mother?’

  He nodded. ‘There are the boys, of course.’

  His answer was as she expected. ‘How many?’

  ‘Four.’

  His reply almost took her breath away. Four! He must really believe she was desperate. What had Sir Gawain told him of her situation? Whatever he had said she was so glad that Nicholas’s arrival meant that she could throw Willem’s proposal back in his face.

  ‘You’ve had a wasted journey,’ she said coldly.

  Willem scowled. ‘No doubt Master Hurst is the reason for your change of heart?’

  She hesitated. ‘What did he tell you?’

  ‘What does it matter what he said? It was enough that there was that about his manner that reminded me of a dog protecting a bone.’

  She gasped, indignant that Willem should describe her as a bone. ‘You will go now,’ she said, pointing to the door.

  He smiled. ‘Don’t be a fool, Jane. Nicholas Hurst isn’t the kind of man who will ever settle down.’

  ‘That is none of your business.’

  ‘I see that I am right. You think that he will marry you.’

  She tilted her chin. ‘He has asked me to marry him.’

  Willem gave a low whistle. ‘Has he, indeed—I wonder why?’

  She swore. ‘You insult me. You speak as if no other man would find me comely.’

  Willem’s eyes narrowed. ‘I didn’t say you don’t have your attractions, Jane. I deem you haven’t told him about us, though.’

  ‘I put you out of my mind once you were out of my life,’ she lied.

  ‘But now I’m back.’ He moved over to the loom and patted it. ‘You have good taste. It is a far better loom than the one I have in Tenderden. Was it your father’s? I remember you telling me that he was a master weaver.’

  ‘Never mind the loom,’ she snapped. ‘I want you out of here.’

  Willem glanced at her. ‘Is that because you’ve had an offer from Master Mortimer, too?’

  Willem’s words startled Jane. ‘How do you know about him?’

  ‘I travelled from Oxford in his company. I can’t see him being happy if he knew you’d had an affair with a married man.’

  ‘Are you threatening me?’

  ‘Both are rich men and I could do with more money to invest.’

  ‘I would rather die than ask either of them for money for you.’

  He looked surprised. ‘Fierce words, Jane. Why such antagonism? You were a willing partner in our affair.’

  She could only stare at him because she had no intention of telling him that the reason she felt so strongly was because after he had left her within weeks she had discovered she was with child.

  He rasped his fingernails against his jaw. ‘To be honest, I have no quarrel with Master Hurst if you decide to marry him, but I cannot see him setting up home in this house with you. I, on the other hand, would be content to take over the lease from you for old time’s sake. I see that you have thread to spin. I would like to go into business here and no doubt there are other spinsters in the town.’

  She knew what he said about Nicholas wishing to make a move was true and that she would need someone to take over the lease, but did she really want to sell it to a man who had deceived her and worse? ‘I’ll think about it,’ she said coldly, ‘although my answer is unlikely to be aye. I despise you for not being honest with me.’

  ‘I knew you still had feelings for me.’ He grinned and took a step towards her.

  ‘You are presumptuous. There is an inn where you can stay. Leave the way you came in.’ She opened the inner door and closed it firmly behind her.

  Nicholas glanced up as Jane entered the room, but could not read her expression. ‘So what have you decided?’ he asked.

  She did not immediately answer because she was unsure what to say, but, noticing that he was still half-naked, asked, ‘Why have you not put on a clean shirt? You agreed that you have one.’

  ‘Of course I have one,’ he said, running a hand through his hair. ‘But James and Elizabeth woke up and distracted me.’

  Only now did she notice the two younger children sitting close to him and watching them. ‘Get dressed, you two,’ she ordered.

  They scampered over to where they had left their garments.

  ‘Well?’ asked Nicholas.

  She hesitated and then took a deep breath before saying, ‘I should tell you that Master Godar and I have met before, but I never expected to see him again.’

  Nicholas stiffened. ‘Was it a long time ago?’

  She walked over to the fire, avoiding meeting his eyes. ‘It was at Witney Fair several years ago. I can’t remember exactly when.’ She toyed with the ladle in the cooking pot. ‘I’ve told him that he must put up at the inn. I will not have him here.’

  ‘Of course not.’ He was tempted to ask if there had been anything of a romantic nature between them, but part of him would rather not know. Instead, he said in a cool voice, ‘No doubt you’d prefer it if I stayed at the inn, as well? If so, I’ll need to change a gold coin. Is there a banker or a moneychanger in the town?’

  ‘You have gold on you?’ she asked, distracted from worrying about what Willem might tell him.

  ‘Aye. The coins were sewn into the hem of my riding coat. Two of them I won from Pip in a wager.’

  She could not resist asking, ‘What kind of wager?’

  ‘Which one of us would marry first.’

  Her curiosity intensified. ‘When did you make this wager?’

  ‘On the isle of Rhodes. It was before I met Louise and my brother was re-acquainted with Rebecca.’ He took out two of the coins and tossed them in the air and caught them.

  Watching the gold glitter, Jane was for a moment envious, not only of his wealth, but that he had visited places that she could only dream about. A sigh escaped her. ‘You surely must have wished yourself there when you were caught in the blizzard yesterday.’

  ‘If I had thought of it, aye.’ He shifted abruptly in the chair and drew in his breath with a hiss and put a hand to his shoulder.

  Immediately Jane forgot everything else but his wound. ‘Here, let me look at the binding.’

  He pushed back his coat and she clicked her tongue against her teeth as she saw a streak of blood on the fabric. ‘You have been doing too much, too soon! I knew you should rest. I must tend to this immediately.’

  He grabbed her wrist. ‘No, it can wait. We have other far more important matters to discuss.’

  She gazed into his face and saw the determination written there. ‘How could anything be more important than your healing?’ she blurted out.

  Her words affected him deeply. ‘I believe you mean that, Jane.’

  ‘Of course I do.’

  ‘I’m touched.’ He stroked the palm of her hand with his thumb and the movement proved oddly sensuous. Suddenly she felt breathless and excited at the same time. ‘Please, stop that?’ she as
ked, a catch in her voice.

  ‘Then agree to marry me,’ he murmured. ‘And before you make the excuse again that it is only four months since your husband died, I tell you now that I am certain he would understand your need to provide his offspring with a father as soon as possible.’

  She glanced at the children. Nicholas might not be speaking loudly, but even so, she did not want Elizabeth in particular hearing such talk.

  ‘I do not doubt it,’ she said in a low voice. ‘Simon was a good man and if the roof had not been damaged by a tree in a storm last autumn and it was costly to repair, then he would have left me and the children in a better financial position. Yet he abided by certain rules and so do I.’

  ‘You mean you are prepared to wait until the year of mourning is over? What if there was to be another attack on my life? What if this time my enemies succeeded in their aim? As Simon’s godfather, it will be my task to provide him with all that is necessary for him to live a good life. That means if I am not alive then I must advise you now that when you remarry you must not marry Mortimer or Godar. One is old enough to be your father, never mind my godson’s, and the other I don’t trust.’

  His choice of words baffled her. ‘I know what is wrong here. It is that you are accustomed to getting your own way and you want everything settled good and tight for your daughter’s sake. I do not believe you will die. After so many adventures, you’re too stubborn to give in to death as your being here testifies. Rather, it is more likely that Master Mortimer will die before you.’ Her eyes sparkled. ‘Thinking of it seriously, I deem that if I married a much older man, such as Rebecca’s father, then I could be a rich widow in no time at all.’

  Nicholas glowered at her. ‘But no doubt you would earn every penny of his fortune if you were to be his wife and then widow.’

  ‘What are you saying?’

  ‘At his age his health could soon disintegrate and he might not die as quickly as you would like, but simply be an invalid for years. Whilst he could afford to hire a woman to nurse him, I deem you have a strong sense of duty and would feel compelled to care for him yourself.’