by Anne Herries
‘But still you did not come to me—to your daughter?’
‘At one of the shrines I visited I had a vision,’ Mother Abbess told him. ‘A voice came to me out of a bright light and said that I had been given a gift, but must use it for the good of others. I was directed to this place, where I have lived ever since. You see, I am able to nurse the lepers who come to us—and by helping them I do God’s work and atone for my sins.’
‘Your sins?’ Owain frowned. ‘Do you speak of the love we had for each other? I do not think of it as a sin. You were unhappy and I sought to comfort you.’
‘But it was a sin,’ Elspeth said. ‘I was married and I made my husband angry, that is why he beat me. He had the right and I forgave him when I took my vows here as a novice. I have no bitterness in my heart, Owain, and nor should you. I am content. You must forget me. It was so many years ago. I had thought you would have found someone else to marry long ago.’
‘I gave my service to our daughter,’ Owain said. She had moved closer and he could see the serenity in her face. He was aware of anger. For years he had grieved for her and he knew that Melissa longed to see her. ‘Have you no thought for her, Elspeth? Do you never think of the child you bore?’
‘She is dead to me as I was to you,’ Elspeth said. ‘It is a pity that you came here, Owain. If I had known it was you, I should not have given you this time. You must leave here at once and forget me. I am the bride of God and can never live outside these walls again.’
‘Your sister was an Abbess but she loved Melissa. She saw her as often as she could. Do you not want to at least see your daughter?’
‘It would bring her only sadness,’ Elspeth said, and for a moment there was uncertainty and a hint of pain in her voice. ‘If you ever loved me, Owain, I beg you to tell her that I am dead. Do not bring her more grief.’
‘You are cruel and selfish,’ Owain said, and moved towards her, intending he knew not what, but she gave a cry and moved back.
‘Stop! Do not touch me unless you wish to become a leper.’
‘You said that you did not take it from her?’
‘I did not then, but it has begun to show in me now,’ Elspeth said. ‘I do not know if my vision was false, but I have the early signs of the disease. I think it was not caught from my benefactor, but here, working amongst the sick. As yet I can continue my life here for no one knows, but soon it will begin to show and I shall be forced to live as a hermit in my quarters.’
‘Leave here and come with me now,’ Owain urged. ‘I will tend you until you die. I still care for you, Elspeth.’
‘Do you think that I would give you this evil sickness?’ she asked. ‘I shall come near neither you nor my daughter, Owain, for it might seal your own deaths. Do as I bid you. Tell her I am dead, for it will soon be the truth.’
Owain heard her words and something seemed to die in him. She was not the woman he had loved so long ago and revered in his thoughts: that woman had died the night her husband beat her or somewhere on the road she travelled. This woman was someone else. She might truly have the terrible sickness she claimed, or she might be lying to force him to leave her, but it did not matter.
‘Very well, Mother Abbess,’ he said. ‘Since that is your wish I must accept it. God be with you.’ He walked past her, going out of the room without a glance in her direction, never seeing the tears that had slowly begun to trickle down her cheeks.
Melissa had been sick for the past five mornings. She was certain now that she was carrying Rob’s child and the knowledge made her smile despite the physical discomfort she was feeling. He had bid her stay in bed until she felt better but after an hour she had become restless and felt that she needed a little air to refresh her.
She went down to the great hall, which was empty for the moment. The servants had done their work here and were busy elsewhere. Melissa had brought her cloak down with her, and she put it about her shoulders intending to go for a short walk.
However, when she went outside, she discovered that it was a pleasant day, much warmer than usual for the time of year, and decided she would go a little farther than she had intended. It seemed an age since she had been free to walk as she pleased, and she wandered through the courtyard gate into the parkland, thinking that she might climb the hill that would allow her to look down at it. The first time she had not truly appreciated it, for she now realised that it was bigger than she had imagined.
She was frowning as she thought about her mother, as she often did, remembering her in her prayers each night. Owain had been gone some weeks now. She wondered if he had found any trace of her mother. For some reason her hope had begun to fade of late. Alanna said that she thought she must have misled her, because there was no true reason to believe the lily had come from Elspeth.
She must not dwell on thoughts of disappointment, Melissa decided as she realised that she had walked far enough. She was married to the man she loved and expecting her first child, which Megan had predicted, would be a son, because of the way she was carrying. It was not always possible to have everything in life. Even if her mother had left Meresham alive, she might have died long ago.
‘Why so pensive, sister?’
Melissa was startled from her reverie by the voice, which came from behind her. Turning, she found herself staring into the hostile eyes of her half brother and a shiver of fear ran through her for she knew that he hated her.
‘What are you doing here?’ she asked, proud and unsmiling. ‘This is my husband’s manor and you are not welcome here, Harold.’
‘Where should I be since you have stolen the lands that should have been mine?’ Harold demanded, his thick lips curved in a sneer of derision. ‘Did you think I would take no revenge, sister?’
‘I do not know what you mean,’ Melissa said, determined to show no fear, though she knew that alone outside the walls of the courtyard she was vulnerable. ‘We have made no claim upon your estate, sir, nor do we wish to. The matter is in the King’s hands.’
‘Do you expect me to believe that when I have been told that I am to inherit nothing?’ He moved closer to her, a look of menace in his eyes. ‘You think that you have everything, sister—but it will gain you little pleasure in the grave…’ With a snarl of hatred, he sprung on her, his hands reaching for her throat.
Melissa screamed as she felt his hands begin to squeeze, struggling against him. Harold had always been a strong man, a huge brute with coarse features and a cunning mind. He had waited his moment to find her alone and now he meant to kill her. She knew even as she tried to pull his hands from her throat that she was not strong enough to resist him.
She was gasping as he forced the breath from her throat, her eyes misting as the darkness descended. She did not see the man who came running to her aid, though she felt the force as Harold’s hands were torn from her and she sank to the ground, her head bent and gasping for breath. She was aware that two men were fighting but it was a few moments before she could open her eyes to see what was going on.
Harold was fighting with someone. It was Owain, and they were locked in a desperate struggle for neither was using a weapon. It was a test of strength and she feared that Harold must win for he was the younger man, but even as she wondered whether to run for help, she saw that others were coming to aid Owain and one of them was her husband.
Just as they drew near, she heard the sound of something cracking and then Harold shouted with pain, dropping to his knees. His arm was hanging at an odd angle and she knew that it had been broken. He was cursing and shouting threats of revenge, but Rob had reached her, taking her into his arms.
‘I never dreamed that he would dare to come here,’ he said, holding her as if he feared that she might break. ‘I had vowed revenge on him but thought that he would never bother us again. Forgive me for neglecting my duty.’ He looked at her pale face. ‘My poor darling, has he hurt you?’
‘A little,’ she whispered for her throat felt bruised and sore. ‘But Owain came…he sa
ved me.’
‘I thank God for it that he was in time. You were seen to leave, Melissa, and one of the men sought me to ask if he should follow—and then we saw what happened. We were too far away. If Owain had not been near…’ He shuddered for he knew that she might have died. His eyes glinted as he looked at her half brother. ‘Take him to Shrewsbury,’ he said. ‘Let him be tried for murder as he deserves.’
Harold was on his knees, holding the arm that had been snapped in the struggle with Owain. It was his sword arm and he knew that he would never be able to wield it as he once had, his bitterness welling up inside him.
He turned his wrathful gaze on Melissa. ‘You think that you are secure and protected now, sister. But I know a secret that will destroy you and everything you have.’
‘Be quiet, you wretch,’ Rob said, his arm about her. ‘Nothing you can do can harm my wife.’
‘But you break the laws of God and man each time you take her to your bed,’ Harold cried. ‘Oswald Melford was your father, Melissa, for he raped your mother and left his seed in her belly—and the child you carry is your half brother’s.’
‘Damn you,’ Rob cried furiously. ‘You decry my father’s name and shall die for it!’ He lunged at him, but Owain held him back.
Melissa watched in horror, her hand to her throat. ‘It cannot be…’ she whispered. ‘Please tell me it cannot be…’
‘Melissa, my father was a man of honour and he would never do such a thing, believe me. He lies.’
‘He lies, Melissa,’ Owain said. ‘I think Rob has guessed my secret, though I have never told anyone—but I am your father. Elspeth and I were lovers. It was my child she carried. You are my daughter.’
‘You are my father?’ Melissa stared at him, the tears slipping from her cheeks. ‘Why did you never tell me?’
‘I have often longed to tell you,’ Owain said, and smiled at her. ‘You have been very dear to me, Melissa. I loved your mother and I have loved you—but I could give you nothing else and you were a great heiress. Lord Whitbread would have laid claim to you and I had no proof—or none that would have stood up in a court of law.’
‘It is true,’ Rob said. ‘I have seen the likeness many times. I suspected it when I first saw Owain, but I could not be sure.’
‘My father…’ Melissa’s face lit with happiness. ‘I am so glad for you have always been kind to me…’ She broke off as Harold broke free of his captors and made a lunge in her direction, but in a second he was secured again.
‘Take him away and keep him bound hand and foot,’ Rob commanded. ‘Make sure that he cannot escape.’
‘You had best see me hanged, Robert of Melford,’ Harold cried in a rage. ‘If I live I shall have my revenge though it takes me the rest of my life.’
‘You are a knave and a fool,’ Rob said scornfully. He looked at the men who served him. ‘Take him to the shire reeve in Shrewsbury. He will know how to deal with the rogue.’
Owain turned to Melissa as Harold was dragged away, still vowing revenge. ‘You are not harmed, my child?’
‘No, you came in time.’ Melissa smiled and held out her hand to him. ‘You saved me from certain death,’ she said. ‘Welcome home, Father.’
‘You do not mind?’
‘I am glad,’ Melissa said, her voice hoarse for she found it difficult to talk. ‘I have ever loved you, Owain…my most constant friend.’
Owain smiled and moved closer, bending his head to kiss her cheek. ‘I have loved you, daughter, though I dared not claim you.’
Melissa nodded for she understood his difficulty. Had Lord Whitbread known that he was her father, he would have been tortured and killed. ‘I was thinking of you earlier and your quest. Have you news of my mother?’
‘None that will please you,’ Owain said. He reached out and took her hand. ‘Your mother cannot be found. I looked for her in many places but found her not. The woman I loved died the night her husband beat her because she would not give him the name of her lover.’
‘Yes,’ Melissa said, and tears glistened in her eyes but did not fall. ‘I have suspected that it was a false hope.’ She raised her head, pride mixing with the pleasure she felt at discovering her father. ‘But I have my father and my husband and I carry my first child—what more could I want?’
‘Melissa must never know the truth,’ Rob said, his expression grim as he heard the true story from Owain’s lips later that day. ‘She has accepted that her mother is dead—and thanks to you suffered no lasting harm. She has her father and that must be enough.’
‘You are asking me to make my home here?’
‘Yes, if you will stay. We have room enough, Owain, and it is my intention to build onto Melford Hall to make it worthy of my wife and the sons that will follow us. I shall need good men about me and I have met none better.’
Owain smiled at him. ‘My brother has cared for my small house and the few acres I own for years. It would be a pity to take it from him now for he has a large family. Yes, I shall stay, Rob, and be glad of it.’
‘Then I am satisfied,’ Rob said. ‘Henry made me an earl though I never sought such an honour, but I must rise to the challenge he has set me. In return for favours given, Melissa’s own lands and Gifford’s, I have promised to serve him when he sends for me. I shall need someone here at those times. David is a good steward, but you will be my right-hand man, my wife’s father.’
‘You have my loyalty always.’ Owain offered Rob his hand. ‘It will be good to know that I have a family of my own in the autumn of my life.’
‘You have years enough,’ Rob said with a grin and clapped him on the shoulder. ‘I am not sure that I could have broken Harold’s arm as easily.’
‘It was a knack I learned when young. I wrestled often at the fairs until…’ He shook his head. ‘It does not do to dwell on the past and I shall not. Elspeth is dead and shall be allowed to rest in peace.’
‘Amen to that,’ Rob said. ‘Now I would ask your advice on another matter, Owain. Henry gave me the manors and lands of Gifford, but the earl left a widow and a son—what should I do about them? She has her own dower lands, and I allowed her to leave Gifford—but ought I make some recompense? I know I have no obligation, but I would treat her fairly.’
‘You cannot return the manors or the title to her,’ Owain said, ‘for it would offend the King and might bring his wrath on your head. But you could make a recompense of money—perhaps a tenth of its worth?’
‘Yes, that is what I thought,’ Rob said. ‘I shall send her five hundred gold marks and consider the matter ended.’
‘You both look serious,’ Melissa said, entering the small room where they were talking at that moment. ‘David said you were both here—do I interrupt you?’
‘No, of course not,’ Rob said, and went to put his arms about her. ‘I have good news for you, my love. Your father has promised to make his home with us.’
‘Have you, Father?’ Melissa’s face lit up with pleasure as he inclined his head. ‘That is the best news I could wish for.’ She smiled at Rob. ‘My throat is a little sore but I do not wish to remain in my rooms—may I walk outside if I do not leave the courtyard?’
‘You may walk where you wish,’ Rob told her. ‘But in future I shall send one of my men to follow you and watch over you, though I do not believe Harold will trouble us again. The shire reeve will know how to deal with him.’
Melissa gazed up into her husband’s eyes, smiling softly. ‘I do not fear to walk alone, Rob. I have faced worse than Harold’s attack on me and lived. I merely wanted to ease your mind for I knew that you were anxious for me.’
Rob nodded as he met her bright gaze. The woman he loved so dearly had been restored to him and he was content. The future was filled with promise, for what could harm them now? They had wealth and power, and the lands to support it. Melissa was carrying their first child easily and she would undoubtedly have more, though whether God would send the three sons and a daughter she longed for none could say.
‘I shall always be anxious for your safety, because I love you,’ Rob told her, taking her hand to kiss the palm. ‘But the shadows have gone, my love. We have our whole lives before us and, hopefully, years of happiness to enjoy…’
‘Yes,’ Melissa agreed, and reached up to kiss the scar that was beginning to fade a little now, though she knew it would always be there as a reminder of the pain he had suffered for her sake. ‘We have each other, Rob—and we have my father. Soon we shall have our first child. I think that the future is ours to make what we will of it, and I believe that it will be good…’
She had a vision of the golden years stretching far ahead, of the children who would play happily in the meadowlands and bring their house to life with the sound of laughter. Who knew what lay ahead for them? No one knew, but the richness of their love would surely give them the courage to face whatever might come.
All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.
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