Debra Kay Leland

by From Whence Came A Stranger. . .

  “…He—he did not want me to see him die… that’s why he sent ye away also… he—he said he wouldn’t be able to go if he saw our tears… He came here alone—he knew he was dying, but I followed… and I—I held him in my arms…” She nearly collapsed at the weight of her words, but he reached out and drew the frail girl hesitantly into his arms, though she stiffened, he held her there with tenderness. “Oh lass, I am sorry…”

  His words made the tears she had been trying to hold back trail down her pale cheeks again.

  “Ye loved him…”

  “Aye—I loved him…”

  He had disregarded the peasant girl that his son had chosen to be his wife when he had first seen her a month ago, but now he saw that indeed she had loved him and had made his son happy here and he was glad for it.

  He held her there under the same oak his son had gone to; where he lay now, part of the meadow in which he had made his home. Grief… Sorrow… Regret… His blue eyes filled with tears again as they had since he learned of the boys illness. He had lost everything that was important to him when he had lost William…

  Time seemed to pass without either of them knowing it. He noticed how the girl trembled and he drew her away from himself to look down into soft blue eyes heavy with grief. “Are ye well?”

  She shook her head and looked away. He noticed the thin hand that now lie on her rounded stomach and his heart stilled… a child… dear Lord… William’s child…! He put a strong tanned finger under her chin and lifted her face towards his. He studied the beautiful pale face for a long moment before he spoke gently to her. “Ye are heavy with his child, lass?”

  She nodded and bit back another sob. He drew her against him again and shut his eyes tightly, holding back the tears that took him at her words, for surely he had prayed for such a thing. “Shhh, lass, all shall be well…”

  He turned her then and helped her back towards the long narrow house. She faltered in her steps and he wordlessly lifted her into his strong arms. A whimper of protest slipped from her lips, but he did not answer it, nor did he meet her gaze as his low soft voice soothed her worried heart. “Ye are weary, and I shall not have thee collapse at my feet without helping thee.”

  She closed her eyes then, too tired and too weak to think of it further.

  He glanced down at the thin young girl in his arms, who weighed no more than a mere child herself. She was beautiful, very beautiful—and she was Welsh, a mere peasant girl, no better than a foreigner, and an enemy in times past—and yet she was the wife of his son… But despite his wayward thoughts, this lass carried a child who shared his blood, and the only thread that bonded him with William was within her… He didn’t care that his heir would be but the child of a poor Welsh peasant—nothing mattered, as long as it was William’s!

  He laid the girl on her unmade bed and pressed her shoulders down into it when she would have sat up. “Nay, lass, ye are not well enough to be up. Lie down and I shall get thee something to drink.”

  He went and brought her a cup of fresh water from the well and pressed it into her trembling hand. She lifted her head and drank it with a soft word.

  He sat down, elbows on knees, not looking at her as he spoke. His mind going in directions he knew she would not be pleased to know. “…Did William know of the child?”

  She nodded softly hardly able to take her eyes from his face that reminded her so of William’s that it made her heart ache, as she answered in a quiet voice, “Aye… after ye left that day I told him I thought I was with child… He—He said it was a gift from the Almighty…”

  He drew a long breath at her words wondering why William had not sent word to him of the child, but then perhaps he feared the girl would yet lose it… “Have ye eaten?”

  She blushed and finally looked away from him. “Phillip and Thomas have taken good care of me. Though, I have not kept much of the food they prepare down.”

  He looked at her and took her thin hand. “I’m sorry, lass. I know how much ye loved him…” He drew a long breath before he spoke again. “Lass, I would like to take ye with me when I go back…”

  She shook her head and bit back tears, not looking at him now. “Nay, this is my home…! And I—I shall not be far from him…”

  Edmund sighed and looked down again. “’Tis not safe for ye here, and being alone and with child—ye need to be cared for.”

  She shook her head again wordlessly.

  He gave her a long determined look. “I must to insist, lass. I am sorry—but ye may carry the next Earl of Whittington within ye. Ye are now the widow of my son and mother of my only heir. It is not safe for thee to be alone, and I shall protect ye and William’s child with my very life.”

  She sat up unsteadily at his strong words and looked at him with hopeless teary eyes. “B—but… I—I do not wish to go…”

  He silenced her with a look. “We leave within the hour. Rest now, while I see to thy comfort.”

  Before she even had time to answer he was out the door again. She laid back and stared at the dark ceiling above her, silent tears slipped from her sad eyes… All seemed to be pressuring her till she didn’t know what to do…!

  The Earl went outside and informed his men that they would be leaving soon and taking the girl with them. They found a cart and horse in the barn and harnessed it; he would take no chances with William’s wife nor child, whether she understood that or not.

  Phillip and Thomas came from the edge of the woods carrying a deer they had shot with an arrow on a pole between them. They hurried once they saw the Earl and stopped, hefting the animal’s weight to the grass aside the barn before they drew near and bowed. “M’lord.”

  “Phillip, Thomas, I am taking William’s widow with me to Whittington.” He looked down and shifted on strong legs, then lifted his head and looked around the meadow once again. “Because my son loved this place and called it home… I would have ye to stay here and tend it for him, and keep watch of that which was important to him.”

  The two men nodded, for it was love and loyalty that bound them to their friend and they would gladly stay to finish the work he had begun.

  He smiled and took a bag of silver from his tunic and handed it to them. “I shall send men on the morrow to see to thee, tell them of thy needs and I shall make sure ye are well taken care of here.” He looked to the great oak where his son now lie. “Watch over my son… His widow and his child shall one day return here to see this place again...”

  The two men bowed. “Aye, m’lord, we shall.”

  Within the hour the Earl went into the clean narrow house again without knocking. He found the girl seated by the fire, her weary head in her hands. He touched her shoulder, but she didn’t look up. “Come now, lass, we go.”

  She shook her head with a quiet sob. All that he was, was here, and if she left this place, he would be so far from her. “I—I cannot leave him….”

  He took her arm and drew her gently to her feet despite her words, her lost eyes going to his determined face. “Phillip and Thomas shall take care of the farm and the village, and ye may visit here again… but for now I must look out after thee and thy child. ‘Tis for the best, lass…”

  He didn’t wait for an answer but drew her along with him towards the door. His men watched the pale girl aside their master, her shaken appearance made them sorry for what they did. Edmund stopped before the cart that had been softened with furs and lifted her carefully onto the back. He took her trembling chin in his hand and looked into sorrowful blue eyes that were wide and unsure. “’Tis for the best, lass… now sit back and be comfortable, we should be at Whittington before night fall…”

  She didn’t answer as she sank down onto the furs; her grief filled eyes trained on Phillip and Thomas as the cart lurched ahead and took her away. They nodded softly, as if giving her their blessing to leave, but her only answer was the silent tears that ran down pale unsure cheeks.

  Edmund rode his horse behind the cart, his deep blue eyes on h
er soft worried face as they went. He knew what he had done was cruel, but he would not lose his heir or the only connection he had left to his own beloved son…!

  Sometime along the journey she had laid her head down and rested her eyes, only to come awake at the sound of the roughened wheels as they went across the wooden draw bridge. She sat up unsteadily and was met with his determined eyes once again, before she glanced around at the huge stone castle made from a light quarry stone that loomed all around her. It was tall and formidable—and intimidating. She had never been far from her village and never before seen something like this! She drew back and held herself tightly as they entered the courtyard; servants greeted them, others looking on her curiously as she sat pale and trembling hardly able to comprehend what was happening around her. Edmund hardly noticed them, his eyes still trained on the frightened look on the girl’s young face. He stopped his horse and dismounted, then went to the cart where she still sat, her eyes wide with fright and wet with tears.

  “Come, lass.” He said in a soothing tone and held out a hand. She looked to the face that so reminded her of William’s and then slowly stood up. He lifted her down carefully as if she might break and put a steadying arm around her thin shoulders. “Do ye feel well enough to walk?”

  She nodded numbly, yet she was not sure of anything right then as she walked beside him towards the tall curved stairs that led to two massive arched doors. Curious eyes followed them, though she was now hardly aware of any of it as he drew her along beside him with gentle soothing words…

  Edmund took the girl inside the great hall, hundreds of candles flickered around the large room, beautiful ornate tapestries hung on the wall, and clean rushes lined the floor. The place smelled like spices and wood, and she stepped back uncertainly… But he did not release her as he drew her along beside him with a gentle word towards the center of the grand room. His steward walked from the halls beyond and met them there, he was an older man with short graying hair. He bowed reverently as he greeted his lord with a smile. “Welcome home, m’lord.”

  The Earl only nodded in acknowledgement never taking his eyes from the girl whose arm he still held gently as if she were a frightened child. “Nigel, this is William’s widow. Have Amelia come and see her to the lady’s guest chambers… Nay—not the guest chamber, see her to William’s chamber instead.”

  She glanced at him at the mention of William’s name. He looked down at her with concerned eyes. “I hope that it shall help to make thee feel more welcome here.” He couldn’t help but notice the tears in her soft blue eyes at his words or how she still trembled...

  The steward left and went to bring the young maid to her. Edmund lessened the hold on her thin arm then. “I want ye to be happy here, lass. The castle shall be a change for thee I know, but I think we can make ye comfortable, and keep thee and the child safe here.”

  She answered him softly. “…Am I in danger...?”

  “My son James, was murdered… and there have been attempts on my life as well. As William’s widow, thy title puts ye and his heir in danger from ‘my enemies’ also.” He wanted her to feel the risk, hoping it would bind her here and to him even more; but if he had to, he would lock her in the tower to keep her at Whittington even against her will. He’d lost everything and he would not lose William’s child as well…!

  She looked at him with lost worried eyes at his words. The ladies maid came up aside them and curtsied low. “M’lord.”

  “Amelia, take the lady to William’s chamber and see to her comfort please. A bath perhaps, a tray, and whatever else her needs may be...”

  The girls nodded and motioned Miranda to the side, taking her towards the stairs beyond them. Her soft pleasant voice murmured quietly as they went. “These are usually the men’s quarters, my lady. The other stairs…” She pointed behind them to the stairs that across the room. “…lead to the women’s quarters.”

  And Miranda only blushed.

  “But the Earl is the only one here now, his chamber are at the far end of the hall.” She stopped at the first door. “And this is William’s chamber. Nothing has been touched since the day he left. The Earl loved the boy and would come in here just to be near to him.”

  Miranda looked at her with lost eyes hardly able to comprehend the words she was speaking. Then she opened the door and Miranda walked into the large clean room before her. She paused then, almost feeling as if he were in this place… She circled around with wide teary eyes, his cloak still lay on the bed as if he had merely set it there that morning, A missive lay open on the table by the window, the lid to his chest of drawers was slightly ajar, and a pair of boots were carelessly thrown on the floor by the fire… It even smelled like him, like wood and leather—as if he would walk back in the room at any moment... She closed her eyes against the tears that over took her then from mere grief and exhaustion—and joy.

  Her maid noticed the frail girl’s anguish and pressed her into a chair aside the massive bed with velvet curtains and covering of deep burgundy. “Oh my lady, come sit.” She poured her a cup of water wine and held it to her. “Here drink this.”

  Miranda took a sip, her eyes still traveling around the room, that warmed her and comforted her more than she could have imagined.

  The girl glanced around her, then back at her mistresses pale face. “This was the young lord’s chamber since he was a small boy. ‘Twas good of Lord Sheridan to give it to thee. Now then, a bath has been ordered for thee, and a tray. I did not see a chest of garments come in with thee, but never ye mind, we shall find a gown for thee to wear.”

  Miranda looked down at her simple dress which was not even as grand as her maid’s and felt a blush take her.

  “Do not fret so, my lady, all shall be taken care of. Ah… and here is thy bath now.”

  The door opened and a large wooden tub was brought up and set near the fire, a few young lads carried buckets of steaming water, and began to fill it. She wasn’t used to such grandeur; they had always bathed with a bucket of warm water and a cloth behind the privacy of a curtain. Never had she seen such things in her life… The bath full, the door closed, and her maid helped her make ready for it. “I shall do thy hair, then ye may soak. And I shall set a drying sheet for thee here, and unless ye would that I help ye—I shall go.”

  Miranda blushed even more. “Nay—I shall be fine.”

  “Very well, m’lady.” The girl silently washed and combed through her hair, then left without a word. Miranda sank into the warm waters of the tub, her teary eyes on the chamber around her. William, would ye have that I had come here? She wasn’t sure what his answer would have been. Yet, she couldn’t deny that somehow she felt close to him here… And maybe, just maybe this was where she was supposed to be…

  Edmund sank down into his chair with a sigh; the captain of the guard, a tall giant of a man with red hair sat opposite of him a cup of ale in his hand. “I was surprised ye were able to convince the lass to come back with ye. She’s with child I take it.”

  “Aye, nigh six months or so I believe from what she has told me.” He took a sip of his cup and set it down thoughtfully. “Actually, it took less to convince her than I had thought. Though truth be told, I did not give her much choice but to comply. The lass does not yet realize that she in no longer just a peasant girl or even the widow of a simple farmer—she is titled also, and the her child is William’s only heir whether it be a boy or not, it does not matter! I have lost everything John, and I shall not lose William’s only child too! The girl shall learn to like it here, but even if she doesn’t—I shall not let her go… She belongs to this place now and here she shall stay.”

  His friend raised a curious brow and tilted his head coyly. “She is young…”

  “Aye, Phillip said not yet seven and ten.”

  “Too young to be a widow, and if something happens to thee she shall be left unprotected from those who might try to take the lands and title through her or her child.”

  The Earl swirle
d his drink in his hand. “’Tis true… But then, I suppose a proper suitor must be found, one who shall lay no claim to the land or title—yet can be trusted to see to my interests…”

  His friend laughed and finished his cup. “Ye may be able to convince the lass to stay willingly, but to accept a husband of thy choosing is another thing all together. And how do ye intend to find such a man?”

  Edmund met his smiling face with a dark frown. “What do ye propose I do then? My hands are tied in this!”

  His friend leaned back casually and crossed one booted foot over his knee. “Well, I would bring a man here, one ye trust… Bring him even before the child is born and see if she finds him to her liking. If she were to fall in love before ye have to take her to task—well then, all the better for thee.”

  “And ye think that is wise?”

  “Aye, I do. She shall want to protect her child and her husband’s interest, and may well choose a husband of her own who shall be the perfect answer. Perhaps, ye shall not find thyself forcing her hand into a marriage at all.”

  “Aye, well and good, I suppose—if she finds the right man agreeable that is.”

  “And if she does not, then another could be found or ye could insist on the marriage regardless of her feeling; though I do not think she would be any too happy for it.”

  He nodded silently, truly he didn’t want to hurt the girl—somehow, she had wound her way around his heart as she had done to his son; but yet, he still would find her a husband in case anything happened to him whether she agreed or not! He knew she had no idea how very vulnerable she was now, nor how dangerous things could become for her and her child now that the truth be known that she herself carried his heir, but he did…!

  Though, he was sure she wouldn’t understand it, out of love and concern he began to set in motion the plans that would change her life yet again… And with that, find a man to protect her and his interests too…

  “There is one last thing…the girl is not to be allowed to leave. Under no circumstances is she allowed to walk the grounds without either myself or Nigel at her side. Nor is she allowed in the courtyard or bailey without one of us. For I shall not allow her to just wander off or meet with a stranger without my knowledge! Though, I do not intend to tell her of such rules, for it would only make her wary of us all, but have thy men keep watch, for I shall not lose her!”