Then, looking at Robert, he said, "I believe I know what happened to the women, and the babe." Everyone looked at him quizzically, and he continued, "Obviously, they were spirited away by gypsies."
Robert and Harold rolled their eyes, then both men's jaws dropped open, as Brant turned his palm up. A small piece of parchment paper, had been tucked between his fingers. The parchment said, 'the child is safe with Lady Ann'.
Knowing they had gotten all the information they would get, from the gypsy, the knights returned to the Castle, to ask a few more questions. It was likely, that Isabel left of her own accord. The gypsy woman had some part in passing messages, but there had to be someone inside the Castle, too. It would be much easier to get information from them. Brant had no authority over the gypsies, whereas he could punish his serfs.
More discussion of the Lady’s activities, turned up the information that she was quite fond of her horse. She had often gone to the stables, to talk to Robbie, a youth who cared for the horses. Isabel had even asked Robbie to ride the horse, to insure it was getting regular exercise, insisting that Harold approve that arrangement. So, Brant sent Harold out to find Robbie.
Harold returned a short while later, to report that Robbie had left to exercise Isabel’s horse, right after Brant had arrived. The youth had not returned. It was likely, that the stable hand was the inside man, so to speak, who was now long gone. Although, a patrol was being sent out, to make sure he was not injured somewhere.
Later, after the evening meal, Brant asked Hester to have a bath prepared for him, in the Lord’s Solar. The serf told him, that some of Isabel’s things were still in there, from after the babe was born, and asked if she should remove them. Brant instructed her to leave them for tonight, but have them packed up in the morning, and sent to his home.
Brant climbed the stairs, and entered the Solar. He walked through the antechamber, and into the bedchamber. Everything looked pretty much the same, as when he was there briefly about a year earlier, except for the cradle. Brant walked over, and rocked the cradle, back and forth, wondering again, if there was some way the babe might be his. He realized he really wanted a child. The sound of water being poured into the tub, in the antechamber, interrupted his thoughts.
He considered the events of the day, and decided that Isabel was in all probability, a willing participant in her departure. However, he still needed to find her. The note from the gypsy mentioned Lady Ann, Isabel’s mother. Considering that she was only one and seven, it was likely that with the babe, she would be heading straight to her mother. On the morrow, it would be best to return to Robert’s, to see if Kate knew exactly where Ann’s dower property was, and take Hannah home.
From the antechamber, a serf called, “Me Lord, yer bath is ready. I was sent to see if you need any assistance.”
Brant groaned inwardly, recognizing Lillian’s voice. She was this castle’s version, of Cora. A lewd tart, who’s antics he use to find amusing. He thought about sending her away, but realized her assistance would be helpful, to remove his tight tunic, and chausses.
While Lillian was helping him undress, he asked, “Did you know the Lady?” When she responded with an affirmative nod, he continued, “What do you think of her disappearance?”
“I think she run off on ‘er own. I think she was pretending, to be sick,” Lillian said.
“Why is that?” Brant asked.
“Hester says I should not gossip,” Lillian said, reluctant to continue.
"The Lady is missing," he reminded her.
"A few days before she were gone, ‘er and Rosamund was arguing, when I was bringing the babe’s clean wash up. I was about to knock, when I heard Rosamund say, ‘Someone should stuff Yer Lord in a chamber pot’,” Lillian said, blushing.
Brant stepped in to the tub, and lowered himself into the water. He motioned to Lillian encouraging her to continue.
“Then the Lady said, ‘he is certainly not that bad.’ And her maid says ‘no honorable knight would maul a Lady, the way he did ye that one night’.” Lillian paused again, so Brant indicated she should wash his back, and continue her story. “Then the Lady said ‘therein lies the rub, does it not?’ and they was quiet, so I was going to knock. But Rosamund said, ‘ye should have told him’ and the Lady answered, ‘aye, and mayhap he would have strangled me.’ Next, her maid said, ‘yer husband is going to 'ave to be told,’ and the Lady said ‘I intended to tell ‘im, ‘e did not give me a chance’.”
Lillian stopped to pick up the bucket of clean water, to rinse his hair.
With that done, Brant asked, “Was that all?”
Lillian replied, “Aye, Me Lord. Except, I knocked, and went in with the wash, and the Lady said ‘thank-you, Lillian,’ like she were real weak. ‘Er voice did not sound weak, when they were arguing.”
Lillian had moved around to his chest, and was massaging it, under the guise of lathering it. Brant reached up, to take the soap, and sponge, from her. He asked her to go get clean clothes from his duffle, in the bedchamber, and lay them out on the bed. He then quickly washed the rest of his body, while she was doing that task. When she returned, he rose from the tub, motioning for one of the bath sheets, Lillian had quickly picked up. Brant directed her to dry his back, then his feet, and legs. By the time she worked her way up to his knees, he had the other sheet wrapped around his waist.
“Thank-you, Lillian. I will not be needing you anymore tonight. Please ask Hester, to have the bath emptied,” Brant said, dismissing her.
“Aye, Me Lord,” Lillian replied, sounding a little disappointed, as he turned, and walked into the bedchamber.
Once he closed the door, Brant mentally congratulated himself on how good he was getting, at giving the Castle tarts instructions, that kept them from any lewd groping. The bath sheet around his waist was discarded on the floor, as he climbed into bed, and covered himself with a blanket.
Before sleep came, his mind drifted over Lillian's gossip, focusing on what Isabel's husband would have to be told, that he did not give her a chance to say. Robert said she was waiting to talk to him, but he had sent his men to bring her here. After nearly three months in a dungeon, Brant was too mad, to be reasonable. His father had sent Peggy here, while she was carrying her lover's child. Brant knew he had them bring Isabel here, because it was well out of the way, and the closest thing to a dungeon, he could reasonable put his wife. However, he had no idea what to make of the knight, who had 'mauled' the Lady, and should be stuffed in a chamber pot. He did not recall ever touching her. Had he? Or, were they talking about someone else? Brant drifted off to sleep, without finding any answers.
Chapter 10
Isabel was furious. She had arrived at her mother's several weeks ago, thanks to a round-a-bout escort, from Richard. Her mother, and Richard, had insisted, that as long as Brant had Isabel, they were going to keep his sister, Esme, from him. Now that Isabel was there, they were changing their minds, and refusing to return the girl to her brother, or even send word that she was safe. Brant had shipped Isabel off to his remote Castle, and had provided no word on her welfare, to Ann. He did not deserve to know Esme was alright, was the logic. Isabel did not tell them, that she had left a message with the gypsies, for him. There was no way to know, if he had even spoken to the fortune teller. What was more, the gypsy woman always insisted they be so cryptic, that she was not sure the message would make sense, if he did get it.