Furthermore, Ann was taking advantage of any opportunity, to lecture Isabel, about bringing the babe with her. Her mother thought that Isabel should leave her newborn babe, at some remote Castle, for his sire, who did not even know about him, to raise. Which explained to Isabel, why she had grown up largely in the care of her father, and his serfs, while her mother was traveling and visiting.
That was another good reason to keep Esme, they claimed. If Brant was told about the babe, his sister could be used as leverage. Now that Isabel was away from her husband's care, with her son, she was almost hoping, that she might never have to tell him. If he did not know about the babe, Brant could not try to take the child from her.
The babe began to fuss, so Isabel went to change him. After she had nursed Nathaniel, Rosamund came to tell her it was nearly time for the evening meal. She helped Isabel gather everything they might need downstairs, for the child, and descended to the hall. There, Isabel lay Nathaniel in a cradle that had been placed near the hearth, and took a chair beside him.
The sentry cried out word of travelers, approaching the Castle. A short while later, a serf entered with word that Lord Reginald of Talishurst, and his wife, were returning home from London. They were requesting accommodation, for the night. Although, Lady Ann did not know the couple, it was common practice for traveling gentry, to request shelter at the Castles along their way. Ann, of course, granted their request, and a short while later, the older couple was escorted into the hall, for introductions.
After dinner, the men talked over tankards of ale around the Lord's table, while the women enjoyed a chalice of wine, near the hearth. Lady Muriel, the new arrival, sat in a chair on the opposite side of the cradle, from Isabel. From there, she cooed over the babe, and gushed about how adorable he was, repeatedly telling Lady Ann how proud she must be of her grandson.
"Aye," Ann said. "Nathaniel is just precious. We have to be very careful, to see he is not taken from us."
Ann gave her daughter a pointed look. Isabel easily interpreted her mother's words as another reminder, of her determination to keep Isabel, and the child, away from Nathaniel's sire. Lady Muriel was too busy watching the babe, to notice Ann's look, or Isabel's irritation.
The older woman chattered on, saying, "My eldest son is two and three. I wish he would settle down, and give me some grandchildren. Unfortunately, his only interest in women, seems to lean toward tarts. I have even tried, to get his sire to arrange a betrothal contract. But he will not agree to that."
That comment, earned Isabel another pointed look from her mother. Once again, the message was clear. Robert had said pretty much the same thing, about Brant. It had been eight months, since he had been released from her dungeon. Isabel wondered how many lewd tarts he had found, in that time. She realized the conversation was really annoying her. Fortunately, as if on cue, Nathaniel started to cry, giving her an excuse to take him up to bed, and get away from her mother. Once she reached her room, Isabel decided to stay there, until the guests had traveled on the next day.
Brant was in the meadow, beyond the road, that passed his Castle, with Hannah, watching as she picked the early spring flowers. The now six year old girl, had given him a large bunch of wilting flowers, and was now examining a small bug. From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of men-at-arms, and a coach, coming up the road. As they drew closer, Brant recognized the crest the coach was flying, as that of Lord Reginald, the husband of his aunt, Muriel, on his mother’s side. He rose from the ground, and called to the child that it was time to go back to the Castle, to await their guests. Hannah slowly walked over to pick up some of the flowers, before taking Brant’s hand. Together they walked across the road, and passed through the Castle gate, into the court yard. Then, Hannah said she was going to show the flowers to Nora, and ran off toward the hall. Brant was left to wait alone, on the stairs, for the coach to arrive.
As soon as the Lord and Lady descended from the coach, Brant asked, “How were your travels?”
Reginald responded, “They were quite fruitful.”
Brant ushered them up the stairs. Reginald waited until they were seated at the table, in the hall, before he continued.
“We did just as planned. We arrived there in the evening, and asked for accommodation, for the night. Isabel, and her son, are definitely there with her mother,” Reginald said.
He was interrupted by a serf who brought some refreshments. When the serf departed, Muriel joined the conversation.
“But that is not all we discovered. Esme is there, too,” she reported.
Brant, who had almost given up hope, of ever knowing what had happened to his sister, asked sharply, “Are you sure?”
“Aye” both responded, nodding in the affirmative.
Then, Reginald assured him, “She seemed to be doing well enough, though she seemed a little sad.”
Brant realized that while this was very good news, it also complicated the situation. As her husband, he had every right to go there, and demand they send Isabel and the child, out to him. Lady Ann could not use her daughter, and grandson, as hostages. Esme was another situation. If they were determined enough, they could threaten her, if he did not go away. He knew, he would have to get her out of the Castle first, if he wanted to retrieve both females, and the child.
Then, Brant asked the most pressing question, “Did you see the babe?”
“Aye” Muriel said. “He appears to be very healthy, and well cared for. But I think there was quite a bit of tension, between Isabel and Ann. I got the impression, Ann does not like you. So she likely, is not pleased, that the babe is the spitting image of you, Brant.”
Brant found himself once again, wondering exactly what had happened, while he was being held prisoner, by Richard, and Isabel. Had he been drugged, so that he did not remember, all that happened there? Then Lillian’s gossip jumped into his mind. ‘No honorable knight would maul a Lady’ and Isabel had replied ‘therein lies the rub’. He never looked at Isabel, but she was about the same height, as the serf Alisa. He realized that several times, the girl came in when he was in bed, in the dark. Had Isabel switched places with the serf, to trick him into siring the child? Was that the whole point, in providing the girl to him? That was a definite possibility. He did not know what to think, but Brant was sure, he was going to get Isabel back, from her mother. Then, he would find out the truth.
Brant spent the rest of the day with his aunt and uncle, catching up on family, and reminiscing about the past. As the couple were leaving the next day, Brant thanked them again, for their carefully arranged accommodation, at Ann’s. Reginald assured Brant, if he needed any further assistance, he need only ask.
It was a beautiful day in the middle of May, and Esme was practicing impatience. Isabel allowed Esme to ride her horse Matilda, that had arrived a few days after Isabel, with a stable hand named Robbie. Isabel seemed to think that situation, some big jest that she would not explain to the younger girl. However, to go riding, Esme had to have a couple of the knights from the Castle go with, for safety sake. They tended to spend the evenings drinking, or chasing the castle tarts, and waking quite late in the morn.
Finally, her escorts were ready to go, and they set out in the direction of the village. Lately, Esme was finding that riding out of the Castle gates, held a sense of relief. Lady Ann treated her like a guest, but she felt more like a prisoner. They would not tell her anything, about her brother. Not, how he was, where he was, or even if he knew she was there at Ann’s. A fact that made her think he did not know. Was Brant aware her mother had helped his enemy take her hostage? Sometimes, Esme wondered if she had been rescued by Richard, or if she was now his captive. She had tried to question Isabel, too, but she did not seem to know much, either. Although, with Ann there glaring at her, maybe, Isabel just did not want to raise her mother’s ire. They certainly could not claim they were protecting her, with their silence. Esme knew when she had first arrived, she had been very upset. She had now regained some sense of safety, and was rarely plagued by the nightmares, of her kidnapping.