“Nay, Me Lord. Just that she ‘ad to meet with a Count,” the serf answered.
After getting confirmation, that Isabel had taken Nathaniel with her, Brant informed the serf that he and his men, would be leaving right after breakfast.
Brant sat down at the table to eat some of the porridge, and drink the milk, that Gertrude had placed there. That done, he ascended the stairs to the chamber Isabel had occupied, a day earlier. Looking around the room, he saw the evidence that she was no longer there. Her duffle, and Nathaniel’s clothing, that she had been packing yesterday, were gone. He walked across the passageway to the Solar. If Isabel was still hiding in the Castle, he was not likely to find her now.
He found his duffle was sitting on the bed open, as if someone had gone through his things. However, when he looked inside to see if anything was missing, Brant found a large leather covered binder in the bottom, under his clothing. A note instructed him to take the tomb, and hide it someplace safe. He pulled it out to examine it. Inside was a large stack of parchments, some with writing, others containing diagrams. He tucked the flap back into place to close the binder, and placed it back in his bag. Apparently, Isabel had put the tomb in his belongings, though he had no idea why, or what it was for. He took the repacked duffle and returned to the hall, where his knights were finishing their morning repast. Brant told them they were leaving as soon as possible, while he thought to himself, if they let us.
His men rose, and followed him to the stables to get their horses. When the destries were saddled, the knights mounted, and were allowed to ride out of the Castle gates. Once outside the high stone walls, they rode hard for several hours, to put some distance between them, and that place. When they finally came to a village that Brant recognized as being on one of his properties, he slowed down to avoid tiring the horses.
Feeling that any danger was passed, Brant focused on looking for some logical explanation, for what Isabel was doing. He was her husband. According to the law of the land, he owned her, and all her resources. Yet, her people had supported her, following her authority, over his. They had drugged him, and his men, then carried his weak body to her jail, and left him there, for her to do what she would with him. Did they know her intent? Why would she do that? She had his heir, yet, he awoke this morning alive, and well, so he was not dealing with a greedy bride, who wished him harm. She could have had him killed in his sleep. Instead, Isabel had placed guards to see to his safety. Was he in danger, as she had implied? He was not at war with anyone since Avery’s death. Did he have an unknown enemy? Avery had raged about someone double crossing him. Brant thought he had meant Sir Richard, after finding Esme at Lady Ann’s. Was that assumption wrong?
As Brant rode toward his stronghold, more questions assailed his mind. He recalled that only some of the men at the evening meal, were drugged. Some of those who were not, he had thought were his men. However, he was not able to think clearly enough to be sure, or determine which ones, if any, might have been working against him. Then, there was the question of what the leather binder that had been placed in his belongings, was. As soon as he got home, he would have to examine that, to see if he could gain any clues from it. Twas almost like he was lured to her Castle, but why? She had seduced him, after reminding him of her comments, about keeping him in her dungeon, as a plaything. Twas as if she set out to convince him, he did not want to be with her. Then prove to him, she could make his body respond to physical feelings, his mind was opposed to. Why?
Ever since the Lady Isabel had forced her way into his life, Brant had been left wondering, if he knew what was going on. He kept discovering the answer to that question, was no. On the other hand, whatever was going on, his wife was in it, right up to her neck.
It was late in the afternoon, when Brant arrived home. Ann met him in the hall, anxious for any information about Isabel. He carried the duffle through the hall to the stairs, motioning for Lady Ann to follow him up to his Solar. Once there, Brant retrieved the binder from his bag.
“Have you ever seen this?” Brant asked Lady Ann.
“Aye. That was my husband’s. I saw it several times, but never paid much attention. He said it was something he was given to keep, when he was betrothed to Lady Gwenivere, by her father,” Ann replied.
“Your husband was married to another, before you?” Brant asked.
“Nay,” Ann answered. “The Lady and her father, were killed in a robbery, by raiders. However, Edmund always claimed it was no robbery, twas an assassination. He would not explain why, he believed that, though. Where did you get that, anyway?”
Brant answered, “It was placed in my duffle, with this note to hide it someplace safe. Is that Isabel’s handwriting?”
He held the note up for Ann’s inspection. Ann nodded in the affirmative.
“Aye, that looks like her writing,” she answered.
Brant continued, “I believe she may have gotten herself into something dangerous. She was at the Castle when we arrived, but her people drugged my men, and I. This morning, her and Nathaniel were gone. Her serfs claimed they had no idea where she was going, other than, that she was going to meet with some Count.”
Brant paused, looking at Ann, to see if she had any knowledge of the situation, but she looked as confused as he was.
“Anyway,” he continued, “While I try to discover what is going on, please do not mention to anyone, that we have had any news of Isabel.”
Taking this as a dismissal, Ann nodded to him, and left the Solar.
Alone in his bedchamber, Brant opened the binder to look at the contents. The first pages were clearly a betrothal contract. His attention quickly peaked, as he noted the name of Lady Gwenivere’s dower property. He was certain that the listed fief, was now held by his cousin, Niles. Brant had assumed that the fief was part of Niles’ inheritance. Yet, twenty years earlier, it was this Lady’s dowry. How could that be?
Brant decided to search out Rosamund to question her, again, about Isabel and the Duke. However, when he opened the door into the passage, she was there conversing with Ann. He asked her to come into the Solar. When the serf moved to comply, Lady Ann followed.
“Rosamund, did Isabel ever say anything about Niles, other than what you mentioned before?” Brant asked, once they were ensconced in the chamber.
“Nay, Me Lord,” she replied. “Oh, except when she was told Avery was dead. Isabel said she wondered, who the Duke would get to do ‘is dirty work, now. Do you think ‘er disappearance has something to do with ‘im?”
“He has been here several times, asking if we have any information on her whereabouts, has he not?” Ann asked.
“I have no idea what is going on. Therefore, there is no way to know, who might be involved. I would not think my cousin, would be involved in anything nefarious. However, not knowing what the situation is, I cannot really guess who it involves. All I am sure of, is that Isabel and Nathaniel, were safe and well, yesterday. Isabel seemed to believe there was some danger. So I think it best, that we say nothing about any of this, to anyone, understood?” Brant responded.
Both women readily nodded in agreement. Brant was sure that phrasing it as protecting Isabel, would keep both women silent.
“If you think Isabel may be in some danger, mayhap, it would be best if I return home. That would give her another place to turn to for help. What do you think, Brant?” Ann directed to her son-in-law.
“That may be a good idea. I need to give this more thought, so if you will excuse me, ladies,” Brant said, dismissing the two women.
After the women left, he looked through a few more pages, from the binder. They mainly consisted of diagrams, or layouts of various Castles, and Keeps. All properties, appeared to be those held by either him, or his cousin. So the matter, likely involved both of them, though Brant was not sure if Niles, was a friend, or a foe. As Isabel seemed to be suspicious of Niles, he decided it would be best not to share any information with him, yet.