by Ann Turner
Richard was back at his side in an instant, grabbing him by the throat. He shook him violently, before releasing him to land back on his heels, choking. Simon put his hand to his throat, sucking the air back into his lungs.
‘You could have been taken captive and tortured into betraying my plans. You risked the safety of my men. The entire venture of this crusade was put at risk by your idiocy. Were you anyone else, I’d have you whipped and strung up!’ He hurled a vicious punch at Simon, flooring him in an instant. Simon struggled to his feet, feeling his jaw and wincing at the pain. He tasted blood in his mouth and had felt several teeth loosen. ‘One more act of inanity by you and you shall be made an example of. I do not care who you are, understand? Now, get out of my sight!’
Simon rapidly left the king’s presence. He had escaped his king’s wrath with only a verbal trouncing and a painful jaw. He knew this was a lucky escape, as Richard was capable of anything when his blood was up. He had seen the revenge the king exacted when he had been wronged. The torturous execution of the hostages had been a bloody example, which had shown Richard at his worst. It had been a brutal and barbarous act, and would tarnish his reputation as the brave, chivalrous Lionheart
Aubrette kept to her bed, recovering from the injury to her arm. She did not want to venture out and did not yet feel ready to join the daily life of the citadel at Acre.
Simon knew it would take time for him to regain her trust and to share her bed again, though he was impatient to get between her thighs again. This had been the true reason for the dramatic rescue. For now, he had to play the good and loyal husband to his pregnant wife. He attempted to visit Aubrette, who would regard him suspiciously, wanting one of the other women present in the same room. She felt her body tense when he sat opposite her, talking as calmly as he was able. Any answers to his questioning would be monosyllabic and he would depart, frustrated with her reaction to him, impatient with her. He would curse the Saracen she still claimed to love for interfering and putting ridiculous ideas in her mind. Simon decided that the man must have used substances on her to alter her mind into believing she no longer had any affection for him. He was prepared to wait for this woman, who he still desired, while his own wife grew his son in her rapidly swelling belly.
Her own reluctant husband, Hugh, visited her once, and that was by command of the king. He was disheartened that Simon had returned his wife alive; her disappearance would have conveniently ended the sham that was their marriage. He sat by Aubrette’s bed, inspecting his boots and not once looking at his wife. They passed a brief and concise conversation, before he departed. Aubrette never saw him again during her recovery.
She slowly came to terms with the fact that she had been rescued and was back where she truly belonged. Her encounter with Najid had been but a brief and beautiful interlude. She would always remember feeling his hirsute body on hers; it would fade, but it would remain in the back of her mind a moment that she would never forget. From this instant, she began her rehabilitation and her recovery was swift.
40
King Richard, now the conqueror of Acre, prepared his armies to march south along the coast towards Jaffa. Queen Berengaria, Joanna and the Cypriot Princess were to remain at Acre with the garrison stationed there. Life was good in Acre, and they were content to settle and make their lives in the city. Rowena had tried to insist that she travel with the crusaders, as she wanted to be close to her husband as her time was drawing near. Simon refused to listen to her pleading; her time was approaching and he did not want his wife or future son put at risk. She would be a liability travelling with the army along the coastline, especially if the baby were to arrive before they reached Jaffa. The enforced march would not halt for a woman in childbirth, and Rowena should be made to understand this. She was to remain at Acre; she was the obedient wife and she must not question him as her master. Gloomily, Rowena agreed to the command. Aubrette was quietly pleased at this, as she did not want to leave the safety of life behind the walls of Acre. She had had enough adventure and wanted her life to be quiet from now on.
King Richard cared less about the women, as he was more focused on the long march ahead. Queen Berengaria stood amid her women in the centre of Acre, watching as her husband barked out orders. He sent messengers scurrying away to carry communications to his generals, who were further along the lines of soldiers waiting for the command to move out of the city. She had lost that first flush of wonder that marriage had promised. She had a husband who clearly wished to not be with her, either for duty or love. He was not violent or abusive to her – he was even civil, charming and polite, but affectionate? It was an emotion that was alien to him towards women, and it was this that made her feelings harder to bear. Had he beaten or abused her, Berengaria would have had a tangible reason to hate and detest him. It would make his disinterest in her easier to live with, but the civility of it all made it impossible. Joanna stood by her side, also wanting to accompany her brother and equally infuriated as she knew this would not be allowed. The only women travelling would be the washerwomen and the whores. The ladies of good breeding would remain behind.
Rowena, standing alongside Aubrette, stepped back and pulled her sister with her. ‘Come with me,’ she insisted and stealthily hurried towards the rear of the army columns.
‘What are you doing?’ asked Aubrette, as she allowed herself to be led. Rowena had a glimmer in her eyes that said her sister she was up to no good. She had seen this gleam often before, when they had been young girls and were being disobedient to their father. It usually ended up with both girls getting into trouble and being punished for their errant behaviour.
‘I am not letting my husband leave without me. I want him to know the moment his son is born. I’ll not have a messenger take a letter that will not reach him for a week,’ said Rowena, enigmatically. ‘We will hide in one of the wagons and travel with them.’
Aubrette halted, abruptly. ‘Never! Simon wants you to stay here for your safety and the safety of your child,’ she argued, but she noticed the determined look on the face of her sister and her chin hardened in stubbornness. Rowena would not be deterred.
‘I feel well, my child is well and I cannot stay behind. I’ll be bored with all that sewing and praying and idle chatter. I will worry about him and so I must be close to Simon,’ she explained, earnestly. This was a new Rowena, not the cowering little woman anymore. She had made her decision and would not be swayed. ‘While you were lost to me, I came to realise that I love my husband. The thought of him marching away from me and the possibility of losing him is unbearable.’
‘But I do not want to go; do not forget what I have endured. We will be at risk if we go. Your husband wants to know you are safe and that he does not have to worry about you. We will be in constant danger. You could be putting Simon’s life in danger,’ reasoned Aubrette.
‘Then stay behind, but I am going. I shall not watch my husband ride through the gates, not knowing when I shall see him again and if I shall see him again,’ Rowena said, firmly, turning back towards the army. With a hand on her belly, she hurried away.
Aubrette stood watching her for a short while. Then, sensing it could only end in serious trouble, she called after her sister and ran up to her. ‘I cannot leave you to do this on your own. I’m coming with you,’ she said, and was rewarded with a hug and a happy smile.
They hurried unnoticed towards the wagons carrying the camp followers and the other women, and climbed in beside them. All made them welcome, even if some expressed surprise at Sir Simon’s pregnant wife sneaking along.
41
Richard made the march as endurable as possible for his men by ordering ships to shuttle between Acre and their current position along the coastline with supplies. This meant the crusaders could travel light, knowing that fresh food and drink would always be available. The heat of summer was almost unbearable and the night temperatures chilled the bone
– this, combined with biting, stinging insects and lizards, failed to stop the crusaders, much to the annoyance of the Saracens as they continued to harass the Europeans along their route march.
They marched only in the mornings, before the heat became intolerable. If they even tried to march in their armour in the heat, even during the mornings, many would overheat. This would cause many to vomit or pass out in exhaustion. The Hospitallers and the women tended to the fatigued men. Those who died of heat exhaustion were quickly buried, as the stinking and decomposing bodies attracted unwanted attention from animals.
It was now that Aubrette and Rowena were discovered. At the end of the second day of marching, when the army had stopped to rest, they disembarked the wagon with the other women. Straightaway, they were recognised by one of the king’s captains. He took them to the front where Richard was dismounting his horse, with Simon and Hugh close by. All three men stopped and stared in disbelief as Rowena and Aubrette came to stood in front of them. The women curtsied to their king.
‘What is this? Fitzroy, why is your wife here? Should she not be at Acre growing your child?’ Richard demanded. Simon was speechless and had no explanation. Rowena went slowly down onto her knees and looked into her king’s face. ‘Can you not control the women in your life? You disobey me by bringing the maid back and now I see your wife here before me.’
‘Sire, this has been my decision and my sister wanted to be with me,’ said Rowena. ‘I need to be close to my husband. I cannot live without him and I want him to know as soon as his son is born safe.’
‘Messengers would have been dispatched from Acre to bring the news to him,’ retorted Richard. ‘You can give me no reasonable excuse for either of you being here, both at your own peril. You shall be put on one of my galleons and returned to Acre.’
With difficulty, Rowena prostrated herself before him, feeling the hardness of her belly pushing up into her body. She felt her baby shift inside.
‘I beg you, my lord, to let us remain. We shall cause you no trouble, and we can help the sick and injured,’ she begged.
Simon came forward and helped his wife to her feet. ‘I wish you had remained in Acre. You make a fool of me by being here,’ he scolded.
‘What does your husband say, Lady Fulbert?’ the king asked, looking at Hugh, who stared back blankly at the question.
‘My wife is a weak-minded fool to allow herself to be brought here with a hysterical woman,’ he answered blandly, as Simon agreed with him ignoring the look of hatred shot at him by Rowena.
‘Well said, Hugh,’ Richard agreed, ignoring Rowena, who was now attempting to argue her point for her insubordination.
Aubrette, meanwhile, remained tactfully silent – she had not wanted to be here in the first place.
The king turned back to the two women. ‘You shall be escorted by Sir Simon to our ship, where you shall board to be returned to Acre. There, you will be put into the care of my wife, the queen. Lady Rowena, you are advised to remain there until you are lighter of your child. Life on the battlefield is no place for a woman, pregnant or not.’
Rowena opened her mouth to protest, but Richard’s stern stare silenced her. ‘Say your farewells and be off.’ He turned away to speak with another of his captains.
Rowena began to complain and argue. This pregnancy had made her bold with her tongue and she refused to back down until Simon seized her by the arm and dragged her to the side to speak severely to her. Aubrette watched him shaking his finger in his wife’s face; though she could not hear the words he spoke, it was obvious that he was very furious with her being here and risking the life of his unborn son. She retorted, angrily. His response silenced her and they came back. Rowena was trailing as a petulant child behind her husband.
‘Follow me,’ he ordered, and they all headed silently towards a cart to carry the women to the coast. Once there, a small boat that had beached to unload supplies was ready to take them to the ship.
At the side of the boat, Rowena turned to her husband to plead for one more time. ‘Please, my lord, do not make us leave you. Let us remain with the other women at the back of the army. I shall not give you cause to worry about me. I want you to see your son when he is born. You did not see Eustace for many months, and this child is truly ours.’ She reminded him.
Grim faced, Simon ignored his wife and spoke to the sailors, instructing them to see the women safely onto the ship and to Acre. Rowena gave a small moan and put her hands on her belly, waving a hand at her sister. She moaned again and doubled over.
Simon looked round. ‘What is wrong?’ he demanded, concerned at her sudden complaining.
Rowena shook her head and took a step back, then moaning once again. ‘I cannot get on that boat! My belly hurts; my baby hurts,’ she complained. Aubrette put a reassuring arm over her shoulder. ‘It is too early. I cannot travel. I think my baby is coming.’
‘We have to go,’ insisted Aubrette.
‘No, I cannot do it. It’ll harm my baby,’ Rowena repeated, throwing Simon into a predicament.
If he forced his wife to board the waiting ship, he could be putting the lives of both her and his unborn child at risk, and if the child was truly coming, the infant could be born at sea with no midwives to assist. If he allowed the women to remain, he would have to explain why to his king. He hesitated before making a decision. ‘Stay, but just for now. Once the infant is born and you are well again, you shall return to Acre,’ he conceded.
Rowena gave an unbearable wail and threw herself into his arms. ‘Thank you, my lord, thank you. I shall cause no trouble to you or our king. I shall return to Acre as the obedient wife that you desire.’
Aubrette stood confused and, if she admitted it to herself, disappointed not to be returning to the safety of Acre and a more comfortable way of life.
Leaning heavily on her husband’s arm and omitting small moans, Rowena slowly climbed into the cart. With her sister sitting alongside, she made her way back to the Christian camp. They were aware of the soldiers watching their return and the mutterings as they watched the women’s return. Indeed, it did not take long for news to reach the ears of Richard. He came storming out of a war council, his face red with anger. ‘What is this? Fitzroy, what means you to bring your woman back here! You make a fool of your king with your disobedience!’ he shouted.
Simon explained the reason as Rowena, still whimpering quietly, and Aubrette cowered behind him. They were afraid of the king’s furious anger. ‘I cannot spare any men to return you to Acre, so you will remain and travel with us. You shall not receive any special favours, even though your child may be born while we are in conflict. Be aware, Lady Fitzroy, be very aware that you do this at your own risk,’ he warned.
Simon did not take his eyes off his wife, disbelieving that she had achieved this herself. He then turned his gaze to Aubrette, who remained unaware of his attention, looking at her still as the woman he lusted for. When he was able, he would attempt to woo her and lure her back to his bed. This newfound rebelliousness in his wife could work to his advantage.
‘My lord, let me take the women to my accommodation and I shall be responsible for them,’ Simon pledged.
Richard glared at him. ‘No, these women have taken it upon themselves to be here. I said no special favours and I mean it. They can sleep with the camp followers and your wife shall be brought to bed there,’ he said, coldly. Simon opened his mouth to complain. ‘No favours,’ he repeated, coldly. Simon turned back to his wife.
‘This will make me a laughing stock as a husband who cannot control his own wife!’ he cried, incredulously.
Rowena took his hand and kissed it lovingly. ‘Dearest husband, I could not face the thought of being away from you. After what happened to Aubrette, it made me realise how I would feel if I never saw you again,’ she explained, honestly, before moaning in pain once again.
Simon ran a hand through his copper hair. ‘It is very touching to hear this, but it still puts you and our child in danger. You know what has happened in the past, so how can you be so sure that it will not happen again,’ he asked.
Rowena smiled happily, pulling his hand to rub her belly. He smiled in return.
‘Because here I feel well and the air suits me. It is hot, I know, but everything feels right. And, as I know you shall be near to see your son when he is born, it makes all of this worthwhile.’
‘I shall attempt to protect you, both you and our child, but I cannot be distracted from the reason I am here,’ Simon replied, looking at Aubrette, who was standing back and listening to the conversation. She would distract him, he knew this. Even though she was quiet when he was close, just to know she was near was distraction enough. ‘Let me escort you back to the followers and ensure you are safe,’ he offered, holding out his arm for his wife to take.
With Aubrette following, who still remained silent, they returned to the rear of the army, where fires had been lit for pots of broth to be heated. Simon made sure the two women were as comfortable as they could be, before returning to the front of the army to enter into conversation with the king and generals over the progress to be made the following day.
Rowena settled onto a stool with a satisfied smile on her face as Aubrette fussed around her, making her comfortable.
‘My baby is fine. There was no pain earlier; my child is not to be born yet. I have never felt better and here I am, still here,’ she said, contentedly rubbing her stomach.
Aubrette was shocked to this revelation. ‘You have lied to your husband! If he finds out, he will punish you!’ she announced.
Rowena sat forward and gripped her sister’s arm. ‘But you will not tell him, will you?’ she insisted.