It didn’t feel right to Claude when Rose referred to him as a stranger, but he realized that was precisely what he was. He had left when Rose married Toft, never having the courage to return. It had been too hard to watch Rose being in love with Toft when all he ever wanted was for her to be in love with him.
“So, it looks as if there is a double birthday celebration after all,” said Claude, holding tighter to his sister as she squirmed and almost fell out of the saddle.
“Aye, my parents are back at the castle preparing for the feast,” Rose informed him. “They will be happy to see you after all this time. Toft is there, too. My husband will be anxious to see you again as well. We are all happy you finally came back to England.”
Rose referring to Toft as her husband was like a knife being plunged directly into Claude’s heart. He had no desire to see Toft, although he held nothing against the man. Nothing that is, except for the fact that he married the girl that Claude wanted for his own.
“My lady,” said the nursemaid, Evelina, speaking ever so softly. She seemed to be hiding her face under the hood of her cape, and all Claude could see were shadows. “You shouldn’t be out here on the docks. Your husband will not be happy that you left the castle in your condition.”
“Neither will your father be happy, Rose,” added John, turning and riding his horse back to join them. “You know how protective Conlin is about things like this.”
“Things like what?” asked Claude, feeling shaken since it was apparent there was something they were all hiding from him.
Rose smiled at Claude and rubbed her belly. “This is what they are talking about, Claude. I was the one who asked Celestine to summon you. But it wasn’t because of Harry or Charlotte’s birthdays. It was because I have been ill lately. My father and husband are leaving tomorrow to give their two weeks’ service to the king. I was frightened and wanted you here in their absence when I birthed my baby.”
Claude’s eyes focused on the large swell of Rose’s stomach. She looked as if she were going to pop. He’d been so entranced by her eyes he hadn’t even noticed her belly until now. “Y-you’re pregnant,” he stammered.
“Yes, I am. And after losing two babies in the past six years, my father is very worried I will lose this one, too. You remember that he has lost five children as well as a wife. Although he has three sons now with Isobel, I am his only daughter. I want more than anything to give him grandchildren, but I have to admit I am terrified that it might never happen.”
Claude was surprised at hearing Rose had lost two babies and didn’t know what to say. “Nay, don’t be frightened,” said Claude, instantly wanting to comfort the girl the way she’d comforted him so many years ago.
“I won’t be frightened anymore now that you are here, Claude,” she told him. “You are a good friend of mine. It broke my heart when you left England and didn’t return.”
If only she knew he’d left because she had broken his heart in more ways than one.
“My lady, please,” begged Evelina, very anxious to leave. “We need to get back to the castle, tout de suite.”
Claude’s head snapped up at hearing the nursemaid speak French. She sounded different than an Englishwoman speaking his language. He heard something in her voice that told him she was from his homeland.
“Are you from France?” he asked the girl. Her body stiffened, and she grabbed the reins of the horse tighter. She didn’t answer, and neither did she look at him.
“Evelina is right, we shouldn’t be here,” said Rose. “I was so excited to see you that we didn’t even wait for an escort. I wanted to meet you on the docks when you disembarked and had Evelina drive the cart. You look so different. You are . . . a man now, Claude.”
Rose smiled at him and then nodded to her nursemaid to take them back to the castle. They sped away over the wharf leaving Claude staring after them, not knowing what to think.
“I am sorry I didn’t tell you, Claude,” said his mother softly. “Rose asked me not to. She thought if you knew she was pregnant, you wouldn’t come.”
That was the truth. Claude wouldn’t have set foot on English soil if he’d known Rose was pregnant. He also hadn’t heard until now that she’d lost two children before this. Then again, it was probably his fault since he purposely never asked about her, wanting to forget her. He had told his mother to never mention Rose’s name, and so she had respected his wishes and never said a thing.
“Are you going to go back to France now, Claude?” Charlotte looked up at him with sad eyes.
How could he leave her? He had to be there for his sister. Not to mention, now he felt as if he needed to be here for Rose as well. He couldn’t let either of them down. It was his duty as a knight, a brother, and a friend. Anger gripped his gut, but he held back the emotions threatening to spill forth. “Nay, of course not. I won’t leave, Charlotte,” he said, kissing his little sister atop her head. “I came for a birthday celebration, and that is what you are going to get. Just wait until you see the present I brought you.”
“A present? For me?” Her eyes lit up with excitement. “Oh, Claude, give it to me now.”
Claude chuckled. “Nay, my sweet, little sister. You are going to have to wait until the feast. I will not give you your present a minute sooner.”
“Then hurry, Claude. Ride fast to the castle. I can’t wait to get there,” Charlotte urged him.
John turned and led the way, but Celestine stared at Claude with pity in her eyes.
“I’m sorry, Claude,” she whispered as he rode past.
“Me too,” said Claude, holding tightly to Charlotte as he dug his heels into the sides of the horse and directed the animal into a run. He felt like a man heading to the gallows. Going back to the castle where he would have to watch Rose with her husband was the last thing he wanted to do right now. But Rose was counting on him. She was frightened. How could he leave her when she had been there for him in his time of need?
Chapter 2
“Evelina, slow down,” exclaimed Rose as Evelina drove the cart much too fast for having a child and a pregnant lady aboard.
“I’m sorry, my lady.” Evelina slowed the cart as they headed for the castle.
“You are acting very uptight ever since we came to the docks,” said Rose. “What is the matter?”
Evelina had kept hidden when she saw the ship from France. At first, she had thought her father was aboard it, or perhaps her betrothed. She didn’t want to marry the wretched Lord Onfroi Faucheux of Grenoble. That is why she left France in the first place. She realized alliances were necessary, but she was not willing to offer herself up as a sacrificial lamb. Nay, she would not marry the evil man because if she did, her life would be over. He was old and cruel and liked to beat women. She’d even heard from the kitchen maids that Lord Onfroi had tied up some of the servant girls from his castle and forced himself on them.
Her father didn’t believe her, and there was nothing she could do to convince him it was true. So, she did the only thing she could to keep her from this doomed fate. She stowed away on a ship to England wearing the clothes of a peasant. Accompanied by no one but Augustin, one of her father’s mercenaries, she was lucky enough to meet the kind-hearted Lady Rose on the docks who had taken her in as a nursemaid.
Of course, Evelina had forged a letter of recommendation, being skilled in faking signatures and handwriting of any kind. To get Augustin to be her escort, she had to pay him dearly. Their story was that he was her brother, even though he was a good fifteen years older than her. He was hired as a guard at Briarbeck Castle so they could stay together. Evelina’s real surname was du Pont, but she was using the alias of Bisset.
For a fortnight now, Evelina lived in disguise, giving up her life as a noble in hopes of finding an Englishman with whom she could fall in love and marry. If anyone discovered her true identity, she would be sent back to France immediately and be married off to Lord Onfroi in a heartbeat.
“Naught is wrong, Lady Rose. I j
ust don’t think it is safe for you to be on the docks, that’s all.”
“We were in no danger with Lord John and Sir Claude there,” Rose assured her. “Now that Claude will be here in my father and husband’s absence, I am not even afraid to give birth.”
“He’ll be here that long?” Evelina didn’t like the fact Sir Claude was from France and wasn’t leaving anytime soon. Plus, she’d made a mistake when she spoke, and he was now aware she was French as well. If he stayed at Briarbeck Castle, there was no doubt he would be asking questions that she didn’t want to answer. She didn’t know him, but what if he knew of her?
“I am sorry, my lady. I spoke out of line.” Evelina played the subservient position of a servant even though she was the daughter of a French count. She enjoyed being around children, and Rose was a kind person. Still, it was hard having to remember that she now had to sit below the salt and eat with the commoners. She couldn’t wear velvet or jewels anymore and had to sleep on a pallet on the floor in Lady Rose’s wardrobe.
As awful as this all was, the one good thing was that she could come and go without being noticed. She could also observe the eligible Englishmen and would, hopefully, find one who took her interest. She planned on finding a man to marry here in England. Then she would send a missive back to France and, hopefully, convince her father to change her betrothal.
Being in England gave her the opportunity to do this, although it was probably a risky and foolish thing to do. However, if she had stayed in France, everyone knew her and she would never be able to hide in the shadows like she was doing here. It was her last chance to make her life the way she wanted it to be. Her two brothers were already married. Being the youngest and only daughter, her father had plans for her that she didn’t agree with and never would.
“I have known Claude for a long time,” said Rose as Evelina brought the cart to a stop. “We are good friends. Did you know he wanted to marry me at one time, but I turned him down?”
“He did?” Evelina handed the reins to a stable boy as she slipped off the driver’s seat. “He is very handsome, my lady. Why would you turn him down?” She held out her arms for Harry, lifting him from the cart and holding his hand.
Rose walked around the cart, coming to Evelina’s side. “I had just turned three and ten years of age at the time. I was in love with my father’s squire, Toft. That is why I married him instead of Claude. My father agreed because he wanted me to be happy, even though Toft was not from a rich family and didn’t own an estate. Oh, here is my husband now.”
Evelina stepped to the side as Toft rushed over to greet his wife. He hugged her and kissed her in front of everyone, scooping her up into his arms. That made Rose giggle.
“Pick me up, too,” said Harry, holding out his arms.
“Toft, put me down,” scolded Rose. “If you don’t, I might deliver this baby right in your arms.”
“I wish you would,” said Toft. His bright eyes sparkled in the sun, and his honey-colored hair gently lifted in the warm breeze. “If you did that, I wouldn’t have to worry about you every minute I am away.” He placed Rose on her feet.
Evelina’s heart melted, watching the couple that looked to be so much in love. That’s what she wanted, too. She wanted a man to fall in love with her. Someday, she hoped to have a kind and handsome young husband who would kiss and hug her and care about having a child so much that he didn’t want to leave her. Yes, she wanted someone just like Toft.
“You don’t have to worry about me being alone when I birth the baby, Toft,” Rose told her husband.
Toft looked over to Evelina. “Aye, I know you have the nursemaid.”
“And me,” said Harry. “I will help my sister.”
“I’m sure you will,” said Toft, ruffling the little boy’s hair. “Your mother will be here, too, but I don’t feel as if that is enough.”
“Sir Toft, I heard what ye said.” Isobel, Rose’s Scottish stepmother, approached holding on to the arm of Rose’s father, Lord Conlin de Braose. Isobel was once sent as a proxy from Scotland but ended up falling in love with Conlin, and they were married instead. “I assure ye I will take guid care of my daughter and her bairn. Ye have nothin’ to worry about.”
Conlin spoke up next. “The only thing you have to fear is if my wife will have the baby’s feet in shoes by the time we return,” Conlin said with a chuckle.
“I don’t understand,” said Evelina.
“My father is jesting.” Rose threw a sideways glance at her father.
“Like hell I am,” mumbled Conlin. “We have all seen Isobel’s crazy infatuation with shoes, and there is no telling what is going to happen next where that is concerned.”
“Conlin, ye are exaggeratin’,” said Isobel. “I havena even bought a new pair of shoes for some time now.”
“Really?” he asked, glancing across the courtyard. “Torrence, Dunmor, come here,” he called out to their eight and six-year-old sons who came running.
“What is it, Father?” asked Dunmor.
“You aren’t leaving yet, are you?” Torrence inquired.
“Nay, boys. I won’t be leaving until the morrow. Harry, come here, too, please.”
Harry ran over, and Conlin scooped him up in his arms.
“Conlin, what is this all about?” asked Isobel.
“Show me your shoes, boys,” said Conlin.
“Our shoes?” asked Torrence, confused.
“That’s right,” said Conlin, holding up one of Harry’s feet. The little boy giggled. “Let me see your shoes.”
Torrence and Dunmor held one foot in the air, showing off brand new boots.
“Uh huh,” said Conlin with a nod.
“Conlin, what are ye doin’?” asked Isobel.
“Boys, you were wearing shoes, not boots this morning, weren’t you?”
“Yes, Father,” said Torrence.
“So, why did you change them?”
“Mother bought us new boots, and she wanted to see how they fit,” Dunmor blurted out.
Evelina had to hold back her laughter when she saw Isobel’s face redden at the tattling of her son.
“Isobel?” asked Conlin in a low voice. “What do you have to say about that?”
“Oh, all right, so I bought the bairns some new shoes. But I didna buy any for myself.”
“Good thing,” said Conlin, placing Harry on the ground. “Any more shoes and I will have to add a room to the castle just to store them all. Now, come on, boys, we need to get to the great hall for someone’s birthday celebration.”
“Me? Do you mean me?” asked Harry, sounding so excited that Evelina thought he would wet himself.
“Yes, you,” said Conlin. “We have a celebration! Now, everyone get to the great hall so we can start.”
“Did you want me to watch over the children?” Evelina asked Conlin.
“Nay, not tonight. I’ll watch the boys. You stay close to my daughter, instead,” Conlin called back over his shoulder. “If she shows any signs of starting to birth the baby, report to me or my wife immediately, do you understand?”
“Aye, my lord,” said Evelina with a nod.
“Rose, I don’t think I should leave tomorrow,” Toft told his wife. “You might need me.”
“Thank you, Husband, but you don’t have a choice. It is your duty as a knight to serve the king when needed. And as I was saying, I will be in good hands. Claude is here. Here he comes now.”
“Claude de Bar is here from France?” Toft looked up to see Claude dismounting his horse. “Claude. Over here,” shouted Toft, waving his hand in the air.
“Remember, he is Claude Montague now since his father has claimed him,” Rose told her husband. “Sir Claude. He is a knight as well.”
“Aye, that’s right.” Toft chuckled lowly. “I can’t help but wonder how that scrawny little boy with the long hair in his eyes managed to become a knight.”
“He doesn’t look like that anymore, Toft, so please be nice.”
Eveli
na saw the handsome Frenchman looking in their direction. He helped his young sister from the horse and sent her over to his parents before he headed over. Evelina kept her eyes downward, not wanting the man to see her face.
“Hello, Toft,” said Claude, reaching out and clasping hands with Rose’s husband.
“My, you have grown up since the last time I saw you, Claude. I’m surprised to see you here,” Toft replied. “After all, you left so suddenly after Rose and I married that I didn’t even get to say farewell.”
“It’s been six years since Claude went back to France,” said Rose. “But he is here now and is going to watch over me until your return, so you needn’t worry. I will be in good hands.”
“You are going to do that?” Toft seemed pleased.
Evelina glanced up to see Claude and Rose’s eyes interlock. Rose was smiling, but Claude wasn’t. The man held discomfort in his gaze. She could tell he was uptight by the rigidness of his stance.
“Well, I am not sure how long I’ll be able to stay,” Claude muttered, fidgeting as he answered.
“Rose is due to have our baby any day now.” Toft pulled Rose closer, giving his wife a squeeze. “You won’t have long to wait. I assure you of that.”
Evelina witnessed the uneasiness in Claude’s eyes before he looked down to his arm, pretending to brush away lint. The happy couple didn’t even seem to notice that Claude felt uncomfortable. Evelina wondered if it had something to do with the fact Claude once wanted to marry Rose. Perhaps, he still had feelings for her after all this time.
“Claude, you will be here for me until Toft returns, won’t you?” Rose asked with hope in her voice.
“My service to the king is for a fortnight. I will return as soon as I can,” Toft informed him. “I would feel at ease knowing Rose has a man she can trust at her side. I don’t want her to feel afraid . . . after losing the last two babies and all.”
Claude was at a loss for words. How could he not stay when Rose wanted him there? Even though Rose had already explained things, now that Toft had also pointed out she’d lost two babies, he realized she was frightened and rightly so. Guilt ate away at him for not even expressing his sorrow for their loss.
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