Every Noble Knight

by Maggie Bennett

  In spite of his resolve to face the newly wedded couple with dignified goodwill, Wulfstan went supperless to bed that night. He chose to walk in the palace courtyard, where the rich aroma of roasting meat drifted out on the air, improving the appetites of the groups awaiting supper. Suddenly he was face-to-face with Lisette, the Countess d’Avour, and at once bowed respectfully to her.

  ‘Good eve—’ he began, but that was as far as he got, stopped in his tracks by the look of utter disdain on her handsome face, the venom in those green, gold-flecked eyes. She turned sharply away, and beckoned to her husband who was standing near and who hurried to her side. She whispered something in his ear, but the words he then used to Wulfstan were certainly not whispered.

  ‘I never thought to see such a blackguard as you, taking your ease in this place again after your wicked treatment of the Countess d’Avour!’ he shouted in French, advancing towards Wulfstan with his hand on his sword hilt. ‘To lay your filthy hands on a virgin and force her to yield to your evil lust – you who are not fit to lick her feet, how dare you show your face again in this palace! You quitted it quickly enough when you left her in deep distress, and now to come crawling back, you swine, you slimy toad, you . . .’

  Heads were turning in their direction as the Count roared his accusations. Wulfstan instinctively drew back from the man’s fury, and was only saved from a hand-to-hand fight by the Countess clinging to her husband’s arm and begging him to show mercy on this one-armed knight who had ill-used her. Grudgingly, the Count drew back, though he had not finished threatening the said knight.

  ‘I shall tell the Prince of Aquitaine that his palace is too small to contain both you and me under its roof – and I’ll be damned if I ever sit down at table with you!’

  He turned to the Countess whose face was flushed, and her eyes closed as if to shut out the man she had accused of raping her.

  ‘Have no fear, my darling,’ said her husband. ‘I shall go straightway to the Prince and let him choose whether we remain here and that wretch is kicked out, or you and I will quit the palace at break of day tomorrow.’

  He paused for breath, and Wulfstan took the opportunity to say a few quiet words without losing his composure.

  ‘You have no need to go to the Prince, sire. I will remove myself from your sight forthwith. Good evening.’

  Whatever the Prince and Princess thought of the scene described to them by the onlookers, they took no action, but said goodbye to Wulfstan at break of day the next morning, wishing him well.

  Lady Janet Wynstede’s unreserved welcome on the return of her brother-in-law went some way towards warming the chill in his heart, as did the children’s delight at seeing their Uncle Wulfstan again. He had clearly been missed, and not just for his administrative duties. Ethelreda and Maud were also pleased to see him, and perhaps just a little amused to hear that his rush to Bordeaux to save a lady’s honour had not been quite swift enough, because an older, richer suitor had got there first. They tactfully avoided asking questions about the lady, though Janet made no secret of her gratitude towards the Frenchwoman who had taken another husband.

  ‘It’s her loss rather than yours, Wulfstan, and I know that it’s come as a relief to you. That old Count’s welcome to her!’

  ‘I hope they’ll be happy together,’ he said with a sigh, inwardly thinking, I hope that my child benefits from having a French Count as father. He then had a serious conversation with Janet, asking her to explain to Ethelreda and Maud that he had cut himself off from Beulah.

  ‘I’ve banished myself from Greneholt for ever, Janet, and will never see that sweet, loyal girl again. I’ve proved my unworthiness by betraying her twice over, and now must accept God’s just punishment. I don’t even regret confessing my wrongdoing, because it was right that she should know the truth. I pray that a better man than I will gain her as wife.’

  His sister and two sisters-in-law evidently sympathized, because Beulah’s name was never mentioned, though one afternoon he came upon the three of them deep in a discussion which ended as soon as he entered the room. How changed was Janet’s attitude to her Wynstede and Blagge relations now, he thought. They had become firm friends, and Ethelreda and Janet shared their children with Maud who was now alone at Blagge House, Aelfric learning law in London, and Kitty at sixteen had been received into a nobleman’s house as a lady’s maid.

  ‘It will give her an opportunity for a wider glimpse of the world,’ Maud said fondly, though it was clear that she sadly missed them, Cecily’s children she had lovingly brought up as her own.

  Resuming the reins of management of Ebbasterne Hall, Wulfstan realized more and more that he preferred England to France, and the satisfaction of being truly needed, particularly by the Wynstede children. He introduced Denys to the mysteries of accounting, how to keep a book of income and outgoings. Elmete and Cedric were gradually introduced to the alphabet in preparation for their tuition by one of the brothers at the Abbey. Maud taught Joanna and Lois the art of cookery, bread making and pastry for pies and tarts, and how to grow herbs in the vegetable patch of their garden. Wulfstan started Denys riding a pony, and actually persuaded Lady Janet to mount a horse again, and teach the girls to ride; having only one arm, it would be too risky for him to sit up in the saddle with a child in front of him. He discovered a deep satisfaction to be found in this service to his brother’s family, and he sometimes wondered if Oswald was looking down from heaven upon his efforts. This, he thought, is what I can best do with my life: no more warfare, no shedding of blood in battle. And no complications with a wife like the pleasure-loving Countess d’Avour, though he often thought of the child in her womb, his child, as was Pieter Van Brunt. The fact that he could never have knowledge of the bastard children whose lives he had so carelessly created was a matter of sadness to him, though he would not allow himself one moment of self pity. His busy life was his shield against the loneliness and remorse that might otherwise have claimed him, and with these blessings he was resolved to be content.

  And then came an afternoon in late October, when the leaves were whirling down in a keen east wind and the children were gathering wood for a bonfire; Wulfstan shivered in the counting-house, and did not hear the maidservant call to her mistress that there was a lady asking to see her.

  ‘She’s come in a farm cart, Lady, with a rough old villain sittin’ up behind a great horse. She says she’s come a fair way, but won’t step inside without you sayin’ so.’

  Janet rose abruptly from her embroidery, her eyes suddenly bright and expectant.

  ‘All right, Tibby, I’ll see her straightway.’ She hurried down to the entrance, clasping her hands together and murmuring, ‘Let it be her – oh, Lord, let it be her!’

  And as soon as she set eyes on the tremulous young woman, she knew her prayer was answered.

  ‘Greetings and welcome, my dear!’ she cried. ‘I’ve never seen you before, but I think I know who you are. Is it . . . Are you Beulah? Beulah Horst?’

  ‘Yes! And you must be Lady Wynstede!’ The visitor climbed down from the cart and held out her arms. ‘God bless you, Lady Wynstede,’ she said, all nervousness gone. ‘I am Beulah, and I came as soon as I got your letter.’ And the two women held each other in tearful embrace for a moment.

  ‘Come in, come in, Beulah. I’ll send a man to take your driver to the kitchen and the horse to the stables. Oh, how glad I am to see you, and so will my sisters be! Let me take your cloak – and you must be hungry and cold after such a long journey, so come up to my retiring room where there’s a fire, and Tibby will bring you some refreshment. Then I’ll send her down to Blagge House to let my sister Maud know that you’re here.’

  In the counting-house Wulfstan heard the distant bustle, and wondered if he should show his face to whoever it was, out of courtesy to a visitor. He decided to leave it to Janet to send for him if he was needed.

  But his love came to him uninvited and unannounced.

  As soon as Janet told her
that Wulfstan was at home, Beulah jumped up and asked to be taken to him forthwith; Janet led her to the counting-house, where she rushed to open the door, and went in ahead of Janet, who was about to knock discreetly.

  And there he was, sitting at the table, quill in hand.

  ‘Wulfstan! I give thanks for the sight of you again! Oh, Wulfstan, my only love . . .’

  He rose from his seat and stared in disbelief, glancing at Janet to confirm that this was real, and not some wishful dream. This girl – no, this woman – was speaking words of love that he had never heard in the three years of their betrothal. His throat went dry and words failed him. He stretched out his arm, and she flung herself upon him, laughing and weeping at the same time. Janet looked on in amazement; she had always got the impression that Wulfstan’s betrothed was a modest, innocent virgin who meekly obeyed her parents in all things, not a woman like this, so openly and unashamedly in love.

  Wulfstan held Beulah encircled within his arm, and tears filled his eyes; his lips touched her hair as she buried her face against his chest. Janet nodded to her brother-in-law and quietly left the room, closing the door behind her, happily vindicated in her resolve to write to Beulah Horst, supported by Maud Keepence and Ethelreda de Lusignan. His last letter to Sir William Horst on the eve of his departure for Bordeaux had confessed his misdoings, ending their betrothal and setting her free. When he returned, Janet privately thought that Beulah had a right to know that the Frenchwoman had married another man. She had written to Beulah, a letter signed by herself and her sisters-in-law. And this was the wonderful result! Beulah embraced Maud who had been sent for from Blagge House, and a messenger was sent to Castle de Lusignan, where Ethelreda rejoiced for her brother.

  When they had calmed down sufficiently to converse, Beulah assured Wulfstan of her forgiveness, and even expressed some concern for his two bastard children that he would never see. She told him how much she had resented the interminably long wait imposed by her father, enforcing their separation from year to year. She confessed how much she had longed for his visits to Greneholt, and how her father’s restrictions had vexed her; his criticism of Wulfstan had only served to strengthen her love.

  ‘And when we got your last sad letter of farewell, my father was greatly pleased, but I wept over your honest confession, dearest Wulfstan, and loved you for it. And somehow I knew that you still loved me.’

  ‘Oh, dearest Beulah, I did, I did . . .’

  ‘My mother tried to comfort me, but I told her and Father that I would never marry, because I’d loved you so long, and knew I’d never love another man. And I think that deep in my heart I knew that it wasn’t the end for us.’

  She lifted up her head and he looked into her wide brown eyes, so full of love. This had to be a dream: this sweet, forgiving girl loved him in spite of his unworthiness!

  ‘Kiss me, Wulfstan.’

  ‘Oh, my love. My only love.’ They drew together, and after all the setbacks and obstacles they had encountered, their lips met in a long, long kiss, a kiss to drown in.

  ‘I give thanks to God for you,’ he said a little shakily. ‘We’ll be wedded as soon as Abbot Damian can marry us.’

  ‘Dearest Wulfstan, nothing will ever part us again.’

  But the day had not yet ended. It was after dark when they heard the sound of horses’ hoofs in the courtyard, and a loud voice demanding that the door be opened.

  ‘It’ll be my father, Wulfstan,’ Beulah said, ‘and he’s probably brought his bailiff with him, to take me away by force. He’ll have discovered that the cart has gone, and the big shire horse – I got a groom to put him in the shafts, and paid a hungry beggar to drive for me.’

  ‘Open at once!’ came an angry shout from outside, and Wulfstan rose, indicating that the three women should leave the room.

  ‘I’ll deal with him, Janet; you take Beulah and Maud upstairs out of harm’s way,’ he said, but the new, emboldened Beulah refused to obey.

  ‘No, dearest Wulfstan, it is I he has come to see, and I’ll see him. Let him in.’

  Wulfstan himself opened the door, because he feared that the old knight might be brandishing a sword. But Sir William brought only angry words and curses. He strode past Wulfstan and into the room where he addressed his daughter.

  ‘Weak, foolish girl, to be led away from God and his church by this deceiver, as full of empty promises as the father of darkness himself!’

  ‘No, Father, I am not deceived in Wulfstan,’ Beulah replied quietly but with iron resolution. ‘His repentance is real, and here I stay at his side. We are to be married.’

  Taken aback by her attitude, so out of character from his usually obedient daughter, Sir William spoke in a softer tone, holding out his hand to her.

  ‘Come, my poor child, come home with your father. I’ve promised your mother that I’d go after you and bring you back, even as the great Shepherd went out to find his little lost sheep and brought her back to the true fold.’

  But Beulah shook her head, and Wulfstan encircled her within his arm.

  ‘No, Father, don’t ask me; I have fretted and pined for Sir Wynstede long enough, these three long years you have forced us to stay apart, subjecting him to all kinds of temptations. I was a girl when we were first betrothed, but now I’m a woman, no longer subject to your orders. No, don’t try to take hold of me—’

  Sir William was trying to grab at her dress, but she drew away, and Wulfstan placed himself between them. ‘This is my home now,’ she said, ‘here with my husband.’

  Seeing that he was defeated, Sir William turned on Wulfstan, calling him a liar and a lecher, cursing him and threatening God’s vengeance, until he had to pause for breath, and Wulfstan attempted to answer him honestly.

  ‘I agree with you, sire, I’m not fit to tie Beulah’s shoes, let alone marry her and beget children,’ he said, feeling pity for this frantic, elderly man who had lost his beloved child. ‘But I have learned from life’s bitter experiences, and will never, never grieve her again, as God above sees and hears me.’

  Sir William looked stricken to the heart, and Beulah gently detached herself from the shelter of Wulfstan’s arm. She stepped forward to look her father straight in the eyes.

  ‘God bless you, Father, and my dear mother. I shall pray for you day and night, for I don’t love you any less, but you must allow me to choose my husband.’

  But he was not yet ready for forgiveness.

  ‘Stop!’ he interrupted. ‘I shall pray for you day and night, girl, to save your soul from Hell, and may this devil’s spawn get his just punishment in the same accursed place!’

  Forced to leave his daughter at Ebbasterne Hall, he turned on his heel, and rode away into the night with his bailiff. Beulah returned to nestle in the circle of Wulfstan’s arm. He held her closely against him, scarcely able to believe this change in Beulah, and feared that he might still wake up and find it had all been a dream whilst asleep in the counting-house; but when Janet and Maud rejoined them and eagerly started to make plans for their wedding, he began to understand the truth of this beautiful woman’s love, and to rejoice that the long years of separation were over. Now they were free to look ahead to a shared life with no dark secrets to hide; he was forgiven by God and by Beulah, and from this day onward he would be faithful to her.

  Sixteen

  1367

  ‘It’s a little girl, Wulfstan,’ said Mistress Keepence with quiet sympathy, knowing that he had been hoping and praying for a son; Beulah had suffered four miscarriages in five years, but had carried this child almost to full term.

  ‘Thank God it’s over,’ he said with feeling, for the cries of pain he had heard from the bedchamber had been torture to him. ‘And how is it with Beulah?’

  ‘She’s very tired and needs to rest, but you can come in and speak to her just for a minute,’ said Maud. ‘And see the baby.’

  Beulah’s face was pale as she lay with her eyes closed, but as soon as she heard his voice she opened them and
held out her hand; he took it in his own and raised it to his lips.

  ‘I’m sorry, dearest Wulfstan. The wise-woman said it was bound to be a boy.’

  ‘Hush, my love. We’ll love her just as much as a boy. Let’s call her Judith for her grandmother Horst.’

  ‘Oh, how kind of you, Wulfstan! We must let my mother and father know.’

  ‘Of course. I’ll send a message off tomorrow,’ he said with a smile, though he felt no goodwill towards her father who had maintained the rift ever since her marriage, and had prevented his wife from visiting them.

  ‘She’s such a pretty little thing, my mother will want to see her granddaughter.’

  ‘She’s welcome to do so at any time,’ he said, and the baby let out a lusty howl. Wulfstan turned and looked at her as she lay in Maud Keepence’s arms, wrapped in a bloodstained towel. He was reminded of a squirming, red-faced, squealing piglet.

  ‘Yes, my love, she’s beautiful,’ he said, and leaned over to kiss Beulah’s forehead.

  When the news was received at Greneholt Manor, Lady Judith burst into tears.

  ‘A granddaughter, William, and named after me! Beulah’s a mother at last, what joy! We must go to see her, William, we must, this cruel separation has gone on long enough!’

  ‘Calm yourself, Judith,’ said her husband drily. ‘I see no reason to grovel to that man. He’d probably think we’d come to mock because it isn’t a son.’

  ‘How can you say such a thing, William! I’m tired of bearing a grudge all this time, and I want to see Beulah and the baby – and the baby’s father. I shall ride my own horse to Hyam St Ebba, and you can provide me with a groom for the journey.’

  ‘And suppose I don’t?’

  ‘Then shame on you, William, and I’ll go without the protection of a groom. I want to see my granddaughter, and I will do so, whatever you say.’

  Sir William was taken aback by this defiance from his usually obedient wife, and felt much as he had done when his daughter had stood up to him like this, five years ago.