by Carm Nicosi
Isabel snuffed out all but one of the candles, and got into bed. As she relaxed under the covers, she realized for the first time in well over a year, she was not tense with fear of something. There was no doubt that her father had been her security, as a child. Her mother was frequently visiting, or even staying at one of the family properties, far from her father's stronghold, where Isabel grew up. Rosamund had raised Isabel, at least as much as her mother, Lady Ann had. When her sire died, and Avery claimed guardianship, fear had set in. The feeling had continued with Brant, and the babe. She was not sure what had happened today, but a good amount of the fear, Isabel had felt for a long time, was gone.
Sometime later that night, she felt gentle caresses roaming over her body. In a drowsy dreamlike state, somewhere between asleep, and waking, Isabel responded to her husband’s love making. Afterward, she quickly drifted back to sleep in his arms.
When Nathaniel's cries awoke her in the morning, Isabel was alone in the bed. However, she recalled Brant whispering, "just relax", and "everything will be alright", as he made love to her, during the night. Or she thought, she remembered that. Had she dreamed it? No, he had removed her gown during the night. As she rose to get the babe, Isabel wondered, if when Brant whispered everything will be alright, he was thinking about last night, or everything in general.
Chapter 13
The following day, Isabel was in the hall with the babe in the cradle, beside her chair. Lady Ann, Esme, and Hannah, were with her, chatting about various mundane matters, when the arrival of another guest was announced. Isabel watched as a youth entered, and spoke briefly to Brant. He cast a nervous look in her direction, before moving closer to the entryway, to await the new arrival. She continued to watch surreptitiously, until the door opened to reveal the Duke, Niles. Isabel was instantly assailed with a panicky feeling, that she quickly tamped down. She watched Brant quickly escort the blackguard into a receiving room, off of the hall.
Then, Isabel saw Nora coming up from the kitchen, and rose to meet her, hoping to get some information about the guest.
Nora asked, “Have the new guests arrived?”
“Aye, Nora. The Duke, Niles, is here. Do you know if the Lord was expecting him?” Isabel asked, hoping she had kept the distress she was feeling, out of her voice.
“Actually, Niles is the Lord's cousin, Me Lady. I have not heard, or seen anything of ‘im, since right after His Lordship, and Lady Esme, both disappeared,” Nora explained. “I believe ‘e was helping His Lordship, by spying on Avery. The Duke sent ‘im a message, but he was not around to receive it.”
“Do you recall what the message was?” Isabel asked, trying not to sound too interested.
“Aye. It was something about a bit of fluff, Avery was trying to pedal, that the Duke hoped he ‘ad sent running to ‘er sire. Oh, and that Esme should have extra guards, as she might be in some danger. Unfortunately, Esme ‘ad already left for her mother’s,” Nora said.
“Well, Brant has taken him into the receiving room, so I do not know if he will be staying,” Isabel said, as calmly as she could.
She moved away from the housekeeper, who continued on her way, to check on the new guest. As Nora tapped on the receiving room door, Isabel retrieved her son from the cradle, and took the child upstairs. She had been informed that Niles was back from Normandy, but she had been hoping, he would stay away from his cousin.
While his wife was heading upstairs, Brant was questioning his cousin, Niles, about what had happened with him, Avery, and Isabel.
“As you will recall, I was playing the debaucher with Avery, so he would let his guard down, right?” Niles paused, until Brant nodded. He then continued, “Avery said he had an alliance with the girl’s father, and was helping arrange a strategic betrothal. He claimed Isabel was one and eight, and a prime piece. She certainly was the latter.”
“She was only one and six,” Brant interjected.
“Well that explains some of it. I had never seen the Lady at Court, or any other function of the gentry. The girl would have been paraded everywhere to find a husband, unless her family was lowborn, or of ill repute. It did not occur to me, that she might be younger. Even in debauchery, my position would not allow me to fiddle with a girl that young. Avery must have realized that,” Niles explained, attempting to defend his actions.
Brant noted the supreme effort Niles was making, to gloss over his actions. His cousin really was not saying anything pertinent, to what actually transpired. Niles appeared to be implying, that he felt his actions were necessary. While at the same time, avoiding being specific about what those actions were.
“Exactly what happened, Niles,” Brant asked. “I know it upset Isabel, quite badly. She told her maid if she ever saw you, again, she was going to slit your throat, or castrate you.”
“She sounds dangerous. You will protect me, will you not, cousin?” Niles asked, flippantly.
When he received a stern look from Brant, Niles reluctantly continued, in a much more serious tone, “Anyway, Avery took me up to the girl’s room, and ordered her serf to leave. She had her head covered, so Avery tried to pull the mantel off, so I could see her. The girl kicked him, and then yelled at us to get out. Avery slipped a rope around one of her hands, and she elbowed him in the gut. So he put the rope around the bedpost and tied her other hand, just so she could not hit him, again. She was still yelling at us to get out, so he threatened to gag her. Though she did lower her voice, she continued to verbally defile him. Twas Avery taking down her braids, so I could get a look at her. I was really in a spot, with the roll I was playing, and him expecting me to look the girl over. So I moved up in front of her, and she started reviling me. Isabel is quite attractive, and I must admit that by that time my little soldier was at attention. To my shame, I acted the debaucher I was playing, and undid my laces, so she could see what she was doing to me. Then, she called me a disgusting pig. Somehow, I could not resist brushing a finger across the exposed side of her breast, thinking to scare her. She is quite bold. The girl just called me a disgusting little man, and spit at me.”
Niles paused, trying to judge Brant’s mood, but his cousin revealed nothing. He merely motioned to Niles, to continue his story.
“I am sorry to say I lost my temper, and slapped the girl. Realizing that things were getting out of hand, I told Avery I had seen enough. After that we moved to the side, and discussed what he had in mind for the girl. I told him I was due to leave for Normandy for a few months, so any arrangements, would have to wait until my return. That was when he mentioned having a plan to kidnap his enemy's sister, to draw him out. That was why I sent you word, to guard Esme. With our talk done, Avery cut the rope on the girl, and I told her I hoped to see her again, in a few months, as we left the room.” After another short pause, Niles said, “My actions were quite awful, with Isabel. I can only plead that it seemed appropriate, with the roll I was playing.”
He did not tell his cousin, that had it not been for Avery, Niles might very well have forced himself on the girl.
During Niles lengthy explanation of his encounter with Isabel, Brant observed that he continually emphasized Avery's poor treatment of the Lady. At the same time, Niles tried to downplay his own behavior, as largely necessary to maintain his cover, so he could spy for Brant. Somehow, his efforts to minimize what he had done, left Brant questioning his cousin's character. While his high position in society, required that Brant show Niles some deference, he could not shake the feeling that Niles was someone he needed to watch. Brant's sire had never totally trusted Niles' father, for some reason he would not explain, and now, Brant was suspicious of the son.
Trying not to give any indication of his doubts about Niles, Brant said, "If you were not my cousin, who was spying for me at the time, this would be an easy matter. I could just kill you." He paused for affect, then continued, "You really shook Isabel up, and now she is my wife. Now I know why she dislikes you so. But since I cannot kill you, how am I supposed to deal with th
is?"
"I do not know," Niles replied. "At the time, it seemed benign. When I ran in to Richard, with Lady Ann recently, they were discussing her daughter. He reminded me of the war you had going with Avery, and the fact that Avery likely murdered the girl's father, to gain control of her resources. When I figured out who they were talking about, and that you had wed the girl, it was quite awkward. I merely said the polite things, and got away from them, quickly."
He paused, trying to look properly embarrassed. Niles was hoping Brant would accept his explanation as sincere, and let him off the hook, but his cousin said nothing. After a short time, the silence was becoming awkward.
Niles continued, "I treated the sole heiress to a huge fortune, like some dock side strumpet. I know full well, my appalling behavior could destroy the reputation of my whole family, if the story gets out."
“I think the first thing, is to talk to Isabel. I doubt that your being my cousin, is going to endear me to her,” Brant said.
“How did you manage to wed the girl, anyway?” Niles asked. “How did she get away from Avery?”
“Let us just say, Richard arranged it,” Brant answered.
“Avery seemed quite taken with the girl. Was she actually a virgin, as he said?” Niles asked.
“She was,” Brant answered, wondering why Niles was so interested. “Now she is my wife, and mother to my son."
"You must be quite pleased, with the lad," Niles said.
“Aye, I am,” Brant replied. “Nora should be back shortly, with some refreshment.”
“Right now, I could use some strong spirits. This is a nightmare,” Niles replied.
Brant merely nodded, before exiting to go speak with Isabel. The look that crossed Niles face, when he mentioned the lad, did not look like happiness for his cousin, to Brant. Twas more like he was trying to say the polite things, what he thought he should say, about something that really displeased him.
Brant stepped out of the sitting room into the hall, and quickly crossed to where Ann, Esme, and Hannah, sat by the hearth.
Looking to Lady Ann, he asked, “Where did Isabel go?”
“Right after the Duke arrived, she spoke briefly with Nora, then took the babe upstairs,” Ann answered. “You know, she looked a little shaken when she saw him.”
Brant acknowledged her reply with a nod, and turned to go upstairs. Upon arriving in the Solar, he found the inner chamber door blocked from the inside, so that it would not open.
“Isabel, open the door, we need to talk,” Brant ordered. When there was no answer from inside the chamber, he continued, “He told me his version, of what happened with Avery. Open the door.” Still no response came, from inside the bedchamber. “Isabel, say something.” After several more seconds of silence, Brant said, “If you do not say something, I am going to have this door knocked down.”
He listened closely, but there was no sound from inside the chamber. Brant returned to the passageway, where the guard who was assigned to keep an eye on Isabel, at all times, reclined on a bench.
He asked, “Did Isabel go in there?”
“Oh, aye, My Lord,” the guard said. “She went in there with the babe, about half an hour ago. I have been watching the door, and no one has gone in, or out, since.”
“Go down, and ask Lady Ann to come up here, please,” Brant instructed the guard.
He went back to the blocked door, to wait.
“Isabel, answer me, so I know you are alright,” Brant said, while he waited for Ann.
Still no reply came from behind the portal. Within a few minutes, Lady Ann entered the antechamber. Brant quickly explained that the door was blocked, and Isabel would not answer him.
Ann tapped softly on the heavy door, and said, “Alisa, please open the door, so we can talk.” When there was no response, she continued, “Do you remember what you told me, last night? Do you not think that this is childish?” When no answer came, Ann turned to Brant, and asked, “Are you sure she went in there?”
“The guard followed her upstairs, and saw her go in. He has been watching the door, and she has not come out,” Brant answered.
Ann, looking doubtful, stepped back to examine the top of the high door. Apparently, seeing what she was looking for, the Lady got a chair from the small table to stand on. Reaching up, she grasped a short length of heavy twine, hanging at the top of the door. She pulled the string down, and pushed on the door, which opened freely. Brant slipped past Ann into the chamber, only to see a length of wood had been lowered into place, between the bed and door, from the outside. The room was empty. Isabel and Nathaniel were not there. Brant looked around the room, quickly noticing that the small box with Isabel’s crest on it, was missing from the table.
When Ann’s presence had been requested upstairs, Niles had followed, to see what was going on. Ann saw him standing in the antechamber doorway.
She asked accusingly, “What did you do to my daughter, that has her hiding out?”
Not wanting to tip Niles off, Brant said, “Niles, could you wait downstairs, while we sort this out.”
That blackguard, not wanting to deal with Isabel’s angry mother, nodded and withdrew. Brant waited until he was out of earshot, to correct Ann.
“She is not hiding. She is gone. The wooden box with her crest on it, always sits right here. It is gone, and she is gone," Brant said.
He indicated the spot on the table, beside her brush, where the trinket always sat.
“What?” Ann asked, not understanding his point. She indicated with her hands, “That wooden thing, about so big? That was her father’s. I recall it was quite heavy for its size, but I could never figure out any use for it.”
Realizing that Isabel’s mother knew some, but not all of her daughter’s little secrets, he explained, “There is an inconspicuous clasp, on the bottom of the box. It contained two rows of coins. Maybe one hundred pounds. A goodly sum of money.”
Ann shook off her surprise at Brant’s revelation, and looked around the room.
“Last night, I saw the deer skin duffle her father had specially made, one for each of them. That is gone, too. If there was money in the box, there is no telling what may have been in the duffle. I walked in on him once, to see a compartment in the handle of the bags. Oh, my, Rosamond said Isabel had a dagger. What else do I not know about my daughter? Do you know what the problem is, with the Duke? Last night, Isabel seemed at least resigned, to being here for a while. He walks in, and suddenly she has fled?” Ann asked, angrily.
“You need not concern yourself with him. I will handle that. Right now, we need to find Isabel, and Nathaniel,” Brant said.
He immediately set about looking for a lead, as to how Isabel made her escape. Hopefully, the how, would help figure out where, she was off to.
After questioning the knights around the Castle, the sentry at the drawbridge, and the serfs at the stables, Brant had no leads. A search of the Castle, and grounds, turned up nothing. Once again, Isabel was gone, without a trace.
Chapter 14
Nearly two months had passed, since Isabel vanished from the Castle with Nathaniel. Brant had all angles covered, to see that he got word if her, or the babe, surfaced anywhere. No one had seen them, or at least no one, who would tell Brant. His wife and son, were never far from his mind, and he often found it difficult, not to sink back into the black moods he had suffered, after he had been released by his kidnappers. Fortunately, he had Esme, and Hannah, at the Castle, to keep him occupied. Since it was summer time, there were fields to tend, and travel was easy, so there were a good number of visitors coming and going, during the day. However, at night in his Solar, Brant was haunted by memories of Isabel, and Nathaniel. Sometimes in his dreams, he would hear the babe cry, or feel his wife's soft body against his, only to wake, and realize he was alone.
So it was, on the morning that Hannah asked, if she could have some pretty coins, like Cora had.
"What kind of coins does Cora have?" Brant asked.
"T
hey are shiny," Hannah said. "I do not know what kind. They are just coins. Cora said that Bell gave them to her."
Lady Ann had spent most of the past months that Isabel had been missing, at the Castle, waiting for any word on her daughter's whereabouts. The child's mention of Bell got both Ann, and Brant's, undivided attention. Bell was the child's name for Isabel.
"Did Cora say why, Bell gave her the coins?" Ann asked.
"I do not know. She just said Bell gave them to her," the little girl answered. "They are really pretty. I want some, too."
Brant quickly dispatched a serf, to find Cora. They waited for only a few minutes, before the serf returned to the hall, with the maid.
"Hannah has been asking for some coins, like the ones Isabel gave you. What did she pay you for?" Brant asked, in a stern tone.
Cora squirmed around looking guilty, momentarily, as if she were debating trying to lie, before saying, "She gave me money to take messages to ‘er knights, what were staying at the Inn, in the village. They were there three, or four weeks. Then she left ‘ere, and the other knights come to get ‘er, and the babe."
"Her knights came to get her?" Brant asked when the serf fell silent.
"Are ye going to punish me, Me Lord?" Cora asked. "Isabel said if ye was going to punish me, I should not tell ye anything."
Ann laughed at this bit of information. It was common knowledge around the Castle that Cora used to be Brant's favorite tart. Apparently, Isabel had enlisted the aid of his former tart, to help her cross the Lord, and gave the serf advise, on negotiating with the him, on punishment.
Brant momentarily thought about threatening the serf, before thinking better of it.
He instead said, “If you tell me everything you know, I will assign you to work in the stables for the next month. If you do not, I am going to give you ten lashes.”