Border Brides

by Kathryn Le Veque

  Tate’s grip on Stephen tightened. “I am not positive, but I think so. I have a senior sergeant who has a scar just as she described, only his hair is gray. He was posted in the encampment to the west but I do not know where he is now. I do not assign individual soldiers their posts. I will ride out and see what I can discover.”

  Stephen was so tense that he was shaking. “Is it possible that he is here in the castle?”

  Tate was reluctant to nod but he had no choice. “It is,” he muttered. “My men are rotating their positions. It is entirely possible he has ended up in the castle in that rotation.”

  Stephen’s heart was thumping against his ribs at the thought of the man who had raped Joselyn possibly being so near. When they had discussed the possibility of finding the man, having him right under their nose had not been a possibility.

  “Find out where this man is and make all haste,” he told Tate. “And if you discover that it is indeed the man we seek, then….”

  “Then you and I shall decide what’s to be done with him,” Tate replied grimly. “Until then, however, I would not say anything to your wife. If she knows the man is here, it could do more harm than good. It may completely unnerve her and she has had more than enough upset over the past two days.”

  Stephen nodded, taking a deep breath to calm himself. “Of course,” he said. “Not a word.”

  With a sharp nod, Tate headed to the stables to collect his charger. Stephen watched the man go, taking another breath for calm before heading back into the hall. He didn’t want Joselyn to suspect anything out of the ordinary.

  *

  The morning meal was another heavenly affair from the genius of Joselyn’s cooking talents. Stephen had eaten far too many of the little pastries she had made with the remaining apricots and nuts, complaining that she was going to fatten him up in swift time if she kept feeding him such marvelous food. Joselyn pointed out that he did not have to eat as much as he did, which prompted him to eat whatever remained on the plate simply to spite her. She had laughed and he had groaned.

  The king’s party had pulled out at mid-morning, heading to Bamburgh Castle where Edward’s Queen was in residence, and Stephen had seen the man off. Edward was anxious to return to London, leaving five hundred royal troops at Berwick while taking the remaining thousand with him. Norfolk also pulled out, leaving three hundred men to reinforce Berwick. The remaining supporting forces were also mobilizing to leave and for the first time since being appointed Guardian Protector of Berwick, Stephen was fully in command. No more king or other nobles to interfere with his authority. Now, it was simply him and about twelve hundred men-at-arms and knights.

  After the troops pulled out, it gave Stephen time to sit down and prioritize his tasks. He still had a prisoner from the previous night and he had not yet attended the man. It was to be his first duty as Guardian Protector so just after the nooning hour, he left the small solar on the ground floor of the keep and went in search of his wife. He found that he very much wanted to keep abreast of her location and activities, if for no other reason than to make sure she was safe. Odd how this wife he never wanted had very easily slipped into his way of thinking, as if she had always been there. It was an exhilarating and fulfilling feeling, something he had never before known.

  He hunted through the great hall and out into the kitchen yard beyond. When he stuck his head into the kitchen as just a passing thought, he saw her seated on the floor. There were two other women in the kitchen, both busy with their tasks, but Joselyn was seated on the floor doing something he could not see. Curious, Stephen ducked through the doorway and into the kitchen.

  She was feeding the fawn with a nipple made from a pig’s bladder. As Stephen stood and watched, Joselyn giggled softly, stroking the little animal as it suckled furiously. More milk was spilling out of the bladder than actually getting into the hungry little mouth, but the fawn didn’t seem to mind. He was so eager to eat that he was stepping all over Joselyn’s lap as she tried to feed it. Stephen couldn’t help but smile.

  “So,” he crossed his enormous arms. “I see you are trying to fatten him up, too.”

  The serving women started at the sight of the enormously tall knight but Joselyn merely smiled up at her husband.

  “He keeps biting the bladder with his sharp little teeth,” she told him. “There are little holes everywhere that are leaking milk.”

  Stephen laughed softly and made has way over to her as she continued to sit on the floor. He lowered his enormous bulk beside her, reaching out to pet the little fawn.

  “He seems healthy enough,” he said. “You make a fine mother deer.”

  She simply grinned and gazed up at him with sort of a dreamy expression. Stephen gazed back at her with an expression much like hers. It was sweet and adoring.

  “I simply came to see what you were doing,” he said. “I am preparing to make my rounds of the city and wanted to see you before I went.”

  Her smile faded. “Is there more trouble?”

  He shook his head. “None that I am aware of, but I will have to make my presence constant during these days so that the rebels still within the city will know I can and will quickly quell whatever activities they may be considering. It is also important that they know I married Seton’s daughter. They will think twice before resisting if they know I married a Scot.”

  Her smile faded and she looked back to the little fawn. “Then I will not keep you from your duties.”

  He could hear her change in tone and looked at her, wondering why she suddenly seemed so glum. He didn’t know her well enough to be able to figure her moods out yet.

  “What will you do while I am gone?” he asked.

  She shrugged, tipping the bladder so the fawn could suckle the remaining milk. “Plan the evening’s meal, I suppose. Do you know when you will return?”

  He shook his head. “I do not. I would plan to serve it late, however.”

  She nodded, still not looking at him and he was puzzled by her manner. He realized that he did not like it at all. He wanted to see her smile, see the warmth in the pale blue eyes when she looked at him. He glanced up, noting that the serving women, although focused on their tasks, were undoubtedly close enough to hear their conversation. He also realized they were the same women he had given his wife’s new surcoats to yesterday so they could clean away the smoke smell. He stood up and fixed on the woman closest to him, the one with the tight wimple.

  “Were you able to satisfactorily clean my wife’s clothes yesterday?” he asked.

  The woman looked terrified that he was addressing her but managed to keep her wits. “I believe so, m’lord,” she replied. “We soaked everything in vinegar. Even now, the clothes are drying near the kiln. They should be ready to iron soon.”

  “Very well,” he said as he rubbed his eyes. He was tall enough that he was against the ceiling and the smoke from the cooking fire hovered against the roof, irritating his eyes. “How many garments are there?”

  “Eight surcoats, three shifts and three pairs of undergarments, m’lord,” the woman told him. “Jo-Jo will have a lovely wardrobe.”

  He looked down at his wife’s dark head. “Jo-Jo, is it?” he muttered with a smirk.

  She lifted her head to look at him. Although she smiled weakly, the pale blue eyes were still guarded. “These women served my parents,” she told him. “They have known me since I was very small.”

  He smiled faintly and held out a hand to her. “Leave the fawn,” he said softly. “Come walk with me.”

  Obediently, she handed the bladder to the other serving woman, a very old woman with a fat rump. Placing her hand in Stephen’s open palm, she allowed him to pull her to her feet. Brushing off the cranberry wool, she held his hand as he took her out into the afternoon sunshine.

  It was a bright day, sultry again, as they walked in silence through the kitchen yard. Dogs barked and scattered as Stephen took her into the main ward; around them, the day looked normal, just like any other d
ay at any other peaceful castle. It was amazing how two days could change the feel of a place, from a blockaded, starving castle to one that was knowing prosperity at the hands of the English. Joselyn held Stephen’s arm as they walked through the dust and flies.

  “Although this was a forced marriage for us both, I would hope that at some point we will both find it pleasant,” he finally spoke. “And for it to be pleasant, we must insist on total truth between us. Do you disagree?”

  She paused and looked up at him. Her expression was one of disappointment. “Nay.”

  She abruptly averted her gaze and resuming their walk. Stephen pulled her to a stop and forced her to face him.

  “Then tell me why you seem sad,” he commanded quietly. “What is troubling you?”

  She sighed heavily, shaking her head and keeping her eyes lowered. “It is nothing, my lord, truly….”

  “My lord, is it?” he shook her gently. “I told you not to call me that. I am your husband. My name is Stephen. I would hear that from your lips always. Now, what is wrong?”

  She tried to pull away, tried not to look at him, but he would have none of it. He suddenly pulled her tightly against him, trapping her arms and towering over her. When she finally looked up, it was into blazing blue eyes.

  “Tell me,” he whispered.

  She sighed again, more slowly this time, thinking of how to phrase her thoughts. She knew of no other way than to simply come out with it. If he wanted to know, she would tell him. She could only pray he didn’t think her foolish.

  “You married me to form an alliance with the rebellion,” she stated quietly.

  He nodded. “Aye.”

  She cocked her head slightly. “Is that truly all you wish from this marriage? An alliance and a pleasant existence?”

  His brow furrowed slightly as he studied her magnificent face. “It is as good a start as any. Why does this concern you?”

  She lowered her eyes again, thinking that she was coming to sound idiotic. “It does not,” she took a deep breath and tried to put her feelings into words. “I suppose it is as good as we can hope for considering neither of us wanted to marry and until two days ago, we were bitter enemies. But since yesterday, you have been so overwhelmingly kind to me that I thought… well, at least I had hoped that perhaps there would be more to our marriage than simple pleasantries. I know it seems silly, but I have heard of marriages where people are actually quite fond of one another and I was hoping….”

  She trailed off, unable to continue, thinking that perhaps she sounded like a complete fool. But Stephen’s blue eyes glimmered at her, a faint smile playing on his lips.

  “You were hoping ours would be one of those?” he finished quietly for her.

  She nodded, once. “I know it is silly,” she said quickly. “I do not mean to place more expectation on this marriage than what goes beyond normal boundaries, so I apologize if I sound like a silly dreamer. I suppose I am. I never thought I would be married much less marry a man who is inordinately kind, so I suppose I am letting my silly feminine thoughts run away with me. You have brought out an unexpected romantic side of me that I never knew existed. Please forgive me.”

  He chuckled and his arms tightened around her slender body. “Sweetheart,” he murmured, his lips against the top of her head as he pulled her closer. “If you have not already figured out that I am quite fond of you, then you are more naïve than I suspected. Already I think of you every moment when I should be focused on securing a very volatile city. Although it is true that the original purpose of this marriage was to secure an alliance, that factor has quickly become the very least purpose of this marriage. When I look at you, I see joy and purpose in life. I see a reason to get up every morning and a reason to fight for a peaceful world. I see a son not yet born with your sensibilities and my strength. I see a life I never imagined I would have. Can you not sense this?”

  She was looking up at him by now, her eyes glimmering with unshed tears. “Nay,” she whispered. “I have only known you for two days. I have not yet developed my wifely mind-reading skills.”

  He laughed softly and kissed her on the forehead, embracing her sweetly in the middle of the busy bailey. For all they were aware, they were the only two people in the entire world. Nothing else mattered at the moment as new feelings and new sensations rained upon them. For the sequestered, humiliated woman and the closed-off knight, an unexpected world of joy had opened wide before them.

  “There is something else that has been on my mind,” Stephen murmured, his lips against her forehead. “Last night, you seemed the only one relaying apologies for your behavior when we were first introduced.”

  She pulled back to look at him. “I did. What makes you say such a thing?”

  His expression was gentle, remorseful. “I should be apologizing, also. Although I was not attempting to be deliberately unkind, my behavior was rather harsh.” He rubbed her upper arms gently, affectionately. “When you first told me of the attack against you, I told you that I did not believe you. I must apologize for that statement. It was wrong of me.”

  She looked curiously at him. “But… you have told me that you will make all attempts to locate this man and punish him. I knew you believed me simply by your actions. There is no need to apologize.”

  He shrugged weakly. “Perhaps not, but I would just the same. Last night when I saw the proof of the birth, it made me realize without a doubt that you had not lied. I am truly sorry I was so cruel. I pray you can forgive me.”

  She smiled faintly. “No need, Stephen. Those first few hours of our acquaintance have faded into memory. I hardly remember them.”

  He snorted softly, his gaze drinking in the beauty of her face. Then he pulled her into his arms once more, crushing her with his power. “I am already quite fond of you,” he repeated. “I do not expect that my feelings will end there.”

  She reached up and threw her arms around his neck, relishing the power of the man as he picked her up off her feet and held her close. Although there was a coat of mail between them, she could still feel his warmth. She imagined she could feel his passion as well.

  “As I am quite fond of you also,” she whispered pressing her lips against his ear. “Now, put me down before we create a firestorm for the gossips.”

  He laughed softly and set her on her feet. “Let them talk,” he insisted. “It would be one measure of gossip I would be proud to be a part of.”

  She grinned and he kissed her, so deeply that she had to pull away or suffocate. With a smile, he kissed her nose, both cheeks, and gently released her. Taking her hand, he began to walk with her towards the keep.

  “Now, what was I telling you before you so righteously distracted me?” he winked at her when she scowled. “Oh yes, I was telling you that I needed to make my rounds of the city today. I will also be busy with other tasks so I would ask that you stay to either the great hall or our chamber. I would advise against wandering to the river as you did yesterday.”

  “But what of the fawn? He will need to run and play.”

  “Let him run and play in the kitchen yard. You do not need to take him beyond the walls.”

  She nodded, though not entirely pleased. “Very well.”

  They had reached the keep and he paused, turning to face her. For a moment, he simply gazed at her, surely the loveliest creature he had ever seen. And she belonged to him. It was a satisfying thought.

  “Now,” he put his hands on his hips. “I must go to the armory and then attend some business here on the grounds before riding out into the city. Do you require anything before I go?”

  She shook her head. “Not really,” she said. “But I do have a question before you leave.”

  “And that would be?”

  She shielded her pale blue eyes from the sun overhead as she spoke. “Perhaps this is not the right time to ask, but I was wondering about my mother,” she said softly. “I was wondering when we are going to send her to Allanton for burial.”

 
“Allanton?” he repeated.

  “My family’s home to the north.”

  His expression softened. “She will have to be buried at Berwick, sweetheart,” he said quietly. “I cannot spare the men or time to send her back home. I am sorry.”

  She nodded as if to accept his statement but he could tell that it distressed her. “My father would have liked her to be sent home, I am sure,” she tried not to sound demanding. “Do you suppose that someday we can send her home? If not now, then some day?”

  He gave her a crooked smile. “I shall take her myself if it pleases you. But for now, I will arrange to have her interred in Berwick’s vaults. Fair enough?”

  She nodded, forcing a weak smile. “Fair enough.”

  “Good.” He bent down and kissed her sweetly on the forehead. “I shall see you tonight.”

  Her smile turned genuine as she watched him walk away, the biggest man she had ever seen. But even for all his incredible height, there was nothing out of proportion or strange about the man. He was perfectly formed in every way. Her heart fluttered as he walked out of sight and she found herself sighing faintly when he was no longer before her eyes but just a sweet, lingering memory.

  He was quite a man, English or no.

  *

  The surcoats that Stephen had purchased for his new wife had nary a scent of smoke once they were washed and dried in the sun. The serving women pressed the garments to crisp perfection and Joselyn had the unexpected treat of trying each one on so the women could hem the bottom. Some of the garments were so long that the serving women cut several inches off the bottom, stitching up the extra material with colored thread and creating lovely ribbons for Joselyn’s hair.

  Having spent half her life in rough woolen garments, the thrill of new clothing was almost more than she could stand. These were well-made garments produced from the most wonderful fabric Joselyn had ever seen. White, dark blue, deep orange, two different shades of green, a soft yellow, a rose color and finally a brocade pattern that had crimson, gold and blue rounded out the expensive booty she had acquired. Joselyn was giddy with delight as she tried on each one, vowing with each successive garment that it was the most beautiful one she had ever seen. Nay, this was the most beautiful one she had ever seen. On and on it went until the deep orange silk was finally finished and she was able to exchange it for the cranberry wool. With a long-sleeved, silken shift beneath, the orange silk was cool and swishy and delightful to wear in the warm weather. The wimpled serving woman tied a white ribbon around her waist as a belt and Joselyn had never in her life felt more beautiful. The contrast of the dark orange against her striking coloring was stunning.