Lily sighed. “I do not suppose I could not go, could I?”
“Nay.”
“I did not think so.”
Will’s gaze lingered on her. “You feel well enough, don’t you?”
She nodded. “I do,” she said. “Just tired. Quite tired. And I’ve been having the same odd pains that I had with Atticus.”
“What pains?”
She shrugged. “Little stabbing pains that are quickly gone,” she said. “Sometimes my back aches. But I had the same thing with Atticus, so I am not concerned.”
“What does the midwife say?”
“That it is simply the body adjusting to the child.”
Will nodded, though he wasn’t terribly comfortable with her aches and pains. Even though this was their fourth child, pregnancy and childbirth still scared him. “I wonder if it has anything to do with the fall you suffered a few weeks ago,” he said. “When you slipped in the kitchen yard? You fell right on your backside in the mud.”
She was growing irritated with him. “It has nothing to do with that,” she said. “I told you – I had the same pains with Atticus. It is perfectly normal.”
He wasn’t so sure. “Mayhap I should send for the physic,” he said. “Just to make sure all is well.”
Lily shook her head, exasperated. “If you are speaking of Tarraby, then I doubt he knows more than the midwife does,” she said. “The man is a surgeon, Will. He tends the soldiers, removes arrows, sews up wounds. Childbirth is not something he does often and I do not want him poking around.”
Will held up a hand to back off before it turned into an argument, which it did fairly easily between them. “He is the most competent physic I’ve ever seen,” he said. “But if you do not wish to see him, that is your decision. It was merely a suggestion. I came to tell you that I’m having Marcellus bring out the heavy carriage and prepare it properly so that you and Atticus will have something comfortable to ride in. I will try to make this journey as easy as possible for you.”
Lily wasn’t thrilled about the carriage because she didn’t want to go, but she didn’t fight about it. She simply waved him off.
“I hope Poppy appreciates that I am doing this for him,” she said, disgruntled. Then she pointed to the bed where Adria was standing over neat piles of fabric. “Adie is going to make him a tunic as a gift. He will like that, don’t you think?”
Will wasn’t entirely sure that clothing was appropriate for a man’s gift, but he didn’t say anything. He just nodded his head.
“That is kind of you, Adria,” he said politely. “Thank you.”
Adria smiled in return. She genuinely liked Will, a kind and compassionate man. He had always been nice to her.
“I am honored to do it,” she said. “I thought I might make a sash for your grandmother out of the leftover fabric. That way, they can match one another.”
“Good idea,” Lily said, answering for him. “Use Will as a dummy. He is bigger than his grandfather, but you can adjust accordingly.”
Adria looked at Will, who rolled his eyes because Lily wasn’t looking at him. He hated being pulled into female schemes. She bit off a grin and turned back to the material.
“At your convenience, my lord, but I must get started soon if I am to have it done in time,” she said. “Mayhap I can measure you before sup?”
“Of course you can,” Lily answered again. “Come back before we eat, Will.”
He sighed faintly, with no way to get out of it. “As you wish.”
“Thank you,” Lily said. “Now, where’s Atticus? Wasn’t he with you earlier?”
Will nodded. “He was heading for the kitchen yard last I saw him,” he said. “He is playing with Bradford, I assume. Do you want me to fetch him for you?”
“Please.”
With his marching orders, Will left without another word and shut the door softly behind him. As they heard his footsteps fade down the steps, Lily looked at Adria.
“We’ll be lucky if he returns,” she muttered. “He thinks the tunic is a foolish gift for a man of the earl’s stature. I can just see it in his face. He hates the idea.”
Adria’s eyes glimmered. “Shall I run after him and beg him?”
Lily nodded, grinning. “Go,” she said. “You know he cannot resist you. When he becomes angry with me, he tells me he is going to sell me to the pirates and marry you instead.”
Adria laughed softly. That was an old theme with them and she was used to it. It was purely a jest because everyone knew how dedicated Will was to Lily, although most thought it was simply out of honor. They got along for the most part, but those close to them – like Adria – had seen the love go out of the marriage a long time ago and that was simply the way it was. Two people, married quite young, who had outgrown one another.
It was a little sad, in that sense, but Adria knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that Will really wouldn’t sell Lily to the pirates and marry her instead. More than likely, Lily would run off with the pirates and leave Will behind.
But that was only private speculation.
“He has been saying that for years,” Adria said after a moment. “I have yet to see him try. Besides – who says I will marry him, anyway?”
“What is wrong with him?”
“Nothing except that he is your husband. I do not want your leavings.”
Lily burst out laughing. “He’s not so bad as far as husbands go,” she said. “Well, sometimes. In any case, you will run after him and make sure he comes to you before sup so you can fit the tunic. If he does not, there will be consequences. Tell him I said so.”
Chuckling, Adria did as she was told. Setting aside the fabric, she slipped from the chamber.
They were on the top floor of Carlisle’s heavily fortified keep and Adria took the narrow spiral stairs quickly, finally catching up with Will about the time he came off the stairs and into the great hall.
“My lord?” she called after him softly. “My lord, please wait.”
Will came to a halt, turning to face her. His hazel eyes settled on her dubiously. “What does my wife want now?”
She cocked a well-shaped eyebrow. “How do you know she wants something?”
He fought off a grin. “Because she always sends you to beg for her,” he said. “She still has to come to Castle Questing, so if she’s sent you to plead on her behalf, you can go back and tell her I’ll not change my mind. My parents and grandparents would be disappointed not to see her.”
“It’s not that,” she said. “She wants to make sure you will come to us before sup so that I may measure you for your grandfather’s gift.”
“I told you I would.”
“I beg your pardon, my lord, but you may forget.”
He scowled. “Did she say that?”
Adria shook her head. “Not in so many words, but she sent me to make sure you were going to come. If you do not, there will be consequences. That is a direct quote.”
Will made a face. He was a master at making faces to suit his mood or his reaction – long faces, pursed lips, rolling eyes – anything that got his point across. It was really quite comical at times and Adria tried not to smile as the man stuck his jaw out, baring his teeth in a gesture of frustration.
“May I take that as a confirmation you will come?” she asked.
He shook his head, defeated. “Aye, I will come.”
“Thank you,” she said. But her pleasant expression soon faded. “I also wanted to tell you that I believe it is a good idea for your surgeon to see to her.”
Will’s expression grew serious. “Why?” he asked. “Is there something the matter that she is not telling me?”
Adria grunted in hesitation. “I do not want to betray a trust, you understand, but her pains are not the only symptom,” she said quietly. “You were correct when you said it had something to do with her fall. I believe that is true. I do not wish to be too graphic in my description, but suffice it to say that there has been some blood and there has bee
n since she fell. Not much, but there has been some. The midwife also seems concerned, but Lily is convinced nothing is wrong because she has the same pains with Atticus. This is her fourth child, my lord, and she feels as if she knows her body well enough to know that there is nothing to be concerned with.”
Will stared at her for a moment before quickly nodding his head. “You were right to tell me,” he said. “I will not betray your confidence, but I will find my surgeon and ask him to examine her. In spite of what Lily says, Tarraby is quite competent. He has studied with the finest physics in London and I am quite fortunate that my grandfather sent him to me when I was injured in the skirmish last year. He has a miraculous touch.”
“I agree, my lord,” Adria said. “We are fortunate he has remained.”
“Indeed,” Will said, trying not to feel apprehensive. “I appreciate you telling me about Lady de Wolfe. I will send him to her right away.”
“You had better come with him or she may not let him in.”
Will sighed heavily. “I will bring him before sup when I come for the fitting,” he said. “He can examine her while I am there to make sure she obeys him.”
Adria gave him a knowing look before heading back up the stairs and Will stood there for a moment, trying to fight down his concern. Lily had given birth to three children without much trouble, so naturally, she didn’t see anything wrong with this pregnancy even though she’d taken a heavy fall last month. She was about two months away from delivering the child, so naturally, he was concerned. Perhaps there wasn’t anything wrong, but he wanted a second opinion.
Like it or not, with his surgeon.
Heading out of Carlisle’s big keep, he was heading down the stairs leading to the bailey when he heard his sentries taking up the cry. He paused, listening to them shout at one another before a soldier came on the run to deliver a message to him. This time, there was a reason for their chatter.
A visitor had arrived.
CHAPTER TWO
It had been a long time since he’d been to Carlisle Castle.
St. Ansgar de Geld, otherwise known as Gar, rode into the outer bailey of the massive border bastion, reacquainting himself with the sheer size of the place. It had been a very long ride from his home of Alcester Cottage located south and west of Coventry, but he needed to see his only child and he didn’t want to send a missive. He hadn’t seen Adria in almost a year, but this wasn’t a social call.
It was a business one.
He’d come for a reason.
After giving his name to the guards at the gatehouse and stating his business, he was ushered into the outer bailey, which was quite large. There were stables and outbuildings, and structures where the enormous army was housed. He’d been here before but he was always impressed by the enormity of it. The garrison commander, Will de Wolfe, had both royal and de Wolfe troops stationed at the castle, so it was a crowded place.
Gar remembered very well when he’d received a missive from his daughter telling him that she was going north with Lady de Wolfe because the king had appointed her husband garrison commander of Carlisle Castle. The House of de Wolfe controlled nearly the entire stretch of the Scottish border as it was, so placing a de Wolfe son at the helm of one of the largest and most disputed castles on the border was not unexpected.
The de Wolfes were the ones with the money and the power Gar had always hoped for.
The family had dozens of grandsons and cousins floating around and surely there was one his daughter could marry. That was the main reason he’d given his permission, and in light of the fact that she was the heiress to a barony, surely some worthy and rich knight would want her, if for no other reason than she could give him the title of Baron Alcester.
That title was the only thing of value that Gar had.
So, he waited. It was a fine day in early summer and the humidity from the River Eden wasn’t too terribly strong this day, not like it would get in the later summer months when the moisture and the bugs would fill the air and make it difficult to breathe. Even this far north, it could get sticky. As he stood there and continued to wait, a stable servant came to collect his horse, so he removed his satchel from the saddle and let the boy take his old rouncey away. The horse was elderly and sometimes unreliable.
Much like him.
“Papa!”
Gar turned to see Adria rushing towards him and he took a moment to drink in the sight of his only child. She was wearing a dark blue dress with embroidery around the rather daring neckline and around the sleeves, which were open and draping. He was rather pleased to see how beautifully she was filling out, as the dress clung to her shapely figure. Surely any man would notice that, which played in his favor.
Perhaps he had more of an asset in her than he’d remembered.
When she came close, he embraced her and kissed her on the cheek.
“Adie,” he said with satisfaction. “Look how beautiful you are. I’d fairly forgotten.”
Adria smiled at her father, but it was forced. Their greeting was almost detached, which was normal with them. They’d never been a hugely affectionate pair.
“What a surprise to see you,” she said. “Why did you not send word that you were coming?”
Gar shrugged. “I wanted to surprise you,” he said. “Besides, it was a long journey and I did not wish to worry you if I did not show my face when you would have expected me to. I move slower these days, I’m sorry to say.”
Adria looked at him curiously. “Are you ill?”
He shook his head. “Nay, not ill,” he said. “Just… tired. And I’ve not seen you in quite some time, so there is much to tell you. I do hope my visit is welcome.”
“Of course it is,” Adria said. “Quite unexpected, but not unwelcome. Please come into the hall. I am sure you wish to sit down on something that isn’t moving.”
“That would be much appreciated, Daughter.”
Adria took him by the arm in a polite gesture and began to lead him towards the second enormous gatehouse that protected the inner bailey and the keep of Carlisle.
“How are things at the Cottage?” she asked. “I’ve not heard from you in some time, not since the last time I saw you when we traveled to Lioncross Abbey.”
Gar was looking up at the walls of the inner bailey, marveling at the sheer size of them. “The house and the lands are the same,” he said. “Nothing much has changed.”
“And you? How have you been?”
“That is what we shall discuss.”
Adria glanced at him, feeling more curiosity at his reply, but she said nothing. She simply continued to lead him towards the keep. Truthfully, his sudden appearance had her on edge because her father could be shifty. That was putting it kindly.
St. Ansgar de Geld wasn’t what one would call a noble man.
He had some issues.
Purely of his own doing, of course. Gar wasn’t a responsible man. He was someone who would rather drink and gamble away money meant for debts or food. His father had been a good man and had tried to set an example for his son, who had been shady at an early age, but whatever lessons the father tried to teach the son had never been learned.
It was something that had driven Adria’s mother to an early grave.
Anne de Sauster de Geld had been from a good Cornwall family, marrying Gar de Geld and bringing a fortune with her. She’d tried to be a good wife and mother, but Gar had piddled away her entire dowry and more besides. It was too much for the woman to bear and when she became ill, he couldn’t pay for a physic to tend her. She’d died of a cancer, leaving a small daughter and a distraught husband who, in the end, used her death to emotionally blackmail her family for money until they finally cut him off.
Adria knew her father was looking for another pot of gold to tap into.
It was difficult to be truly affectionate with a father who viewed her as a commodity and, quite honestly, that was part of the reason she loved being so far away from him. He was way down towards the south
while she was up in the wild north.
And she liked it that way.
They made their way into a big chamber that used to be the great hall, which was located in the keep and had the unique feature of having a massive wall run through the middle of it. Because of the activity on the border when it came to Carlisle Castle and the number of times it had been attacked, the wall in the hall added another layer of security because the opening in the wall could be locked with a big, iron grate, blocking off the stairs leading up to the upper levels. It was low-ceilinged, warm, and smelled heavily of the dogs that roamed the hall in packs, and Adria took her father to one of the well-scrubbed tables, sending a servant running for food.
“There, Papa,” she said, indicating the bench. “Sit down and tell me why you’ve come all the way to Carlisle to see me.”
Gar sat heavily, setting his satchel down beside him. “Can a father not visit his daughter simply because he wants to see her?”
“Is that why you came? Just to see me?”
The way Gar looked at her suggested that he was aware that she knew there was some motive behind his appearance other than fatherly love. There wasn’t much of that and there never had been.
“You have a suspicious mind,” he said quietly.
Adria wasn’t going to apologize. “When it comes to you, I do,” she said. “I am glad to see you, but I know you did not come simply because you missed me. You may as well tell me now rather than later, so come out with it.”
Gar removed his worn leather gloves, setting them on the tabletop. “Can we not just exchange pleasantries first?”
Adria shook her head. “It must be bad, indeed, if you will not tell me right away,” she said. “What has happened?”
The servants picked that moment to enter the hall, bearing trays of drink and food. They set them down next to Adria so that she could serve. Their fare included a pitcher with cloudy ale and a platter of raspberries, an early crop of cherries, pickled carrots, cheese, and bread. As the servants departed, Adria poured some of the barley ale into a cup and put it in front of her father.
WolfeLord: de Wolfe Pack Generations Page 6