WolfeLord by Kathryn Le Veque

CHAPTER TEN

“It has been a long time since I’ve been here,” a soft female voice with a decided Scottish brogue spoke. “Carlisle Castle never ceases tae fill me with a sense of awe.”

It had been a few days since Will’s dire missive had been received at Castle Questing, forcing the House of de Wolfe into action. Scott, riding in full battle regalia beside a fortified carriage painted in the de Wolfe colors, turned to the woman looking from the window.

“How fortunate we were that Edward asked Will to be his garrison commander,” he said. “That makes an unbreakable line of de Wolfe or de Wolfe allies from one end of the border to the other.”

Jordan de Wolfe, the Countess of Warenton, gazed at the red-stoned bastion as it drew near. “When I married yer da those years go, who knew this would come about?”

“Papa did.”

Jordan smiled at her eldest son. “I think he did,” she said. “Ye’ve never seen a fiercer man in battle or when dealing with the politics of the border. It still amazes me that our life has become what it has.”

“Regrets?” Scott teased her.

Jordan cocked an eyebrow. “Only with ye,” she said, watching him laugh. But she sobered quickly. “I confess that I’m concerned with what we’ll find here.”

Scott’s smile faded. “I know,” he said. “Me, too. I wonder if Will has sent word to Chris. This is his daughter we are speaking of, after all.”

Jordan fell silent for a moment. “Birth is part of life,” she said quietly. “As men go intae battle prepared for death, women go intae childbirth prepared for the same. I’ve been very fortunate that my own children havena suffered dead children or wives throughout the years.”

“But you had a stillbirth.”

Jordan nodded. “Madeleine,” she said, thinking back to that terrible day so many years ago. “It was strange, really – the babe had been very busy in my belly up until she was born, and when she came out, she was simply… dead. There was no chance tae revive her and I’ve always wondered what happened. Sometimes God’s will is painful and mysterious, but when I die, that’s the first question I’m going tae ask Him – what happened tae my Madeleine and where is she so that I may hug her?”

Scott nodded faintly, knowing that Madeleine’s birth had always affected his mother so. She’d had many children, but each one was as precious as if it were the only child to her. “If you get there before me, hug her for me, as well,” he said. “And then find Athena and Andy and Bea and tell them that I love them.”

“I will, have no doubt.”

The castle loomed closer.

The blue sky seemed inordinately bright against the silhouette of the structure as they came in from the south, as the road wound around to take them through the main gatehouse. There was an enormous moat between them and the walls, part of Carlisle’s defense system, and the moat smelled – and looked – like a sewer. It was all part of the deterrent.

Passing through the gatehouse, Baron Kilham was announced, Kilham being the hereditary title for the heir to the earldom of Warenton. Scott had brought two hundred men with him, unwilling to take a chance with his mother traveling with him. The entire party congregated in the outer bailey and by the time Scott opened up the door of the carriage so his mother could climb out, Will was upon them.

“Papa,” he said, hugging his father fiercely. When he saw his grandmother’s wimpled head emerging from the carriage, he reached out to help her down. “And Matha. I’m so happy to see you both.”

Once Jordan was on her feet, Will hugged her tightly enough to lift her up. She grunted at his enthusiastic hugging as his father beat him off.

“Careful, lad,” he said as Will set Jordan back to her feet. “Squeeze like that again and you may break something.”

Will grinned. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m just so glad to see you. Poppy let you come without him?”

Poppy was what all of the de Wolfe grandchildren called William de Wolfe and Jordan nodded. “He insisted I come,” she said. “He thought I might be of some assistance, but I must tell ye that he sent word tae Paris. I wouldna be surprised if Bonny showed up as well.”

Will’s smile faded. “I’m so sorry to drag you away from Poppy’s celebration,” he said. “Every birthday celebration at his age is important.”

Jordan waved him off. “This is important, tae,” she said, looking towards the keep. “How is Lily? Where is she?”

Will took his grandmother by the elbow, helping her towards the keep as Scott took position on her other side. “She is as well as can be expected,” he said. “Did Papa tell you everything?”

“Everything in the missive,” Scott said, looking at his eldest son and seeing how much the man was starting to look like his mother. He hadn’t seen him in about six months and even at Will’s age, he changed and developed as he got older. His hair had taken on more redness to it and there was something with the way his mouth was shaped that looked just like Athena. “Now that we’re here, tell us everything, Will. Everything that was in the missive and more that wasn’t.”

Will’s joy in seeing his father and grandmother dampened at the thought of why they were actually there. There was comfort that they had arrived, of course, but there was also a sense of foreboding as to why they had arrived.

They’d arrived because of Lily’s impending fate.

“There is little more to tell,” he said. “Know that no one knows what is happening with Lily, so please do not speak of it to others. We have kept it private.”

“Understood,” Scott said. “Continue.”

Will looked up at the squat, strong keep looming in the near distance. “My physic, Tarraby, is a man of great talent,” he said. “Poppy sent him here last year when I was badly injured in a skirmish. He healed a wound to my thigh that could have just as easily gone wrong. I could have lost my leg.”

“I know,” Scott said. “The man is very skilled.”

Will went on. “Last month, Lily was in the kitchen yard when she slipped and fell heavily in the mud,” he said. “From what I understand, she landed on her bottom and left side. In any case, ever since then, she’s been having pain in her belly and in her back, and she has been passing blood fairly steadily, sometimes a greater volume than other times. She did not tell me this, of course – I only knew about the pains – so I finally had Tarraby examine her and, based on his experience, he believes that the nourishment sack for the child has pulled away from the womb. He says the child is slowly dying and that Lily will bleed to death when he is born. That is why I sent for you, Papa – you are a great healer. I want you to examine Lily, too, and give me your opinion.”

Scott drew in a long, if not remorseful, breath. “My skill is with illness and battle wounds, Will,” he said. “A pregnant woman requires skill I do not believe I have. I am not entirely sure I can help in this case.”

“Will you at least look at her, Papa?” Will asked. “I am willing to believe Tarraby. We all are. But I want you to examine her and tell me what you think.”

Scott nodded in resignation, passing Jordan a long glance. “And Lily?” he asked. “How is she taking this?”

Will shrugged. “Lily has been surprisingly strong,” he said. “She is trying to be logical and reasonable about it, but you should know something. Tarraby has told her that the only way to save the child is to take him by force, which will surely kill Lily. She has chosen to do this, for she wants her child to live. She has also decided to select a wife for me to take her place. She says that she must go to her grave knowing that the children and I are well-tended.”

Both Scott and Jordan looked at him in surprise. “A wife?” Jordan said. “Who is this wife she has selected?”

“Lady Adria, her lady-in-waiting.”

Jordan frowned. “Adria?” she repeated. “I believe I’ve met this lass, only briefly, however.”

“Probably,” Will said. “She accompanies Lily everywhere she goes, so I am sure you’ve met her at some point.”

Jordan was still frowning. “So Lily wants tae make sure ye have a wife after she’s gone?” she said. “I’m not sure I like that she insists upon selecting her. Ye have yer own choice of freedom as tae who ye’ll marry, Will. ’Tis not Lily’s decision.”

Will nodded patiently as they came to the inner gatehouse. “I know,” he said. “But she is concerned with what she leaves behind. She wants to make sure I am happy and that the children are cared for.”

“It is still not her choice unless ye’re comfortable with her making it,” Jordan said. “Lily has exerted enough control in yer marriage, Will. The lass can be headstrong and ye’ve let her.”

“This is not the time, Mama,” Scott said, trying to head his mother off of any tirade against Lily. Jordan never had agreed with the way Will and Lily ran their marriage and wasn’t shy about expressing that opinion. “Let us greet Lily and your great-grandson before we engage in any heavy discussions.”

Jordan shut her mouth, but she turned her nose up at Scott to let him know she wasn’t finished speaking her mind when it came to Lily de Lohr de Wolfe. The lass who had everything but never seemed to be happy about it.

“Where’s my Atticus?” she said. “I must hug him before he can scream and run away. He doesna seem tae like hugs.”

Will grinned weakly. “Do not feel bad about it,” he said. “He doesn’t like anyone to hug him.”

“I’m not just anyone.”

“That is true,” Will said, lifting her hand and kissing it. “You are one of a kind.”

Jordan let his flattery soften her and he laughed softly because she smiled at him, though reluctantly. The keep was looming ahead by now and they moved towards it, heading towards an encounter that would either give hope or give confirmation. That would either dispute Tarraby or support the fact that Lily de Lohr de Wolfe, Lady Irthington, was in a dire condition.

Somehow, stepping into that keep signaled life or death.

That dark, cool interior had them dreading what was to come.

*

“Sir Hermes, isit? I’m so glad I found you.”

Hermes was moving between the stables and the outer bailey, heading back to check on a group of men he’d left with Ronan to work on battle tactics involving shields. He was in a hurry and not particularly paying attention to those around him, so Gar’s sudden appearance caught him by surprise.

“Me, my lord?” he asked, confused, as he came to a halt. “I am sorry, but I do not remember your name.”

“St. Ansgar de Geld,” Gar said. “I am Adria’s father.”

That brought the light of recognition. “Of course,” Hermes said. “I have seen you around over the past few days, but I could not place you.”

Gar waved him off. “No trouble at all,” he said. “I’ve not been very social since I’ve arrived. My daughter makes me stay mostly to my room, so I’ve not been out much. I’ve only been in the great hall once or twice.”

Hermes nodded, but he didn’t know why the man had stopped him. “Is there something I can do for you?”

Gar shrugged. “Possibly,” he said. “May I beg a moment of your time?”

Hermes could see the men fighting and he knew that that Ronan was expecting him, so he struggled for patience with a man he’d only met once, really. That had been some time ago, which is why he hadn’t recognized him. He’d certainly never had a conversation with him, so he had no idea what he could possibly want to speak with him about.

“I am afraid my time is very limited, my lord,” he said. “Mayhap we can speak tonight at sup.”

He started to walk away, but Gar followed him. “I only want to give you something to think on,” he said, shuffling after Hermes, who slowed down but didn’t stop altogether. “You can think about it and then we can speak when you have the time. Are you married, Sir Hermes?”

Hermes came to a stop, looking at him strangely. “Forgive me, my lord, but that is a rather personal question.”

Gar could see that he’d offended the man. “I realize that, but I am asking for a reason,” he said. “You see, my daughter is in need of a husband and if you are interested, I should like to know. If you are not married, then consider the prospect. She comes with the Alcester title and properties. We can speak more on it if you wish, but do not wait too long. Others are interested.”

With that, he darted off, back the way he’d come, leaving Hermes standing there, looking baffled. But once that confusion passed, Gar’s words sank in.

My daughter is in need of a husband if you are interested.

He’d been interested since he’d known Adria, but she’d made it clear that she wasn’t interested in him. She was more than willing to be a friend, but not a bride.

Still…

He hadn’t really tried to court her. He’d simply invited her to certain outings, offering to be her escort. He’d not really made his intentions clear because she’d made her intentions clear first. Maybe if he was able to be plain with her and explain himself, she might think differently. He really didn’t want to give up if there was any hope of a chance.

Especially if her father was actively seeking a betrothal for her.

With that lingering on his mind, Hermes resumed his walk towards the training group.