Chapter Nineteen

CHAPTER NINETEEN

C hristin had the foresight to have the stablemaster saddle a swift mount, so the ten miles from Lonsdale to Bromley was covered in very little time. She'd also had the foresight to head off any soldiers who wanted to accompany her sister. While Christin distracted them, Brielle took off.

It was a calm morning as the sun rose and the weather was good. The road itself was good, also, and the only people she passed were farmers heading out to their fields, all of them turning with great curiosity to watch the woman in the yellow dress blow by them on a leggy horse.

On she went.

The mist on the fields had burned off by the time she neared Bromley and she'd already passed a few competitors who had packed up and were moving west, as the road she was on joined up with a westerly road that headed towards Salisbury. It also connected with another road further south that ran east towards Rochester. That easterly road bisected both the road she was on and the one from Bromley that headed into London proper.

The same road Cassian had taken on that fateful day.

In fact, as Brielle neared the easterly Rochester road, she pulled her mount to a halt. The horse was frothy and hot, so she brought him to a halt, patting his neck and letting him rest for just a moment. She was right at the crossroads, seeing the London road across the field. She could see people on it, men on horseback or farmers with their wagons. It was a busy morning south of London, as these were agricultural fields with much of the produce heading straight into the city.

Brielle found herself looking at that road which, in her case, had turned out to be the road to misery. She'd never traveled that road before and wouldn't ever again, but the one time she did, it had brought her heartache. Such a normal-appearing road.

But it was really the road to hell.

Glancing off to the south, down the road she was on, she could see more wagons and competitors rolling her way. They'd be traveling that road all day, either heading home or heading to Yeovil where the next tournament was scheduled. At least if Cassian was on this road, she would see him. She was quite certain he didn't want to see her, but it didn't matter. She was going to demand that he give her an explanation, like Christin had said. At least then she'd hear the truth, as she should have the first time.

Heartache from his own lips.

She was about to continue on her journey when she caught sight of someone riding fairly quickly up the London road. The horse and rider were coming from Bromley, presumably the tournament field, because she could see that it was a well-fed horse with stout legs. It was moving quickly on those stout legs and as she watched, she began to realize that the rider looked familiar. Curly, dark hair and a shape she would have known anywhere.

Cassian.

Shocked, she watched him tear up the road, moving around the farmers that were peppering the wide avenue. She had no idea where the man was going, but he was going in a hurry. And he was heading north, into London, the same path he'd taken three days ago.

It occurred to her where he was going.

The brothel.

Perhaps there was someone he wanted to say farewell to.

With that realization, she almost turned her horse around and headed home, but something stopped her. Maybe it was because she wanted to see for herself where he was going, and who he was going to see, simply to confirm he was just as dastardly as she thought he was.

Infuriated, Brielle took off after him. This time, she was going to follow him and then she was going to wait for him until he came out, just to see for herself that he really was every bit as despicable. She didn't need an explanation from his lips after that– she just needed to see for himself that he'd gone to a brothel, once again.

And then that would be the end of it.

She'd never think of him again.

Brielle made a mad dash for London, following the trail of the man she loved with all of her heart. She was torturing herself and she knew it, but she just couldn't turn away. Not yet. When the London Bridge came into view, she slowed her pace because it didn't really matter now. She knew where he was going and she knew where she was going.

When she got there, all she had to do was wait.

*

It turned out to be a long wait.

There was a livery on the corner of Candlewick and East Cheap, so Brielle paid the man a coin to feed and water her horse after his morning ride. With the horse tended, she headed off across Candlewick Street, which wasn't terribly busy at this time in the morning so she was able to move about unmolested. She looked around as she walked, noting the drunks sleeping in doorways or pissing on the street. It was such a terribly dirty street. When she reached Angel Court, she cautiously entered the area, noting that there were some children playing about on this early morning. The brothels didn't seem to be doing business at this hour, the doors shut tight as the sun rose.

With the distant townhouse in sight, Brielle settled back into the shadows and waited.

And waited.

As the day advanced, the street around her began to come alive. Sitting back in the shadow of one of the old townhomes, on the stump of an old tree that had been cut away over the years for firewood, she could see the homes opening up and people coming forth. Some came out to yawn and look at the sky, while still others came out shaking their rugs or coverlets. Children were running and playing as tavernkeepers opened their doors so they could toss out piss pots and sweep out the floors.

It was another day on Candlewick Street.

Brielle wasn't exactly sure how long she'd been sitting. Long enough for it to be midday at least, from the angle of the sun. She was exhausted and hungry, but she wasn't moving. Not for anything. The food smells from the taverns began to attract her, however, and her stomach rumbled as she smelled fresh bread and roasting meat.

A dog wandered close to her at one point, a skinny thing that wagged his tail, and she reached out to pet the lonely beast, who sat down beside her. Just as the animal settled down to take a nap against her leg, the door to the townhome opened up and Cassian appeared.

It happened so quickly that Brielle was caught off guard. She scrambled off the stump, rushing to hide in the shadows of the townhome she'd been sitting next to, pressing herself against the wall so Cassian couldn't see her. The friendly, dumb dog followed her and she hissed at the animal, trying to chase him away, but he stuck loyally to the side of a woman he'd only just met. Brielle finally had to crouch down and pull the dog against her so he wouldn't be so obvious, looking at her and wagging his tail. As Brielle watched, Cassian collected his horse, which was evidently tethered behind the townhome, and headed out.

Brielle watched him disappear down Candlewick Street.

Releasing the dog, Brielle stood up, feeling a distinct stab of curiosity. Her attention immediately turned to the townhome, now sitting lonely and worn. It seemed so quiet, certainly not what the brothels on the street were usually like. The longer she looked at it, the more her curiosity grew. Soon, it was uncontrollable. She wanted to see the woman who had caused Cassian to lie to her.

She wanted to look her in the eyes.

Leaving the dog near the stump, Brielle made her way across the court. She wasn't sure what she was going to say to the woman who opened the door, but she'd think of something before she scratched her eyes out.

The brooch.

Brielle was suddenly reminded of the brooch Cassian had kept as a talisman. Perhaps this was the very woman it belonged to. She marched up to the door and lifted her hand to knock when she suddenly heard hissing.

"Brie! Come away from there!"

Brielle froze, looking around with great bewilderment until she saw Alexander several feet away. He was wearing a dark cloak, partially concealed between the buildings. He looked like he was part of the shadows. He stepped out of the shade when he saw her, motioning her to come to him.

Brielle frowned.

"What are you doing here?" she demanded.

Alexander motioned to her frantically. "Come away from that door!"

Brielle didn't move. "Why?"

Alexander sighed with exasperation and balled his fists threateningly at her. "Come here ."

Brielle eyed him. "Not right now," she said. "I want to speak to this… this woman that Cassian has come to see."

Alexander came out of his hiding place. "Get away from the damned door," he said, frustrated as he grasped her wrist. "You are going to ruin everything if you do not…"

The door abruptly lurched open and a young serving woman stood there, the same serving woman that Brielle had seen the first time she'd witnessed Cassian going into the house. She and Alexander froze in their tussle, now that they were caught on the doorstep.

The wench looked at the two of them curiously.

"What's ye wanting?" she asked.

Brielle knew it was too late to run and hide now that they'd been spotted. She pulled her hand away from Alexander's grasp.

"I… I am a friend of Cassian de Velt," she said. "The man who was just here. I have come to see the lady of the house."

The wench continued to look between her and Alexander indecisively until a faint voice called out to her.

"Magda? Magda, who is calling?"

The servant looked over her shoulder nervously. "A lady," she said. "A lady and man. She says she is a friend of Sir Cassian's."

"Admit them, silly girl!"

It was a surprisingly open invitation. No suspicion, no hesitation. Simply a welcome. The serving wench stepped back and opened the door wider, though it was clear she was hesitant even if the woman inside was not. Straightening her sleeve where Alexander had grabbed her, Brielle stepped in but Alexander was right behind her, making sure no dangers lurked in the darkness.

It was musty and damp inside.

They entered into a small front parlor, with a hearth and windows that were placed high in the walls for light and ventilation. Alexander looked around the chamber quickly, noting immediately that it was a rather sparsely furnished chamber. There was a table and a couple of chairs, and one of those chairs had an old woman in it. The fire was burning brightly, however, so the chamber was quite warm even if the air was a little damp. As he and Brielle stepped further into the chamber, the old woman spoke.

"I have not had visitors in so long that I am sorry I do not have something to offer you," she said in a sweet, thin voice. "I would very much like to provide you with a meal, but I'm afraid all I can offer you is boiled apple juice."

Brielle was still standing by the door, even as the serving wench closed it. She had expected a chamber full of loose women but, so far, it was just the old lady and the wench. She was fairly certain they weren't whores. Her eyes darted around nervously, waiting for more women to come into the chamber.

But the house remained silent.

"You are kind, but we do not want to impose," she finally said. "May… may I know whom I am addressing?"

The old woman smiled, her dingy, yellowed teeth reflecting the firelight. "I am Celesse de Bambeque," she said. "You are a friend of Cassian's, Lady…?"

"Brielle. Lady Brielle."

"Brielle," Celesse repeated. "What a lovely name. Who is your handsome companion?"

Brielle suddenly looked at Alexander as if she'd completely forgotten he was there. "This is my sister's husband," she said. "Everyone calls him Sherry."

"You are welcome Sherry, Lady Brielle," Celesse said, indicating the only other chair in the chamber. "Will you please sit, my lady? I should like to meet Cassian's friends. In all of the time I have known him, he's not brought anyone to meet me. I thought he did not have any friends at all but I am glad to see that I was wrong."

The serving girl dashed off into the rear of the townhome as Brielle went to sit in the chair that the old woman had indicated.

"Cassian has many friends, Lady Celesse," Brielle said. "Clearly, you are a friend as well. And… your family? He must be friends with your entire family?"

Celesse shook her head. "Alas, it is only me," she said. "My husband, Alain, died two years ago. I only have Magda, my servant. Were it not for Cass and Beau, I would be all alone in this world. I thank God every day that I have knights such as them. But they are more my friends that servants. They are the sons I wish I had given birth to. My life would have been better for it."

By the time she was finished, Brielle was completely baffled. This wasn't a brothel of any kind. That was abundantly clear. It was just an old lady and her servant. She looked at Alexander, who didn't seem much clearer than she did. When Alexander saw Brielle's puzzled expression, he focused on the tiny, old woman with the crippled left arm.

"My lady, may I ask how you know Cassian?" he asked.

Celesse turned her attention to him. "Cassian served my husband," she said. "My husband was the Earl of St. Albans until we had a reversal of fortune. The king took our castle at Broxbourne, so we came to live here, to my family's townhome. My family is long dead, but it still belongs to me. If you know Cassian, then you know what a loyal friend he is."

St. Albans. Alexander had heard that name from Sean when he'd told Christopher what he'd discovered of Cassian's background, so this was coming to make some sense. It occurred to him that Cassian was still in touch with St. Albans, who had, indeed, supported John when he'd been king.

The pieces of the puzzle were starting to come together, at least de Lara's version of it, but Alexander still couldn't believe that Cassian had been conspiring with John's supporters.

It just didn't make sense.

"He is a good friend," Alexander agreed. "He has been your friend a long while?"

Celesse was smiling as she spoke on one of her favorite subjects– Cassian. "He came to serve my husband several years ago," she said. "I remember the day well. Cassian was… sad. Sad and lost. My husband said he had been wandering for quite some time before Beau found him. Do you know Beau?"

Brielle and Alexander looked at each other before shrugging. "I am not sure," Alexander said. "What house is he from?"

"De Russe."

That was a major house in England, but Alexander had only heard the man's name as it related to the games at Bromley, so he didn't know him personally.

"I have heard the name, but I do not know him," he said. "De Russe served your husband, also?"

Celesse nodded. "We had the two finest knights in England and no money to pay them," she said, shrugging. "John took it all. I told my husband not to give him everything, but he did. Beau managed to save some of it, but very little. Enough so that we may buy some food and keep some fuel in our fire, but not nearly enough. When we suffered our reversal, we could no longer keep Cassian and Beau, but they would not leave us. They continued to serve us even after the titles and the money were gone."

Brielle had been listening to everything quite carefully. "And Cassian visits you still?" she asked.

Celesse's gaze fell on her. "Still," she said fondly. "You see, I was the Countess of St. Albans for most of my adult life. I lived in a glorious home and had fine clothing. We had a good deal of money, so I wanted for nothing. But, as you can see, that is no longer the situation. Yet, Cassian and Beau return to me when they can and bring money and food. They spend as much time as they can with me and for those few brief hours, I am the Countess of St. Albans again and they are my servants. They feed me and make sure I want for nothing. Everything is as it was when we lived at Broxbourne. In return, they ask for nothing. They do it because my husband was kind to them and they are returning the favor. They are good men, indeed."

Brielle stared at the woman, piecing together a puzzle in her mind that was as unexpected as it was endearing.

"So… that is why he visits this house?" she said. "To tend to you?"

Celesse nodded. "Of course," she said. "In fact, he was here a few days ago and also this morning. He brought me some of his winnings from the tournament he is competing in, though I have Magda return most of it. She puts coins in his pockets for him to find later. I have never felt as if I could accept everything he has given me because he is quite generous. But I am sure you know that, my dear."

He was here a few days ago.

Brielle could hear those words rolling around in her head and she felt as if she'd been hit in the gut. Cassian had come to see a woman, most definitely, but not a harlot. Not a whore who was warming his bed and stealing his heart. He'd come to see an old woman he felt obligated to take care of, a woman whose husband had been kind to him when he needed it.

And that was all.

In that moment, everything Christin said came tumbling down on her and the realization of what had actually happened filled her in a moment of awareness that she would never forget. Cassian hadn't lied to her at all.

And she'd been too judgmental to let him explain.

My God… what have I done?

"He… he is very generous," she said tightly, hardly able to speak. "Then… it is just you and your servant living here?"

Celesse nodded. "Only the two of us," she said. "We wait with great anticipation for the days when Cassian and Beau come to visit. In fact, Beau fixed the kitchen door the last time he came to see me. The children next door are ruffians and they broke it. Now they will not steal our food."

"How fortunate," Brielle said. Suddenly, she was desperate to leave, desperate to find Cassian and apologize. "I am glad Cassian has been so kind to you. It is a good man who will help someone he is no longer obligated to help."

"He is my guardian angel," Celesse said. "And how do you know him, my dear? Have you been his friend a long time?"

Brielle felt those words like a stab to her heart. She didn't even know why, only that they hurt. Perhaps it was because she had been his friend for a long time but when Cassian needed her friendship and understanding the most, she'd thought the worst of him.

It was strange, really. Those years ago when Cassian had been accused of being immature and stubborn, she had been one of the ones doing the accusing. They had all told Cassian how he needed to grow up. Now, here she was, behaving as poorly as he had those years ago for quite a different reason.

Immaturity, and wisdom, came in many forms.

She'd ruined everything.

"We have been friends a very long time," she said, a lump in her throat. "I knew him as a young man. We grew up together."

"Ah," Celesse said, delighted. "Cass never speaks of his past, you see, so it was all a great mystery until only a few days ago. He mentioned a young lady he had been quite fond of, a lady he was betrothed to. Did you know her?"

Brielle couldn't help the tears that were stinging her eyes. "I… I did, my lady."

"He told me that he had seen her at the tournament in Bromley."

"He did, my lady."

Celesse lost some of the joy in her features as she looked at Brielle. After a moment, she leaned forward, getting a better look at Brielle's face.

Her old eyes crinkled.

"It's you, isn't it?

Brielle looked at the woman, tears filling her eyes. "Aye," she whispered.

Warmth came to Celesse's eyes as she reached out with her good hand and clasped Brielle's fingers. "I am so pleased to know you, my dear," she whispered. "And you have a child with Cassian."

Brielle broke down and wept softly. "Aye," she said. "Max. He is just like his father. I've not seen Cass for many years and there was hope that he might return to us, but I fear I have done something terrible to ruin it."

Celesse shushed her softly. "Nay, lass," she said. "You've not done anything wrong. Nor has Cassian. Sometimes in life, people move away from one another. Sometimes it is necessary to grow. But true love will never slip away. It is always there, as surely as the stars are in the heavens. You simply had to find one another again, 'tis all."

Brielle wiped her tears with her free hand. "I hope so," she said. "But I thought when he came here… I thought he was coming to a brothel. There are so many on this street and I thought…"

She trailed off, but Celesse knew what she meant. She grinned. "I should like to think that I could have been quite alluring to a man like Cassian, but alas, I am afraid you were wrong about that," she said, chuckling. "He did not come here to fornicate, my dear. He came here to eat my food, generously provide me with coin, and try to beat me at a game of Tables. He's a cheeky rascal."

Brielle grinned in spite of herself, still dabbing at the tears. "He can be," she said. "He used to be. But I fear I do not know him very well any longer. We have been separated for many years."

Celesse squeezed her hand before letting it go. "He has not changed from the man you love, I am certain," she said. "You will never meet a more noble, wise, and compassionate man. He could be serving the greatest lord in all the world, but he does not choose to do so. He rides the tournament circuit and takes care of me. God bless the man."

Brielle was struggling with her composure. She looked over at Alexander, who was realizing that this was a much different situation than he realized, as well. Though he never believed Cassian was an assassin sent by de Bambeque, now he could see just how wrong Sean de Lara had been. The man was usually correct in every assessment, every decision, but in this case, he'd been sorely off the mark.

And Alexander was going to tell him so.

He seriously doubted that this crippled old woman, destitute and rather simple, was behind an assassination attempt against King Henry. Cassian's appearance in London at the same time the rumors were circulating was purely coincidence.

Thank God.

"Here," Celesse said, plucking something off the table next to her. She extended her hand to Brielle, who hesitantly reached out. "I told Cass to give this to you, but he did not listen to me. I will therefore give it to you on his behalf."

Brielle watched the old woman drop something cold, heavy, and shiny into her palm. It was a brooch in the shape of the letter "C", lined with pearls and the rubies were accents. She gasped aloud when she saw it, both for the surprise it brought her and the sheer beauty. It was that talisman she'd been so curious, and so jealous, about.

The brooch.

It had belonged to another woman but, frankly, she didn't much care now that she'd met the woman who had stolen Cassian's heart in a sense.

Nay, she didn't care at all.

"It's beautiful," she said, sniffling. "This belongs to you, my lady?"

Celesse nodded, her round cheeks rosy. "My father gave it to me," she said. "When Cassian still served my husband, Alain gave him the brooch because he could not pay him. He told Cassian to sell it for his wages, but Cassian would not do it. He simply kept it, intending to return it to me someday."

Brielle picked up the piece, inspecting it in the light. It was a truly beautiful brooch. "He could have sold it for a great deal," she said. "How sweet that he would not sell it. That shows his regard for you."

Celesse nodded, watching as Brielle inspected the pearls. "Since I have no one to pass it on to, I told Cass to give it to you," she said. "The ‘C' stands for ‘Celesse', but when you wear it, it will stand for ‘Cassian'. So you can carry him with you, always. And mayhap a piece of me with go with it, as well."

It was such a sweet and sentimental moment, something Brielle had not expected when she'd first entered the small chamber. Impulsively, she leaned over and kissed Celesse on the cheek, listening to the old woman giggle like a girl. She smiled into that lovely, old face.

"You will always be with him," she murmured. "And me. For taking care of Cassian while he was away from me… thank you, my lady. You will always be well remembered."

Celesse patted her on the cheek, taking the brooch from her to explain the origins of the rubies. Alexander was listening to what he thought was a happy exchange. Brielle had received the answers she was looking for and Celesse seemed more than happy to have met her. Truly, he was feeling a great deal of relief at the entire situation, hoping that Cassian would accept that it had only been a massive misunderstanding.

As he stood there and pondered what the future might hold for Cassian and Brielle after this, the door to the townhome opened. Turning to see who was entering, he was shocked to see the one person he truly didn't expect.

Cassian was in the doorway.

And he did not look pleased.