Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Six

The next few months dragged by for Brighit with her constant worrying about Peter and John's condition outside the castle at York. Her own condition became more and more apparent. Her menses had stopped completely. She was with child.

Martha, as the newly appointed Prioress, received word from the King. He considered himself a godly man and expected much from his Priory at the River Aire, such as getting word to his soldiers. Reinforcements and supplies would be late in arriving due to the heavy snows so they would need to make other arrangement. The King had decided to wait until the spring to travel north.

"I've no one to send," Martha said.

"Doesn't the Priory have knights they can dispense?" Tadhg asked right before biting into a biscuit dripping with honey.

She put her hand on her hip, a very annoyed look on her face. "Tadhg, I know about Saint John and Saint Peter, not about warfare. I know there are knights... somewhere... but the previous Prioress really depended on the Bishop to send notices and dispatch them."

He took a deep swallow of mead. "Well, the King's not asking for them to be dispatched. He's requesting a message be sent. I can do that."

"Oh, Tadhg, are you sure you should?" Brighit had no appetite and watching her brother shovel in food as if he may never eat again made her queasy.

He turned to her, a smile playing over his lips. "And you would not be appreciative of some word on Peter's conditions?"

Heat suffused her face. "Of course, I would like to know how he fares but not if it puts you in harm's way."

Tadhg rolled his eyes. "Can you ever be less of a woman?"

Brighit pulled back. "Whatever do you mean? I am a woman."

"I know that. I mean can't you ever just realize I'm a warrior and being near fighting does not put me in harm's way. I can fend for myself in all situations."

She snorted. "I see."

Her brother had remained very tight lipped about the goings on at home and she wondered for the hundredth time if there was something he wasn't telling her. He was not usually so defensive.

"Martha, I can bring the message for you. It may be best to let the others head back to Ireland without me."

Brighit was suddenly swamped with sadness at the idea of losing her connection to Ireland. They had all been very attentive, making it their mission to keep her entertained.

Tadhg, as always, saw her true feelings no matter how she tried to hide them. "I'm sorry, dear sister. We have all stayed longer than we intended. Say your goodbyes. They'll be leaving forthwith."

Within an hour's time, they'd all assembled in the bailey. Each man hugged Brighit in turn and went to his horse. Sean was the only one remaining.

"Head down the hill. I'll be there anon," Sean gave the order to the other men. He'd be in command until Tadhg's return.

He pierced Tadhg with his can-you-please-give-us-a-moment-alone look. Tadhg rolled his eyes. Brighit pretended not to notice the exchange but she was aware that her brother did not wander far.

Sean took her hands in his and gazed into her eyes. "My dear, Brighit." He smiled, tipping his head to one side. "I have long desired to take you as my wife."

"Please! We are too close. Like brother and sister. It would never have worked."

"I kept my distance out of respect for my best friend—your brother."

Tadhg shifted behind them. Brighit knew he heard every word. He was protecting her in Peter's absence even from this man that they'd both known their entire lives.

"He made me promise to never take advantage of your innocence. I fear I took his advice too much to heart in never expressing my feelings for you."

She glanced down, afraid Sean would realize that Tadhg was only doing her bidding. She had never thought of him in a romantic way.

"I hope you will remember me as I will never forget you," he said.

When he closed in on her, she offered her cheek to him. He kissed it lightly.

She attempted to give him a sage expression along with her next words. "There is a wonderful woman out there intended for you alone, dear Sean. Open your heart so that love may find you."

He tipped his head, released her hand and mounted his horse. Gripping the reins in one hand, he turned back to Tadhg who stepped up beside his sister.

"Protect her well so that Peter may return to a healthy babe."

Brighit's jaw dropped. Sean winked and urged his horse to a trot.

"How did he—"

Tadhg kissed her on the other cheek. "Men can tell these things, Brig."

She turned to him. "You know as well?"

"Of course."

Brighit grabbed his arm in a tight hold, her face close to his. "Do. Not. Tell. Peter."

Tadhg's eyes rounded. "Why would I tell him? It is not my place."

She relaxed her grip. "I'm happy to hear you say that."

The nuns put together supplies and Tadhg went off. Brighit believed her brother would be safe. She wanted word of her husband.

The land surrounding the motte and bailey structure no longer resembled a field that had ever grown anything. The small amount of tall grass that had begun to grow these many years after the harrowing could not withstand the trampling of soldiers. The thick mud sucked at the hooves of the horses and the boots of the men. Blackened earth mixed with horse excrement and refuse, reeked throughout their camp. The thudding of the trebuchet as it launched sundry items into and over the castle walls was deafening. Hell on earth.

John and Peter sat upwind of the horses and tried to block out their surroundings.

"You talked in your sleep again, Peter. Do I need to give you more work to keep your thoughts from her? We could always use another pit dug."

"My thoughts are always on her. I wake from my dreams raging with need." Peter glanced at his friend. "My apologies for keeping you awake."

"I've never known you to allow a woman to so trouble your dreams."

"Brighit is unlike any woman I have ever met."

John took a sip from the near empty skin. "My impression is that they are not all happy dreams. I hear your distress."

Peter bit into the apple Tadhg had just brought for the troops. The nuns constant supply of fresh food was probably the only thing keeping them from all becoming sick.

"Do not allow her brother to her you." He glanced around until he spotted the man helping to organize the supplies he'd brought. "I am very pleased to be wed to her but I fear I did not handle it well."

"You ask her to marry you. She says yes. You are wed. It is done."

Peter couldn't hold John's gaze. "I fear I did not confess all to you."

"Did you force her to marry you against her wishes? I'd say you have verily turned her wishes then. She is enamored with you."

Peter shook his head, finding it difficult to voice his concerns. She ‘d said she loved him. But he was not sure he had ever said it back.

"Tadhg found us... in a compromising situation."

John pulled back, surprise written across his face. "I wouldn't expect that from you."

"It is not as you assume. We became... impassioned and I would have lain with her as was her wont but for the condition of our surroundings. She was a virgin and I did not believe it appropriate—"

"So there was no compromising situation?"

"We were abed when he entered. He made accusations..."

John waited. Peter looked back then shrugged.

"You didn't defend or explain?"

"Why? I realized I was in love with her. She was bound for the Priory. She would never have agreed to marry me. She was a woman with a mission more determined than most men. This way... she had to marry me because her brother said so."

John leaned back and laughed. And laughed. Just when he started to settle down, he looked at Peter and started all over again.

Peter decided he would count to five and if John could not stop finding humor in a situation that was quite disconcerting to him, he would leave. Five. Four. Three—

"Enough, John!" He glanced toward Tadhg who was looking over at them. "I do not need to air this in front of Tadhg again."

"He knows?"

"Of course. He's a smart man. He saw right through my ruse." John chuckled some more.

"I'm in love with her. I don't wish to lose her."

John sobered at his sincere words. "We will offer terms again. See if we can move this along. Get you back to your wife." John then turned his attention to another man. "Philip!"

The tall man Tadhg was speaking to turned toward John. Tadhg followed him over.

"We're going to see if we can end this. They must be suffering within. I don't know why they can be so pig-headed. Emma is surely not so obstinate."

Philip and Peter exchanged glances. John was remembering the girl he grew up with. Not the stubborn woman she turned into. Her father would have all but ignored her if she hadn't made an issue on every little thing. It was the only time she was ever given any attention by William FitzOsbern.

"Surely it is her husband who is pig-headed," Philip offered, trying to be amicable. He knew the truth about Emma, too.

John stood and brushed the dried mud from his mail. "Damn mud. I'll be glad to get out of here and get a bath."

Philip raised his hand to halt the assault of the trebuchet just as it was about to launch the carcass of the cow they'd recently devoured over the castle walls. The cow had come from the farm that should have been replenishing the supplies for the occupants inside the castle. The soldiers signaled their understanding, disarming the large machine.

Philip stood beside Peter and the two followed John, fully covered in mail, as they crossed the field to approach the guard who stood high in the tower beside the front gate.

"Hail," John's voice held a commanding tone.

The man barely stirred. "Yes?"

"We wish to speak to the Earl."

The soldier leaned forward slightly. "Are you leaving?"

John laughed and looked around him, his arms extended. "Why would we need to leave? We have everything we need. We have your supplies at our disposal. The Earl!"

The man could be heard yelling down to the other soldiers as the message was relayed across the bailey and within the castle. John turned away, his hands on his hips. "I'm ready to see this end. Let us hope the Earl and his lady feel the same."

A short time later, another message could be heard making its way back to the guard. Lady Emma was coming.

"John! What are you about? King William robs my husband of power and command, puts sheriffs in places of honor, collecting taxes that are rightfully my husband's and he expects we should just open the gate at his orders?"

John looked up at the tower guard who effectively blocked any arrow that may be aimed at the lady. "That is how it is done, Lady Emma."

She pulled at the guard, moving him out of the way so that she could lean over the wall. "John, I must have your reassurance that my men will be allowed to be freed with no repercussion."

"Your men?"

Emma's loud sigh could be heard even from that distance. "Yes! They are my men. My husband is not within. He snuck out as soon as he heard of your approach."

"The scoundrel left you here to defend the castle alone?"

She shrugged.

"Why did you not just open the gates?"

"Because, John! King William is... is... a tyrant and well you know."

John refused to respond. Emma waited. They stared at each other. She put her hand to her hip. Not a hair moved on John's head. Emma refused to back down from the statement that may be acceptable in the privacy of a chamber but not here in front of the soldiers that swore allegiance to the man she maligned.

"Lady Emma, will you open the gates to us?" John spoke in a strong voice. Not a trace of emotion or consideration. A commander in complete control.

Emma waited. John counted to ten and turned back toward their camp. Peter and Philip close behind. No one said a word.

"Wait!" Emma's voice held desperation. "Yes. I accept any terms as long as my soldiers and I are not arrested."

John smiled, turned to Philip then Peter and together they walked back to the gate. "Open the gates."

The sound of chains moving within the walls was like the sound of sweet angels singing to Peter's ears. It would not be long now and he would be back with his wife. He just hoped he would find the words she needed to hear to find peace in their marriage.