Authors: Amy Mullen
"'
Tis not fair!
"
T
he younger girl
regarded
her sister in defiance, crossing her grubby arms over her chest.
"
You tell me grand tales and then only mean to tease me with your stories.
"
Gemma knelt down so she was eye to eye with her sister
.
"
I promise once the wedding is over, I shall take you through so you can walk from the northeast tower to come out near the main gatehouse just like the lord or lady of the castle would do in times of war.
"
"
Do you promise-promise?
"
Isabel asked, still pouting.
"
I promise-promise. Now, let us go find Leda in the kitchen to see what she is preparing for Gavin
'
s return celebration. Mayhap she needs someone to taste the fruit to be sure the preserves have not spoiled.
"
She watched as Isabel raced along the inner wall, across the bailey, and into the kitchen.
There was much to be done
,
and she
refused to dwell on uncertainty. Today would be a new beginning.
A few hours later, Isabel went with her sister back to the kitchen to check on the flowers they had chosen, picked, and then left to soak in water. Isabel was having a hard time containing her excitement. Gemma
'
s spirits lifted as she watched her sister
'
s energetic steps. She was curious about the man Gavin had become. It mattered not
that
she did not know him
well. He was family.
Like other young men his age, he was fostered in another household, where he trained to serve his king.
He
had
left the household before Isabel was born.
Henry had recently knighted him, which was a great achievement for the entire family. His rewards for his service to Henry were knighthood and marriage to the woman he
loved
.
"
Do I have to bow?
"
Isabel said as she in
spected the flowers.
"
You can do anything you like, love, though I suspect your brother would prefer a hug from his sister.
"
She gave Isabel a once over and noticed a smear of mud running up
her
skirt almost to her waist. While they were out near the well just minutes ago, Isabel had taken off after a
'
green, hopping thing
'
which was later identified as a frog, and she almost went head first into the stock pond near the orchard trying to capture it.
The chase ended in failure
, but she did manage to capture plenty of mud on her short but exciting adventure. There was no time for another bath, but surely Gavin would understand.
They walked back outside, each too excited to stay in one place for too long.
"
Are you going to marry Phillip Bigod?
"
Isabel asked as she
stared
up at her sister.
"
Goodness!
"
Gemma said, surprised by the sudden question. She stopped walking for a moment.
"
Why do you ask such a thing?
"
"
Well,
"
Isabel said, drawing out the word,
"
I heard you talking to Father the other day about Phillip. You said you would rather hang upside down from the curtain wall for a week with a sack over your head and a rotting fish tied to your foot than to marry him,
"
she
said and then giggled.
"
I most certainty do not want to marry Phillip
,
and Father will not force me,
"
she said, though she was not so sure he would not do that
exact
thing eventually.
"
Why? Do you think I should marry Phillip?
"
"
Gavin is going to marry. Father seems to think you should as well.
"
She paused.
"
I don
'
t think you should have to marry Phillip. His breath always stinks
,
and his belly is so big he must not be able to see his toes.
"
Unwillingly,
her mind went back to Nicholas. He had her love but broke her heart and tore down her spirit.
"
Nay, little one. I will not marry Phillip, or any man for that matter.
"
"
Do you believe in love?
"
She
paused
a moment before answering.
"
I believe in love,
"
she said with a nod,
"
but mayhap I do not believe I was made for love. It is not my fate. Now off you go to find Hesse.
"
Isabel gave her sister a long look and then dashed off
toward
the pond where the nursemaid was walking. Gemma waved to Hesse, who was already lecturing
the younger
sister
and warning her to stay clean.
Gemma
decided to spend her afternoon with a rest. Dinner was light, as a feast was being prepared for the evening meal to
celebrate her brother
'
s return.
A nap sounded refreshing. Her restless nights had continued. She worried constantly about what had happened to Minna and Smithy. A new smith came from the
village. He was
an apprentice
who
had worked under
the recently passed smith. T
he ale-master continued to mourn is wife. Everything
was
off kilter
, and she
longed to have things right again.
After her nap, she rose quickly. She felt rested for once and ran down to see if Leda needed any help in the kitchen. The entire household was busy with preparations for Gavin
'
s return
, and the
chamberlain had opened up and cleaned out his former quarters in the solar.
A
massive bed had
been
built for the new couple, though Helena would stay in the nursery quarters with Isabel until the wedding could take place. New linens had been placed on the trestle tables
,
and fresh candles and flowers were waiting to greet them.
They would not stay there long as a married couple but would visit often and eventually make Blackstone their home. Gavin was in active service to Henry, so it was assumed they would spend more time at court before settling. Gemma wished she knew her brother as she did Isabel. He was gone before she was old enough to form any type of friendship with him. Her hope was they could make up for lost time now.
As she went into the great hall
,
she noted the reeds had been swept up and replaced, and fresh tallow candles were set and burning around the hall. The smell of fresh breads, roasting meats, and all types of delightful herbs wafted into the hall from the nearby kitchen. Leda was making the best of everything for the celebration. The keep looked wonderful, and it appeared it would be a lovely evening indeed.
But it was not to be.
Gavin did not return. Her father held off the meal as long as possible in hopes they were just delayed, but they did not come. The hall was silent as everyone ate. Her father dined quickly and then left the dais to sit at his desk. He waved Oliver over
,
and they spoke at great length. Gemma sat in her chair once agai
n picking at her food.
Her father came back to the table and dismissed everyone from the meal. Gemma followed him as he strode quickly away. He glanced back at her and sighed. Isabel bid them goodnight. They each hugged her a little more tightly than usual.
"
I shall be up soon, Isabel, and I will tell you my favorite story before you sleep. Be a good girl for Hesse and bathe,
"
Gemma said. After the two accidents of last week, she
knew
her brother was not held up. Something was wrong
,
but she did not want Isabel to know it. She watched her sister scamper away before she turned her attention back to her father.
"
Before you say anything, Gemma, I want you to know a messenger has already been dispatched to find out where your brother is and what is holding him up. It could be we miscounted the days and he was not due today. Something could have happened with the king that held him up as well.
"
His strained face and the deep lines forming on his brow betrayed his anxiety.
"
That is good to hear, father,
"
she said. She stared down at her hands clasped tightly in front of her.
"
We will know soon?
"
"
Your brother was coming from London, which as you know is not far. The messenger should be back before the moon is high. I will know more before we break our fast in the morning,
"
he said in a dismissive tone.
After giving
her father
a peck on his whiskered cheek, she headed up to tell Isabel a story. She then went to her quarters next to the empty room where her brother should be. The servants had brought in her tub
,
and the wa
ter was steaming hot.
Going to her wardrobe, she
pulled out her favorite soap, one made with lavender from the garden
that
she
always found relaxing. She hoped the lavender would work magic for her now. Her stomach was in knots
,
and her thou
ghts were in complete disarray.
She sat in the tub for a long time. The water started to cool and her fingers pruned, so she got out and dressed.
Sleep
proved elusive. The only spot she found comfortable was the one near her small window.
Pulling back the shutter, she sat and
watched across the open fields for any sign of her brother. Anyone coming from London would be coming from the other direction, but that did not stop her from watching
from her lonely perch
for signs of life in the darkness beyond.
The messenger returned just as the eastern sky paled with soft, morning light. Gemma rose from her bed.
It had been a long night, and s
he
had
struggled through
it
to find the sweet relief of deep sleep
. Nothing worked
.
Hurrying to dress, she
absently grabb
ed
the first kirtle she found. She struggled to don the fine fabric, pulled her silky hair back
,
and secured it tightly at her nape.
She hoped for good news.
Softly, she slipped
down the steps and tiptoed into the great hall to see if anyone was up. There were a few servants milling around, getting a head start on the day, and Leda was speaking softly out in the bailey. Otherwise, it was dreadfully quiet.
Her father was about and news had reached Blackstone. The messenger stood near her father
'
s writing desk. Blaise
'
s hands were shaking as he read. His head was bent down and his back slumped. He stood abruptly, put a hand to his midsection, and fell to the floor.
She
raced to his side. The messenger attempted to stop Blaise
'
s head from hitting the stone floor. He failed. Gemma panicked when her father did not move.
"
Go get Father Darius now!
"
she said to the messenger, who nodded as he backed away slowly from her father. Gemma tried desperately to get her father to respond to her. She tapped his ashen cheek and wiped the sweat from his brow.
"
Now!
"
she commanded
,
as servants came running from every direction. The man finally spun around and raced out of the great hall to get the priest. Tears ran down her cheeks in earnest as her father lay motionless on the fl
oor. His breathing was regular
and his heartbeat strong
.
"
Leda?
"
she said in a small voice,
"
Are you here?
"
There was no reply. She cleared her throat and repeated her question, this time with some power behind her shaking voice.
"
Aye, milady, I be he
re,
"
Leda said from behind her.
"
Please, Leda, something to put under my father
'
s head!
"