Morediscussion of the Lady’s activities, turned up theinformation that she was quite fond of her horse. She had often gone to thestables, to talk to Robbie, a youth who cared for the horses. Isabel had evenasked Robbie to ride the horse, to insure it was getting regular exercise,insisting that Harold approve that arrangement. So, Brant sent Harold out tofind Robbie.

Haroldreturned a short while later, to report that Robbie had left to exerciseIsabel’s horse, right after Brant had arrived. The youth had not returned. Itwas likely, that the stable hand was the inside man, so to speak, who was nowlong gone. Although, a patrol was being sent out, to make sure he was notinjured somewhere.

Later,after the evening meal, Brant asked Hester to have a bath prepared for him, inthe Lord’s Solar. The serf told him, that some of Isabel’s things were still inthere, from after the babe was born, and asked if she should remove them. Brantinstructed her to leave them for tonight, but have them packed up in themorning, and sent to his home.

Brantclimbed the stairs, and entered the Solar. He walked through the antechamber,and into the bedchamber. Everything looked pretty much the same, as when he wasthere briefly about a year earlier, except for the cradle. Brant walked over,and rocked the cradle, back and forth, wonderingagain, if there was some way the babe might be his. He realized he reallywanted a child. The sound of water being poured into the tub, in theantechamber, interrupted his thoughts.

Heconsidered the events of the day, and decided that Isabel was in allprobability, a willing participant in her departure. However, he still neededto find her. The note from the gypsy mentioned Lady Ann, Isabel’s mother.Considering that she was only one and seven, it was likely that with the babe,she would be heading straight to her mother. On the morrow, it would be best toreturn to Robert’s, to see if Kate knew exactly where Ann’s dower property was,and take Hannah home.

Fromthe antechamber, a serf called, “Me Lord, yer bath is ready. I was sent to seeif you need any assistance.”

Brantgroaned inwardly, recognizing Lillian’s voice. She was this castle’s version,of Cora. A lewd tart, who’s antics he use to findamusing. He thought about sending her away, but realized her assistance wouldbe helpful, to remove his tight tunic, and chausses.

WhileLillian was helping him undress, he asked, “Did you know the Lady?” When sheresponded with an affirmative nod, he continued, “What do you think of herdisappearance?”

“Ithink she run off on ‘er own. I think she was pretending, to be sick,” Lilliansaid.

“Whyis that?” Brant asked.

“Hestersays I should not gossip,” Lillian said, reluctant to continue.

 "The Lady is missing," he remindedher.

"Afew days before she were gone, ‘er and Rosamund was arguing, when I wasbringing the babe’s clean wash up. I was about to knock, when I heard Rosamundsay, ‘Someone should stuff Yer Lord in a chamber pot’,” Lillian said, blushing.

Brantstepped in to the tub, and lowered himself into the water. He motioned toLillian encouraging her to continue.

“Thenthe Lady said, ‘he is certainly not that bad.’ And her maid says ‘no honorableknight would maul a Lady, the way he did ye that onenight’.” Lillian paused again, so Brant indicated she should wash his back, andcontinue her story. “Then the Lady said ‘therein liesthe rub, does it not?’ and they was quiet, so I was going to knock. ButRosamund said, ‘ye should have told him’ and the Lady answered, ‘aye, andmayhap he would have strangled me.’ Next, her maid said, ‘yer husband is goingto 'ave to be told,’ and the Lady said ‘I intended to tell ‘im, ‘e did not giveme a chance’.”

Lillianstopped to pick up the bucket of clean water, to rinse his hair.

Withthat done, Brant asked, “Was that all?”

Lillianreplied, “Aye, Me Lord. Except, I knocked, and went in with the wash, and theLady said ‘thank-you, Lillian,’ like she were real weak. ‘Er voice did notsound weak, when they were arguing.”

Lillianhad moved around to his chest, and was massaging it, under the guise oflathering it. Brant reached up, to take the soap, and sponge, from her. Heasked her to go get clean clothes from his duffle, in the bedchamber, and laythem out on the bed. He then quickly washed the rest of his body, while she wasdoing that task. When she returned, he rose from the tub, motioning for one ofthe bath sheets, Lillian had quickly picked up. Brant directed her to dry hisback, then his feet, and legs. By the time she worked her way up to his knees,he had the other sheet wrapped around his waist.

“Thank-you,Lillian. I will not be needing you anymore tonight.Please ask Hester, to have the bath emptied,” Brant said, dismissing her.

“Aye,Me Lord,” Lillian replied, sounding a little disappointed, as he turned, andwalked into the bedchamber.

Oncehe closed the door, Brant mentally congratulated himself on how good he was getting,at giving the Castle tarts instructions, that keptthem from any lewd groping. The bath sheet around his waist was discarded onthe floor, as he climbed into bed, and covered himself with a blanket.

Beforesleep came, his mind drifted over Lillian's gossip, focusing on what Isabel'shusband would have to be told, that he did not give her a chance to say. Robertsaid she was waiting to talk to him, but he had sent his men to bring her here.After nearly three months in a dungeon, Brant was too mad, tobe reasonable. His father had sent Peggy here, while she was carryingher lover's child. Brant knew he had them bring Isabel here, because it waswell out of the way, and the closest thing to a dungeon, he could reasonableput his wife. However, he had no idea what to make of the knight, who had'mauled' the Lady, and should be stuffed in a chamber pot. He did not recallever touching her. Had he? Or, were they talking about someone else? Brantdrifted off to sleep, without finding any answers.

Chapter 10

Isabelwas furious. She had arrived at her mother's several weeks ago, thanks to around-a-bout escort, from Richard. Her mother, and Richard, had insisted, that as long as Brant had Isabel, they were goingto keep his sister, Esme, from him. Now that Isabel was there, they werechanging their minds, and refusing to return the girl to her brother, or evensend word that she was safe. Brant had shipped Isabel off to his remote Castle,and had provided no word on her welfare, to Ann. He did not deserve to knowEsme was alright, was the logic. Isabel did not tell them, that she had left amessage with the gypsies, for him. There was no way to know, if he had evenspoken to the fortune teller. What was more, the gypsy woman always insistedthey be so cryptic, that she was not sure the message would make sense, if hedid get it.

Furthermore,Ann was taking advantage of any opportunity, to lecture Isabel, about bringingthe babe with her. Her mother thought that Isabel should leave her newbornbabe, at some remote Castle, for his sire, who did not even know about him, to raise. Which explained to Isabel, why shehad grown up largely in the care of her father, and his serfs, while her motherwas traveling and visiting.

Thatwas another good reason to keep Esme, they claimed. If Brant was told about thebabe, his sister could be used as leverage. Now that Isabel was away from herhusband's care, with her son, she was almost hoping,that she might never have to tell him. If he did not know about the babe, Brantcould not try to take the child from her.

Thebabe began to fuss, so Isabel went to change him. After she had nursedNathaniel, Rosamund came to tell her it was nearly time for the evening meal.She helped Isabel gather everything they might need downstairs, for the child,and descended to the hall. There, Isabel lay Nathanielin a cradle that had been placed near the hearth, and took a chair beside him.