Thesentry cried out word of travelers, approaching the Castle. A short whilelater, a serf entered with word that Lord Reginald of Talishurst, and his wife,were returning home from London. They were requestingaccommodation, for the night. Although, Lady Ann did not know the couple, itwas common practice for traveling gentry, to request shelter at the Castlesalong their way. Ann, of course, granted their request, and a short whilelater, the older couple was escorted into the hall, for introductions.

Afterdinner, the men talked over tankards of ale around the Lord's table, while the women enjoyed a chalice of wine, near thehearth. Lady Muriel, the new arrival, sat in a chair on the opposite side ofthe cradle, from Isabel. From there, she cooed over the babe, and gushed abouthow adorable he was, repeatedly telling Lady Ann how proud she must be of hergrandson.

"Aye,"Ann said. "Nathaniel is just precious. We have to be very careful, to seehe is not taken from us."

Anngave her daughter a pointed look. Isabel easily interpreted her mother's wordsas another reminder, of her determination to keep Isabel, and the child, awayfrom Nathaniel's sire. Lady Muriel was too busy watching the babe, to noticeAnn's look, or Isabel's irritation.

Theolder woman chattered on, saying, "My eldest son is two and three. I wishhe would settle down, and give me some grandchildren. Unfortunately, his onlyinterest in women, seems to lean toward tarts. I haveeven tried, to get his sire to arrange a betrothal contract. But he will notagree to that."

Thatcomment, earned Isabel another pointed look from her mother. Once again, themessage was clear. Robert had said pretty much the same thing, about Brant. Ithad been eight months, since he had been released from her dungeon. Isabelwondered how many lewd tarts he had found, in that time. She realized theconversation was really annoying her. Fortunately, as if on cue, Nathanielstarted to cry, giving her an excuse to take him up to bed, and get away fromher mother. Once she reached her room, Isabel decided to stay there, until theguests had traveled on the next day.

Brantwas in the meadow, beyond the road, that passed his Castle, with Hannah,watching as she picked the early spring flowers. The now six year old girl, hadgiven him a large bunch of wilting flowers, and was now examining a small bug.From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of men-at-arms, and a coach, comingup the road. As they drew closer, Brant recognized the crest the coach wasflying, as that of Lord Reginald, the husband of his aunt, Muriel, on hismother’s side. He rose from the ground, and called to the child that it wastime to go back to the Castle, to await their guests. Hannah slowly walked overto pick up some of the flowers, before taking Brant’s hand. Together theywalked across the road, and passed through the Castle gate, into the courtyard. Then, Hannah said she was going to show the flowers to Nora, and ran offtoward the hall. Brant was left to wait alone, on the stairs, for the coach toarrive.

Assoon as the Lord and Lady descended from the coach, Brant asked, “How were yourtravels?”

Reginaldresponded, “They were quite fruitful.”

Brantushered them up the stairs. Reginald waited until they were seated at thetable, in the hall, before he continued.

“Wedid just as planned. We arrived there in the evening, and asked for accommodation,for the night. Isabel, and her son, are definitelythere with her mother,” Reginald said.

Hewas interrupted by a serf who brought some refreshments. When the serfdeparted, Muriel joined the conversation.

“Butthat is not all we discovered. Esme is there, too,” she reported.

Brant,who had almost given up hope, of ever knowing what had happened to his sister,asked sharply, “Are you sure?”

“Aye”both responded, nodding in the affirmative.

Then,Reginald assured him, “She seemed to be doing well enough, though she seemed alittle sad.”

Brantrealized that while this was very good news, it also complicated the situation.As her husband, he had every right to go there, and demand they send Isabel andthe child, out to him. Lady Ann could not use her daughter, and grandson, ashostages. Esme was another situation. If they were determined enough, theycould threaten her, if he did not go away. He knew, hewould have to get her out of the Castle first, if he wanted to retrieve bothfemales, and the child.

Then,Brant asked the most pressing question, “Did you see the babe?”

“Aye”Muriel said. “He appears to be very healthy, and well cared for. But I thinkthere was quite a bit of tension, between Isabel and Ann. I got the impression,Ann does not like you. So she likely, is not pleased, that the babe is thespitting image of you, Brant.”

Brantfound himself once again, wondering exactly what had happened, while he wasbeing held prisoner, by Richard, and Isabel. Had he been drugged, so that hedid not remember, all that happened there? Then Lillian’s gossip jumped intohis mind. ‘No honorable knight would maul a Lady’ and Isabel had replied‘therein lies the rub’. He never looked at Isabel, but she was about the sameheight, as the serf Alisa. He realized that several times, the girl came inwhen he was in bed, in the dark. Had Isabel switched places with the serf, totrick him into siring the child? Was that the whole point, in providing thegirl to him? That was a definite possibility. He did not know what to think,but Brant was sure, he was going to get Isabel back, from her mother. Then, hewould find out the truth.

Brantspent the rest of the day with his aunt and uncle, catching up on family, andreminiscing about the past. As the couple were leavingthe next day, Brant thanked them again, for their carefully arrangedaccommodation, at Ann’s. Reginald assured Brant, if he needed any furtherassistance, he need only ask.

Itwas a beautiful day in the middle of May, and Esme was practicing impatience.Isabel allowed Esme to ride her horse Matilda, thathad arrived a few days after Isabel, with a stable hand named Robbie. Isabelseemed to think that situation, some big jest that she would not explain to theyounger girl. However, to go riding, Esme had to have a couple of the knightsfrom the Castle go with, for safety sake. They tended to spend the eveningsdrinking, or chasing the castle tarts, and waking quite late in the morn.

Finally,her escorts were ready to go, and they set out in the direction of the village.Lately, Esme was finding that riding out of the Castle gates, held a sense ofrelief. Lady Ann treated her like a guest, but she felt more like a prisoner.They would not tell her anything, about her brother. Not, how he was, where hewas, or even if he knew she was there at Ann’s. A fact that made her think hedid not know. Was Brant aware her mother had helped his enemy take her hostage?Sometimes, Esme wondered if she had been rescued by Richard, or if she was nowhis captive. She had tried to question Isabel, too, but she did not seem toknow much, either. Although, with Ann there glaring at her, maybe, Isabel justdid not want to raise her mother’s ire. They certainly could not claim theywere protecting her, with their silence. Esme knew when she had first arrived,she had been very upset. She had now regained some sense of safety, and wasrarely plagued by the nightmares, of her kidnapping.

Whenthey reached the village, her escorts suggested that they turn back toward theCastle, as they always suggested. Escorting the Ladies to go riding, itappeared, was not on their list of likeable duties. However, Esme was in thehabit of riding on. The short distance from the Castle to the village, was notmuch of a diversion. Most of her days here, were spent on her sewing. Ann did sometimes, provide her with instruction on everythinginvolved in running a Castle. Which was information that Esmewould need, since she had inherited a portion of her father’s holdings.Although, the bulk of Eric’s lands, had of course, passed to Brant.