“Really?It did not look like you found my company unpleasant, whenyou asked me to breed you, love,” Brant said, relishing the pink thattinged her cheeks. After pausing briefly, he continued, “However, if are youreally undesirous of my affections, I see no reason why you may not shirk yourwifely duties, in seeing to my physical pleasures for a little while.”

Brantnoted a look that he could not read, crossed her face briefly, before shecovered it with a blank expression.

Watchingher closely, he continued, “Shall we say three, or four weeks. Until we knowfor sure, if I succeeded in breeding you. The mid wife assures me, now is thebest time in your cycle, for you to conceive.”

Hegrinned, as the pink that had faded from her cheeks, burst anew. Then, heturned to place more wood on the embers in the fire place, to chase off thechill in the room.

“Youare absolutely, despicable,” Isabel said, staring at him in astonishment.

Hehad planned his callus treatment of her, the night past? Even talked to themidwife, about the best time to ‘breed her’?

“Iam despicable?” Brant questioned. “That is why you perpetrated your littleruse, is it not? To deceive me, into siring that child you hold in your arms?Or, did you only need one, to guarantee your position as my wife?”

Herose from in front of the fire, which was now burning brighter, to warm theroom. He stood glaring at her, waiting for her reply.

“Youknow, My Lord, when you were in residence in my jail, I thought I saw some goodqualities, in you. I even felt rather bad, about the situation my dire straits,had placed both of us in. Since they turned you loose, most of what you havedone has been pretty repugnant. I am thinking that I should have kept youlocked up, for a plaything. Mayhap, I would find you less insufferable,” shesaid, with feigned sweetness.

Brantreplied, with an equally false smile, “Look on the bright side, Alisa, you nolonger need to worry, about what form my revenge will take, for the moment. Ifyou are carrying my second child, well, you know how much I like children,right?”

Hethen went to dress, and left the room. Isabel just glared after him,speechless. After he had seduced her into saying what he wanted, he had takenher body in a manor that could only be described as, the much whispered about‘tossing skirts’. The fact that he hoped that humiliation, would lead to theconception of a second child, left her contemplating if there was a way toescape him. However, without having to give up the precious son that innocentlynursed at her bosom, there was no way, short of killing him.

Chapter 12

Brantwas in the hall with Nathaniel, Hannah, and Rosamund, when the sentry announcedguests approaching the Castle. A short while later, Sir Richard, and a Ladywhom Brant did not recognize, were escorted in. Richard quickly introduced LadyAnn, Isabel's mother, to her son-in-law. Brant acknowledged the still veryattractive woman, of maybe thirty-five to forty years old.

Introductionsmade, Richard dove in to their purpose in coming there.

"Anncontacted me quite distraught, over your actions to retrieve Isabel, and thechild. I agreed to lend my assistance in approaching you, about thesituation," Richard said.

Annthen forged ahead with stating her case.

"Yourmarriage to my daughter was intended to be of a temporary nature, to protecther, and aid you, in defeating Avery. The goal was to finally end the ongoingfighting, between the two of you, which has been accomplished. I was quiteshocked about the infant. Particularly, when I was informed about the ruse thatlead to your siring the babe, which was certainly very unwise of Isabel. But itbreaks my heart, to think of my only child's whole life, being determined byone impulsive act, when she was a mere child of one and seven years." Atthis, Brant raised an eyebrow, momentarily causing Lady Ann to pause. But, shecontinued on, "Particularly, when Rosamund told me, that you may havetreated the poor girl rather roughly. I mean, Rosamund said that she hadbruises on both wrists, and her jaw, and was quite shaken up."

Brant,having heard enough about the poor girl, responded in his defense, "I donot think I could have treated her that badly, Lady Ann, or she would not havebeen back for more, two days later. Or again, a couple ofdays after that."

"What?"Lady Ann asked in surprise, as she slowly sank onto the bench behind her.Turning to look at the serf, Ann continued, "Rosamund, you said 'that onenight'. How many times did this occur?"

Avoidingeye contact with Lady Ann, Rosamund answered, "A whole lot."

"Whydid you lead me to think, that it was only one night?" Ann asked.

"Isabelsaid I had best shut up, or she would assign me to do the washing, or somethingelse bad," the serf replied, with her eyes focused on the floor.

Whenthe serf offered nothing more, Ann ordered, "You will tell me the truth,Rosemond. All of it."

"Icould not keep ‘er away from him. At first, she said she needed the babe. Buteven when she knew she were carrying ‘im, she kept going back. I told ‘er ifshe were worried about him, get ‘im some other girl. All she would agree to,was to ask him if ‘e wanted another girl, or the same one. She would not stayaway from him. Even when ye got her from ‘is Castle, she left him a messagewith the gypsy pointing ‘im to ye," Rosamund admitted.

Themaid fell silent, looking painfully uncomfortable, under the Lady'sdisapproving glare. Brant watched the exchange, amused both at the serf'sdiscomfort, and the mother's shock.

"Thishappened many times?" Lady Ann asked, as she turned to confront SirRichard. "Richard, where were you, when this was going on? How could younot know? I believe you assured me, you would do your best to see to Isabel'ssafety."

"Iknew nothing about any of this," Richard responded, in his defense."The only thing I was told about any of it, wason the one evening that I noticed Rosamund getting Isabel a glass of wine. Sheseemed very shaky. But, when I asked if something was wrong, Rosamund justreplied that her husband, who 'would not bed the child,' had no such concern,with bedding a similar aged, servant girl."

"Iwas counting on you to keep her safe, as you promised you would. Now you tellme, you had no idea what was going on?" Lady Ann asked, in astonishment.

"Youknow, I knew nothing about any of this. When you told me Isabel was going tohave a babe, I was as shocked as you were," Richard reminded Ann.

"My God! The child may have been safer with Avery. The Duke, Niles, told me hewas quite surprised when he returned from Normandy, to discover Isabel wed toyou, and Avery gone. He said they had some negotiations about a betrothal,before he left on his trip. Mayhap, he would have known how to treat aLady," Ann finished, giving Brant a glare.

"Ohno, Me Lady, ye do not want that Duke anywhere near Isabel. ‘Im and Avery, thatis what started all this, in the first place," Rosamond said.

Shestopped, realizing she may have said something she should not have. All eyesturned toward the serf, who seemed determined to say no more.

AtRosamund's reluctance to say more, Lady Ann demanded, "How, did they startall of this?"

“Ido not know exactly what they did, they made me leave. I just know she hadmarks on ‘er wrist, that looked like they were from a rope, and one of em hither. Bloodied ‘er lip. I thought the Duke might offorced ‘imself on her, but she said he did not,” Rosamond responded,hesitantly. “But, I guess while she was with them, Avery was telling the Dukeabout how ‘e was going to grab His Lordship’s sister. That is how Isabel cameup with the idea to grab him,” Rosamund paused briefly, as she indicated towardBrant with a thumb. “I told her it was a bad idea, since she knew nothing about‘im. Better the devil ye know, I always say.”