Part 35 (2/2)
She made him so angry! All calm disdain while he seethed with questions and dread. In as nasty a tone as he could forge, he asked, ”What if I don't let you go?”
”But you're so good at letting people go.” She spoke without expression, but somehow she made her opinion of him clear. ”Look how well you did with Philippa.”
He strode forward, furious at the implied accusation of cowardice. ”What would you have me do? Let Osbern destroy my family to protect her?”
”Your family?” Alisoun laughed lightly. ”What about your lands, the wealth which I brought you? Shouldn't you mention your anxiety for them?”
”I worked hard for what I have.” Dismayed by his own defensiveness, he tried to explain. ”I have the right to want to protect it.”
That destroyed her equanimity. Fists clenched, eyes sparking, Alisoun said, ”Aye, and be d.a.m.ned to the life destroyed when you do.”
His fury rose to meet hers. ”Who are you to so criticize me? A stiff, humorless, former spinster without a drop of love in your veins to sweeten your disposition.”
Her momentary spark faded. ”None at all,” she agreed.
Her restraint only made him madder, and he lashed out. ”I only married you because I felt sorry for you.”
”And for the money,” she reminded him. ”Let's not forget the money.”
”d.a.m.n the money.” He meant it, too. ”And d.a.m.n you!” That he didn't mean, but the words had been spoken and he couldn't call them back.
The slight tremble of her lips, the downward tilt of her brows-aye, on her face for those with eyes to see was evidence of her anguish. ”I have broken a vow I made before G.o.d-to protect Philippa. So I am d.a.m.ned, if that gives you pleasure.”
”You made a vow before G.o.d to obey me, too.” He expected her to defend herself, but Alisoun surprised him.
She declared her independence. ”What is one more broken vow?”
”You hold our wedding vows invalid?”
”I hold them as unimportant.” Lady Edlyn came out of the solar, holding Hazel, and Alisoun held out her arms for her. ”I suppose we should be grateful you didn't remember the babe, or Osbern would have another helpless soul to torment.”
”Nay!” But no one had heard him lie to save Hazel, and who among these accusers would believe him if he told them?
Alisoun still handled Hazel as if she were some foreign creature, but David thought Alisoun needed that child's comfort right now more than the child needed Alisoun's.
”I'll send you an allowance every month,” Alisoun said. ”George's Cross will remain my primary residence, and when I've settled there you might think about sending Bertrade to me.”
His gaze s.h.i.+fted to his daughter. She sat on her stool, shoulders hunched, knees drawn up, with Alisoun's kitten in her lap. The gown she'd worn so proudly had twisted sideways until it wrinkled in a tight circle. Guy stood behind her, leaning against the wall, his gaze fixed on the child.
”I offered to take her now, but she doesn't want to go. She still has an affection for you, of course.”
”Generous of you,” he muttered.
Alisoun dismissed him without a glance and went to Bert. Kneeling beside his daughter, Alisoun spoke softly, petting the cat in Bert's lap until the creature stretched luxuriously. Smiling with tremulous interest, Bert replied, then with a quick glance at him, her smile faded.
Rising, Alisoun commanded, ”Do send her when you can. She deserves a proper upbringing.”
He wanted to argue that she, with her inexperience, couldn't raise his child properly, but the servants distracted him as they snapped locks on the trunks and bound them with leather straps. This was moving too fast. ”You can't have packed already.”
”You needed almost everything I brought to Radcliffe, so I'm leaving it here. What I have at George's Cross will suffice me until I can send to market once more.”
Ivo and Gunnewate each hoisted a trunk onto their shoulders and strode past him, paying him less attention than they would a c.o.c.kroach.
Desperate to halt this relentless procession, David said, ”You need protection on the road and these two have already proved themselves unworthy.”
”My men are sufficient for the normal hazards of thief and brigand.” Alisoun allowed Lady Edlyn to help her with her cloak. ”No one stalks me now.” With an unladylike snort, she said, ”I suppose you could say you have done what you were hired to do. You removed the threat from my life.” She walked past him to the door, her maids trailing after her. There she half-turned. ”Good-bye, Sir David. I wish you health, life and happiness in the future.”
”Wait!” He hurried toward her and found his way blocked by a gauntlet of irritated maids. Craning his neck, he called, ”What about our child?”
”I will send you word when it is born, and if you wish you may come and visit. Beyond that you have no rights.”
23.
I hated to stay, but what was I to do? That little girl's world had collapsed on her, and she didn't really understand why. It wasn't as if I liked Bert. A stupid, scrawny thing, all scabby knees and big eyes, but she knew her sire had done something dreadfully wrong.
So when Sir David stumbled into the great hall after Lady Alisoun left, only three people remained to face him. Guy of the Archers, Bert, and me. Without waiting for anyone to speak, Sir David demanded, ”What did you want me to do? Let Osbern murder Bert and destroy us all?”
”I didn't say a word,” Guy answered, but he didn't have to. He made his opinion clear when he moved away from Sir David's reaching hand.
Sir David hesitated, then his hand dropped. ”I didn't have a choice.”
”If you don't mind,” Guy said, ”I have duties in the south tower with the men. The sewage pond is directly below, but even so the stench seems less intense there.” He walked out of the great hall and we knew when he stepped outside, because he slammed the door so hard the very stones shook.
”Well, d.a.m.n him, too.” Sir David dropped into his chair and looked around. ”Bert! At least you didn't want to go with her, did you?”
”Nay.” But Bert didn't sound any too certain, and she leaned over the cat in her lap.
Sir David observed the way she petted the animal, and he snorted. ”She even left behind the kitten I gave her.”
”I asked for it.” Bert scratched the kitten under the chin. ”It reminds me of my new mama, because it'll scratch if you try to hurt it but it's all soft and clean and cuddly if you're nice.”
Looking wretched, Sir David stared at his daughter.
”Daddy?”
Bert whispered, but Sir David heard her. ”What, sweetling?”
”Weren't you nice to my new mama?”
”I was just sensible. I thought she liked sensible men, but I hazard I was wrong.” His hands curled and uncurled. ”What did she say to you?”
”When?”
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