Wooing Kate
Chapter: Fourteen
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After her bath, Kate dressed and laid on the huge bed. It was every bit as soft as it looked and she wondered just what Adhemar had in mind. He wasn't putting her in this room without a reason. That man never did anything without some sort of self serving motive. Helene had called this the best extra room in the manor and Kate could see why. It was splendid. Thick curtains on the bed, furs piled on the trunk at the foot of that bed and the rushes on the floor were obviously new. There was no deep accumulation of dust on surfaces and a tray with wine and a goblet was on the table by the fireplace. She'd be fine in here as long as that heavy bar resting beside the door didn't disappear.
Getting up, she strolled to the door and opened it, peering into the hallway, ready to slam the panel at the first sign of anyone coming towards her. People passed by, but no one paid her any attention. It was refreshing after Adhemar's constant attention. She crossed her arms, leaning against the door frame. It appeared she was to have some freedom, so what was the logical thing to do now?
Test her boundaries. She needed to know just how much freedom she had in this house.
Kate set out exploring the manor. It was of newer construction, with no sense of age in the look of the stone and wood, and Kate took her time looking about. No one told her she was not to be wandering and still no one spoke to her. Gradually, some of the tension along her shoulders eased and she let herself out into the courtyard, following the wall of the manor around to the back.
There, was a large garden. The fish pond was to the left of the garden and down the hill a bit. She also spied several fruit trees and berry bushes. The countryside, from the spot she stood, was lovely and Kate could almost imagine that the walls about the manor and immediate grounds were gone.
Too bad this scenery couldn't be shared with her friends. Kate wondered, for about the hundredth time in the past couple days, what her friends were up to. She wondered if Geoff had gone safely on his way to whatever his plans had been and were Lady Jocelyn and Will still head over heels for each other? For that matter, were Roland and Christiana? Was Wat still with them, or had he set out to fulfill his dream of owning a tavern?
The sound of children laughing brought her from her thoughts and she turned to see a girl of possibly eight years of age, running after two younger girls. The youngest looked about four to Kate and the middle girl was somewhere between the two. Behind them came an older woman, calling out for them to wait for her.
Kate smiled as they ignored the plea, rushing past her, their long dark curls all in disarray. She wondered whose children they were. All three girls were pretty.
The woman stopped running and gasped for breath. "Little devils. Always getting into mischief and he won't let me discipline them properly." She tucked her hair back under her cap and gave Kate a smile. "Good day." Though her words had been cross, she was obviously not upset with her charges, shaking her head as the gleeful squeals of children enjoying themselves reached them. With a chuckle, she continued on.
Kate watched them for a few more moments, then returned to the front courtyard.
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Adhemar tread slowly towards his mother's room. That lady was not well he'd been told. He'd also been told that her companion had not given a reason before leaving, the woman simply setting out with what she could carry, not bothering to pack the rest of her things. Privately, he suspected Helene had something to do with that departure.
Helene wasn't the easiest woman to get along with and he realized she was universally disliked among the servants, but he was somewhat fond of her in a way. Not fond enough to want to keep her any longer, but fond enough to still have kind thoughts about their times together. She'd given him pleasure when he'd wanted it and gotten out of his way when he was through with her. He should send her back to her father with some sort of compensation for her lost virtue, or at least attempt to find a husband for her. Really, it was the decent thing to do.
She'd grown airs, decided she had rights that she simply didn't possess. Her order to be called 'lady' was an example of that. Helene was not a lady in any sense and never would be. Kate, lower in class distinction than Helene by a long jump, was much more a lady than she. Helene wanted to be more than she was.
Good God, he thought. It's like a plague. They all want to be what they can't.
Perhaps one time he might have considered actually marrying Helene if her father had been a bit more successful as a merchant, but the man was barely keeping his business afloat and wealth kept this family going. Now though, he couldn't imagine Helene ever being more than what she was: an opportunistic little tart who only wanted money and influence. No one would have accepted her here as lady of the manor.
Adhemar paused before the portrait of his father, studying it without really seeing it, an excuse to delay his visit with his mother. He never should have given Helene an allowance to spend as she pleased. Was that his mistake? Or was his mistake in omission? He'd never actually told her he had no intention of marrying her. In fact, it was rather a foregone conclusion that he couldn't marry her. He hadn't said it though. Had that omission caused a false hope to build in her breast? Possibly. Helene had many false hopes in their time together, including false pregnancies.
He ran his hand along the back of his neck, massaging the skin. He couldn't just turn Helene away. He had to make some sort of arrangements for her, but first he had to decide what. He knew she was jealous of Kate, those glances had shown her feelings plain enough, but he didn't think she'd physically harm her. While Germaine had been convinced Helene was a murderer, Adhemar couldn't quite see Helene desirous of getting her hands dirty. She'd always been much too squeamish. Besides, Kate could take care of herself. If there was any lingering animosity between them, he'd no doubt that Kate would be the victor.
Glancing down the hallway, he saw his mother's door was open. She was waiting.
He entered the room and went directly to her side, waiting while she anchored her needle in the fabric she was embroidering. As he always was after being gone, he was struck by how frail she appeared. She was thinner every time he came home and her health seemed to decline faster and faster. The physician could find no cause and Adhemar began to realize he could lose his mother very soon.
The thought frightened him.
She'd been a constant in his life, not content to sit back and let others rear her children. He and his siblings had the benefit of their mother right there by their sides for years, until they were each old enough to be sent to other homes to learn. She had loved them all and made herself available for each child if they needed her. He'd never thought of life without her there before. Each time he'd left, he'd known she'd keep the house the way he wanted it. She'd make his homecomings glorious celebrations and would be pleased by his victories.
"I've missed you, my son." She raised her arms up, hands motioning him towards her. Gladly, he embraced her, trying not to react when he felt her shoulder blades like sharp stones beneath her dress.
"And I have missed you." Releasing her, he dragged a chair beside her and sat, taking a look at the embroidery she had on the free standing hoop. She was working on a shift he saw, the needle she used so fine that if he'd had to pick it up, he didn't think he could do so. The design was white on white, flowers and vines on what he thought could be the bodice. He didn't touch it. He didn't want to chance staining the fabric. "A new shift? Don't I pay a seamstress to make these for you?"
Isobelle nodded, taking his hand and squeezing it. "Yes, but she doesn't add the extra touches and I see no reason to pay her to do it, when I can easily pretty my clothes up myself."
It was an old argument between them, an easy way to fall back into their relationship. "I don't mind paying her extra."
"But I do." She released his hand and again took up her needle. "Now, I've been hearing some interesting stories in the past couple hours." Her glance lingered on his face a moment, on the cut on his brow and the bruises that had blossomed, but she made no comment, turning her attention fully to the cloth and taking a few slow stitches.
"Oh?" He waited and was rewarded when she gave a low chuckle.
"You've brought home a woman."
"Yes."
"Yes?" A flower was slowly being formed in stitches and knots. Briefly, her teeth caught at her lower lip. "Really, Alain, is that all you have to say about her? I've heard she's pretty, but certainly not, by description, the Lady Jocelyn."
"No, she's not Lady Jocelyn. I was unsuccessful in those negotiations, which you're undoubtedly aware of already. Royal spies have nothing on you mother. Your spy network knows of news about me before I scarce know it myself."
"My spy network? You jest." Again, she anchored the needle and turned in her chair to face him. "Are you happy Alain?"
"Happiness is irrelevant." He gave her attire a pointed stare and changed the topic. "I thought you were abed and not well enough to greet me."
"I had a miraculous recovery moments ago. I suddenly felt well enough to get dressed." She smiled. "When do I meet this woman you've carried home?"
"Whenever you choose."
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Frustration was eating at Helene. Alain had been home for hours and he'd not come to see her alone at all. That little detail was beyond worrisome. He'd brought back some peasant and given her the best room and chastised Helene for the assumption that the woman was to work in the kitchens. Why, to look at the woman, that was where she belonged. But no, he treated this Kate as though she was some delicate princess, ordering a bath for her and clothes.
Puzzling. Who was this woman anyway? She'd tried to convince Helene that she was a prisoner, which was, of course, absurd. Prisoners were sent below to be chained, not given the best room in the manor. She'd gone on and on about how she didn't want to be there. Most absurd. The gates to the wall were open and Kate could walk right out if she chose. There was no guard on her that Helene could see. No man had been posted outside the door of the chamber and Alain had left Kate alone.
That was not the behavior of a man keeping a woman prisoner. It wasn't even behavior of a man who wanted a woman desperately. Helene remembered well how Alain acted with a woman he wanted. Constant attention. Little touches that could be considered innocent when witnessed by a third party. Stolen kisses. He did not just leave the woman alone. Therefore, it had to be Kate who wanted him and who'd convinced him to bring her here.
So who was Kate really?
Helene ran a hand over the sumptuous fabric she'd chosen for her newest dress. Pale blue was beautiful with her coloring. Not every woman could wear the color without looking like she was made of ice. Helene could wear it though and she planned to bring Alain back to her, to keep this Kate from taking him from her. She'd be a good wife for him, she knew it. She knew his likes, his dislikes...his tastes. Helene's fist grasped a handful of fabric. Did he think she wasn't up to the challenge? She was. She, Helene, was the perfect woman for Count Alain Adhemar.
She just had to make him see it. Then, she had to dispose of Kate.
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Kit Guin, Will found, was a naturally loquacious individual. Once the man began talking in earnest, he did not shut up. So, the beginning of their journey gave Wil and Wat both ample details about Kit and his predicament.
"My brother, you see, is an ambitious individual, about as ambitious as a person can get. He's got it in his head that he can take control of the Free Companies and Count Adhemar's lands and monies in one swoop. Naturally, he means to kill the man. Now, I'm not the sort of man to go against his brother normally, but this smacks of stupidity. I mean, to storm the manor and kill all inside is not a smart thing to attempt." Kit paused for breath, but continued before Will could manage a comment. "We'll meet up with my men and go directly towards the south road. There, we'll stop my brother. Once he's dead, we'll rescue your friend and then...." He cast a glance towards Will, one filled with uncertainty.
Rather than wait for Kit to get around to what he was wanting to ask, Will jumped to speak. "There's more, isn't there? Spit it out, Kit. What else is on your mind?" Will took a long drink from his cup, exchanging a glance with Wat. Wat remained silent, his opinion of the agreement Will had made with Kit plain on his face.
Wat didn't want to do anything that might help Adhemar. He only agreed to come with Will for Kate's sake. He'd argued with Will for long hours, then turned to Jocelyn in plea for help only to find she approved of the plan. Only for Kate though. If Adhemar died after they rescued Kate, it would not cause Jocelyn or Wat to lose sleep.
"A final favor, if you please, before we part company."
"Which is?"
"Help me tell Bess that she's free of him. Help me win her as you won Lady Jocelyn."
Will had no words. All he could do was stammer, "Who's Bess?"
"My brother's wife." Kit tossed a bit of wood onto the fire they'd made, watched the flames for a moment. "It's a long story, Will. My dear brother informed me one day that he'd decided I should marry. I accepted this and he proposed a certain young woman. She was lovely and I was happy. But then, he decided he wanted her instead. He negotiated for himself instead of me and I didn't know until he came home with her as his bride. The ceremony was done and she was his."
It was a story Will had heard before and would likely hear many more times in his lifetime. Lost love. Each time he heard such a tale, he became happier than ever that he and Jocelyn had found each other and been allowed to marry. Few were so lucky as they. "I'm sorry, Kit."
"So am I. I tried to put that from my mind and see her as a sister." He shook his head. "I can't. Bess is my love, my only love, and he delights in abusing her. He beats her, uses his fists and calls her less than a woman when she is...."
"Venus," Will finished for him.
Wat gave a delicate snort.
Kit nodded. "Yes. Venus. You know how I feel, Will. Help me."
Will set his cup aside and laced his fingers together, resting his forearms on his knees. "Does she return your feelings?"
Kit gave a bitter laugh. "She could not say if she did for fear of retribution from my brother. I do not press her, for I do not wish for her to be injured because of me." He sighed. "I'll even give some incentive for you. With his death, I will have several extra residences I care not to own. I'm willing to give you and your wife one. No money changing hands and no debt. Help me with Bess and what I can do for you, I will."
"I'm no soldier, Kit. Not really."
"Nonsense. All men are soldiers to protect those they love. It's the way of it."
Will took the chance to look at Wat. Wat's face held resignation. "This war you're starting is not to save Adhemar. It's to save a woman. Your brother's wife. You fight for a woman, Kit." Princess Joan's words came back to him. You could wage war over this Kate and no one would bat an eye.
The man's expression was grim. "And I'll not apologize for it."
"Does your brother have a name?" Wat asked.
Kit stared at him a long moment. "Aye," he responded darkly, speaking directly to Wat for the first time since the journey had begun. "Devil spawn."
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The boundaries Kate had been given were the walls. Unescorted, she could walk anywhere along the grounds that she wished, as long as she was within the walls. She found that at least one of the guards at each point of entrance knew who she was. Adhemar had made certain of it. If she wished to go outside the walls, she was informed, then she'd have to take it up with the lord. Still, it was more freedom than she'd expected and the thought kept crossing her mind that Adhemar was up to something. He had to be. There was no other explanation.
When evening came, Kate ventured back inside. The evening meal was set up and she was forced to sit beside Adhemar during it. She'd not yet met his mother and Helene didn't join them. The atmosphere was festive, the conversation relaxed and the only words Adhemar spoke to her were inquiries as to what she wanted on her plate.
He was nice and charming and Kate decided she must have fallen asleep somewhere and dreamed. It was a pleasant dream and when he left her at her door with only a simple, "Good night," she knew that's what it had to be. He didn't touch her, didn't attempt to kiss her and Kate did not wake once from bangings on the door demanding entry.