Wooing Kate

Chapter Twenty-two

~~~~~~~~~~

Upon seeing London again, memories of the last time she'd been there began to surface. To Kate, they seemed a lifetime ago. She recalled the parade from tournament, then later memories more pertinent to her situation. On their way to Geoff's home, they even had to pass the inn where she'd spent the night with Alain Adhemar. Kate swallowed hard and blamed the baby for her sudden weepy tendency. As they went by the inn, she glanced up at the second story. The window there on the right was the one from his room....

Wat was good company, as she remembered him, keeping her entertained and in decent spirits, though at times, she detected an air of disapproval from him. He never spoke any more about it though. In fact, he treated her as though she wasn't pregnant at all. He did not make considerations for her 'delicate' condition unless she asked for them. It was lovely. To him, she was just 'Kate', not 'pregnant Kate' or 'Adhemar's Kate', but simply herself. She could have kissed him.

She didn't, of course.

They reached Geoff's house and spent long enough there to find that Will had already gone. Germaine told them where. By the time they were able to stop traveling, Kate was glad for it. She'd had enough of horses for the time being.

She was greeted with hugs from all and could not seem to stop crying. Every kind word brought a fresh rush of tears. Will carried her to a bedroom and from there, Jocelyn and Christiana took over. They cared for her and pampered her and Kate finally was able to rest.

~~~~~~~~~~

The life of a free man did not come easily to Germaine. It was difficult, he found, to make decisions for himself. He was so used to having arrangements all made for him by his lord that he -- in all honesty -- did not know what to do with himself.

His instinctual determination to serve was a source of great vexation to the Lady Jocelyn and she'd set herself to teaching him how to decide matters for himself. Germaine had appreciated her efforts, yet began to yearn for the safe familiarity of service.

Therein lay the problem.

He, like Kate, could not go back to the place he'd started. He regretted his impulsive decision to leave. However, he was still walking about free, so he'd simply have to make the best of where he'd placed himself. He'd have to grow and adapt to suit this new life he'd forced himself into.

Sir William, Roland and Christiana arrived at the Chaucer residence and the reunion was a merry one until the question of Wat's whereabouts was brought up. Wat had elected to stay behind at the Guin manor, something that the three travelers were not happy about. He'd decided he'd rather be there on the off-chance that Kate should send for Christiana. He'd go to her aid in that instance. He'd insisted that Kate needed someone closer than a long journey away.

The Lady Jocelyn was excited by the prospect of a partially furnished house and demanded they set out as soon as humanly possible to view their new home. The group left after only a few days and Germaine remained with Philippa Chaucer. He liked the woman. She gave him enough to do that he felt reasonably welcome and comfortable in her household.

Kate and Wat arrived only hours after Will's party set out. They too did not stay long and Philippa remarked that she'd not had such a lively house in months. Germaine elected not to go with them. He liked the excitement of London and rather thought that he'd settle in a city eventually just to have the constant bustle of daily life about him. Growing up and living at the Adhemar home, he'd been used to a whirlwind of activity the siblings swept him into and later, the constant activity of Count Adhemar. He didn't like a slower pace.

A week after all the guests departed, an extremely agitated man burst into the house calling for Philippa. He stalked past Germaine and paced as he waited for her. For once, she was not on duty with the Queen and she came running at the summons.

"Geoff! I didn't expect you back so soon!" Her hug of greeting nearly toppled the man over.

"I must speak to Lady Jocelyn immediately." Geoff eased Philippa's arms from him.

"Well Geoff, she's not here." Philippa drew him back into the kitchen, Germaine following. A cup of wine was pressed into Geoff's hands and she urged him to drink. "Will came and they left for their house. Apparently, this man Will went to help was extremely grateful for his services --"

"Have you directions, my love?" He interrupted her, wiping his mouth with one hand and setting the cup down.

She nodded. "Of course."

Germaine trailed Geoff back into the front hall while Philippa went in search of the directions she'd written out. "May I be of help in any way," he inquired in a hushed voice that was nearly a whisper.

The man turned, gave him a long, measuring stare and crossed his arms. "You can begin by telling me how Kate happened to end up at Adhemar's home and you in mine. What sort of treachery did you perpetrate against her? I know the two of you left London together."

Germaine returned the stare. "Allow me to ride with you and I shall explain all. I assure you though, no treachery was involved."

Philippa returned, handing Geoff a roll of parchment. "It's not far. It shouldn't take too long to reach them."

"Thank you." Geoff kissed his wife, then went out the door. He paused, looking over his shoulder. "Come on then. I don't have the entire day to spend waiting for you."

Germaine went.

~~~~~~~~~~

Alain Adhemar hated London for one reason and one reason alone: it was the place of his humiliating defeat at the joust. He hated having to traverse the streets once more, yet the thought of Kate kept him pressing forward. She was worth being in this place again. They found the house of Philippa Chaucer with relative ease and Fawkes opted to wait with their mounts while Alain collected Kate.

He was shown into the house by a young woman and asked to wait. It took far too long, in his opinion, for the mistress of the house to come out to him. She was pretty, he decided, with dark hair piled haphazardly on her head and eyes that held both intelligence and humor. She gave him a polite smile and a nod.

"Count Adhemar, my maid said your name was?"

"Yes."

"What can I do for you, Count?"

He studied her, decided that charm would work well with her. "I'm searching for a woman named Kate. I was told she came here looking for Sir William Thatcher. It's of utmost importance that I find her."

The woman raised her brows. "Ahh, Kate."

Though he waited, she did not elaborate. "Is she here," he asked bluntly.

She shook her head. "No. She left some time ago."

Silence. He cursed inwardly. This woman did not seem inclined to give any more information than she had to. "Where did she go?" He'd try the house Elizabeth had told him of next, unless this woman gave him another place to look.

She crossed her arms, looked him up and down. "I've heard of you, Count, from several sources. Give me a single good reason why I should tell you where Kate went."

Alain narrowed his eyes at her. "She carries my child."

"Another."

"Oh, that's not a good enough reason?"

"You could have raped her. I wouldn't want to put her back in jeopardy."

The uncomfortable feeling surfaced that she was laughing at him in some way. Alain frowned. "William Thatcher was here, as were his wife and servants. I heard of their plans to come here from a reliable source. No doubt you heard of me from them and if Kate was indeed here, then you must have heard some of what she had to say. I did not rape her, not that it's your business to begin with. She is not, nor ever will be, in jeopardy from me."

The speech seemed to satisfy her and she nodded. "There's a tiny manor to the north that rests on Guin lands. Those lands and the manor have been deeded to Sir William. She goes there, but I'm not certain how long she intends to stay."

Alain left.

~~~~~~~~~~

The manor Will had been given was much smaller than the Adhemar home and Kate decided she liked the smaller rooms. There was a coziness to the entire house that appealed to her. She was happy to see that Will had gathered her tools and stored them, though she did not take them out to work. Kate could not bring herself to begin.

This place, as much as she wanted it to be, was not her home. She couldn't make it her home. She kept thinking that she never should have left Alain's house to begin with. Even if he did bring a wife back from wherever it was he'd gone, she couldn't stay away.

It was late one night that she found herself alone in the Great Hall with Will. He came to sit beside her before the fire, setting a plate with pastries on her lap.

"Here. I know you like these, so I hid a plate from Wat."

She gave him a grateful smile and nibbled on one of the sweets. It was very good and she wondered if Wat had fallen for the cook yet. He'd adore a woman who could bake something as heavenly as this. "Good home cooking," she said a bit sadly. She'd claimed to miss plain food at Alain's, pastries like this, but she'd become used to the fancier foods he liked on his table. Kate set the pastry aside, half eaten.

"Not to your liking?"

"It's good, but I'm not really hungry."

He leaned back on his hands, regarding the low burning fire with a concentration that indicated he was thinking on some weighty subject. Finally, he glanced at her. "Were you happy, Kate? I mean truly, not in a superficial sense."

She shrugged. "What is happiness?"

"That's not an answer. That's...avoiding the question."

His gaze, as always, was kind and Kate groaned. "God Will, don't make me think it out."

"Why not? You're not happy here, that's for sure. You make the motions, but your smiles are not the glad ones you once had in our company. Something is missing for you now. I want your happiness Kate, and while I admit I've mixed feelings about you with Adhemar, I'll not stop you from returning to him if it will put the light back in your eyes."

Kate shook her head. "I can't go back and yes, I do want to now."

"Why can't you? You've not said one word to any of us why you left so suddenly. The last we all heard was when Christiana arrived saying you loved Adhemar and he, apparently, had feelings for you in return."

"Because he went to get himself a wife!" Kate got to her feet and began to pace. "I can't go back and see some smug noblewoman there beside him at the table and in the bed I shared with him! I can't and I have to! I promised him I'd stay and now I've broken that promise. I broke a promise to Fawkes and...." She stopped pacing. "Will, I've never had so many people taunt me about something I'd no control over. Those people came at me the second he was gone. I heard sly little digs every time I left the bedchamber. I'd never had a problem ignoring them before, yet with him gone, every word made sense. Every time it was hinted he left to find a wife, I could not dispute it. He didn't tell me where he was going or why he was leaving."

He also got to his feet, coming to her and embracing her. A soothing hand swept along her back. "Who told you for certain that he was going to find a wife? He never spoke the intent to you at any time?"

"No."

"Then who?"

Kate remained silent until Will stepped back. Then, she stared up at him. "His mother hinted, but she also said he'd marry me if he could figure out how."

"She hinted. Did she say that's where he went?"

"Well no." Kate moved away, crossing her arms. "No one said with absolute certainty. No one seemed to know. He took a horse and left right after we ate that night. He stalked from the hall and was gone."

Will's hands grasped her shoulders, turned her and gave her a little shake. "Kate, think. Who was it told you he was going on that errand? You said no one knew where he went, so how could they know the reason?" Exasperation played upon his face. "Come on Kate. You've never been this slow on the uptake ever that I recall."

His meaning became clear and she wrenched away. "You think I left for no reason." The look he gave her challenged her to dispute his reasoning. "You think I jumped to a conclusion based on...."

"Hearsay and rumor and jealousy. Yes, Kate, I think you did. I think you were so emotionally caught up that you were not capable of thinking clearly enough to make a rational decision." He licked his lips. "I think you did the worst thing you could have in that situation. You've admitted to having a friend or two there, casual true, but still friends. Shouldn't you have gone to them and talked out the problem?"

She'd once told Alain that there were consequences and now more consequences hit her over the head. He was going to be furious with her for leaving. "No. No, no, no...." She waved her hands in the air in front of her.

Will reached out for her, steadying her. "I never thought I'd hear myself say this, but...." He fixed an authoritative stare at her. "Kate, you have to go back there. If there's a chance you were deliberately deceived by those people, then you must return, even if it's only to explain to him why you left."

"I know." Her voice was barely even a whisper and Kate gently pushed his hands from her arms and went upstairs to her room.

~~~~~~~~~~

The morning found a shouting match in the Hall. Geoffrey Chaucer and Jocelyn were settling their differences on a matter that none but the two seemed to completely understand. They jumped back and forth in their argument, adding in speculation and examples until it made onlookers dizzy to contemplate. The two were well-matched in their debate and made no headway in convincing the other of their opinion.

Germaine, his arms folded over his chest, watched Kate make her way slowly down the stairs. She'd let her hair flow free about her shoulders instead of pulling it back and there was a healthy glow about her that proclaimed, at least to him, her expectant state. Kate, he decided, was beautiful in pregnancy and he wondered if Count Adhemar thought so as well. He must, he thought. If he's gone to King Charles, he must consider Kate beautiful in many ways.

She stood listening to each as they yelled and finally put herself between the two, shoving them apart. "Will you please stop shouting? For heaven's sake quit airing this to all. The entire household does not need to know where each of you stood on an issue months old."

Jocelyn nodded, still fixing Geoff with an angry glare. He glared right back, then turned concerned eyes to Kate. "You are well then. Lord, Kate, I'd not believed the letter."

"What letter?"

"The one I have here." He withdrew a parchment from under his long coat. All gathered around him save Germaine, and he unrolled it, handing it to Jocelyn. "The one that says Count Adhemar went to King Charles to have a decree issued allowing all children you bear him to be considered legal heirs to the Adhemar wealth."

Jocelyn gasped, pressing one hand to her throat. "He's right." Her expression turned to disbelief.

"I can read, you know," he snapped at her.

"Oh really, Geoffrey? I'd not noticed," she returned.

"Stop." Kate walked a few paces away. "Just stop it, both of you." She glanced at Germaine, then turned to Will. "He didn't go to...." A horrible groan came from her lips. "You were right and I was wrong. I have to go back there."

"I could have been wrong," Will replied.

"You weren't though."

Jocelyn perked up. "Right about what?"

"Never mind," the two answered in unison.

Germaine smiled.

Kate eschewed the idea of an escort. She was perfectly capable of taking herself back to the manor all by herself and made no bones about it. She behaved as though she was ready to run outside and climb back on a horse to make yet another exhausting journey.

Finally, after much fast talking on Wat's account, they managed to convince her she needed to wait until afternoon before leaving. Observing her, Germaine thought she needed much longer than a few days to recover from the trip she'd already had. She often, over the morning hours, closed her eyes and sagged back in her chair, or shifted uncomfortably. No, this would not do. Kate should not leave for a bit longer.

Just before noon, he asked Geoff to help him convince Kate to remain there for a longer period of time. The three met outside for a stroll in the courtyard. Kate walked slowly between them, pausing every now and then to rub at her lower back with one hand. There was silence for a few minutes.

"What do you both want," Kate asked, glancing at each of them in turn.

Geoff took a stab at the question. "We're concerned for you. You've been on a long journey and frankly, you look worn out. I hardly think you'd make the return journey without falling ill along the way or immediately upon arrival."

"Send a messenger in your stead, explain matters and stay here for a week or two to regain your full strength." Germaine stopped walking. "I know you're a physically strong woman, but I've also witnessed women just as strong as you die from illness that might have been avoided had they not traveled long while already exhausted. I would not want to chance your life."

"Nor I." Geoff shook his head. "I'll stick my own neck out every chance I get, but Kate, I don't want to see you do the same."

She nodded, casually reached out and took one of each of their hands and placed them on her belly. Beneath his palm, Germaine felt a kick. "Feel that? This child never would kick when he was around. Stubborn, and completely true to his father. I want to get home so he can feel it and enjoy it."

"Stubbornness is not a trait he alone can claim, Kate. You've your share of it as well." Geoff lifted his hand away. "Please stay. A few days more, at least. If you'll not consider a week or two, then consider two or three days. Each hour you rest improves your health."

"My lord Adhemar would not be angry at your resting to keep yourself and the child healthy. I'm sure of it. Send a messenger and rest."

The next hour was spent going over their arguments with her time after time until she stopped them in front of the manor doors, tossing up her hands in defeat. "Fine! Fine! I'll send a messenger and stay a few days. Just don't keep on at me. I've a headache now." She retreated into the manor and, grinning at each other, they followed.

"I should go back as well," Germaine mentioned as he and Geoff crossed the hall to Will, Jocelyn and Wat. "I don't think I'm the sort of man that can be free. I'm not able to do for myself with ease. You made it look so effortless, Sir Will. Deceptively so."

"Nothing says you need to go back." Geoff glanced around, shrugged. "As fun as my argument with Lady Jocelyn was this morning, I've neglected my duties for personal reasons and cannot stay to continue it, though I will promise to return at a later date to do so. I could use a traveling companion, Germaine. Someone to run errands for me while I run King's errands. Someone to write my letters when I do not have the time to do so."

Germaine was startled by the offer, though pleased by it all the same. It was something to consider. "Well, I don't know what to say."

"You can keep me on the straight and narrow path. Philippa would be pleased at that."

"Nothing keeps you out of trouble," Wat remarked.

"Think about it, Germaine. If we're lucky, we might get sent to Italy. The women there rival all the ladies here for beauty. Tempting, yes? Shall we set out on a grand adventure?"

Germaine smiled. Why not? It was partly because of this man that he'd set out for freedom. Life wandering about the world with Geoffrey Chaucer would not be dull. In fact, he rather thought the excitement he wanted would be more than fulfilled. He straightened his back with dignity and nodded. "Why not? I accept the offer of employ."

Delight painted Geoff's features. "Excellent, good man! Regretfully, we can't stay longer and visit, so let us be off."

"You're off all right." Lady Jocelyn smiled sweetly. "Remember your promise to return, Geoffrey."

"Of course, my lady."

Germaine had little with him that needed packing, so he was ready in moments.

As Germaine and Geoff left the hall, all heard Geoff ask, "So, Germaine, tell me...how do you feel about wagering?"

~~~~~~~~~~

"Doesn't it bother you?"

The question stopped Kate as she began unfastening her surcoat in preparation for a well earned nap. She sat on the edge of the bed and contemplated Jocelyn's question. Her answer depended largely on what the woman was referring to. Did she mean being pregnant? Or was she referring to Geoff's opinion? Perhaps there was some other matter Jocelyn wondered if Kate was bothered by?

Jocelyn brought a brush over to her and climbed onto the bed behind her, applying the brush to Kate's hair in slow strokes. "Geoff's view, I mean. To say that he felt you should have gone back to Adhemar and stayed there until --"

"No. I'm not bothered by it."

"Why ever not?" Jocelyn kept brushing, but the strokes slowed.

Kate shrugged. "Honestly? I've much better things to consider than the workings of Geoffrey Chaucer's mind. I simply don't know enough about how his opinion was formed. There could be something in his past that brought his conclusion about so that, to him, it makes perfect sense." She slid one hand across her belly, soothing the gentle kicking of the baby inside. "Besides, it's all worked out in the end, so there's no point in revisiting a comment he made in a heated moment."

"How has it worked out?" Jocelyn moved to sit beside her.

She thought for a moment on how to explain her own reasoning. "Well, if I had not run from him in the first place, Alain would not have been angered. He'd not have followed me and taken me to his home. The treachery of Helene would not have been found out and Helene would have successfully poisoned his mother. Lady Isobelle would be dead."

Jocelyn leaned back on her hands, concentration on her face. "What else?"

"Will went with Kit Guin on the promise that if he helped Guin, then the man would help Will find me and rescue me if I needed it, yes?"

"Mm-hmm."

"If I'd not run, Will would not have needed to make such a bargain with Guin. He might have not gone with Guin at all and therefore, I can think of several things that could have occurred in that case. You'd not have this house as payment for a job well done. Lady Elizabeth, Alain's sister, might be dead by her husband's hand. Kit Guin might be dead as well and Alain and all in his manor might be dead. Roland would not have had a job offer from Lady Elizabeth." She warmed to her ideas, ticking them off with her fingers. "Christiana would not have realized the depth of her feelings for Roland. Germaine would not be free and have left under Geoff's employ and I would not have the pleasure of this baby."

"Perhaps," Jocelyn conceded. "Now, what of those you said taunted you? Was that good as well?"

Kate turned her head to stare at her. Jocelyn was determined to find the bad in it all. She'd not thought Jocelyn the sort of gloomy person who saw problems at every turn, not after her optimism during tournament. "Yes," she replied. "There's good in that too. I had to leave to realize that the home I've yearned to return to, was right there where I was. Life isn't easy, Jocelyn. There are always going to be people who dislike you. I shouldn't have let their barbs dig in and change what I knew was certain. I did though, and now must pay the price for foolishness."

There was a shift in Jocelyn's expression, subtle and barely there. "You're really going back to him, then?"

"This time, I have to. Running away honestly wasn't the option I thought it to be. I can't run away from this."

The woman took her hand, clasped it in a gesture that Kate realized meant support. "He'll be angry with you for leaving. Can you handle him alone? You could wait here for him to come and we'll be a buffer for you against his temper."

A generous offer, yet one Kate couldn't accept. She'd already sent the letter -- written by Christiana -- giving her intent to remain here a week then begin riding back. "I'm sorry Jocelyn. I can't stay. This has to be done at home."

Home. That was indeed what the manor had become for her. She knew the hallways and grounds backwards and forwards and, despite all, was comfortable there. If she stayed here, she'd be comfortable for awhile, but without Alain, there'd quickly be a sense of part of her being missing.

Jocelyn sighed, released her hand. "Christiana was right then. You do love him." Her manner spoke of confusion. "I confess I don't understand it. In my mind, he's a horrible, bullying, cheating wretch of a man only concerned with his own desires."

Laughter welled up in Kate and she gave in to the urge. "He is all that. He's also childish and spoiled. However, Jocelyn, he's my horrible, bullying, cheating, childish and spoiled wretch. Alain isn't always those things. He's charming, kind and generous when the mood strikes him. He can be a shrewd businessman and an excellent soldier. He's also completely devoted to his mother. When she was ill, he barely left her bedside."

"Well, I suppose that's something." Jocelyn managed a small smile. "I guess I don't have to understand it, do I? You're the one who has to deal with him and it's by your own choice." She got up and moved to the door. "Have a good sleep, Kate. I'll see you later."

Kate settled down for her nap.

~~~~~~~~~~

Out of all in the Thatcher household who could greet him, Alain had not expected the Lady Jocelyn to come forth. She crossed the courtyard to him and he thought that her beauty now paled in comparison to his Kate.

"How dare you," she said, anger shadowing her features.

"How dare I what," he replied, fixing her with a cool stare. The words she wanted to say did not seem to be forming upon her tongue and the lady simply gasped in outrage. Alain snorted. "Well, woman, if you cannot put voice to how I have dared, then run along and inform Sir William that he and I have business to discuss."

"I'm no servant to order about," she began, finding her voice at last. "You dared to leave Kate among people who've no liking for her at all. That's not the mark of a man who proposes to care for her."

"They'll be dealt with."

"How?"

"It's not your business to ask."

The front door of the manor slammed, Christiana hurrying forward to them. Alain dismounted, began leading his horse to meet her. Fawkes remained by the gate. "I see you returned to your lady safely, Christiana."

She didn't look ashamed of herself, raising her chin a notch. "My lord. Lady Elizabeth found she did not need me after all."

"Of course she did. Fetch Sir William, hmm?"

Christiana glanced at Jocelyn. "You're here for Kate, I imagine."

"Yes."

"Then wouldn't you rather I take you to her?" The woman turned her back before he could see her expression. "She's only fallen asleep a bit ago. I'm sure she won't mind if you wake her."

Alain followed Christiana into the manor, leaving his horse for Fawkes to attend.