“Ah, so that is what that fool, Robert, was babbling about.”
“You spoke to Robert?”
“Well, he stuttered out a few confusing half-sentences before he swooned. That scheming uncle of his is dead?”
“Aye. Thayer killed him. At Saitun Manor.”
“A shame. I had wished to kill him myself. ’Tis clear a great deal has happened in the months I have been away.” William roughly shook Thayer again. “Wake up, you big fool. We need to talk. Where is your welcome for one arisen from the dead?”
Deciding that William had to be alive since his image had not faded, Gytha gently nudged Thayer. Her brothers had clearly decided the same, for they were scrambling to wash and get dressed, muttering amongst themselves about how to tell her parents. She wondered if Thayer was in any condition to take this shock.
“Thayer, I think you ought to wake and see this man,” she said, nudging him again.
“Dearling, I doubt I can see much of anything,” he murmured as he finally opened his eyes to look at her.
Seeing the bleary look in his reddened eyes, she suspected he was right. “Well, perhaps this will be enough to clear your head.” She watched him slowly ease himself into a sitting position. “Look to your right, Thayer.”
Reluctantly obeying, Thayer turned, then gaped. He rubbed his eyes but what he saw did not change. Glancing at Gytha and her brothers, he knew they awaited some reaction. Looking back at the man standing by the bed, he felt too confused to do much more than stare. When William laughed, hugged him, and slapped him on the back, Thayer came out of his stupor enough to return the embrace. Then, as William stepped back, he began to think of the consequences of his cousin’s return from the grave.
“’Tis truly you, William,” he mumbled as he sat up straighter, leaning against the pillows Gytha quickly plumped up behind him. “Why were we told you were dead? Aye, and left to believe it for so long.”
Sitting on the edge of the bed, William murmured his thanks for the wine Fulke hurriedly served him. “I was very nearly dead. The fall from my horse left me sorely injured. Cortland, my squire, felt it best if all thought me dead. He knew the fall was no accident and that I was in no condition to fight off any further attempt to murder me. Also, we could not be fully certain from whence the attack came. I am not without enemies.”
“Few of us are. Where have you been?”
“Not so far away, in truth. At an inn. At first I did not realize what Cortland had done. When I was well enough to think clearly, I had to agree. We then tried to find out who had tried to murder me. When we discovered it was Pickney, I did think to warn you, but Cortland assured me that you knew.”
“I did. He had had me declared dead as well. It did not take much time to piece it all together. I had experienced a few unusual accidents myself, though I fared better than you. You look hale now.”
“Aye, but I have many a new scar. My right leg can grow very stiff at times as well. ’Tis a miracle I am not lame.” William smiled faintly at Thayer. “I am sorry for one thing.”
“What is that?”
“I fear my return means you shall lose all you gained. Why, it could almost make me wish I was dead. For a fleeting moment at least.” He briefly grinned at Thayer.
Thayer managed a thin smile in return.Lose all you gained: The words pounded in his mind, causing unbearable agony as he realized their true meaning. Nothing he held was his. That included his wife. The marriage contract had been for Gytha to wed the heir to Saitun Manor. Since William had never been dead, that meant he had never been heir, never had the legal right to wed Gytha. William had the right to be Gytha’s husband, not him.
“Well,” he looked at William, “I began with naught. T’will be no real hardship to return to the same.”And never have I told a greater lie,he thought, sure he was about to lose Gytha as well.
“Naught?” Gytha frowned at Thayer. “I know River-fall is not as rich and fine as Saitun Manor, but ’tis more than nothing.”
“Aye, but Riverfall is your dowry land.”
“I know that, and my dowry went to you when we were married.” She decided it might be best to try and keep Thayer from drinking too heavily too often for it made him very slow-witted on the morning after.
“Gytha, we were married because it was thought William was dead.”
“So?” Gytha got the sinking feeling that she was not going to like the turn the conversation was about to take.
“So, by the terms of the marriage contract, you were to be wed to the heir to Saitun Manor. I am no longer that heir. William is.” He wondered why she was taking so long to understand.
“So?” she said, grinding the word out between clenched teeth.
“You are not usually so slow of wit. The contract was for you to marry the heir, William. Since he is alive, you must be returned to him.” He was diverted from her by the need to pat William on the back as the man had choked on his wine.
For a moment Gytha felt as dumbstruck as her brothers looked. Where did Thayer get such reasoning? They had been man and wife for months. The marriage had been consummated a hundredfold and was about to produce fruit. He could not possibly think that he could simply nullify all that and hand her over to William just because the man had turned up alive. However, it certainly looked as if Thayer thought exactly that.
Then she grew angry. She had done everything she could to make Thayer believe she was happy with him and wanted only him. Obviously, she had failed miserably. He felt she would be willing to walk from his bed straight into William’s.
