"No.She told me too much else on that day that deeply upset me. I am not sure, butI think she may have been incapable of lying. However, she told me that myfather was doomed and that England was doomed, so I do not believe she wouldhave saved me from any other harsh truth about my family."
"Iam glad that her prophecy was borne out. I have been worried, fearing that youwould discover that my people had killed them."
"Andwhat if I had? Their blood would not have been on your sword."
Hesmiled at her as he sat down more comfortably and draped his arm around hershoulders. There was one more thing he worried about—a new fear, born themoment he had seen her family. Now Eada did not need his protection. Now shehad some choice. She could stay with him or stay with her family at the nunnerythat had proven to be a safe haven. Drogo wondered if he would have thestrength to offer her that choice and what he would do if she chose her family.
"IsEada almost ready?" Drogo asked May as the maid stepped out of his tent."I told her mother that I would bring her when the sun set and it hasalready begun to do so."
"Yes,she will be out in a moment," replied May in halting French.
"Youare getting very good at speaking our language."
Sheblushed. "Once I learned some, it has been easier to learn by just talkingto Ivo. I had better go and help him with the children," she murmured andfled back to Ivo's small tent.
Drogowalked over to Serle, who sat beneath the tree a few feet in front of his tentand silently accepted a drink from the wineskin the man held up to him."Do you not go to visit with the woman? We will break camp at dawn andmarch away."
"Iknow. I am to visit her after Eada has left," Serle replied. "Has shesaid anything about me and her mother?"
"Nota word. I was quite surprised that she did not even ask me. I think she hasdecided to ignore it or wait until her mother tells her. You said it was twentyyears ago when you and Vedette were in love. Are you still?"
"Yes.I am as surprised as you look. How can such a thing remain alive when twopeople are as far apart as she and I were? It would seem that love shouldrequire some word or look or touch to stay alive."
"Iwould have said so, but I am not learned on the matter." He frowned as hegave Serle back the wineskin and then asked quietly, "What do you think Iought to do about Eada?"
"Whatdo you mean?"
"Herfamily is alive and safe. She does not need my protection any longer. In truth,it would probably be safer for her to remain here with her mother than to marchto London with me. The only real danger in this land at this time is us, and wewill be leaving in the morning."
"Butyou do not wish to leave Eada behind."
"No,and that is selfish and shows little thought concerning what is better andsafer for her."
"Youare a man, Drogo, not a saint. I would not flay myself with guilt and remorsesimply because you do not wish to be parted from Eada. Yes, it would be saferfor her to stay here with her mother and siblings. Since I intend to try andconvince Vedette to join me once I have reached London, you would not even beparted for so very long, not if we continue to be unopposed."
"Doyou think Vedette will come to you?"
"Yes.But we talk on Eada now. My thought is that you should offer her the choice.After all, if she wishes to stay here and you make her go with you, I believethe warmth you two now share will disappear. And if you make her stay when shewishes to go with you, you may hurt her. The easiest thing to do is just askher what she wants to do. And you had best make your decision quickly for sheis now ready to go to her mother and I think you will be forced to it when youreturn to the nunnery to try and bring her back here."
AsDrogo walked over to Eada and accepted the reins of his mount from Ivo, hethought over all Serle had said and knew the man was right. He grasped Eada bythe waist and lifted her gently into the saddle. When he saw the little chestshe clutched tightly in her hands, he was distracted from his concerns.
"Youare taking Old Edith's box to your mother?" he asked as he mounted andnudged his horse into a slow walk.
"Yes."She rubbed her hand nervously over the timeworn carvings on the box. "I amhoping that she will give me the courage to look inside."
"Iam sure it is nothing bad," he murmured, trying to dispel a pinch ofjealousy that he would not be the one to make the discovery with her.
"Perhapsnot, but I grew to womanhood listening to Old Edith speak her truths and,sadly, not many of them were good. That is all I can think of whenever I touchthis box."
"Youhave worried over that since she gave it to you. It is time to put an end tothat."
"SoI thought."
Whenshe grew silent, Drogo left her to her troubled thoughts. He had a lot to thinkabout himself. As he rode toward the nunnery, he fought the sudden urge tochange direction and ride away with Eada, taking her out of her family's reach.That urge grew even stronger when he reined in before the gates of the nunneryand met a waiting Vedette's gaze as he steadied a dismounting Eada.
“Itwas kind of you to allow her to come," said Vedette as she held the gatesopen for Eada.
"Sheis your daughter," Drogo said quietly.
