"OldEdith said that Drogo was my mate. She said that when he and I both crouched byher as she was dying, mortally wounded after she hurled herself in front of hiswar-horse. Even then, filled with anger and grief as I was, I sensed the truthof it. He has never forced me."
"Doeshe mean to marry you?" Vedette gasped with shock when Eada simplyshrugged.
"Hehas come here for gain, for lands and a title. He is a younger son with littlehope of gaining land or position in France. That is what he marches for. He hasever been honest about that. He has offered me no promises, but he has alsogiven me no sweet lies. And I have been safe with him. He has even allowed meto gather into his camp Saxons who are orphaned or hurt."
"Youcould now be safe with us."
"Perhaps.I think I prefer to stay safe with Drogo."
"Eada,it is wrong to remain in his bed. You are not married to the man and you havejust said that he has never even implied that he will marry you at the war'send. And what if the Saxons win this war? How will it be for a woman who hasclaimed a Norman knight as her lover?"
"Ifsome miracle visits us, one even Old Edith did not foresee, I do not think themen of this land should be too condemning or they might find that there are fewwomen left to wed. I have been treated kindly, like a lover and not a captive;but each place the army goes, it leaves behind women raped or made love to. Toofew of the latter, I fear. I doubt that, once the Normans reach London, therewill be many women left along their route that have not been touched byNormans. I am surprised they have not invaded this nunnery, for the holiness ofsuch a place has not stopped all of them."
Vedetteshook her head. "I do not understand. You do not have to stay with the mannow. You could stay here. Is it because of what you now know?" she askedsoftly.
"No.I have already begun to forgive you, although it may be a long time before Iforgive my father. Drogo is my mate. I know this in my heart and mind. True, Ido not know if he will marry me; but until he has exchanged vows with another,I will stay with him. I love the man,Maman, although I have not toldhim so; and I am trying to make him love me. I cannot do that if he and I arenot together. He does not seem to realize that we are mates, and I have nottold him that Old Edith said we were. It would be best if he came to thatrealization himself. It is also best if he comes to that realization before helearns that I hold the lands he seeks."
"Butthen he would marry you."
"Yes,for my lands. I want him to marry me for me. So, now I ask you to keep asecret. Tell no one about this bequest from Edith."
"Iwill not if you truly love the man. You are not simply accepting what Edithtold and twisting your feelings to match her prophecy?"
"No.I truly love the man. As you love Serle?" she asked quietly and watchedher mother blush.
"Idid love Serle many years ago, and yes, I think a part of me still does. Iloved your father, too. Oh, not at first, for I was told to wed him and, atthat time, I had given my heart to Serle. But your father had more wealth andthe house in Pevensey and a better bloodline. Serle turned to selling hissword, and I came to England. As the years passed, I came to care for yourfather as a wife should."
"Iam not condemning you. Yes, when I first saw how you two looked at each other,I was angry. That has passed and, no, what I now know about my father's lies isnot the reason I have grown so understanding. You are still young and have twochildren to care for. It would be most cruel, and foolish, if I tried to makeyou remain ever faithful to my father."
"Good,for I am going to join Serle when he reaches London and we will bemarried."
"Oh."Eada blinked, stunned, for while she had been ready to accept Vedette andSerle's renewing their old love affair, she had not thought it would all bedecided so quickly. "You do not need time to, well, come to know eachother again?"
"Orto properly mourn your father?" Vedette smiled faintly when Eada grimaced,revealing that that thought had been lurking in her mind. "No. I lookedinto Serle's much-battered face and knew the love I had felt for him years agohad merely been pushed aside. I cared for your father, never doubt that, and Iwas happy; but Serle was the man I loved, and still do. Some of our haste maycome from a need to try and regain all we lost when we were separated, but Isee no real need to wait. I am a widow and, strangely, knew I would be the momentyour father marched away. A lot of my grief was spent in those first few daysafter Waltheof left to join Harold."
"Iremember. Averil and Ethelred may not be as quick to understand."
"Iwill try to make it easy for them, and I believe Serle is a good man and willsoon win them to his side."
"Heis and he will."
Anovice tapped lightly on the door of Vedette's quarters and announced that SirDrogo and Sir Serle were waiting outside. Eada was almost able to smile atVedette's blush and obvious eagerness as they both donned their cloaks and wentout to greet the men. She frowned when she saw Drogo's face, for even theshadowed light from the torches near the gate could not disguise his seriousexpression.
"Issomething wrong?" she asked as he took her by the arm and led her a fewfeet away from Serle and Vedette.
"Yourfamily is safe," he said, as he began to pace in front of her. "Ialso know that this nunnery is safe from attack by Normans and will remain so.It seems the abbess is a distant cousin of William. You could stay here withyour family. You no longer need my protection to survive this war."
"Doyou wish me to stay here?" she asked quietly, trying not to be hurt, forshe was not yet sure if he were giving her a choice or a command.
Hestopped to look at her and lightly caressed her cheek. "I am giving you achoice. We both know that you are no prisoner and never have been. I will notmake you one now just to please myself. Yes, I want you to stay with me, but Iwill not make you. If you prefer to stay here with your family, I willunderstand."
Eadabit back a smile as relief flooded her. He might understand, but the tone ofhis voice and the tight, unhappy look on his face told her that he would notlike it at all. Although he still offered no words of love or promises thatthey would always be together, she knew that he really wanted her to stay withhim and that was enough for now.
"Ibelieve I will travel to London with you," she said and smiled against hischest when he hugged her, apparently oblivious to the fact that the littlechest she held was digging into his hard stomach. "I just wish to ask mymother if she will take in any of the children and if she will keep my dogswith her."
"Areyou sure you wish to leave your hounds behind?"
Shenodded as he led her over to her mother. "This long journey is wearyingthem, as is all the hunting trips some of your fellow knights take them on. Ithink for now they will be happier and safer with my family. In truth, they arethe only ones I am sure the dogs will stay with. If I tried to leave themanywhere else, they would try to follow me."
