AsDrogo and Serle stood back to allow her and her mother a last moment ofprivacy, Eada hugged Vedette. A lot of anger still churned around inside her,but she knew Vedette did not deserve it. The woman had raised her as her own,never slighting her in any way in favor of the children of her body. For thatalone, Vedette deserved forgiveness and understanding.
"Youmust tell Averil and Ethelred," Eada said, stepping away after Vedetteagreed to take in any children who wished to come to her and to keep the dogs."I think it is past time that we put aside this lie." When Vedettenodded, Eada added quietly, "There is one good thing that has come fromthis revelation. Now I understand how Old Edith could give me her gift. We wereblood. It was simply a mother passing her skills on to her daughter." Shesmiled at the look of horror that passed over Vedette's pretty face.
"Youhave Old Edith's gift?" Vedette asked.
"Iam afraid I do. Ask Serle. He knows. And Drogo knows, too, and does his best toprotect me, so do not fear for me."
Shekissed her mother's cheek and hurried to join Drogo, who had already mountedhis horse. He grasped her by the hand, and she neatly swung up into the saddlebehind him. As he turned his horse toward the camp, she quickly waved atVedette, confident that Serle would soothe whatever upset Vedette stillsuffered from.
"Yourmother is not happy about your choice," Drogo said as they rode away.
"No,but she is not really upset about that."
"Therewas bad news in the chest?"
"Atthis moment it still feels as if it were bad news."
"Eada,if you do not wish to tell me what you learned, I will understand."
"Iam not Vedette's daughter. I am the daughter of Old Edith." She tensedwhen he said nothing. "Old Edith was a woman of good blood despite thepoor life she lived."
"Iwas not suddenly worrying that my lover was a common woman," he drawled,understanding her sudden suspicions. "I was wondering what, if anything, Ishould say, for I could not judge how you felt."
"Iam sorry. I did not mean to inflict any insult." She shook her head."I do not know what I feel. I am angry, but at whom and why, I am notcompletely sure. It hurts to think of how little time I spent with my ownmother, of how alone she was because of this dark secret and the dangerousfears of foolish people." Omitting all mention of earls and lands, shetold him everything about her birth, Old Edith's banishment, and the lies herfather and Vedette had told, if only by their silence.
"Itwas wrong not to tell you the truth when you were of an age to understand, butit could have put you in danger. So, their reasons for secrecy might not havebeen all bad. I suspect that most people soon forgot that you were notVedette's child. That could well have kept you safe, if only from the cruelsuspicions some might have had."
"Whatsuspicions?"
"Thatyou also had Old Edith's gift."
"Ah,yes. They could have thought that what afflicted the mother would also afflictthe child. As it now does. At least that has been explained. I have beenpuzzled about how Edith could give me her skills. Perhaps she did not give themto me as much as awaken the ones already within me."
"Didyou tell Vedette that you now have the old woman's gift?"
"Yes,and she looked quite terrified, but not of the gift, I think. She knows howmuch it cost Edith and must fear that I will suffer a like fate."
Theycame to a halt before Drogo's tent and he helped her down. She sagged againsthim when he held her, silently trying to soothe her. There was only one thinghe could do to wash away the sudden fear that had gripped her, a fear that shewould end up alone and forgotten as Old Edith had, and that was to tell herthat he would stay with her always. Eada knew he would not say it and, tryingto hide her sudden anger at him, she slowly pulled away and went into the tent.
Asthey prepared for bed, she said nothing and was glad when Drogo respected thatsilence. Despite her confused emotions, she cuddled up to him when they climbedinto bed. He was warm, strong, and felt a true sympathy for her; and she neededthat.
"Didyour mother tell you about Serle?" he asked as he combed his fingersthrough her hair.
"Yes."Eada sighed. "It will be some time before I can say I am happy about that.For all of the anger I now feel for my father, I find that I do not like theidea that she could turn to another so soon."
"Itis not really another man, just one that she loved before she wed yourfather."
"Iknow and I am ashamed of how I feel. Do not worry. It will pass, if onlybecause I like Serle and think he is a good man. He will care for Vedette andthe children. There is one other thing that I believe adds to my sadness andanger."
"Whatis that?" he prodded when she fell silent.
"Istill cannot think of Old Edith asmother, and yet I find that I amalready thinking of Vedette as Vedette and not Mother. It is as if, by findingthis out, I have lost my mother, and that makes no sense."
Hebrushed a kiss over her forehead. "It is born of your confusion. This is ahard truth to be told, and it will take you time to become accustomed to it.Vedette was your mother in all ways save blood, and Edith was the woman whogave you life. Perhaps, in time, you can begin to think of it as having twomothers—a blood one and a foster one."
"Thatwould ease some of my turmoil." She raised herself up enough to brush akiss over his mouth. "I believe I shall try to place that idea firmly inmy mind."
"Eada,how could you know what was said in those documents? Did one of the nuns readit all to you? It might be wise if I had a word with the woman. This is not atale you will want told far and wide."
