Eadasuddenly realized that Averil was not looking at her as she spoke. Her sisterwas not looking at Serle either. When Averil blushed faintly and smiled shyly,she followed the direction of her gaze and nearly gasped. Averil was exchangingglances with Unwin, who stood at Drogo's side. Eada turned to look at Brun, whogrinned widely, laughter filling his eyes.
"Ithink she will soon recover from her anger at Normans," Brun drawled.
"Itwould appear so." She laughed with him.
"Andwhat do you two find so amusing?" Drogo asked as he stepped up next toEada, but before she could answer, he frowned at all the children crawling andplaying in front of Ivo's tents. "Are there more of them or do Imiscount?"
AsBrun told Drogo about the latest additions to Ivo's growing family, Eada had tolaugh at the look on his face. "You are going to have to speak tothem."
Drogosighed and then laughed. "I have. It does no good. I think Brun's advicewas the best I have heard. I must try and get my lands and then flee tothem."
Themention of the bounty he waited for swept away Eada's good humor, but shemanaged a smile as he took her by the hand and pulled her to her feet. "Isit time for the marriage to begin?"
"Yes.The priest is just arriving," he added as he pointed to the mandismounting in front of Serle's tent.
TakingEthelred by the hand and signaling Averil to come along, Eada went with Drogo.Once inside the tent, Eada studied her mother carefully and felt the last ofher qualms ease. Vedette looked every inch the eager-yet-nervous bride. Thereasons to marry so quickly might be ones of necessity, but it was clear to seethat she also married for love. Serle's battered face held the same look ofhappy anticipation and Eada knew that everything would be fine.
Itwas not until the feasting was over and she and May were helping Vedetteundress that Eada actually had a chance to talk to her mother. "Did youtell Averil and Ethelred the truth about me?"
"Yes,"Vedette replied. "They felt badly for Old Edith, but that was all. It wasa great deal easier than I had thought it would be. They think of you nodifferently than they always have."
"Iwondered, for they said nothing to me."
"Ibelieve they simply do not think about it. Because you share a father, you arestill their sister, and that was all they really cared about."
"Itwould be nice to see things in that simple way again. I think it is the onlything I miss about being a child."
"Yes,"agreed Vedette as she fingered the ribbon laces on the front of her nightdress. "As one ages, everything become so very complicated. I feel sillyin this. It is but the early afternoon."
"Theafternoon of your wedding day," Eada reminded her. "If you tie thetent closed and do so tightly, you will not even notice. It is also for thebest that we cannot indulge in a full day of feasting, for it would be a sinfulwaste at this time. And do not forget that Serle must greet the dawn on themorrow. If you waited until later, your wedding night would be a shortone."
Vedettelaughed then quickly grew serious. "Did Averil and Ethelred talk about howthey feel? They did not know if they approved of this, Averil especially."
"Theywill be fine. Averil might take a little while to set aside all ill feeling,but I think Ethelred has already. Brun told him that Serle was a good man, andthat seemed to be enough."
Vedettesmiled. "It would be. Ethelred worships Brun."
"Oh,dear," Eada said with such exaggerated concern that May laughed, but thenshe saw the confusion and worry on her mother's face. "I jest,Maman.Brun is a good man. Do you think Serle would be training him if he were not?Brun has the wit and the heart to recognize good men even amongst the army thatdefeated him. He fought bravely at Hastings and now he will fight bravely forDrogo."
"Ah,yes, Sir Drogo. I think we should talk about him."
"Anotherday,Maman. This is your wedding day. And, in all honesty, there isnothing more to say. Nothing has yet changed."
"Iwill allow you this reprieve, but only for a little while. The war is over andWilliam will be crowned king in the new year, which is but days away. Theremust be some decision made concerning you and Drogo."
"Iknow. For now, just pray that, when it comes, it is the one that will make mehappy."
Vedettekissed her cheek. "I will, for I want you to know the happiness I feelright now. You are worthy of it." She sighed as she glanced nervouslytoward the tent opening. "I just wish I were not so old. There is littlechance that I can give Serle a child."
Foronce Eada was not disturbed by the abrupt arrival of her voices. She stared atVedette, unable to think of the woman as anything but her mother; and once thefeeling had passed, she smiled. "You will give Serle two fine sons."She laughed at the look that settled on Vedette's small face. "You look asif you do not know whether to be pleased or terrified."
"Iam pleased that I can give Serle children. I am sorry, but the fear was becauseof what you just did." She shivered slightly. "It was just like OldEdith. I could almost see her, almost hear her. Does it not frighten you whenthat happens?"
"Alittle. Less and less each time." She heard Serle cough nervously justoutside the tent and hastily kissed her mother's cheek before grabbing May bythe hand. "Be happy,Maman," she said and slipped out of thetent, tugging May along behind her.
ToEada's delight, Drogo had work to do within the camp and she was able to visitwith Averil and Ethelred as well as with her other friends. She took carefulnote of how often Unwin found an excuse to wander by, looking only at Averil,who readily returned his looks. May and Ivo surprised her with the news thatthey had taken advantage of the priest's presence in the camp and gottenmarried. She felt sorry that the war had stolen the chance of their having anyreal celebration; but it was a fleeting regret, for the war had also broughtthem together and they were both quite content with what they had.
Itwas not until Drogo collected her to take her back to London that Eada realizedshe had been using the company of family and friends to stop herself fromthinking. She hated to admit it, for she was happy for her mother and for May,but she was also painfully jealous. Both of those women had found the happinessthey needed, and hers remained out of her reach.
