Alight blush colored Vedette's pale skin and she nervously twisted the ties onthe side of her pale-grey gown. "No. That would please no one, and youwould soon be most unhappy. Yet there is the chance that Drogo will not beoffered a wife. You should at least wait until you are certain."
Eadastared at Vedette for a full minute and then said quietly, "He will beoffered a wife."
Vedetteshivered and rubbed her arms. "I do not think I will ever grow accustomedto the way you do that. Have you just seen Drogo wed to another?"
"No.I just know that he will be offered a wife." She grimaced. "The curseof this gift is that it tells me that yet will not tell me if he accepts ornot."
"Thenwait."
"No.If I wait until he returns and he has chosen to accept but wishes me to stay, Ifear I might not have the strength to leave. And, yet again, you are right;that would make me very unhappy."
"Buthow can you get to Old Edith's tiny house? It is a very long journey."
"Itis, but I do not believe it will take as long as it did to get here, for I amnot an army and will not be pausing to lay waste to villages."
“Yousound as if you have grown to hate the Normans," Vedette said quietly,watching Eada closely and making no effort to hide her concern.
"No,Maman, I have grown to hate armies and wars. And—" she lowered hervoice, an innate caution making her somewhat secretive as she added, "I amnot fond of kings and those men who hold great power. They are the ones wholead those armies and cause those wars. They care nothing for the soldiers orthe innocents, only for power and riches." She shook her head as she stoodup and donned her cloak. "There are people who say these tragedies are apunishment from God, but the devastation I saw was wrought by earthlyhands."
Vedettehugged Eada and looked at her with a mixture of sympathy and sadness. "Iwish I could have saved you from seeing such horrors. They have made youbitter."
"No,not truly. Wiser, mayhap wary, but not really bitter. My lack of power makes meache with sorrow, but I am not weighted down with that every day of my life.Now, I really must go or I will still be within reach when Drogo returns."
"Haveyou thought about what will happen if Drogo does not accept a wife and returnshere to find you gone?"
"Ifhe remains unwed, unpromised to another, and he wants me, he can come and getme. I am not hiding. You need not keep this a secret. There is only one thing Iask you to remain quiet about."
"Yourlands."
"Yes.You are probably right to say that I erred in not telling Drogo about my landsbefore he went to see our new king. Now he will have made his choice, andknowing about the lands I hold will not change that. If he is still free tochoose a wife, I do not want that choice to be made because of my newwealth." She grimaced as she pulled up her hood and picked up her bag."I am not being too clear."
"Clearenough," Vedette said as she followed Eada to the door. "You cannot goalone."
"Iknow. I also know that I cannot take any of Drogo's men." As she andVedette made their way out of the small house, Eada kept a close watch forDrogo and his men. "Brun would take me."
"Hehas sworn fealty to Drogo. He would go with you, but he would have to break hisbond to do so."
"AndI will not ask that of him. That leaves Godwin."
"Hehas to worry about the children he cares for."
Eadastopped and stared toward the camp where the lesser knights, mercenaries,servants, and army-followers stayed. "This is becoming verycomplicated," she muttered then looked at her mother. "If Godwin doesnot think the children should make the journey, could you care for them? Itneed only be until Drogo knows I am gone, then, if you wish, you can give theminto May's care."
"Youare right. This does grow complicated. And how will you make this journey? Youhave neither a cart nor a horse."
"Godwincan take the cart and pony Drogo took from Old Edith's. If Drogo feels I haveno right to them, I will return them when I am back in Pevensey. Now, tellGodwin that I will be waiting for him at the east gate of the city."
Evenas she muttered about ill-thought flights and the folly of pride, Vedettekissed Eada on the cheek and started toward the camp. Eada smiled faintly,amused by her mother's complaints, then sadness overcame her amusement. A touchof fear crept into her heart as well as she realized the enormity of what shewas doing. Not only was she leaving the man she loved, she was preparing toride over a countryside ravished by war with only a youth for protection. Mostof William's army was in London, and she prayed others would be too busy tryingto find shelter and food before the winter weather grew too harsh to troubleher and Godwin.
Bythe time she reached the east gate, Eada had decided that the road to Pevenseyhad to be safer than the dark streets of the city. She was exhausted fromhiding from and fleeing the lustful attentions of soldiers and mercenaries. Themen wandering the streets of London saw a woman alone as easy game, especiallywhen that woman was a Saxon. Standing a safe distance from the guards at thegate, but keeping a close watch on them, Eada waited for Godwin, praying thathe would not be too long. The way the guards watched her made her fear that itwould not be long before their lusts overcame their sense of duty and they leftthe guarding of the city gates to chase her.
Godwinhad barely brought the cart to a halt beside her when Eada leapt into the seatbeside him. She spared a brief greeting for the two children and hastily pattedher hounds before ordering Godwin to get moving. She did not relax until thegates of the city and the leering guards were out of sight.
"Thisis madness," Godwin finally said with a scowl.
"Itmay be, but it is also necessary. You decided you would rather have thechildren with you?"
Godwinglanced back to wink at the children. "They decided." Since the twochildren were occupied with all they could see and paid him no heed, he addedquietly, "It will be some time before they cease to fear losing me as theyhave lost everyone else they knew. They love May and Ivo, but when I must leavethem in their care, they are afraid and cling to me when I return forthem."
