"Thismay be good for them then. They will be in a home."
Hemade a scornful noise. "You grasp for reasons to explain this madflight."
Eadafound Godwin annoyingly insightful. "Did my mother not tell you why I amreturning to Pevensey?"
"Shedid, and I do understand why you wish to leave Drogo's side until you know whatplace you might hold in his new life. What I do not understand is why you musttake yourself so far away. Why not just go and live with your mother?"
"BecauseI am weak," she replied, making a face when he looked at her in surprise."I do not think I can ever break the bond I have with Drogo. If he is nearat hand, I will go to him, even if he is wed to another. Distance will neverkill the feelings I have for the man, but it will stop me from shaming myself.I will be no mans leman. Yes, I have lain with him without the sanctity ofmarriage, but we were both free. Fate and destiny have said that he is my mate,but they have not said that I must commit adultery. That is one sin I refuse toindulge in."
Godwinnodded then asked, "And what will you do when William discovers your landsand gifts some knight with them?"
"Iwill decide on that when it happens."
"Haveyou decided on how we will survive? The Normans took everything."
"Noteverything. Old Edith had some stores which I did not give them and a few ofher chickens and pigs fled. They may still be around." She glanced intothe back of the cart and smiled at Godwin. "I also see that you havehelped yourself to more than the cart."
"Withyour mother's gracious assistance. She was most concerned about our survival.When she realized that the children were coming, too, she put in even more. Ibelieve she is praying that Drogo will come and seek you out."
"Ihope that as well, but only if he is still a free man. I will accept him nowonly as a husband." But Eada wondered if she had the will to hold to thatvow.
Drogofrowned as he entered the room he shared with Eada. Even before he had openedthe heavy oak door he had sensed that something was wrong. It did not reallysurprise him to find her gone as she spent a lot of time in the camp with hermother, May, and young Godwin. Not until he opened his chest and saw that allher clothes were missing did he begin to grow concerned. His sense of urgency,heavily flavored with fear, grew when he looked under the bed for the bag thatwas no longer there.
Ashe stood looking blindly around the small room, he realized she had left himand he fought back a sense of panic. Drogo slowly calmed himself, and as hisheartbeat eased and his mind cleared, he chided himself. Eada was a proudwoman, yet he had not allowed himself to think very long on how she might feel.Despite all the talk of William giving brides away along with the land hehanded out to his loyal followers, despite the visual proof all around themthat Saxons were trying to wed their kinswomen to Normans in order to tie theirfamilies to the victors by blood, he had offered her no assurances that herplace in his life would not change. In fact, until he had turned asideWilliam's generous offer, he had not really given much thought to what wouldhappen between him and Eada after he had received all he had fought for. Heshould have realized that Eada was not a woman who would sit quietly and waitto see what he would decide about her future.
Cursinghis blindness and unintentional cruelty, he marched out of the empty room.Drogo did not want to think about how much he might have hurt her. He headedstraight for the camp where everyone who could not afford or find quarterswithin the city now lived. There was no doubt in his mind that Vedette wouldknow where her daughter had gone. He was disappointed when he reached the tentVedette shared with Serle and did not find Eada there.
"Ah,greetings, my lord Drogo," Vedette said as she ushered Drogo inside."How fared your meeting with William?"
Drogolooked at her sweet smile. Although Vedette was not Eada's blood mother, therewere some distinct similarities between her and the girl she had raised. Exceptfor the way Vedette toyed with the laces of her gown, she gave no sign that sheknew something was wrong. He reminded himself that this was a woman who hadsuccessfully fled an advancing army, saving herself, most of her family, andmost of her valuables. She was not as delicate and as soft as she looked.
"Iam well pleased," he replied, crossing his arms over his chest andwatching her closely. "You may not be. I was given your home in Pevenseyand all that goes with it. Do not look so concerned. I shall count as mine onlywhat was there when I arrived." He almost laughed at her visible reliefthat he would not claim all she had fled with as well.
"Thatseems a small payment for your loyalty and service."
"Thatit does," said Serle as he stepped inside and nodded a greeting to Drogo.
"Iwas offered a far richer prize, but I could not accept it," explainedDrogo.
"Whynot? You are a lord by blood if not by title."
"Theland came with an encumbrance I was not willing to accept—a wife." Hesmiled when Vedette's eyes widened then grew serious as he looked at Serle, aman whose fortunes were tightly bound to his. "I pray you can forgive me,old friend. I have acted selfishly. The lands and the wealth and power theycarried were heady prizes, but I turned them away. As they were dangled beforemy eyes, I fear I did not consider the ones who depend upon me. To gain thatprize I had to take the woman and, at that moment, I saw clearly that I couldbind myself to no woman save Eada."
"Donot beg pardon from me, lad. I ask no more than a roof, a warm fire, and foodin my belly." He put his arm around Vedette's slim shoulders. "If Ihad been given such a choice many years ago or now, I would have done the same.I am also acutely aware of all you would have suffered had you not made thatchoice. It pleases me that you saw the truth for yourself before it was toolate." He frowned and looked around. "What puzzles me is—where isEada? Do not say that the girl has refused you after you made such asacrifice?"
"No.She has not refused me, for I have not had the opportunity to speak toher." Drogo fixed his gaze on a blushing Vedette. "I returned to findEada gone."
"Vedette."Serle said his wife's name in a stern voice as he stared down at her."Where is Eada?"
"Youcan see for yourselves that she is not here," Vedette replied as sheslipped out of Serle's reach, and she wondered frantically if Eada had hadenough time to get beyond Drogo's immediate reach. The young lovers would bewell served by a few days of separation, she decided.
"Vedette,this man is your liege lord and intends your daughter no harm ordisgrace."
"Hehas not said what exactly he does intend for her."
"Iintend to wed her if she will have me for her husband," Drogo said in agrave voice, but he could not fully suppress a smile at Serle's confusion anddismay.
"Whileyour passion is still new and hot that may please you well enough. But whathappens if you gain in power and wealth? Will you begin to think you have erredin taking a Saxon wife, one who can bring you no lands or coin?"
