“I advise you to think about that,” he said. “Whatever mischief you can make for me, I can make it even worse for you. Agreeably end the betrothal and I shall forget the threats you have leveled against me. Refuse to end it and there will be consequences.”
Edmund was shaken and furious. He backed away from William, turning for the hall. “The marriage will happen as planned,” he said. “And I am returning home today. Do not summon me again unless it is for the wedding.”
With that, he turned away and rushed into the great hall, leaving William standing out in the early dawn. William was as frustrated and furious as Edmund was, only he was better at controlling it. He could see by the man’s cagey response that Edmund was fully aware of his daughter’s behavior and that everything Jordan had said about it was true– Edmund had knowingly tricked William into a betrothal.
And now Thomas was stuck.
It was all William’s doing.
Maybe he should have let Thomas escape those months ago.
With a heavy heart, William turned for the keep, wondering what he was going to tell his wife and his son. They were bound to a contract that they’d been unfairly tricked into and, at the moment, there was nothing William could do about it.
But this wasn’t the end of it.
Not even close.
CHAPTER SEVEN
“It was agreat pleasure to meet you both,” Maitland said. “I am truly honored to have known de Wolfe hospitality.”
She was speaking to William and Jordan in the inner bailey of Wark as the escort to take her and Tibelda on to Edenside waited patiently. It was just past the nooning hour on a day that had turned remarkably mild from such a cold morning, and as Maitland thanked William and Jordan, Caria ran around at their feet, playing with the two puppies she had confiscated from the hall the night before.
“’Twas an honor to have met ye, Lady Bowlin,” Jordan said, taking Maitland’s hand and holding it sweetly. “Edenside is in very good hands. I shall visit very soon.”
Maitland smiled. “I hope you will, my lady,” she said. “I hope there will be great progress when you come.”
Jordan squeezed her hand. “With ye in charge, there will be,” she said assuredly. “I’ve sent along some provisions with ye, some flour and a side of pork and a few other things. That shouldat least tide ye over until I send ye some goats and chickens. Ye’ll need them tae feed the wee bairns.”
Maitland nodded. “That would be very generous, my lady,” she said. “I must admit that after our conversation last night, I am a bit wary of what I will find there.”
As Jordan nodded somewhat sympathetically, William spoke. “If you find it is in terrible condition when you arrive, then simply tell Thomas,” he said. “He will quickly ensure you have what you need from the first to make it a safe and nurturing environment for the children, but my wife is correct– we shall visit you soon and bring some livestock with us.”
Maitland was very pleased to hear it. “Thank you, my lord, truly,” she said sincerely. “You are most generous.”
As William politely nodded his head, there was a commotion over by the gate that led from the inner to the outer bailey and they turned to see Edmund and Adelaide emerging. Edmund was followed by several of his well-dressed retainers, all of them carrying trunks or baggage of some kind.
The Northumbria escort was ready to depart, hovering near the gatehouse in a cluster, while Maitland’s escort was nearer to the stables on the east side. The two parties were a good distance apart, both of them preparing to depart. Over near the hall, William and Jordan and even Maitland were watching Edmund and Adelaide as they headed to the Northumbria escort.
“Is he takin’ his daughter along?” Jordan muttered to her husband. “Please tell me he’s takin’ her away from here.”
William could only shake his head. He hadn’t told his wife about his conversation with Edmund earlier, mostly because there hadn’t been a moment of privacy between them yet. That information wasn’t something he wanted to tell her in front of witnesses.
“He’s not taking her,” he said rather grimly, turning his attention back to Maitland before his wife could question him.“It should take a couple of hours at most to reach Edenside, my lady. It is very close to Wark. I will wish you a pleasant journey and then I shall excuse myself. I had the watch all night and now I find that my fatigue is catching up with me. And I believe I shall force my wife to come with me considering she was up all night as well.”
Maitland nodded. “Of course, my lord.”
She watched as Jordan tried to corral Caria, who had slept all night and had no need to go with her parents to nap. She and the puppies were having a marvelous time, but the moment Jordan grasped her and tried to pull her along, she began to wail. That, predictably, brought Thomas out from the stables.
“Mother,” he said as he headed in her direction. “What are you doing to that child?”
Jordan cast her son an impatient glance. “I’m stickin’ pins in her,” she scowled. “What does it look like I’m doin’? I am goin’ inside and the lass is goin’ with me.”
Thomas grinned, watching his mother try to coax Caria to go with her, while behind him, men were emerging from the stables leading horses packed with the supplies Jordan had sent along. Desmond was with them, securing the provisions, and soon it would be time to depart. Thomas watched his men gather before turning to his father.
“We should be back by nightfall,” he said. “You are not planning on leaving before I return, are you?”
William shook his head. He hadn’t told Thomas about his conversation with Edmund, either, and knew he needed to before he returned home. It was a depressing conversation he needed to have with both his wife and son, and something he was dreading.
