Chapter 20
Isabel entered the hall carrying Eric, with Rosamund, and Nathaniel, following her in. Twas a beautiful mid May afternoon. Nathaniel was walking by himself, though he fell quite a bit.
It would have been a nearly perfect day, except for the message Isabel had received from her mother. Ann was demanding that her daughter meet her in London, in June. She was completely convinced, that if Isabel just left her children with their father, and made the rounds of the events and parties in London, she would realize that her marriage was a mistake. Ann had been on the same vein, for several weeks in March, when she came here, after the birth of her second grandchild. Isabel had tried to reason with her, but her words fell on deaf ears. Isabel let her thoughts drift back, to one of their many pointless discussions.
“Eric is not my grandson, he is Brant's child,” Ann had insisted. “I will never except, you remaining with that man.”
“Mother, we have two children. In a few months, it will be two years that we have been wed,” Isabel had pointed out. “That temporary arrangement went out the window, a long time ago.”
“Nonsense. You just need to meet some other men. You will find someone acceptable, in no time,” Ann argued.
“That is laughable, Mother,” Isabel said. “Did I want to leave Brant, which I do not, I would likely find my suitors to be a few men who desperately, want my money. Mayhap, a few who need an heir, considering how easily I conceived Nathaniel, and Eric. Most, would only be looking for a mistress, unless you are planning on doing some serious lying, about my prior marriage.”
“Is that what he is telling you? That you will not find another, if you leave him?” Ann had demanded. “You are a beautiful young woman. Many men would be honored to be wed to you. You cannot let him make you feel, that he is your only option. I know he is older, and more worldly, so mayhap you feel you should defer to his experience. You must make your own decision.”
“Brant has not said anything about this, other than that our sons will grow up here,” Isabel said. “I intend to stay here, and see that. There is no point in trying to reason with you, Mother. You just will not listen.”
“I will not let you remain with that man who is responsible, at least in some part, for your sire’s death. Were it not for his damn war, there would have been no need for his protection,” Ann argued.
“I cannot believe the way you are determined to rewrite history, Mother. He was well justified, in the war. Avery’s family was stealing from his. They murdered his father,” Isabel said. “I want to stay with my husband and our children, and that is what I am going to do, Mother. Do not say one more word, about it. That is my decision.”
“I will not allow it,” Ann had stubbornly replied. “You are going to leave him and his children, if it....”
Isabel had thrown up her hands, and walked away at this point. Trying to reason with Ann, was like hitting your head, against the wall. It accomplished naught. Ann had left, a few days later, with a declaration to Isabel, that ‘this is not over’.
Isabel was pretty happy with her current situation, except for her mother. As Esme came downstairs, she thought, Brant’s sister is the one who needs to go to London, to try to meet an eligible young man. The girl was now one and six years old, with a birthday approaching at summer's end. As an heiress, Esme should have some opinion, in possible betrothal’s. Although, marrying a complete stranger, had not worked out all that awfully, for Isabel. At least, not yet. Though she had to admit, she still worried a little, that Brant might try to separate her from her two sons.
Isabel thought about Lady Ann, again. Her mother had said, she would make all the arrangements for lodging in London, so she and Isabel, could stay for the month. That would give them time to meet a lot of people. Those arrangements, did not include Isabel’s children. Yes, Isabel thought, that was just about perfect. She would be meeting her mother in London, on the first of June. She would send her knight, William, to make all the arrangements.
When Isabel walked out of the hall, her husband and several of his knights, were practicing with their various weapons, in the courtyard. The sun was shining brightly, so the day was fairly warm. With both of the lads napping, Isabel had decided to come out alone, thinking to go for a walk. The gate was open, so she walked toward it. She was still a short distance away, when Brant joined her, grasping her hand.
“Going somewhere?” he asked.
“I thought I might take a short walk,” she answered. “It is such a nice day, and for once, it does not look like it might rain.”
“I think I will walk with you, if you do not mind, to make sure you do not get in trouble, or get lost,” he said. “Unless my company is going to get in the way, of whatever you are up to now.”
“I do not mind at all. You know I always enjoy your company,” Isabel replied, laughing. “The only thing I am up to right now, is taking a walk.”
“Are you sure?” he asked. “With Cora, and Ruth, both gone, maybe you need to find some more of my people, who are willing to help you cross me. Or, do you already have enough of those?”
Not long after Cora and Angus had wed, Byron and Ruth had asked for permission to wed. Both couples, were now living at Isabel’s main Castle.
“Am I going to need, to get your people to cross you, My Lord?” she asked, smiling.
“Only if you are planning on crossing me, I would think,” Brant answered.
They had been walking along the road toward the village, but when he did not offer any further comment, Isabel walked off the road, to a grassy sunlit area. She removed her mantel, laying it on the ground, before sitting down.
“Do I get a list, of exactly what would be crossing you?” she asked. “Or, am I just supposed to hope, that you do not consider what I do, crossing you?”
Brant sat down beside her, and asked, “Do you feel you need a list? It would seem like, a lot of that would be common knowledge. I mean, you grew up with parents, right?”
“Well certainly. But by those guidelines, about everything I did, the first year and a half we were married, was crossing you,” Isabel said. “You know there is only one reason, they left me at your remote Castle as long as they did? Twas as good a place as any, to hide me until the babe was born. Except, then I messed up their plans, when I took the babe with me, when I left.”
“I think you messed up their plans before that. They were not planning on Nathaniel, at all,” Brant said. “You did that. Why?”
Isabel blushed, and tried to stand up, as she said, “I think I have had enough fresh air.”
Brant grabbed her arm, and pulled her down against him.
“Why?” he asked, again.
She tried to pull away, but he held on tightly.
So, she told him, “He was not in my plans, either. Your friend does not know you, as well as he thinks. Robert said, you only seem to like lewd tarts. Which seemed pretty accurate, until I realized you were just making conversation, while you got me a little drunk. You need to take a little responsibility for Nathaniel, too, I think.”