Half and hour later, Brant was dismissed, with an order to return to the palace in the evening for dinner. Isabel would be escorted back to their suite later in the day, which he did not like, but thought better of questioning.
Leaving the palace, Brant walked with his Knight Hyram past the Inn where they were staying, down the street to the Inn where Robert's accommodations were. Robert had been ordered to appear with Lady Ann, on the following day. Isabel's mother thought Robert had something to contribute, to why her daughter’s marriage must end. Arriving at the Inn, Brant went directly to the common room where Robert was waiting, as they had planned.
"So, what is the verdict?" Robert asked, as his friend approached.
"Apparently, Isabel is unwilling to leave our children, so she will be remaining with me, if what I have been told can be believed. Although, they are still determined to protect her. I have been warned that do I make the Lady very unhappy, she could become a widow, and keep the lads," Brant said.
"Any explanation as to why, they are protecting her?" Robert asked.
"Aye, though I have been sworn to keep it quiet," Brant said.
"I was placed in the middle of this, I think I have a right to know why," Robert argued.
Brant looked around to be sure they were not overheard. Seeing that the serving girl was approaching with fresh tankards, he waited for her to leave, before answering.
"The Lady Sophia was a relative to the King. Forty-five years ago, she was betrothed to a son of a very wealthy, and powerful family. She wished to wed a lower born Lord. Her family would not agree, or give her a dowry, to marry him. The family felt they needed the alliance, with the more powerful family. Her chosen groom's family, was also against them because she would have no dowry. So the couple ran away and wed, anyway. Then, they sent a ransom note to her family, which the family paid, but the girl did not return. The two geniuses used the ransom money, to buy a large estate from a debaucherous Lord, who was in dire straits. Her family, to avoid repercussions from breaking the betrothal, spread the story that the Lady had died, suddenly. Twas years before they discovered what had become of her. The young Lord she had wed, claimed she was from the continent, and they had wed when he was in Normandy, to ally suspicion. Later, Edmund's sire inherited some of his rightful lands. However, because of the unpopular marriage, the land holdings were split between two brothers, which is what gave Avery and his sire their start, in poor management. Edmund, also provided services to the Royal family, gaining grants of additional lands. So my wife is quite wealthy, and powerful," Brant explained.
"So, Isabel is a protected relative, but the deception will continue?" Robert asked.
"Aye, they still feel it would be a destructive scandal, did the truth come out. Though, no one is saying who the family they offended is. So let us not speak of it, again," Brant said.
He waited for Robert's nod of agreement.
Brant continued, "Anyway, Isabel and I, are to have the evening meal at the Palace, so that by tomorrow, it will be common knowledge that she is my wife. Lady Ann will have to give up, on any idea of keeping that from others. So it looks like I will get out of London, with my wife, without having to kidnap her."
"If you can trust what you have been told, as you said," Robert replied.
"I am not being given free reign. She will retain control of her property, and people, which I was told, I am agreeable with," Brant said, laughing. "Right now, my big concern is that I was dismissed, but Isabel and the lads, are still at the Palace."
"Well, what you have been told sounds good, at least," Robert reassured his friend.
"Aye. Yet, I am not going to relax too much, until the four of us are on our way home together," Brant said.
The two men had a couple more tankards, and talked about other things for a while. Then, Brant and Hyram, made their way back to their Inn.
Chapter 22
Isabel woke to Eric's cries, from next room. Brant was sleeping beside her, with one arm laying across her waist. It was a rare thing these days, that he was not touching her somewhere, when she woke in the morning. She managed to move his arm, and get out of bed without waking him, she had thought. However, as she donned her robe, she saw he was watching her. She went to get the babe without speaking.
Rosamund already had the infant changed, when Isabel entered, so she took him back to her bedchamber, to nurse. She sat on the bed, leaning against the headboard. Brant sat up, and placed a kiss on Eric's head. Then, he placed a longer kiss on his wife's lips.
Brant leaned back grinning, and said, "Good morning, Duchess."
Isabel blushed scarlet, as she said, "Please, do not call me that."
"You did not seem to mind, being paraded around as the Duchess, last night," Brant said, still grinning. “Twas all I could do, not to take a swing at all the noble males, drooling over you, last evening. All the while, I was largely stuck across the dining hall, with their plump, simpering, wives, blessing me with their drollery."
"Who largely, all seemed to be drooling over you," Isabel replied, laughing. "You know I only attended, to put an end to my mother's dream, of ending my temporary marriage. There were three score people there, so any aspirations of trying to pass me off as an innocent bride, are gone. Anyway, the Count, who kept turning up at my side to drool, seemed the most interested in our two sons. In eight years of marriage, his wife has given him three daughters. I felt like he was eyeing me, as breeding stock."
Brant laughed heartily. He looked at the babe, suckling at her breast.
"So you are not interested in the Count?" he asked. Isabel rolled her eyes. He continued, "Today is the big day with your mother. Are you all ready for battle?"
"A better question is, are you ready for battle? You are the defiler, of her innocent young daughter. You had me back with you, for just a few months, and I was breeding, again," Isabel said. "You know you are just a debaucherous warmonger, who's stubborn arrogance, contributed to the death of my beloved father. A tragic situation, that left me with no choice, but to agree to a titular marriage, to gain your protection. And since Rosamund has a big mouth, she is aware of your excessive lust, which does not please a Lady's mother."
Brant reached out to grasp the infant's hand, where it rested on his mother's breast.
“Yet, it only took twice, to get this little lad, did it not?" he asked, with a wicked grin. "Mayhap you should correct your mother's perceptions. In those few months, I only indulged my lust three times."
"I do not think you want me telling my mother, about what you called your little revenge," Isabel said, looking down at Eric.
Brant placed a finger under her chin gently, raising her eyes to meet his.
"I did not think it would be that easy. I was mad, and wanted to embarrass you," he said softly. "I did try, to be gentle with you later, in case you actually conceived. I did not want you to resent the child..."
She looked at him a few moments, unsure what to say. A knock sounded at the door.
Relieved with the interruption, Isabel said, "Come in."
He smiled lowering his hand, as Rosamund opened the door, to enter the chamber with Nathaniel. Brant motioned her over to him, and took the older boy from the serf. He was used to keeping Nathaniel occupied, while Isabel was nursing Eric.