Earl (22 page)

“Who is there?”

A low female voice whispered, “You cried out.  I came to see why.”

A shadow came towards me and slipped beneath the quilt. I felt gentle fingers on my chest and then I was being kissed.  I did not resist and I kissed back.  I had not felt this way for years not since …

“Matilda!”

Her husky voice was close to my ear as she said, “Not tonight.  We are just two people who should have been together for all time.  That can never be but for tonight we are as one. Fear not, Margaret stands guard outside the door. Do not fight this, my love.  It was meant to be.”

I do not know if it was the drink I had consumed or the potion but I did not fight it. To my shame I wanted this and the two of us lay together all night and made love. We dozed and woke. We spoke and we embraced but mainly we made love.  As the first hint of light began to come through the slit in the wall the door opened and Margaret’s voice hissed across the chamber, “My lady.  You must be hence.  The servants rise.”

Matilda leaned over to me and kissed me one last time. “This was not wrong, Alfraed.  God sent my child husband to fight and returned you to me for one night.  My prayers have been answered and for the only time in my life I have been held by a real man whom I love. We can never do this again but I shall cherish the memory of this one night to my grave.  Thank you,” she hesitated, “my love. And I pray that God will reward this tryst with a child.  It is my fervent hope.”

I held her hand, “You cannot leave me now.  Flee with me and we will find a new life together.”

“Flee?  To Constantinople perhaps?” She too had read my mind. “That was my idea once my love and you persuaded me that it would not end well.  You were right. We both have responsibilities.  If we fled then England and Normandy would be in turmoil. Your home and people in Stockton would be razed.  Would you want that?  The price we pay for the peace is our unhappiness.  Know that I will think of you always and I know that you will think of me.  In the next life we shall be together.”

She left the room and I closed my eyes. Suddenly the wound in my arm seemed as nothing. It was the wound in my heart which would never heal.

When I rose and met the Empress and the Swabians for our first meal of the day it was as though the previous night had never happened.  There was no sign from either Margaret or the Empress of the events of the night.  I felt confused. We had just finished when a small man, I recognised him as a Greek, appeared at the door. The Empress smiled at him, “Ah Basil.” She looked at me, “This is my physician.  He will examine you. If there is a cure for what ails you then he will find it.” Her eyes met mine and that day began a conversation without words.  I knew the meaning of the look.

When Basil spoke, in my chambers, he spoke in Greek. “The Empress said you came from the Great City.  It is good to speak my language rather than the jabber they use here.  That way there will be no confusion.” He sniffed my arm and smiled, “I see the witch has been at work.  Fear not she has skills but not I think the skills you require. Tell me how you came to be wounded.”

I told him all and, mindful of Wulfric’s words, included the first blows.

He nodded and began to feel around my elbow. “I will just try something.” He opened his leather bag of instruments and took out a scalpel. It was thin and sharp. He smiled. “Look away and then tell me if you feel anything.”

He held my hand and I felt pain as he stuck it in my palm, “Ow!”

“Good, and now?”

“Nothing.”

“And now?”

“Nothing.”

“Good.”

I felt a pain in my shoulder, “I felt that.”

“It is what I expected.  You may look at me now.” He held my elbow.  “The problem lies here and there is, I am afraid, no cure. You felt no pain when I stuck my scalpel into your elbow. The effect will occasionally spread.  I fear that in your world you will have to endure many blows to the arm and they may well spread the numbness down your arm.  One day, perhaps, the numbness will remain and you will not be able to use your left hand and arm. There is nothing I can do. The only solution would be to stop being a knight.”

“I cannot do that.”

“I know.  Then you should continue to use the salve but just on your elbow. I will have the witch prepare a large batch of it.” He shook his head, “She will enjoy that! And if you can protect your left side then so much the better.” He stood and said, “Perhaps padding on the inside of your shield?”

“That may be a solution but it would have to be hidden.  If my enemies know of my weakness then…”

“Quite so.”

After he had gone there was a knock at my door and my squires were there, “Good. You may help me to dress and then I have a task for you but it is one which must be carried out in secret.” As they dressed me I thought about the previous day.  It had changed my life.  I knew that. The Empress was quite right.  We could never be together, not unless her husband was dead.  If she had a child then things might be different but Henry would never rest until he had a legitimate male heir. And I was now a wounded warrior and would be so for the rest of my life.  My reputation was such that I would always be sought out in a battle. As Earl of Cleveland, champion to an Empress and a King, I had nowhere to hide.

Once I was dressed I confided in my squires.  “You are my oathsworn and within these walls our words remain.  Is that clear?”

They all nodded, “Aye my lord.”

“My arm will be weak now.  I need the three of your to pad my shield on the inside but make it so that no one knows.  I also need shorter leather straps so that the shield will be tight to my arm.”

Leofric was the thinker, “That will make it harder for you to fight on horseback, my lord.”

“I know.  I will have to learn to fight differently.  When we return to Stockton that will be our task to give me skills I do not have now so that I can be stronger than I am now.”

They left to find my shield and I knew that they would do a good job. They were loyal.

The King and the Count of Anjou returned just six days after we did.  Sir Richard sought me out. He shook his head, “It was fortunate that the King followed his son in law.  He nearly walked into an ambush which would have slaughtered them all. Even so he lost heavily.  The King is not happy.” He lowered his voice, “He told him to father a son quickly or he would have the marriage annulled.”

I suddenly felt guilty. What if the Empress was now with child?  That child would be mine and not her husband’s. A shiver ran down my spine.  That wild night was just a memory; would it be a memory which would return to haunt me?

Perhaps the King’s words had had an effect for Count Geoffrey sought out the Empress and we did not see them until the evening feast. The Count strutted as though he owned the whole farmyard. I was seated next to the King and the Count sat amongst his knights at the opposite side of the room.  I saw the disappointed look on the faces of Rolf and the Swabians. They would have preferred our company.  The Empress, however, kept up the mask. However when she glanced over at her father our eyes met and we spoke.

King Henry was quite concerned about my wound.  “My daughter’s physician has told me of your injuries.  I am sorry.  If I had known what would happen then I would never have agreed to the combat.  I was tricked.”

“We cannot change the past.  Who knows, if we had assaulted then the outcome might have been the same save that de Coucy might have escaped.  At least one of your enemies has died.”

“Aye and the serpent of a daughter and her husband are now in Paris where they conspire with Louis. I have heard that he is making moves to marry his idiot son to Eleanor of Aquitaine.  That is a dangerous prospect for Normandy; we would then be encircled.  The sooner my daughter has an heir the better.”

“Amen to that.” Sir Richard was as aware as I was of the danger of a civil war after the King’s death.

We ate well that night.  The King’s favourite food, lampreys, was served.  I did not particularly enjoy them and I played with them just to satisfy my host.

“When you return to England I want you to keep a close watch on Balliol and try to send spies to discover the whereabouts of Gospatric. I had intended to return home and help my son to watch over my realm.  Events here have conspired against me. You have my permission to fortify the castles of your knights.”

That was a great honour. Kings did not like castles, other than their own, to be crenulated and heavily fortified.  It showed the trust he had in me. “Thank you my lord but I should warn you that the strongest castle other than my own is Barnard Castle; it is Balliol’s castle.  It has a naturally defensive site and sits atop a rocky crag.”

“Watch Balliol and use your authority to curb his ambitions.  My clerk is drafting a decree increasing your powers.”

“And Durham?”

He smiled, “Let us just say that so long as you control the Tees there is little point in appointing a Bishop whose loyalty is in doubt.  The Pope keeps suggesting names and each one arouses suspicion in me. No, it is best we leave it as it is. Besides I have appointed Henry of Blois as Bishop of Winchester.  The Archbishop allowed that.  It increases my influence in the south of the land.”

“As you wish.” I spoke to hide my feelings.  I liked not the fact the brother of Stephen and Theobald held such a prominent position.  The King trusted the brothers.  I did not.

“And Cleveland, do not grieve overlong for your wife.  Find another woman.  One son is never enough.  I learned that. A man should have as many sons as he can. Your wife would wish it.”

“I will try but there is a dearth of suitable ladies in the north.”

He nodded distractedly.  His advice given he moved on.

We left a week later.  Margaret came to me just before I was leaving and handed me a jar of salve.  She spoke quietly.  “Your lady sent me with this.” Her words lifted my heart. “She said she will always think of you and prays for you each night.”

“As I do her.”

She gave me an intriguing smile.  “Next year will be a better year for us all; I promise you that.”

As I left the castle I could not help looking back.  Would I see her again and, if I did we would be as strangers.  I could never lie with her again.

I had sent word to Olaf that I needed his ship again and it was waiting for us at Ouistreham. We sailed north back to Stockton. I had lost so much during the year and I had come close to death more times than enough yet somehow, I felt stronger.  I was ready for the challenge of the north and ready to fight for what was mine.

The salve seemed to help as we sailed north with a ship laden with the fruits of our labours. I smiled as I listened to my three squires speak of what they intended to buy with their share. I spent much time with Wulfric and Dick.  They were now as close to me as Edward and the Swabians.  I would not be sailing home but for their efforts and skills.

“We will need to make up the numbers of men at arms and archers again.”

Wulfric gave a scowl.  “This time we take none who have come from the east eh my lord?”

“You are right.  I would use much of this gold to buy more horses.  Dick, when we return I wish you to take your archers and go to the horse country to the south of us and buy horses.”

“Aye my lord and I will send men to Sherwood to find more archers.”

And so we planned.  It helped me to forget the pain of losing Adela and the pain of being apart from Matilda.  My one night of joy would never be repeated.  I had seen the Holy Grail and had it taken from me.  I would never know happiness again. When we had finished planning we spoke of the battles we had fought and how we would fight in the future.  I had much to live for now.  Sadly my enemies continued to grow.  I did not doubt that Hugh of Puset wished me dead too.

I felt a sense of dread as we sailed into the Tees.  My banner still fluttered from my tower but I wondered if I could settle within its walls once more. William came to stand next to me.  He had grown, both physically and mentally. He looked little different these days to Leofric.  John still towered over him but soon there would only be Wulfric who was bigger. William had seen great slaughter and fought his first battle.  Those things changed a person. “It will be hard father but mother and Hilda are with God now.  They are happy.” I looked at him and I saw not just my child and my squire but someone to whom I could talk.  He had endured what I had endured. “The Empress’ ladies, Judith and Margaret, were kind and they spent time talking with me.  Margaret said she believed that mother’s spirit was happy. I think she is right.”

I was curious, “How do you know?”

He came a little closer, “I have dreamed and I have seen her face.  She looks as she always did, happy.”

Perhaps I needed that innocence of youth too.

We stepped ashore and there was a party waiting to greet us: John, my steward, Erre, Aiden and Alf. John spoke for them all, “Welcome home, my lord.  We have cleansed the castle and the town.”

“Aye sir, we burned all those buildings which showed signs of disease. Our town is healthy once more.”

“Thank you Alf.” I looked at Erre. “And how are the men?”

“We are all determined to serve you better than ever.  We owe it to the memory of those who did not die with a sword in their hand.  That is no way for a warrior to die.”

“You are right.” I waved a hand at Olaf’s ship which was being unloaded, “And we have more treasure, mail and weapons. I am home to stay.”

I saw a priest walking from the town gate towards the jetty. John said, “This is Father Henry the new priest appointed by the bishop.”

The young man gave a slight bow. “I am Father Henry.  I hope I can serve you and this parish as well as Father Matthew.  I have much to live up to.”

“None of us can hope to be a man as great as Father Matthew. Alf, I would like to commission a bell for the church.  I would like to name it Matthew.”

That seemed to please everyone and it gave me something to worry about other than the affairs of my heart. Alf too enjoyed the task and five weeks later it was finished. My father and his oathsworn believed in something they called, ‘
wyrd
’ or fate.  It was truly ‘
wyrd
’ when the bell was rung for the first time. It was a few weeks after its erection and we had not even used it to summon the congregation to church.  It was such a shock that we all ran to the church. 

Father Henry came out with a huge smile on his face.  He clutched in his hand a document. “This is great news.  The King has sent it to the Archbishop of York and he has sent it to me.  The Empress Matilda is with child! The King will have a grandchild.  It is cause for great celebration.”

Hardly daring to hear the answer I asked, “When will the child be born?”

The priest re read the document, “March of next year! What wonderful news.”

As I turned to walk back up to my castle I began to count back the months. Nine months from March was the time when I had slept with the Empress.  Her husband had arrived back a week later.  Who was the father?  Was it the Count of Anjou or had I fathered a bastard? The only way I would know would be to speak with the Empress.  I now yearned to be back in Normandy but I was not.  I was on the Tees.  I was Earl of Cleveland and I would spend the next months with the thought that I might be the father of a future ruler of England. That one night of passion might come back to haunt not only me but the whole of England and Normandy. I climbed to my south east tower and stared out across the German Sea.  The land for which I fought was now even more precious to me.