Chapter Fifteen
Remington cried the first time she saw Mary.
Nearly two years old with silken blond hair, she was the most beautiful child she had ever seen.
For the first day Jasmine could not go five minutes without weeping, setting off Rory and Skye every time.
Gaston merely shook his head at the women; it was comical as well as touching and he was pleased he had been able to assist.
It had not been overly difficult; the peasant family already had six children to feed and was not reluctant to return Mary to her rightful mother. But the child had been clean and well fed, and Gaston had paid the family well enough to support them easily for years to come.
When he saw Jasmine cuddle her daughter for the first time, the great expense had been worth every pence. He had chuckled at himself for becoming soft in his old age, smiling at the mother and daughter and wondering fleetingly if he and Remington would be so blessed one day.
Antonius had not been difficult, either.
Gaston explained the situation because Jasmine had been too choked up to speak a complete sentence.
Confession ended, without another word said, Antonius had put his arms around the two ladies and had kissed them both tenderly.
Gaston had been impressed with his knight’s compassion.
It was late when he checked in on Trenton.
The lad was sound asleep in his big room, his face unlined with the terrible events he had suffered through.
Gaston was deeply saddened at his son’s grief and he wished he could comfort the boy, but Trenton seemed to be mightily confused and distant.
Gaston could only hope the morrow dawned a bit brighter for his son.
He slept with Remington that night in the small lady’s bed, much smaller than his massive one.
She ran a fever most of the night, sleeping listlessly, but by the time morning broke so had the fever.
When Eudora brought the morning meal, Remington sat up and ate nearly an entire bowl of porridge and honey and he was pleased to see that she was recovering well.
After the dishes were cleared away and Remington and Gaston were talking between themselves, Dane wandered into the room aimlessly. Both adults focused on the young lad.
“What’s the matter, sweetheart?” Remington asked. “Why the long face?”
He frowned and toyed with the coverlet. “Nothing.”
Gaston was sitting in the big chair next to the bed. “Did you see your new cousin?”
His scowl was evident. “Aye.”
Remington raised her eyebrows expectantly. “And?”
He turned away from his mother irritably. “And it’s just a girl. Another girl.”
“Girls aren’t so bad, Dane,” Gaston said with a faint smile. “You shall come to realize that one day.”
Dane made such a face that Gaston almost laughed. “I do not want any more girls.”
“Then go find Trenton. Surely you two can find something to do,” Remington suggested.
“He does not want to play,” Dane said forlornly. “I knocked at his door but he told me to go away. I told him I was sorry about his mother, but he yelled at me and told me it was your fault.”
He was looking at Remington, who in turn glanced at Gaston. He scratched his chin leisurely and rose on his massive legs. “Mayhap we should go see Trenton together, Dane.”
He did not give the lad a chance to protest as he grabbed him by the shoulders and urged him through the door. He paused a moment before following him, long enough to kiss Remington sweetly. “I have got other duties to see to this morn.”
She smiled. “Aye, a whole keep full of new soldiers to keep you busy.”
He returned her smile. “Rest this morn, angel. You need to regain your strength.”
Her face fell with mock disappointment. “But I was so looking forward to playing with Mary.”
“Leave the child to become used to her mother,” he said sternly. “You shall have plenty of time to play with her later.”
She stuck her tongue out at him and he scowled severely, but the mood was light. With a shake of his finger, he moved past the unhinged door.
Dane was silent the entire walk to Trenton’s room.
“My mother did not have anything to do with your wife’s death, did she?” he finally asked as they approached Trenton’s door.
“Nay,” Gaston replied firmly. “Nor did I. Her death was of natural causes, Dane. Do not worry yourself.”
Dane still looked doubtful as Gaston knocked on his son’s door.
“Go away,” Trenton hollered.
Gaston unlatched the door. “By what right do you use that tone, Master de Russe?”
Trenton looked surprised to see his father, but visibly frowned at Dane. Gaston could sense the hostility, the jealousy, and the pain. Rapidly, he came to a decision.
“Gather your most important items, Trenton,” he said briskly. “Clothes, shoes, anything of sentimental value. You will no longer be occupying this room after today.”
Trenton looked uncertain. “Wh… why, father? What’s wrong?”
He would not allow his son to wallow in grief. The sooner he moved on with his young life, the better, and Gaston had plans for him.
“Nothing, but there is much to do as you lie about here in self-pity,” Gaston said, moving into the room. “Tomorrow, we leave for Clearwell to bury your mother. When we return, you will begin your training alongside Master Stoneley. We will move your items into the troop house this day.”
Trenton moved mechanically off the bed simply because his father seemed so determined that he do so.
Blindly, he dug out his traveling satchel and began to gather his things, not even stopping to think what he was packing.
He was so terribly confused and hurt that he was simply doing as ordered with no feeling about it whatsoever.
He did not even know why he hurt so much. He knew his mother had not really cared for him, but she had been there when his father wasn’t. She was the only parent he had even known. Now she was gone and he was in the company of strangers, including his father.
His mother had told him that his father did not like children. It was hard to believe when his father was so nice to him, but his mother would not lie… would she? He was afraid and disoriented.
“Am I to start training, too?” Dane piped up eagerly. “Can I move my things into the troop house?”
Gaston thought of Remington’s reaction when he informed her that Dane would no longer be living within the walls of the castle.
He furthermore dreaded telling her that he would allow no contact with her son for the first three months, and then limited contact thereafter.
If Dane were to be a strong, independent man, then he would have to cut his mother’s apron strings.
Unfortunately, Gaston did not think that Remington was emotionally up to the separation at the moment.
“We shall move your things when Trenton and I return from Clearwell,” he said, putting his huge hand on Dane’s shoulder. “Meanwhile, not a word to your mother. ’Twill upset her to know her son is growing to be a man sooner than she had hoped.”
Dane nodded, a bit disappointed that he could not move into the troop house right away, but encouraged just the same. He so desperately wanted to learn to be a knight.
Trenton had jammed nearly everything he could grab into his traveling satchel. Dane bent over and picked up a pair of leather shoes from the floor.
“Here,” he put them on the bed next to the bag.
Trenton’s face darkened as he picked up the shoes and packed them, avoided Dane’s gaze. Dane frowned; he did not like being ignored.
“Why are you mad at me?” he demanded. “I did not do anything.”
Trenton’s brow furrowed sharply. “I am not mad….I just do not feel like playing with you today.”
“Why not?” Dane scowled. “I want to go fishing.”
“I do not want to fish,” Trenton returned hostilely.
“Then let’s go search the woods for fox pups. I know where there is a fox burrow,” Dane suggested.
Trenton actually looked interested, but his face rapidly darkened again. “I do not wanna.”
Dane was not going to take no for an answer. “Come on! After you get back from Clearwell, we shall be training all day and won’t have time to explore the woods or go fishing.”
Trenton was slowly being swayed, but Gaston could see his reluctance. “Go on, Trenton. This will be the last free day you have for some time.”
Trenton looked at his father, finally shrugging as he latched his bag. “Mayhap for a little while.”
Gaston smiled. “Good lad.”
Dane was up and running for the door. “Come on, Trenton. Hurry up. You are too slow.”
“Am not,” Trenton snapped, following.
Dane was already rushing down the corridor, but Trenton paused in the doorway. His brown eyes were wide on his father.
“You are going with me to bury mother?” he asked softly.
“Aye,” Gaston replied. “As your father, ’tis my place. Never again will you and I be separated, Trenton. I promise you.”
That simple statement greatly bolstered Trenton’s sagging spirit. He wanted to believe it to be true, but after everything his mother had told him, it was difficult.
Not knowing what to say, he lowered his gaze and disappeared after his friend.
*
Arik had the new recruits up and moving.
Even though it was hours before noon, the men had already been up since before daybreak.
The smell of sweat and dirt was heavy in the outer bailey as 15 companies of men went through the basic motions of hand-to-hand combat, repetition of movements that were supervised by their company commanders as well as Arik, Patrick and Antonius.
Nicolas ran up and down the ranks yelling like a fiend, demanding the men to go above and beyond their limits.
Gaston stood atop the inner wall, observing his troops like Zeus from Olympus. Arik kept turning to look at him, silent messages passing between them making sure all was progressing with Gaston’s approval. ’Twas Gaston who detailed the regimes, the schedules, and his men who carried them out.