Chapter Eighteen
“Do you have everything, then?” Douglass asked, securing the leather tie on one of his saddlebags. “I have never seen you off to battle before so please tell me if there is anything more you need.”
Tiberius was dressed from head to toe in full armor.
He was wearing a padded tunic, a full mail coat, the heavy woolen de Shera tunic over the top of that, heavy leather breeches, boots, and a full regalia of weapons placed strategically around his body.
As tall as he was, the addition of full armor made him appear infinitely more imposing. The man was ready for war.
But he wasn’t so focused on what lay ahead that he couldn’t sense his wife’s apprehension.
He had made love to her three times during the course of the night simply because he couldn’t bear the thought of leaving her or, worse yet, not returning to her.
He’d never experienced any feeling like that, ever, so he was having a difficult time reconciling it.
Douglass’ nerves at his departure only made it worse.
Tiberius was nearly packed and the bailey was jammed with de Shera men, ready to ride to battle, and only a moment ago he heard Maximus bellowing at the men.
It was true that the rain was pounding and the thunder rolled, but it was never a good sign when Maximus started to bellow, even if it was to be heard over the elements, so Tiberius knew he had to get moving. It was time to bid his wife farewell.
“I have everything,” he told her, stilling her hands when they continued to fuss with the leather tie. “Come and sit with me a moment, please.”
Clasping Douglass’ hands between his very big ones, he pulled her over to the messy bed and sat down on the end, forcing her to sit next to him. Douglass was looking at her hands, enfolded in his, until Tiberius forced her chin up so he could look her in the eye.
“Sweetheart, I know you are anxious,” he said softly. “I realize this entire circumstance is a bit of a shock, having been quickly married and then your husband departing so swiftly afterwards, but you are in very good hands with Jeniver and Courtly. You needn’t worry.”
Douglass gazed into his eyes, feeling as if her heart was about to burst from her chest with sorrow.
She could hardly breathe for it. “I am not worried about life at Isenhall after you depart,” she said, struggling not to weep.
“As I said, I have never had to send anyone I love off to battle before. Papa has gone, of course, but this… this is different.”
Tiberius could see how she was struggling with her emotions and he pulled her head to him, his lips against her forehead in a comforting gesture.
“I know,” he murmured, his lips against her flesh. “I have never left anyone behind before that I have cared about. But I know that everything will work out in the end. We will do our duty and I will return to you, I swear it.”
She was silent a moment, resting her head against his. “You still have not told me what it is you are going to do,” she complained. “I know that it is serious and I know that it is something that involves my father. Will… will you at least tell me if you are going to face him in battle?”
He stroked her glorious reddish-gold hair.
“I truly do not know,” he said honestly.
“There is every chance that I will, but I cannot be sure. If I do, however, I promise you this – I will not raise my sword against him. He saved Maximus’ life and is therefore someone my brothers and I will go out of our way to protect, even on the field of battle. ”
That gave Douglass a huge amount of comfort. Her head came up, her dark eyes glittering with emotion. “And you?” she whispered. “Who will protect you?”
Tiberius kissed her, deeply and sweetly. “My brothers and I all watch out for one another,” he told her, kissing her cheek as he released her. “You needn’t worry about me, wife. I can take care of myself.”
Douglass had no choice but to agree. To dispute him would make it look as if she had no confidence in him. Therefore, she did the only thing she could – she nodded and squared her shoulders bravely, determined not to be an emotional mess, at least not until after he had left.
“I know you can,” she said with forced confidence. “Where are you going once you leave Isenhall? Are you going straight to your destination?”
He shook his head. “We are going to Kenilworth to collect de Montfort’s men,” he said. “De Montfort sent missives out last night to our allies, so at some point, we will be converging with them. It should be a mighty army we field.”
A mighty army for battle, she thought to herself but she didn’t comment on it. She kept her thoughts to herself. “I am sure it will be,” she said as evenly as she could. “Please let me help you take your things outside now. I am sure your men will be waiting.”
He shook his head, standing up. “Nay, sweet,” he said.
“It is wet and miserable out there. I will go alone. I would rather remember you sitting here, warm and sweet, rather than out in that drench of water. Will you say farewell to me now? I must go before Maximus comes looking for me. He will try to punch me if he is mad enough.”
Douglass stood up next to him, craning her neck back to look at him because he was so tall. She forced a smile, the best one she could produce under the circumstances. All she really wanted was to roll into a ball and sob.
“I will save you from your brother,” she said, teasing.
“But I know you must go now. Everyone is waiting for you. I will therefore say something simple by way of a farewell – I will tell you that I love you madly. You have become my heart, Tiberius de Shera, and you will always be my forever. Please remember that.”
Tiberius smiled, touching her soft cheek. “You will always be my forever, too,” he whispered, bending down to kiss her. “I love you very much. I will come back, I promise.”
“I believe you.”
He wasn’t entirely sure if she did or not but he didn’t force the issue.
He merely smiled again as he collected his saddlebags and sword.
His shield and other weapons would already be loaded onto his horse by the squires.
Throwing open the door with the intention of heading out, he was hit in the knees by squealing girls as Violet and Lily charged in, giggling and shouting at their favorite uncle.
The dogs, Taranis and Henry, were right behind them and Tiberius was nearly knocked over as the girls and the dogs rushed into his chamber.
Douglass, laughing, stood out of the way as the children and animals created instant chaos.
They were jumping on the bed now, demanding Tiberius join them and, after a moment’s indecision, he set his possessions down and lay across the bed so the girls could jump on him.
They did, gleefully, pretending to conquer him.
Tiberius dutifully pretended to weep. It was their usual game and he would take a few moments to play it with them. He had missed it.
“Violet!” Jeniver gasped, abruptly in the doorway. “Lily! Off of your uncle with you! He must leave!”
Tiberius lifted his head, putting a hand up to prevent Lily from kicking him in the face.
“It is all right,” he assured his sister-in-law.
As he pushed himself off the bed, the girls clung to him, and he found himself carrying them both to the open door.
“One game before I leave will not change the fate of a nation.”
Jeniver smiled contritely. “They have been swarming by your closed door for an hour waiting for you to come out,” she said. “I am sorry if they disturbed you.”
Tiberius shook his head. “They did not,” he replied, kissing Lily on the cheek before he set her down but being thwarted from kissing Violet, as she did not like kisses. He simply put the girl to her feet. “But I really must leave now before Max comes looking for me.”
Jeniver nodded firmly, taking the little girls by their hands and pulling them out of the way as Tiberius collected his possessions once more and quit the room. He was almost to the end of the corridor when Courtly emerged from the bedchamber she shared with Maximus.
“There you are!” she said to Tiberius. “I can hear Max raging all the way up here. You’d better hurry!”
Tiberius waved her off as he took the stairs quickly. “I am hurrying,” he assured her. “Take care of my wife!”
“Godspeed, Ty!” Courtly called after him. “We will take great care of Douglass!”
He was gone, out of earshot, and Courtly and Jeniver instinctively turned to Douglass, who was standing in the chamber doorway.
Douglass’ expression was taut with longing, with worry, but it was clear she was attempting to be brave.
They were all trying to be brave, as all of their husbands were leaving this morning, heading into battle.
That was all the women knew. No one knew the details.
There was no reason to. All that mattered to them was that the men return safe.
Douglass forced a smile when she realized her two new sisters were watching her, each lady with a good deal of sympathy.
Although Jeniver and Courtly knew her bravery was forced, they didn’t comment.
They didn’t try to ask her of her feelings or force her to speak of them.
They simply went into Jeniver and Gallus’ chamber, the one that faced out over the bailey, to watch their husbands depart.
Once the men left the safety of Isenhall’s enclosure, the rest was up to God.
As Douglass watched the de Shera and de Montfort banners pass through the gatehouse in the pouring rain, she found herself praying harder than she had ever prayed in her life. Praying for the husband who had very quickly become her entire life.
Be safe, my love, she prayed. God grant you the strength and skill and luck to return to me.
Hopefully, God was listening.
*
Somewhere south of Erith Castle, Cumbria
Ten Days Later
That lad is Maximus’ son.