Chapter Fourteen #2
With a heavy heart, Blayth sat down and collected the pitcher of wine, pouring himself a full measure.
He could see from the corners of his eyes that some servants had entered the hall in preparation for the coming meal and when he glanced up, he saw a beautiful pregnant woman directing them.
She was dressed in a garment far nicer than what a servant would wear and gave her commands softly but firmly.
When she conversed with the majordomo and gave that man direction as well, Blayth took notice.
Lady de Brito, he thought. In his mind, it couldn’t be anyone else.
He stood up and went to her.
“My lady?” he said evenly. “Lady de Brito?”
The woman looked at him with luminous green eyes and a smile on her lips. “I am,” she said. “Are you part of the de Wolfe party that just arrived?”
Blayth nodded. “I am Blayth de Wolfe,” he said. “Ronan is my son.”
Her face lit up with delight. “It is an honor, my lord,” she said. “I am very sorry that we are not prepared for your visit, but we shall have a warm bed ready for you in a few short minutes. Surely you wish to rest.”
She had a sweet, delicate way of speaking and, in those few words, Blayth could see what had his son so enamored. The woman was all shades of lovely, fine-featured and fair. She had an aura about her that was difficult to describe, but it was a likable one. Already, it was a likable one.
He was deeply curious about her.
“Please do not rush overly,” he said. “I came quite unannounced and I do not expect that you would be prepared, so I will gladly wait in the hall.”
She smiled. “You are very kind, my lord,” she said. “I promise it will not be much longer and we shall make you comfortable. Your chamber will be one with a view of the sea, though on a night like tonight, I do not expect that you can see very much.”
Blayth nodded. “It is quite misty,” he said. “Is it like this often?”
She shrugged. “Often enough,” she said. “But when it is clear, the views are brilliant.”
Blayth simply nodded, visually inspecting this woman who had Ronan’s heart. He didn’t blame the man a bit, but he wanted to speak with her more and come to know her better. Any woman who had his son’s full attention, love even, deserved his notice.
He indicated the table he’d been sitting at.
“Will you sit with me a while, my lady?” he asked. “I heard what happened to your husband. May I offer my condolences?”
Isabeth’s smile faded a little, but she graciously complied and moved with him towards the table.
“Thank you,” she said. “And may I say that Ronan has been the greatest help I could hope for? He has been, you know. My husband was so very fond of Ronan and when everything… happened, he asked Ronan to ensure that I, and Ravenscar, would be taken care of. He has upheld that promise.”
They had reached the table and Blayth pulled out a chair for her. He waited until she sat down before claiming his own chair. “My son has a great sense of honor,” he said. “I am glad he was able to help you when you needed it. I know that he was quite fond of your husband.”
“The feeling was mutual,” Isabeth said, her eyes glimmering. “Have you seen Ronan yet? I was sure he would be here in the hall with you.”
Blayth nodded. “He was here but left to tend to something,” he lied. “I am certain he will return but, meanwhile, I am glad to have the time with you. He speaks highly of you.”
“And I of him,” Isabeth said sincerely. “Ronan has made all things possible at Ravenscar. Were it not for him, I do not know what we would have done.”
Blayth had to admit that he was swept up in her charm, but he also had to admit that he wanted to engage her in conversation for his own purposes. Asmara had mentioned that the woman might be using guilt to keep Ronan at Ravenscar but, so far, Blayth hadn’t seen any hint of that.
“Who is Ravenscar’s liege?” he asked.
“My cousin,” she replied promptly. “Oston de Royans of Briarfield Castle. I am from the Netherghyll branch of the de Royans family.”
Blayth recognized that. “I know the family,” he said. “Heston de Royans is lord of Netherghyll, is he not?”
Isabeth nodded. “My father was his cousin,” she said. “There are many of us, spread out all over North Yorkshire.”
“Where were you born?”
“Briarfield.”
“Is that where you met your husband?”
“Aye,” she said. “Dyce served my father.”
“I see,” Blayth said. “I am sorry to say that I never knew your father, I don’t think. What was his name?”
“Merton de Royans.”
Blayth shook his head. “I did not know him,” he said. “But I take it your cousin knows of your husband’s passing and being generous to allow you to remain?”
He was trying to see if she would tell a different story from Ronan. Not that he thought his son would lie to him, but it was possible he had left out some details.
“My cousin does not know of his death yet,” she said. “You see, he and his wife do not like me very much for reasons unknown to me, so Ronan thought it would be better to tell him after my son was born. I very much want the baby to be born here where his father lived.”
“And after he is born?”
“Ronan has offered to help me find a position,” she said without elaborating. “He is a great friend.”
That was as far as she would go and Blayth knew if he asked her any further questions that she might become suspicious, so he changed his approach.
“He is well loved by all, to be sure,” he said. “Tell me about Ravenscar. I’ve never been here before. I think I saw a small village to the north, through the mist.”
Isabeth nodded. “There is,” she said. “We are a fishing community, so there are many fishermen who work these shores. Truthfully, I never much liked fish before I came to Ravenscar. That has been a… challenge.”
She giggled and Blayth grinned. “I sympathize,” he said. “I cannot stand the smell or taste of it, either.”
“Then you share my aversion.”
“Very much so.”
“I promise I will not serve you any during your stay at Ravenscar.”
“That would be much appreciated, my lady.”
A servant was evidently trying to get Isabeth’s attention and she looked over, realizing she was needed.
“I am very sorry to leave you, my lord,” she said. “I have duties that require my attention, but please sit and refresh yourself. Fresh bread should be out shortly.”
Blayth waved her on. “Thank you for taking the time to speak with me,” he said. “I enjoyed it very much.”
She stood up, smiling at him. “As did I,” she said. Then, she hesitated before continuing. “My lord… I want you to know how grateful I am for Ronan’s assistance. You should be very proud of him. He is a rare man.”
Blayth simply smiled, nodding his head to acknowledge the compliment.
He watched her scurry back towards the servants’ entrance, taking servants with her as she went.
His smile faded, realizing very clearly why Ronan was so enamored with the woman.
She was positively magnificent, which made his task more difficult.
Ronan was in love with her and he didn’t want to disappoint his son, but he also couldn’t let it go on.
It would only end up hurting him in the end.
“Uncle Blayth?”
Shaken from his train of thought, Blayth turned to see Christian coming up behind him. Grinning, he stood up and hugged his nephew, the son of his twin, Katheryn.
“God’s Blood,” he muttered. “What are you doing here?”
Christian was quite fond of his Uncle Blayth, happily taking a seat beside him. “I was with Ronan in Middlesbrough,” he said. “You saw me leave with him.”
Blayth conceded the point. “But I did not hear that you hadn’t returned to Berwick Castle where your mother and father are,” he said. “So you remained here with Ronan?”
“Aye.”
“But why?”
Christian’s smile faded. “Because he needed me,” he said simply. “He was very upset over Dyce’s death so I came to help.”
“But you are still here.”
Christian’s smile vanished completely. “Because he is still here,” he said. “Uncle Blayth… I do not want to betray Ronan in any fashion, but much is happening here. Have you spoken to Ronan at all?”
Blayth nodded. “Enough for him to tell me that he is in love with Lady de Brito,” he said quietly.
“I only just spoke to her. She is a lovely woman. But I want you to tell me truthfully what is happening here, Christian. That is why I have come – rumors of Ronan and a pregnant widow have reached my ears.”
“The child is not his,” Christian said quickly. “Lady de Brito was newly with child when her husband was killed, so you can rest assured that the child is not his.”
“But my son is carrying on an affair with her.”
“A love affair,” Christian said quietly.
“He is happy, Uncle Blayth. I’ve never seen the man this happy in my life.
She is very good to him and he is good to her.
You know I cannot stand Marian and I have never made a secret of that, so I cannot condemn Ronan for being happy for the first time in his life. If you would only let him…”
He trailed off, unwilling to continue. “If I would only let him… what?” Blayth said.
Christian sighed heavily. “I meant that Marian has mistreated him so badly for all of these years,” he said. “She does not deserve him. Ronan has enough cause for a divorce but he will not because you have insisted he must remain with her.”
Blayth could see that Christian was hurting on behalf of Ronan and that touched him. Christian and Ronan had always been close. But it did not change facts.
“Christian,” he said patiently. “I know you think that I am being cruel to my son, but the truth is that his marriage is vital to us. The House of de Grey is an important one and brings power with it. Edmund de Grey has heard the rumors of Ronan and Lady de Brito and he is understandably concerned. He begged me not to end our alliance and I have agreed, so no matter what you feel or what Ronan feels, it is important to the entire de Wolfe family that he remain married to Marian. Do you understand?”
Christian nodded unhappily. “I do.”
“Then you will not tell him how terrible his wife is and how sorry you feel for him. I know you tell him those things and it does not help the situation, so you will kindly stop.”
Christian made a face and looked away. “Then what are you going to do?” he asked. “Have you come to take him back to Roxburgh?”
Blayth wasn’t going to tell Christian his intentions before he told Ronan so he simply shrugged. “I have come to discuss many things with him,” he said. “Go and fetch him for me. Tell him I wish to speak with him.”
Begrudgingly, Christian left the table and wandered off to find his cousin.
Blayth turned back to his wine and hot loaves of bread that were being put upon the table.
His mind went from Ronan to Christian to Isabeth and finally to the knight he’d brought with him as a husband for Lady de Brito.
The man was out settling the escort that had come all the way from Roxburgh and, certainly, Ronan wouldn’t think anything strange of Randolph de Litton’s presence.
He was a Roxburgh knight and it was perfectly natural for him to accompany his commander.
What Ronan didn’t know was that de Litton was prepared to marry the woman he loved.
Blayth, quite truthfully, wasn’t sure how to tell him.