Epilogue
Aline went out of the fortified house that was her home, searching for Raoul, who was somewhere in the fields checking on the grape harvest. She carried little Hubert on her hip, though at just over a year, he was wriggling to get down.
"In a little while, love. I want to find your father and tell him the news."
She hurried down a path edged by flowering bushes.
The number and richness of fruits and flowers here still astonished her.
There were times when she longed for her bleaker homeland, but not so many.
And even if she were homesick, she would never want to be anywhere but near Raoul.
She just hoped peace continued so he'd never have to travel far from her.
A silly thought for the wife of a warrior, and one she did not trouble him with except to scold when he injured himself practicing.
As he had just the other day.
She'd deliberately bound his arm so tight, he could hardly move it. He'd grumbled about that, but made it an excuse to lie passively beneath her last night while she inflicted her every whim upon him.
Thinking about it, she chuckled, and Hubert chuckled too.
"Papa!" Hubert called, pointing. The child had inherited his father's long sight, for there indeed sat Raoul on his horse, overseeing the workers, who were gathering the plump, juicy grapes into baskets.
Some of the previous night's whims had to do with plump, juicy grapes. She did enjoy harvest time....
Aline dragged her mind off such thoughts, or she'd be wanting to seduce her husband in the fields. Again. She'd done that more than once, and would have done it today if it weren't for the child.
Raoul heard his son and waved. In moments he cantered over to them. "Trouble?"
"The very opposite!" Aline waved the letter. "Jehanne was safe delivered of a son three weeks ago."
He swung off his horse and took his son in his arms. "That is good news. Read it to me."
Dearest cousin,
I send you the best and happiest news, that we were blessed with a healthy son on St. Giles's Day.
The labor went easily and he was born with the dawn.
We have called him Henry, for the king had something to do with our happiness, and his favor could be useful one day.
He is not very like Gallot, being dark-haired and -eyed as far as we can tell.
Donata loves her little brother, and calls him Henny. Of course, she wants to hold him all the time, but she is too little yet to do so without supervision. She is bright and mischievous, and everyone says she is just like me at that age. I will have to teach her to think before she acts.
All is peaceful here, God be praised, since the failure of Duke Robert's invasion, and King Henry has established firm law throughout the land. This spring his queen gave birth to their first child, so, God willing, England can look forward to peace and prosperity.
I hope that soon you will travel with one of Raoul's family's ships to Stockton and visit us up here in the bleak north, for I long to see you again, and your child.
Your devoted cousin, Jehanne of Heywood
Hubert was increasingly restless, so Raoul put him down to explore. "God truly does seem to have smiled upon his people. There were times when I doubted Galeran and Jehanne would find their way again."
"They had trust." Aline stepped over to wrap her arm around her husband's waist. "With trust, anything is possible. Have I told you I trust you?"
He kissed her. "Every day, in every way. As I trust you." A wicked twinkle entered his eye, warning and exciting her. "In fact, I might trust you enough to let you tie me up."
"Tie you up!" She stared at him, growing hot at the thought. "Er... is that a hint?"
"Perhaps. Or perhaps it's a warning. Since you trust me. Why don't you go back to the house and plan your strategy while I sit and contemplate sweet, plump, juicy grapes?"
Aline watched him ride away, even more tempted to ravish him in the fields, then picked up her son and hurried home, making plans, and very much looking forward to the coming night.
The End
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