Chapter Twenty #3
“I suppose I knew I would have to explain this to you at some point,” he said. “Please do not think I did not tell you because I do not trust you. I do, implicitly. But servants have a way of hearing things. They talk. And this is talk that cannot get out, Kay. It is very important that it does.”
She looked at him with concern. “You know that I will not repeat it,” she said. “But why all of the deception?”
“Because Hugh Despenser wants that woman,” he said quietly. “Magnus asked me once to help conceal her, so I am doing that.”
“But why does Despenser want her?”
“Because she is a courtesan, one of the most in-demand courtesans in England. I am certain it did not escape you how lovely she is.”
Kirra wasn’t particularly shocked by the revelation, but so much was becoming clear to her now. “She is exquisite,” she said. “She is also extremely intelligent.”
“That comes from a good deal of education,” he said. “The lords that have courtesans want them to be smart and entertaining.”
She nodded in understanding. “I heard you speaking to Denys about Delaina and Magnus de Wolfe,” she said. “I heard you speak of Magnus enough to know that he must be the baby’s father. They are not married, are they?”
It was more a statement than a question, and Morgen shook his head.
“Nay, they are not,” he said. “But he loves her and wishes to marry her. I suppose I did not want to tell you that part of it, but the reality is this—being a courtesan, she is not accepted by noble society. To have that kind of woman in a respectable home such as ours can be… problematic.”
“You mean if it were to ever get out that we gave her shelter.”
He nodded. “Aye.”
Kirra pondered that for a moment. She was a reasonable woman, accepting and mostly nonjudgmental. That was one of the things that Morgen loved about her. What he’d done, he’d done to protect her and his household. The less people knew of Lady Violet’s true identity, the better.
“I am not entirely sure the nobility of England would shun the House of de Lohr if they knew we harbored a courtesan, but I understand your point,” she said. “Particularly if Despenser is still looking for her. Is he?”
Morgen shook his head. “I have no way of knowing,” he said. “I’ve not heard anything, and I’m certainly not going to ask.”
“Then we must keep this very quiet,” she said. “We will continue to call her Lady Violet. It is safer that way.”
“I agree.”
“Is Magnus truly coming?”
Morgen shrugged, pulling her close. “I hope so,” he said. “I sent him word as soon as Denys brought the lady here, so he has had time to receive the missive and start his journey southward.”
“Unless he comes in the next few days, he will more than likely miss the birth,” Kirra said. “She still believes she is going to die, Morgen. I do not know how to convince her otherwise.”
Morgen rolled his eyes unhappily. “St. Blitha’s has seared doom and gloom into her brain,” he said. “Those nuns nearly killed her with their mistreatment. Thank God Denys had the sense to bring her here when he did.”
“Thank God, indeed,” Kirra agreed. “I… I feel a good deal of pity for her. She is so sad. So very sad. She wants to be friendly, and I believe she wants to smile, but it is as if something is missing in her. Something is broken that cannot be repaired. She never speaks of Magnus, but I sense that her melancholy is because of him. She misses him. God help us if Magnus refuses to come at all.”
Morgen didn’t want to admit that it was a distinct possibility. According to Denys, the lady had rejected Magnus. It was possible the damage was too great.
“We will know soon enough,” he said quietly. “But if he does not come… what do you want to do with the lady?”
Kirra didn’t hesitate. “She will stay,” she said firmly. “Her son shall be raised with our children, and she shall be their tutor. As I said, she is very smart. She would teach them a great deal. Mayhap she can be my lady in waiting. I do not have any, you know.”
“I noticed.”
“She would be a fine one, I am sure.”
“Then you will not send her away?”
“Where would I send her to, Morgen? If she had any place to go, she would not have been brought here.” She shook her head. “Lady Violet stays, whatever happens. And so does her child.”
He squeezed her, kissing her cheek. “Ever charitable, my lady,” he said, admiration in his tone. “God has a special place in heaven for people like you.”
Kirra smiled at him, wrapping her arms around his neck, when there was a loud rap on the door. Startled, she climbed off Morgen’s lap as he went to the solar door and opened it.
The housekeeper, a stout and strong woman, was standing at the door.
“My lady,” she said. “You must come. Quickly.”
Kirra was already on the move. “Why?” she said. “What has happened? Where are my children?”
The housekeeper shook her head. “Not the children, my lady,” she said. “Lady Violet. The child is coming and her waters have broken.”
Kirra rushed out into the entry, heading for the mural stairs, with Morgen and the housekeeper on her heels.
She could hear the groaning by the time she hit the second floor.