a familiar but fantastical scene. They knew they belonged there but why was no one coming to greet them? Ulfric helped Juliana to sit in front of the fire and Thorvald was still looking around for someone to speak to when Erik walked into the firelight.
“At last, we’d just about given up hope,” he said with a matter-of-fact air.
He studied their bemused faces and then laughed saying, “Sam has been watching for you for the past two months, he saw you coming half an hour ago and ran back to let us know.”
“Well, thank goodness for that. We thought we had entered the wrong hall,” Ulfric laughed in return.
Juliana looked amazed when a woman resembling her mother, picked up the baby from her and began walking back and forth, singing lullabies.
“Who is that?” Juliana gasped.
“Do you not know your own mother? Surely you haven’t been away that long.”
Hilde grinned at her daughter and then laughed out loud.
“Mother, I... I was afraid you...”
“Had died?” Hilde finished for her. “I’m made of good stock, Juliana. Giselle managed to bend but not to break me. I am recovered thanks to Sara and my friends here. They told me that you had been taken but I knew you’d be back. You have mine and your father’s strength.”
Juliana let go of all the tension she had carried regarding her mother and relaxed into her chair reaching for Ulfric’s hand.
“I hope the coin around your neck means you are married, Juliana. It would dishonour our family if you have brought a child into this world with no vows having been said,” Hilde remarked.
“Yes, Ulfric found me and we were married just before the child was born. We hope that Father Matthew will bless our marriage once we’ve had time to settle again. We will exchange rings this time though, instead of swords.”
“I’m glad,” was all her mother said.
Erik beckoned into the shadows to call someone forward, and Ulfric’s eyes opened wide as Sir Baldwin de Gant limped to his side to shake his hand. “It’s been too long, Ulfric. We’ve a lot of news to tell each other, but that can wait until after we’ve eaten.” He turned around and brought Giselle forward. Juliana caught her breath when she saw her. She seemed to have shrunk in stature and looked much older than her years.
“Congratulations, Ulfric, on your wedding and your child,” she said with as much grace as she could muster.
Ulfric nodded to her accepting her good wishes but wondered how and why she had left the nunnery. “Sir Baldwin, my wife and I are tired and would like to eat and then retire. We will speak in the morning, but before we do I have to tell you that your son is dead. I’m sorry to be the bearer of this news, but it seems better to get it out of the way. With your permission I will tell you about it tomorrow.”
“It is only what I expected, Ulfric. I’m not surprised you killed him – he was always a thorn in your flesh.”
“No! I didn’t kill him, believe me. I wasn’t even there.”
Sir Baldwin looked relieved but unconvinced. His demeanour was a conflict of grief and chivalry at that moment. He turned to introduce Luke. “There is another member of our party who would like to meet you. Come – let’s sit at the table and we can begin our meal.”
Luke knelt at Ulfric’s feet paying homage to the lord of the manor. Ulfric waved him up to the table and Luke explained about his and Giselle’s plans for the future. Giselle sat silent, numb from the coldness in her belly and heart after the news of her brother’s death had hit her. She was already scheming and plotting her revenge.
Juliana was pleased to be home. Her baby had been fed and changed into fresh cloths by her grandmother. The Hall enfolded her like a comforting blanket. She was home. Her mother was healthy once more and her husband sat at her side. The servants were smiling but she longed for the peace and quiet of her chamber where she and Ulfric would live and love for a lifetime – or so she hoped.
Chapter 26
The sun beat down from the deepest blue sky. It was high summer and the fair had arrived in Bertone bringing with it a sense of freedom and relaxation for everyone. The servants and the townspeople gathered together and laughed as the tumblers leapt and fell head-over-heels for their