Lady of the English - By Elizabeth Chadwick Page 0,155
you three hundred men and sufficient provisions to fill fifty ships. I expect you to provide for my son and guard his safety with your own life as you have sworn. You 383
LadyofEnglish.indd 383
6/9/11 5:35 PM
Elizabeth Chadwick
will return him to me the moment I ask for him. And on those conditions alone, you may have him for a brief while.” Joy shone from Henry’s eyes as he uttered a whoop of triumph, and immediately dashed off to tell his brothers that he was going to claim his kingdom.
Robert’s face sagged with relief. “Thank you,” he said. “You have made the right decision.”
“I hope so,” Geoffrey said grimly. He was far from relieved himself because he knew that, even with the most rigorous safeguards, England was a dangerous, difficult place and Robert could not protect Henry from everything, and that began with the sea crossing. It only took one mistake from the helmsman and one rogue wave. What really made his heart sink, though, was knowing how much he was going to miss the daily presence of this bright, vibrant child, who lit his world like the sun.
384
LadyofEnglish.indd 384
6/9/11 5:35 PM
Forty-five
Arundel, Autumn 1142
F eeling exhausted but triumphant, Adeliza gazed down at the infant nestling in the crook of her arms, clean and freshly swaddled. The birth had been hard work because he was a large, robust baby and had taken his time and a deal of effort to push out, but she had him in her arms now and the miracle was as fresh as the first time: a golden moment that made a trivi-ality of the pain and blood and danger. She had been barren; now she was fecund. She only wished Will could see him, but he was away on campaign. Having recovered from the serious illness that had laid him low throughout the spring and early summer, Stephen had once more taken to the field.
She and Will had spent the first six months of the year in Norfolk, at their new castles at Rising and Buckenham, watching the progress of the builders and attending to matters of estate, dealing with business pertaining to the Church and their various foundations and patronages. She had watched her eldest son turn from a pudgy infant into a proper little boy with strong limbs and the speed of a deer. His sister Adelis had become an imperious toddler with pink cheeks, riotous golden curls, and her father’s wide candid stare. But in August, Stephen’s summons had broken their idyll and, once again, she had watched Will ride away to war, to fight for a man she regarded as a usurper.
LadyofEnglish.indd 385
6/9/11 5:35 PM
Elizabeth Chadwick
Juliana went to answer a knock on the door and Adeliza heard her speak to Rothard the chamberlain. Then she came over to Adeliza. “Madam, the earl has just ridden in,” she said with a curtsey.
Adeliza gasped and struggled to sit up in the bed. “What?” A firm masculine tread sounded a fast beat on the stairs outside her chamber, and Will entered, still clad in dusty travelling gear and wearing his sword.
Flustered at his sudden arrival when she was unprepared, Adeliza pulled the covers up around her body. “I did not know you were coming!” she said. “You should have sent word!” He made an awkward gesture. “I knew you were in your confinement chamber and would only fuss if I did. This way was better.” He advanced to the bedside and she inhaled the odours of outdoors and pungent hard travel on him. His lips were cold and his whiskers sharp as he kissed her. Then he looked at the swaddled baby.
“Another son,” she said proudly, but with a slight frown of exasperation. She had not decided whether his not telling her was thoughtful, or thoughtless. She placed the baby in his arms. Watching him trace the delicate little eyebrows with his forefinger and stroke its cheek, her expression softened.
“You are well?” he asked.
“The better for having you home,” she said, “whether you choose to tell me or not.”
He looked up from the baby and his eyelids tensed at the corners. “I can only stay a little while,” he said.
She searched his face. “How long is ‘a little while’?” He hesitated. “It depends on circumstances, but I hope to be here for your churching.” He returned the baby to her arms.
“You should rest; I will return later and we’ll talk.” He kissed her again and left.
Adeliza knew he was keeping things from her, but the birth 386