"Marry Lowick!" his father exploded, then hastily lowered his voice. "If you have her put to death, she'll not marry anyone."
"I couldn't do that. And neither could you."
"I could put her in a convent so tight, she'd never so much as set eyes on a man again."
"True, but Lowick could still petition to marry her on the basis of their true attachment, which resulted in a child. He might even be able to fabricate a case of prior betrothal that would satisfy a Church court. I couldn't swear old Fulk never thought about it before his sons died. And in that case, Lowick would get Heywood, at least as guardian for his daughter."
"The sun's fried your brains if you think I want that scoundrel sitting on my borders!" Red anger tinged Lord William's face. "Even in this last year he's been disputing rents, interfering with my tenants. . . ."
"Has he? Then perhaps you'd better help me restore my marriage.'' Lord William stared at him, caught mouth agape. "You cunning fox!" Then a glint entered his eyes. "Right, then. But she can't get off unscathed. You'd better start by disciplining her. A daily whipping for a month should tame her."
"By all means. Why don't you order it?"
His father growled at that. "Don't think I don't know why you hit her, boy."
He worked his jaw anxiously. "Well, what in the name of St. John are you going to do, then?"
"Try to understand."
His father shook his head. "There's nothing to understand. She always panted after Lowick. Half the girls in the shire did, including two of your sisters. With you gone and her needs untended, she grew weak, as women will. You know I thought it unnatural for all you men to be going away for years. It's surprising the whole of Europe isn't littered with bastards! If I'd realized earlier - "
"No matter how sex starved," Galeran interrupted, "do you really think Jehanne would slide into Lowick's bed the day of her child's burial?"
William looked at him steadily. "She did, though, didn't she?"
It was like a shower of ice. For she had, hadn't she?
"So," repeated his father, "what are you going to do?"
Galeran hadn't the slightest idea. "For the moment I'm going to let her out of custody so she can resume her work. Unless you object. It was for attacking you she was confined."
William shook his head. "A gnat to an ox. And she had a point. I should have told you."
"Yes, you should."
"Mary's womb, but she's a difficult woman sometimes! She came to me when there was news of your death, you know. Cool as water from deep in the well, but for all of that, I'd swear she was distressed at the possibility."
"I'm sure she was. Did you see her after the child's death?"
William shook his head. "Not soon after. It was a full week before we had word, and when I came here, it was as if nothing - no," he said abruptly, "it was not as if nothing had happened. She was like a walking statue. But she was taking care of business as if nothing had happened, and apparently had been doing so since the day after the death. Looks funny, that."
"And talk had already started."
"Aye, though at that time none spoke to me of her liaison with Lowick."
Galeran fought the urge to get up and walk away. He was going to have to get used to talking about these things. "When did you find out about that?"
"That's a good question." His father worked his jaw again. "It's been a busy year, lad, what with one thing and another. The Scots have been bothersome. The weather's been chancy. And then there's Flambard. . ..
When we had word of your death, I sent messages abroad, to the Pope and to Constantinople, hoping to hear better news. Lacking good news to share, I didn't seek out Jehanne."
He reached for his ale and took a deep draft. "Turns out Will's wife heard rumors, but didn't want to stir up trouble, the silly besom. But it was too late by then, anyway. First I heard for sure was when Lowick petitioned the king that you be declared dead so he could many your widow, who was expecting his child. I came here only to be refused admission or explanation! I was much of a mind to take the place then, but it makes no sense to put a castle through a siege if it can be