Disclaimer:

I do not own William Thatcher, Kate, Wat, Geoffrey Chaucer, Roland, Count Adamar, or King Edward, but all of the other characters in this fan fiction are my creation.

Author's Note:

I'm back, I just wanted to thank everyone for the wonderful reviews, they really mean a lot. This is another short chapter, but I think that it says everything I wanted it to. Chapters may start coming a bit slower now, I have just posted my first *Nsync fanfiction, so I will be working on both of them at the same time. It is called Comfort Zone if anyone is interested in reading it.

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A Daughter's Tale

Chapter Eight – A Long Quiet Journey

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The month at the Thatcher estate passed all too quickly for Josephine who spent every spare moment training and avoiding Lenior. They only spoke to each other when it was a dire necessity. Even now as the band of friends made their way to the tournament in Munich the two young women kept a distance between one another. Josephine stayed to the back of the group, wanting to be alone. She knew that the others had noticed a change in the girl's relationship and was in no mood to answer questions. They would soon be at the ferry dock and she knew that once they were confined to the tiny vessel she would no longer be able to avoid their quires.

Her fears were confirmed when she took her seat; Geoffrey quickly occupied the small space of bench next to her. "I have a bit of an enigma that has been vexing me for some time My Little Jo." He turned his steel blue eyes on her; "Perhaps you could help me find a solution to put my mind to rest."

Josephine looked at her uncle with furrowed eyebrows, "I'm not sure I am the right person to help you Uncle, my own mind has been a bit clouded of late."

"That is what has me so puzzled." He turned his gaze momentarily toward the young brunette at the front of the boat with Roland, before turning back to Josephine, "Perhaps you would feel more at ease talking to Lenior?"

"I doubt that. It seems that Lenior would rather make friends of my enemies then heed my warning."

Chaucer nodded knowingly, "I take it she did not wish to give your words credence." He folded his arms while he thought, "Perchance there are some things that a young woman should learn on her own."

Josephine's brown eyes widened, "Even if it means getting caught up in something bigger that you can handle?"

"I think you can answer that question better than any of us Sir Joseph." Seeing the anger flash in the teenagers eyes at his statement he quickly continued, "Lenior needs the opportunity to prove herself the same way you do."

"At least I have chosen to do it in a way that will keep honor in my family."

"Your family honor is still intact because the king aids you in your charade. Lenior was raised in a different manner. To her finding a good husband that will tend the land with her and make a home is honor enough. Perchance she feels she has found that man in the Count. I know that you were only trying to be a good friend and give her fare warning of what you knew of the man's father. As much as I hate to say it occasionally a son chooses his own path of wrong and right, instead of his fathers."

"But Uncle you told me the what a wretched man Christopher's father was, do you honestly believe that he would have raised his son in a different manner?"

Geoff thought for a moment, he knew that he had to be careful with his answer so that he didn't contradict what he had just told the young blonde that held so much faith in him. "Josie, it is not a matter of what I believe, it is a matter of allowing someone to be judged on his own actions and not his fathers."

"Uncle if you truly believed that you never would have warned me against him." Josephine raised a challenging eyebrow.

"I warned you against him only because I know how vital it is for you to keep your guard. I wonder if you realize how precarious your situation really is. It is far more imperative for you to know that the people you choose to surround yourself with are trust worthy. Lenior may help you with your charade, but she is free to befriend anyone she chooses."

"Even if she betrays me along the way."

"I can assure you that betrayal is the furthest thing from her mind."

Josephine cast a cold glare out across the water, "That remains to be seen Uncle."

They remained silent for rest of their journey across the Channel. Josephine prayed that the writer was right, he had never steered her wrong before, but there was always a first time for everything.