Aside from Heaven
Chapter 4P
Don't look now
William's mother's home was a mess. His aunt was extremely senile and her servants were not lucid, either. She'd left the convent a few years before and after spending her money traveling the Continent, Janette returned home to the place of her birth. According to the servant who seemed the most alert, Aunt Janette knew she was aging, she knew she was becoming forgetful, so although she'd taken holy vows, she simply went on a pilgrimage and never returned. Her convent was not actively looking for her and William had the sneaky suspicion that the woman was a trouble-maker who the Abbess was glad to see leave.
For some odd reason, she seemed the most clear-headedin the over-grown garden. She told Vivienne story after story of her sister and her sister's son; a most disgusting heathen, Edward something or other. She was unaware that the boy had grown up in the ensuing years. For some reason, William mused when questioned, Gisborne siblings didn't stay close after they grew up. For a short time as Roland, he tried to keep in touch with his younger half sisters. They were uncomfortable around him after Henry III had granted him lands and a title. They were simple country folk and felt like peasants.
They were peasants. Roland gifted them as much as he could without embarrassing them. After Roland died, Annie's family fell by the wayside.
He prayed his sons would remain close and on good terms. They needed each other. He needed them to need each other.
So Vivienne set another garden to rights, no greenhouse like FitzGisborne or Locksley, but a proper walled garden, with flowers and pretty herbs. The local priest was contacted, thanked, and given a large donation to keep William's aunt and small entourage fed and cared for, a rotation of knights to keep the place safe. Builders, carpenters were sent for, a housekeeper who cooked and would clean as needed. With the knights there underfoot, there was little chance the woman – who needed the job, quite frankly – would be tempted to steal anything. She was being paid well. What valuables were there, were brought back to Gisborne. So no, no reason to steal anything beyond food.
Late in the spring, Elienna and Hugh's baby dropped and as requested, Vivienne moved to the FitzGisborne main estate in Locksley for the lying in. William came with her and no one said a word when William insisted he and Vivienne be put together in the largest bedroom in the castle, after the Master's room. Henriette joined them in the days before the birth. The women spent much time in the recovering garden appreciating the smells and songs of a few birds that had found their way in through a broken glass pane in the ceiling. Henriette pestered Vivienne, joking, It is good, no? She nodded towards William.
William caught Vivienne and his daughter-in-law looking at him and returned their smiles with a lop-sided grin of his own. "Oui, c'est très bien, Henriette!"
Elienna went into labor during lunch a few weeks after everyone moved to Locksley. As the day turned to night and the moon rose high, Vivienne insisted that 24 hours labor was not a long time for a first-born, causing Elienna to weep and Henriette to loudly proclaim she did not want children! However, when it was over, and a fat little girl was laid in Elienna's arms, all pain was forgotten. Fulks' wife held the baby while Vivienne and several women bathed and put Elienna in bed and went to retrieve Hugh.
And while she held the baby, Fulks' wife changed her mind about having babies.
Vivienne set a date in her own mind to stop taking the herbs that closed her womb. At the ripe old age of 18, she was not getting any younger. William promised to marry her when he could and she believed him. She'd heard the rumors of William's deranged wife, some believable, others not. Some were horrifying; the death of William's baby girl. Even more horrifying was William's beating of his wife, understandable in many ways and sad that he didn't realize the depths of his wife's madness. It was said if one walked to close to the abbey on the far western edge, one could hear the woman raging at her husband, her children, the demons that plagued her mind. Others claimed they'd seen the ghosts of those who had wronged the FitzGisborne family in the graveyard, the Ghost of Sir Guy, scowling as he strode among the tombstones.
And time marched on.
~~~...~~~
By the time of Christ's Mass the winter of 1334, Henriette was expecting.
The family traveled to Harridston for the holidays, as Henriette was having a difficult first trimester. Elienne and Hugh's baby girl was rosy, healthy, and jovial, She was the apple of her parents' eyes.
As well as her grandfather's, truth be told. William seemed to take much joy in spoiling the little girl and giving her the very treats her parents were determined she not have.
"Margarette," Hugh took the little girl from her grandfather's arms, "it is time for bed."
As expected, the little girl began to cry, straining her hands back for her grandfather. William rose from his chair and reachedfor the baby. "I can take her."
"No," Hugh smiled and turned. "You would take her to her cradle after wandering every room in the estate and saying hello to all the animals in the stable and your knights." He looked down at his daughter. "Your grandfather is not the man who raised me! He," and with this, William's eldest smirked at his sire, "is simply an old man trying to get to heaven!" And with that, he turned and headed to the second floor, where her mother awaited her.
"Rude!" William facetiously hissed. "He did not get that from me!"
"Yes, he did." Vivienne linked her arm through his. "And he is correct."
"Wot?" William turned to look down at the woman on his arm. "That I am an old man?"
With that she grinned. "No, that you would take her everywhere but bed, and yes, you are trying to get to heaven." She turned him loose and attempted a stately walk to the stairs. "I would never consider you are an old ma-"
She found herself scooped up and carried up the stairs, much to the laughter of Fulks and his guests. William set her down as he rounded the corner and put a hand to his lower back. "I am going to pay for that!" He gazed down at the woman with a gleam in his eye.
Realizing she was being playfully stalked, Vivienne began to back up, heading towards the room assigned to them. "My lord," she smiled bashfully, "I believe you are chasing me."
"I believe you are correct," The Black Knight steered the woman towards their bedchamber, where he back-heeled the door shut once both were in the room. Seeing the fireplace was stoked, the bed was turned down and Eleanor was obviously in the servant's quarters, the two were alone, the man hissed "You have been keeping a secret from me.
Vivienne's smile grew bigger. "My lord, I thought you knew I love you. 'Tis no secret."
William shook his head. "Noooo. That is not of which I speak."
Vivienne's smile dropped and her eyes darted in thought. "My lord, I keep no secrets from you."
One inky eyebrow raised. "Are you sure you hide no secrets from me?"
"William, I've given you your Yule gift," she reiterated. "There is nothing else-"
Could it be she did not realize?
The man was by her side, his hand caressing her stomach. "Your breasts have been tender."
"You play with them over-much!"
William smiled at her half-hearted complaint. "When was your last women's cycle?"
"Last moon-"
William held up two fingers.
Dawning crossed her features. "Oooh."
Needless to say, that evening's love-making session was joyous and prolonged. When the bed ropes stopped creaking and the sighs were over, William held Vivienne close, tucked under his chin.
"I think we should keep this to ourselves until after the New Year," Vivienne murmured into William's side. "I do not wish to steal Fulks' and Henriette's joy."
William nodded his agreement. "Until you have quickened. That should be soon enough."
"Also," she rambled on, playing with the tie at the neck of her nightgown, "'tis unseemly as we are not married."
William's very being tightened, as well as his grip. "We have discussed this-"
"I know, I know," Vivienne sought to placate him. "You will not set Mellisande aside and I understand that. It's just," she sighed and took a deep breath, "people will talk. Especially," and with this, her voice hardened, "those old busy bodies in the village."
With this, William turned towards her, laying out on his side. "I do not give a rat's arse what the busy bodies in the village think."
"But-"
"You will not as well!" With this, his hold on her clinched. "If they give you a difficult time, they can speak to me. You spent the better part of the spring and summer planting four gardens with medicinal herbs to ensure the health of mine, Hugh, and Fulks' peoples over the winter. If you fell under the spell," with this, his eyes glittered in the fire, "of this lecherous man, then that is my fault, not yours." He ignored Vivienne's growl. "As for now, you are correct. We shall say nothing until early spring, allowing Fulks and Henriette their joy!" With this announcement, he rolled between her legs and showed her again, how much he loved her.
~~~...~~~
The joy of the season was short-lived. Two days after Christ's Mass and the burning of the Yule Log, a priest from the western portion of France arrived at Harridston. He looked worn and tired, having come from so far in the dead of winter. He spoke no English and insisted on speaking to the Lord of Harridston or Nottingham.
He brought very bad news.
~~~...~~~
Henriette collapsed in the floor and taken to her bed upon learning of the death of her father. He was elderly and frail so while his demise was not unexpected, it still came as a shock to his only daughter.
Fulks was at a loss to comfort his wife.
Two days later, she miscarried.
Vivienne whispered to William that it probably was for the best; the fetus had come ill-formed into the world. She took much tea to the grieving young woman, putting healing herbs to stop the bleeding and assured Henriette that they could try again in the spring.
For the first time, Henriette did not rant about never having children. If anything, she was now determined to give Fulks an heir. A son.
Fulks was simply concerned about his wife, the entire household grieving the loss of this child. Most of the servants remembered Mellisande, as well as her cousin, who thank Jesu, had disappeared, hopefully never to return. His wife and family had not looked for him and for the time being, the Lord of FitzGisborne breathed easy. Even if they did look for him, they would never find him. Regardless, the people of the estate and shire liked this new lord and his lady, so they grieved the loss as well.
So Vivienne and William stayed several weeks longer than planned and left when the land was snowy, cold, and wet, without telling a soul of the impending birth of another FitzGisborne progeny.
~~~...~~~
Spring – Summer 1335
Vivienne began to show much earlier than anticipated and by early spring, it was obvious the Black Knight of Gisborne had planted something besides yet another garden! Happily, none of the busybodies had much to say: they were grateful the Lord was home with his knights, the murderer from the previous year gone, and all were safe. With three functional healer gardens and the promise of Arunja trees, it was a healthier winter than the previous, the only death being that of old Henry, who was... well... old. Lord William was happy, Vivienne was happy, everyone was happy. The harvest was plentiful and spring brought the promise of expanding herds and growth. If the Lord of Locksley wanted to spend time and fornicate behind closed doors one of his knight's daughters, under the guise of guardianship, then who were they to complain? She didn't appear abused or as if she were being taken against her will. He treated her as his wife; she was the mistress of his home and by all reports, the two were very much in love. His sons and their wives were happy for their father and seemed overjoyed there would be a new sibling in the FitzGisborne cradle. By late spring, Hugh's wife and Fulks' wife were again expecting. The Lords of FitzGisborne were ensuring their lines. The Lords were happy, their ladies were happy, everyone was happy.
Mostly.
The weeks flew by, crops growing tall, the kitchen and healer gardens, flowering and green. The Arunja saplings were standing tall, the promise of the bright fruit coming in the future.
And Vivienne's babe ripened in her womb. The child was active, responding to his or her father's voice. William took great joy talking nonsense to his mistress's bump. He was reminded of Alise's pregnancies, the delight both had taken in her pregnancies. Mellisande's child-bearing had not been happy in any way, the differences between the two women, night and day. William was relieved that Vivienne did not suffer from the depression that plagued his wife.
Who, by all reports, was slowly descending into a private hell that she departed from rarely. She was not eating much and her mind was becoming more and more unhinged.
The transfer of Henriette's property was going very smoothly. William's French cousin, Gui, had taken the property into hand almost immediately, the paperwork for the land as well as the profits for Fulks, turning all over smoothly. According to the private missive to William, Gui's long term guest was content for the most part. The man preferred male companionship and enjoyed being close to the boats and fishing. He mentioned his children rarely and when he did, it was because he was deep in the wine. The locals ignored him, for the most part, publicly believing the concocted story of an English Monk who saw too much death in the Holy Lands. There was a missive from the man to his son. William set it aside with another one. The next time the king called him to his side, William would take both to him, along with several bottles from his cousin's stock. It was easier to pass such information without raising anyone's eyebrows.
The nobles would be very angry if they knew Edward II still lived. Who knew what they would do? Who knew what Isabella would do? She might raise another army; stage another coup. The last time William was in the king's presence, the Black Knight thought he'd never get that missive passed quietly.
It was summer before he realized it.
His and Vivienne's babe was due a moon past the summer solstice, in the hottest part of the year. She was moving slowly, not sleeping, as this babe was extremely active at night. Both of his daughter-in-laws were due to arrive for her lying during the following week. He prayed his sons would be with them! Both were pregnant, surely Hugh and Fulks would be happy to share this joyous occasion with their father and spend this time with him, either keeping him out of the wine or drinking it with him.
Vivienne mentioned perhaps all would stay after the birth and birth their own babes there at Gisborne. He shuddered once, before bellowing 'No!'
He had never bellowed at Vivienne before. He had never told her no, come to think of it. She was shocked!
Come to think of it, he was shocked, but he would never tell her that. He just gave her his blackest stare.
That she wasn't the least bit afraid of.
Hmmm.
So, they spent this Sunday, alone in the home, with the exception of a few knights, who kept to themselves in the barracks and kitchen. It was hot, unbelievably hot and all the windows and doors were open. It was the last bit of peace the household would experience for a long time; quiet, peaceful, the sound of laughter...
"William?"
William looked up from the scroll from his knight, currently assigned to his mother's estate.
"Hmm?"
She was sweating, her hair damp with the humidity. She was wearing the thinnest of garments and William could see completely through it, the brown of her aerolas, prevalent and she was barefoot, her ankles swollen to a painful thickness. She was cupping her womb. "I feel funny." She moved forward from the chair. "I feel really funny." As she stood up, she grunted, the front of her thin chemise becoming wet. A thin trickle of fluid flowed over her ankle and made a small puddle in the floor at the arch of her bare foot.
William stared her for a split second, before looking out the window. The sun was far past its zenith, currently hanging low in the sky.
Seth had arrived at sundown. All of his children when he was Roland had arrived at sundown. His sons and daughter from Mellisande had arrived at sundown. If this tradition of his children arriving with the sun's setting, this babe would arrive within the hour and there was no one here but himself.
His smile was forced. "I'll be right back." He left his beloved standing, bent over and not breathing.
For the first time since he was a boy, William jumped on the banister, praying it held. "Walter!" he called when he reached the floor, almost missing the floor with his feet. "Walter!"
The barely bearded knight stuck his head around the doorway. "M'lord?"
"Quick!" William was out of breath. "Hie to Ripleys! Bring Sister Hawise back. Lady Vivienne-"
Walter was young, but he had a good head on his shoulders, to know what was going on. He also had several younger siblings, so he knew where he was being sent and why. "I'm on my way." He ran around his lordship and shot towards the front door. "If I see any woman of age, I'll send her as well now! I will send my mother!"
"FETCH ELEANOR!"
William looked up the stairs and back to his young knight. "Fetch-"
"I heard." The young man threw the front door open and bolted through it.
"WILLIAM!" Vivienne's voice was pinched and he could hear the pain in it. Not waiting to see if Walter shut the door behind him, he ran back up the stairs, to find Vivienne in the hall, her hands supporting her very low-slung babe. Her face was bunched up in pain. "This is so fast. I do not think your child will wait much longer!"
William shook his head and inhaled, determined to be the calming influence she was going to need until the midwife arrived. He took her by the arm. "What do you need?"
Vivienne was quiet, slowly breathing through her contraction. She was unaware that William was staring at her intently. Finally, the vise eased up. "Start boiling water, there is a bucket by the fire place. We'll need to prepare a bath for the baby." Her eyes darted back and forth. "The birthing bench is in the solar as is the large bowl to catch the fluids and the sack." Her smile was wan. "First babies can take all day and night. You shouldn't have to worry about any of that."
William's smile was fake and she knew it was fake. "It will give me something to do until the women arrive." He led her into their bed chamber and sat her on the bench at the foot of the bed. Grabbing the water cauldron that was kept full, he set it on the hook over the fireplace and stoked the fire, listening to Vivienne breathe and keen through another labor pain.
The sun was setting behind the trees. Sister Hawise and Eleanor were not going to make it in time. Washing his hands in the water bowl, he turned to Vivienne. "I'm going to the solar. I will be right back." He dashed from the room and was back in less than a minute with the weirdly shaped bench and a large bowl. Setting both at the corner of the bed, he stepped back. "What else do you need?"
Vivienne was now panting. It took her a minute to work through the contraction. "I don't think this child is going to wait for any healer or woman-"
"I have brought many a colt into this world," William spoke with a bravado he didn't feel. "I do not think this would be much different."
Vivienne narrowed her eyes. "Colts come legs first. Your child will come head first. It will be bloody and messy-"
"So was the colt."
Vivienne was concentrating on yet another contraction.
The sun slid lower behind the trees. William made quick work lighting all the candles and making sure all the fireplaces were roaring.
The room was unbelievably hot. William opened all the windows, hoping a breeze would cool the home down.
"If the water... is boiling... pour it in the tub and fetch another pail." She was now pulling her clothing off, baring all of her skin to him. Sliding to the bench, she slid her hands between her legs. "Oh dear Jesu. There is no time." Her eyes lifted to the mantle. "There is a rolled kit on the mantle. Cleanse the items within in the fire several times."
William did such, not taking time to marvel at the sharpness of the blade on the knife or the need for a small spoon and animal skin bulb syringe. He brought towels that were near the bathing chamber. He set them on the floor and laid the blade on it. "Now what?"
Vivienne reached for him, guiding his hand between her legs. "Do you feel the head?"
William abruptly sat on the floor, seeing the bulge of his child's skull at the apex of her juncture. He couldn't hold back a grin. "Black hair," he smiled up at her. "Lots of black hair."
Vivienne dropped her head. "You will need to guide the head out. And then a shoulder at a time. Be careful. The babe will slide out and will be very slippery." Her eyes popped open and she stared at him hard. "Don't you dare drop her!"
The child's sex had been a playful battle between the two; Vivienne insisting what would be, would be and William insisting she carried a daughter. "You finally admit I am right?" he bantered with a grin.
Vivienne was too busy pushing to answer. She'd reached behind her and grasped the bedpost. Carefully, William guided the head out, pinching the mucus from the babe's nose, before easing one shoulder from Vivienne's body and then the next.
As she stated, the rest of the newborn slid easily into William's hands. He looked in awe at the babe in his grasp. "'Tis a girl. A girl!" He looked up at Vivienne, who was sweating and exhausted. "We have a girl, Vivienne." He looked back down again. "Sibilla. Your name is Sibilla."
Hands reached around him, taking the baby. For a moment, he felt empty, as if a great gift had been taken away from him.
"You did well, my lord." Martha, his former housekeeper was smiling. She shifted the little girl and placed her back in her father's hands. Swiftly, she grabbed the knife and cut the still pulsing umbilical cord. "Where is the spo... there it is!" She dropped the knife and with the skill of a woman who had aided in the birth of many babes, cleared the nose and throat of the newborn. Immediately, Sibilla began to scream, as only a newborn fresh from her mother's womb could. "Move to the side, m'lord. Your lady's labor is not finished." Moving between Vivienne's legs, she re-positioned the large bowl. "Take my hands and bear down again." William watched in morbid fascination as Vivienne expelled the sack and placenta from her body.
The door opened and more women entered. Eleanor. Agatha. Bete. Mary. Finally Sister Hawise made her way up the stairs and into the chamber. Yet again, William found his daughter removed from his arms, the fire stoked again. Several women set to boiling water in every fireplace in the home. A bath was drawn. Sibilla was bathed. Vivienne was bathed.
And as they put the room to rights and dressed Vivienne and Sibilla to be presented properly to their lord, they discovered him stretched out across the floor -
passed out.
tbc
but love is at my doorstep
A/N - This reincarnation is now a completed project, (A total of 5 more chapters and the epilogue for William's life. The reincarnation after this one is complete as well. Not so long, thank God! LOL! Updates should be fairly regular every couple of weeks. Thank you for your patience. It's been a rough year. I've changed jobs and had the move from hell.)