Aside from Heaven

4R

And she tells me she's never going to go

William had a queasy feeling in his stomach the moment they disembarked from their carriage in front of the Tower of London.

Vivienne fretted over her evening attire. Being female, she wanted to dazzle, but the event was somber. In the end she chose a black velvet kirtle slashed to show the yellow underdress; the Gisborne colors. It was very similar to the dress Genevieve wore so many years ago to a long forgotten joust and William wondered if Genevieve created it from an old, long-dead memory. Sibilla and the rest of their entourage, save Robert deGlasson, were left behind in the FitzGisborne home on the edge of London. William bought it soon after Isabella had thrown herself at him.

Besides, staying at the palace could prove to be... unhealthy. As with the rest of the FitzGisborne properties, there were several hidden exits and passages within the home. Just in case.

Just in case.

There were two letters, tucked inside a hidden lining pocket in William's formal outer robe, as well as several bottles of his cousin's finest wine. It was an excuse to get the king in a quiet room in order to pass his father's messages to him. William had read the letters already, making sure old Ned hadn't tried to sneak any information revealing his whereabouts. He tried that early on and discovered the scroll returned to him in shreds. He hadn't tried it since, but William didn't put much past him.

Of course, now that the son was older and truly king on his own, the old codger might try again.

As William and his wife made their way through the crowd, a courtier approached the highly ranked and respected Earl. "M'lord FitzGisborne. The king requests a private audience with you in his chambers."

William nodded. A private audience would make exchanging the letters so much easier. He nodded to a servant. "My man is carrying a gift of wine from the Mediterranean. Please bring him and the case to the king's chambers." He patted his side, ensuring the missives were still tucked within, safe. He turned to Vivienne, to see her, along with his two daughters-in-law speaking to the Queen. Hugh's wife had been a lady-in-waiting to Philippa when she came to England, and the two were greeting each other like long lost friends. Catching his wife's eye, he motioned with one hand and mouthed, "I will be back." Vivienne nodded before her attention returned to the Queen.

William had not been to the king's chambers in many years. Not since Edward II was king and then it was at night, always at night. Now, the curtains were pulled back and light shown down the hallway, changing the ambiance and mood of the palace. The household was in mourning, but it wasn't near as dour and somber as when the previous king was in residence. He stepped in front of the ornate double doors and knocked.

"Enter." The voice was deeper, more mature than it had been when the boy became king. After waiting to be announced, William quietly slipped in. He noted that his knight deGlasson was close behind with the case of wine. Turning back to the room, he bowed. "Sire. My condolences on the loss of your brother."

Edward turned. He had filled out, his beard, now in thick and full. Marriage agreed with him. "William!" He reached out to pull the Black Knight to him. "How do you fare?"

"I am well, my lord." He motioned to Robert. "I brought a gift."

Edward grinned. "Wine from France, I daresay!" He nodded to the servant in the room. "Bring two goblets and leave us." He winked at William. "We have much to discuss." The two men waited until the chalices were brought, the case opened, and the doors shut, leaving the king and his Wolf alone. "Well, don't just stand there!" Edward waved to the case. "Open a bottle and pour us a drink! We have need to celebrate!"

The king's tone and wording shocked the Lord of Gisborne, but he schooled his features. This was a banquet, a feast, to honor the king's brother. Isabella was in the palace somewhere. It was a somber occasion, but yet the king felt the need to privately-

"Celebrate, my lord?" He lifted the goblet and took a sip.

"I should tax you heavily, however you would no longer bring me this wonderful elixir!" Edward proceeded to drain his glass. "You have been away from us for far too long." He raised the empty chalice in a salute. "I command that you visit us more often. Philippa adores you, you know. I, myself, miss you. You were a good friend to me, when others attempted to take what was mine."

William would not be deterred. "Celebrate?" He took another mouthful.

Edward continued, as if his favored earl had not spoken. "I love their wine; I love this wine, however the French vex me readily."

"This is cause to celebrate?"

Edward brushed his dark knight off. "I tire of my French cousin confiscating my lands on the Continent and demanding I pay him homage for the privilege of him taking what is mine. Why my grandfather refused to engage and allowed them to take his mother's lands..." His voice trailed off as he refilled his goblet. "I have decided to reassert my claim to the French throne. It should be mine!"

By now, William was staring at the bottom of his own goblet. He reached to the bottle to refill his. "Sire, it has been established the French will not tolerate an English King. The Plantagenets were originally a noble French family; they have always paid homage to the French King."

"I know that!" Edward hissed. "I had tutors and a grandfather and mother who drummed that into me!"

William shrugged. "I do not understand why we're celebrating that." He raised his glass.

"We are not celebrating the obtuseness of the French people!" The man was downright joyful. The change in his mood and demeanor was frightening.

"What are we celebrating?" William took a deep swig, if for any other reason, to mask any facial response for whatever his king had in mind.

"Your upcoming marriage!"

William's wine spewed everywhere. "My... what?"

Edward set his own goblet down, a very proud smile on his face. "You have been a widower long enough! I have contracted a wonderful match for you!"

William was aghast! "You did not!"

"You did not inform me your wife had died. I should be angry, but I realize that she had been ill for a long time and you probably wished your privacy to grieve in peace." Edward was not aware his man was upset. His back was turned, refilling his wine. "Philippa has a cousin. She's quite beautiful and the sole heir to her father's estate."

"No."

"She is 16, a tad long in the tooth, but still young enough. She can provide you with more children. Her father is a duke; I suppose that would mean another title to your growing-"

"SIRE! I am already married!"

"-list of..." The king partially turned to William. "... come again?"

William sighed. "I said, I am already married, sire." He looked around for a cloth to blot the wine stain now in the front of his surcoat.

Edward set his goblet down and turned fully. "I do not recall being informed of this, nor do I recall you asking for my blessing."

The uneasy knot in William's stomach began to tighten. He too, set down his goblet and proceeded to blot the stain from the wine. "Things happened very quickly, sire." He attempted a grin. "My marriage to Mellisande had long been in name only."

"She was ill, I recall." He picked up his chalice and nodded to William to do the same. "I do not think you mourned her passing.'

"Her passing was a blessing," William mumbled. "She had been in great misery for many years," he amended.

"So, who did you marry, without seeking my permission?"

There was a frigidness in the king's tone and William realized he was treading on very thin ice. He took a long drink from his glass, hoping the berry would strengthen his resolve. "Vivienne ette Forde, Baronetess of Clun."

Edward thought deeply for a few moments. "I recall making a Simon ette Forde a baronet at your behest."

"Yes, sire. He died in a skirmish soon after."

"His daughter?"

"Aye."

Edward snickered. "Tis one way to keep the estate in your grasp!"

William steeled his jaw. "That never crossed my mind," he lied smoothly.

Edward was shaking his head slowly. "No. You are in need of someone higher bred than a country miss. We will speak with our Archbishop and have the marriage dissolved."

William slammed his wineglass down. "Sire! NO! We have a child!" Seeing anger on Edward's face as the older man was yelling and was most likely being heard by anyone in the hall, William lowered his voice. "We have another child due in the summer! I love her!"

Edward slowly schooled his features. "It is of no matter. We will quietly have the marriage dissolved and annulled. I will find her a decent husband befitting her station and you will marry Regana as soon as this business is cleared."

William drew himself up to his full height. "There is no business to clear! I am happily married and I will not-"

"It matters not what you want!" Edward spat tersely. "I have already arranged the marriage!"

"Without my signature?"

"Her father desires her to be married and an heir from her to continue the family line! It is done! I have already arranged a proxy!"

"I won't bed the wench!" William hissed between clenched teeth. "I'll house her in the same hovel my first wife died in and parade my lawful wife around in golden robes!"

Edward snorted. "Really William! I thought you would appreciate a young, wealthy wife."

"I have a young wife! I appreciate what I have."

Edward waved him off with one hand. "This conversation is over. I will talk to John de Stratford, the Archbishop of Cantebury to have the little mess you've created cleaned up and sorted. You will wed Regana, I will find a decent husband for your mistress or-" with this he turned and wagged his finger at his knight, "I will jail you and confiscate your lands. I will charge you with treason and you will suffer the same fate as Roger Mortimer."

A familiar evil sneer crept up the side of William's face. "Go ahead." He reached inside his outer robe and pulled out the two scrolls. He tossed them on the table. "Know that these will be the last letters you receive from your father. I would suggest you cherish them."

Edward stopped and stared at the parchment thrown so carelessly on the table. "What do you mean?"

William hated it. It is powerful knowledge to hold something over an over-lord's head. A servant must barter secret favors well and for the right price, for once traded, it cannot be used again. If Edward refused to back down, William had a choice; back down and say nothing, the barter lost forever, or speak out, cause damage to not only Edward, but to himself. Both had much to lose if word got out that Edward II was not buried in a church, but living a life of leisure on the Continent; on a Provincial vineyard, of all places! William had money; more money than the monarchy would ever know! In fact, he had more money than his own sons would know. He and Vivienne had somewhere to go. They would not starve, nor would they be homeless or penniless. They would never live hand to mouth. They had options. His sneer deepened and the smile was evil, his eyes glittering like sapphires. He nodded to the letters. "Those are from your father. If you attempt to force an unlawful and unwanted marriage upon me, jail me, torture me or mine, rob me or mine of what is ours, or heaven forbid, you hang me as a traitor, your father will surely die a horrific death."

Edward's glare was reminiscent of King John's, his great-great grandfather, one that Guy had seen once, so many years ago. "And how is that?"

"Simple," William continued. "Your father lives at my whim, my beck and call, my good humor. I alone know where he is located; this was for your protection as well as his." The Wolf of Nottinghamshire lifted his fingers, inspecting the nails carefully. He picked a minute speck of dirt from under his pinkie. "I did a favor to a young boy king, a favor that the entire country, including his mother, would have refused him! He knew that and came to me! I did it against my better judgment. I did it to appease a child, because I lost both of my parents at a young age and as a result, was made a ward of the court and was married at the whim of an unpopular king. My life was no longer mine and I saw that happening to you at the hands of your mother and Roger Mortimer. I understood. So, for ten years, I have done a favor for a boy, a favor that would lead to my own death, if your mother and the barons found out." William refilled his glass and lifted it, staring into the depths of the dark liquid. "Believe me, when I tell you, he lives almost as comfortably as he did when he was king. He wants for nothing, including the type of companionship he prefers. If your father's keeper does not hear from me by a specified time, your father will surely die, because he lives at my behest." He took a deep drink from the cup, almost inhaling the entire thing. "I will not write while imprisoned. If I die or am tortured, I obviously cannot communicate with his jailer. I will not tell you where he is and I cannot be forced to say. This," he finished the goblet and set it down. "-is a sweet grape." He lifted a finger to let the king know he wasn't done. "Furthermore, if anything happens to me or mine, my sons, daughter, grandchildren... word will get out to your barons the favor I was coerced into doing for a young, frightened king." He leaned over the table separating him from his lord. "And then you will discover exactly who is loyal to you and who is loyal to England. The answer may shock you and you will not like it."

Edward drew himself in, his face reddening. Whereas he had resembled his great-great-grandfather moments before, he now was an angry, mulish little boy William bowed to so many years ago. "Get out." he whispered. "Take your whore and go home. We," he reverted to the royal, "do not recognize your marriage!" He pointed his finger at the door. "You are no longer welcome in my court."

The Black Knight shrugged. "Court is over-rated." He bowed and backed out from the chamber. Closing the door, he exhaled-

"How much time m'lord, do you think we have to leave town?" deGlasson was leaning against the wall next to the door.

William looked about, ensuring no one else was in the hall. Motioning his man, they headed towards the main hall. "Vivienne, Sibilla, and I will leave tonight. Find a hired, plain coach, with unmatched geldings." The noise from the main hall began to rise. "We will take a hired boat down the Thames to the English Channel and then head north to the Humber River, where we will spend the rest of the winter at my home in Faxfleet."

"You have a home in Faxfleet?"

Again, that half-sided smile. "You would be shocked at the number of homes I have. Go arrange a driver to take us to the London home and then procure a boat. Meet me at the house." With a nod, William's lead knight moved off to the left.

William scanned the room. It was full of people and the smell of sweat in the closed room was near over-powering. Living in the country had spoiled him. William would have wanted to leave regardless! He found his wife and daughters-in-law standing in front of an outside door standing ajar, chatting with the Queen. As he strode purposely through the room, acknowledging other members of the nobility, all of the Gisborne women took notice and turned towards him.

King Edward stood in the door behind William, watching nobles step aside for the man. It made him angrier.

As William reached the women, he nodded first to the Queen. Country Earl, he might be, but the manners of a courtier had been ground into him several lifetimes before. "Majesty."

Philippa smiled with genuine delight. "You have stayed from us for too long and hid your delightful bride from us. We order you to spend time here. I would delight to stroll our garden with my former lady-in-waiting, along with your wife and daughter-in-law."

William's heart fell. As much as he would normally appreciate the Queen's interest in his household, Edward's anger would not allow it at this time. "Sadly, my wife and I have needs to depart. Immediately."

There was a mild disturbance in the room as Edward entered the hall. Philippa took one look, seeing the obvious anger on her husband's face. "Edward saw you privately. He spoke to you of the possible marriage between you and Regana."

"He has arranged the marriage, signed the contracts, and has prepared a proxy. He has offered to dissolve my marriage and find Lady FitzGisborne another husband." He was aware of Vivienne's jaw lying on the floor, Elienna and Henriette's alongside it. "I have ungraciously refused."

Philippa leaned forward with a smile. "I daresay," she tapped him gently on the wrist with her fan, "The Lord of Gisborne does not do anything he does not wish to do graciously!"

William's smile in return was full of rare good humor. In his peripheral, William saw Hugh and Fulks making their way quickly to the small group. His grin quickly dissipated.

Philippa placed her hand on his arm and rose. "I told him not to do anything until he spoke to you!" Her Flemish accent became rather pronounced in her anger. "I will talk to him-"

William placed his hand over hers. "Majesty, no. I will not cause a rift between you and your lord husband."

While she was queen and a mother, she was still a girl, and the smile she graced him with was as sweet as any he'd seen in his lifetimes. "Oh, there is already a rift. I can give you a bit of time." And with that, she strode through the room, William noticing she spoke to all between her and her husband.

"William?" Vivienne's voice was soft. "What is going on?"

With all the tenderness he could muster, he took her arm and led her through a side door. During his years with Edward's father, William became familiar with the easier ins and outs of the Tower, including servants entrances and hidden passages. His sons and their wives followed discreetly. As they wound through the narrow passages and into the courtyard, where their carriage awaited, William filled his family in on the behind the doors conversation. "Edward contracted a marriage for me without my knowledge. He seems to think I will set Vivienne aside and allow her to marry some second or third son of a minor lord. I have refused."

"Father!" Hugh hissed. "If he's ordered it-"

"I did him a favor a long time ago," William hissed tersely through gritted teeth. "I reminded him of it. The marriage he desires for me will not come to pass."

"Are we all going to Uncle Gui's for the time?" Fulks sounded almost jovial about the unexpected adventure.

They reached the carriage and ensuring deGlasson had already departed, loaded his family in, William thumped the roof and the vehicle lurched forward, throwing everyone across the conveyance.

"You are going nowhere. If you wish to stay for the rest of the funeral festivities, you may. I doubt the king will bother you. If you wish to travel home, that is fine. Vivienne, Sibilla, and I will spend some time on the coast and," and with the next word, he shuddered, "- visit merchants. We might go to France for a time. We should be home in time for spring." With this, he leaned over and nuzzled his wife. "It will be a welcome respite from everyone. I will have you all to myself."

They arrived at William's London home in short order. deGlasson was waiting and pulled William aside. "The boat is arranged and the carriage will be ready at your word. The household is packing for your trip."

"Good. Tell Eleanor to pack the rest of the household in the morning and return to Gisborne. But first, bring me parchment and ink. I have a missive to write."

While chaos reigned about him, William penned a quick letter, taking pains to write neatly in French. By the time he'd finished, his immediate family's things were packed and stashed onto the waiting coach. He blew on the parchment, sanded it, before rolling it and putting it in a spare leather column. He handed it to deGlasson.

"Take this to my cousin Gui at Aigues-Mortes. Wait for an answer and instructions. We will be in Faxfleet, near the Micklegate Bar. Ask for the old dePres house. That is where we will be heading for the time."

"How long will you be there, m'lord?"

"Edward should have calmed down by early spring. Hopefully, my cousin will follow through on the request and all will be well." He exhaled. "My wife is expecting and I have no desire to travel over the Channel with her in her condition."

deGlasson tucked the small tube into a pocket for such missives in his surcoat. "And what if he doesn't?"

William rose, stretching his back. "Wot? Edward calming down or my cousin not doing as I bid?"

His knight snickered. "Either."

William shrugged. "Tell him we will come to live with him, or we'll move into Henriette's family home." He patted his man on the shoulder. "Let's pray he's in a good mood and does as I ask. Truly, he wishes for neither."

In the dark of the night, the small family, along with a few armed retainers, slid from the back of the house, into a waiting, unmarked coach, which took them to a dock nearby on the Thames. From there, they sailed to the Channel, deGlasson disembarking and finding passage further down the coast to France.

Vivienne soon discovered her husband owned more property than anyone was aware of.

~~~...~~~

Several weeks later, deGlasson stood before Gui deGisbourne, not looking as if he'd braved an angry channel or dashed across France on the backs of borrowed horses. He read the missive three times, before he poured himself a glass of wine and read it again. Finally, he looked up to the English knight.

"My cousin. He brings his problems to my doorstep again."

deGlasson shrugged.

"But," he wagged a finger, "he pays well for a fix for his problems. Does he have another son to marry to a rich heiress again?"

"Not that I am aware of."

"Bah!" He threw the missive down and rang for a servant. When the man arrived, he crooked a finger. "Bring me script and ink. In the morning, accompany my cousin's knight to the Cathedral in Avignon and ask for Manuel Fieschi. I will write a letter of introduction and you," he nodded to deGlasson, "will give him this."

deGlasson felt like he was an errand boy being run in circles. "And then what?"

"Manuel is a papal notary. On occasion, he likes to go on pilgrimages that do not have a thing to do with visiting holy places, unless one considers a naked body a shrine. I know this and he knows I know as I indulge him on a few of his whims." He leaned over and winked. "He is a favorite of your Ned. I am instructing Manuel to send a missive to your king Edward to let him know that his father is alive and well, just not where." He smiled a half smile reminiscent of William's. "I will send some wine with you to help ease the process. I'll send some for you to enjoy, as well." He picked up the parchment again and shook his head. "Why does William bring his problems to me to clean up?"

-...-

All at once I'm living for the moment

-...-

tbc