Aside from Heaven
Chapter 4S
All at Once, I'm living for the moment
Sibilla nodded off with the bobbing of the boat and William thought that might be a good time to press an amorous pursuit.
He learned quickly that was not to be the case.
"Why are we running from the king?" She threw a finger in the air. "Do not answer that! You didn't ask for permission or inform him of our marriage!"
William sat across from her and rearranged his clothing. It was tight in the nether regions and considering the look on her face, he didn't think that was going to be rectified any time soon. "To be honest, I didn't think he would deny us, deny me. Had I any idea he would contract a marriage-"
"That man has all the power to send me somewhere else! To force me to bed someone else!"
"He won't-"
"Oh, I forgot!" Her voice was starting to rise. "You did him a favor!" She narrowed her eyes. "What favor could you possibly have done to hold over his head?"
William's look became very black. "I would that you would keep your voice down and that you would keep your tongue behind your teeth!"
Vivienne ignored him, although she lowered her voice. "I can't begin to think of one eternal thing that would give you any foothold over Edward!
William rolled his eyes. "I was adviser to him while Roger Mortimer held power."
"Adviser," she scoffed. Suddenly, her eyes went wide. "Sweet Jesu! You've hidden his father from Roger and Isabella!"
William was across the bench and to her side, his hand over her mouth. His eyes searched the roof of the boat, trying to see if the oarsman could hear. "If you wish to stay alive to raise our daughter, you will never repeat that!"
"Do your sons know?" she hissed behind his hand. The woman had no fear of him at all.
"Vivienne. I ask that you understand-"
"William!" Her voice was down, but it was still an angry hiss. "That man allowed atrocities-"
"He is the king's father." His entire being relaxed in defeat. "And Edward loves him. He was a child. What was I supposed to do?" William was never one to beg, but right now, he was close. "Please, do not hate me."
Vivienne scoffed and William was certain she learned it from him. "I don't hate you! I'm just mad at you!"
William released pent up breath and removed his hand. "I performed a favor for a child; a favor that harmed no one. Had Edward given me a hint of a problem, he would have been disposed of, as he should have been to begin with!" He put a bit of distance between himself and his wife and put his hands between his thighs. "I could have asked for riches, lands, power, in exchange for saving Edward's life. I didn't." With this, he turned and looked at Vivienne. "I asked for you. I asked for the woman I love."
Vivienne stared at him for the longest time, William not realizing he was holding his breath again. After forever, she back-handed him on the leg. "I'm still mad at you, you old wolf, you!" The two relaxed against each other, the comfort of a happy marriage despitetheirobvious discord. Sibilla turned over in her pallet, mumbling in her sleep, her parents looking on indulgently. Soon, their thighs pressed together. "So, why are we not going home?" She stared hard at the opposite side of the small water craft. "I am pregnant! I do not need this!"
William shrugged. "There are those in court who would like to see me brought low. They are jealous."
"You are rarely at court."
The rolling of the boat agitated William's stomach and he focused on scenery passing the window, in attempt to keep the contents of his digestive system from spewing up on the floor. He wondered if there was a bucket beneath the bench. "Long ago, I was rather influential in both Edwards circles. Some courtiers have long memories."
If he looked, he would have seen Vivienne's mind at work. "The Despencers didn't bother you."
The smile was ironic. "The Despencers were terrified of me." After a moment of thought, he continued. "They call me the Black Knight of Nottingham for a reason, Vivienne. Edward's Wolf. I fear if I tell you more, you will leave me or hate me, forever."
Vivienne stared at him for a long moment. "You did things to keep your family and people safe."
"Aye."
Her arm intertwined with his. "There is no shame in that." Her being brightened. "I would think people would understand that."
"Maybe some." It was quiet for a time, the music of the water slapping against the side, the only soundin the night. "Vivienne, if things... go wrong, we are not destitute." He turned to her, eyes glittering in the dark. "We have places to go. Safe places. I own several homes on the Continent. They are on French lands, so Edward cannot touch them or us without upsetting his French cousins." He didn't mention that Edward's mind was elsewhere concerning the French throne and that the property he was talking about was nowhere near former English holdings. "There is money-" Her fingers shushed his lips.
"I trust you." Her smile was wicked and infectious. "We'll move into Henriette's French home, won't we?"
"Aye."
Her sigh was theatrical. "Lovely. Yet another garden for me to save."
~~~...~~~
The FitzGisborne's didn't have to make the Continental Move, much to William's relief. They spent eight weeks in Faxfleet. The knights that traveled with them from London remained in the home. It was not as large as the home in Nottinghamshire, but it was roomy enough; certainly larger than Vivienne had been accustomed to. There was an elderly housekeeper already in residence, along with her equally elderly husband who took care of the small yard and stable. Both were hard of hearing, but were pleasant enough and moderately intelligent. They knew who buttered their bread and neither were willing to upset the Lord and his small family. Ahilde, the cook, confided quietly to Vivienne, that the room she and her husband stayed in off the kitchen was the nicest they'd ever had. They both had worked in an inn before and got too old for the comings and goings and workings of it. The long hours aged them both. Sir William's man hiring them a few years back to keep a house with no one in residence, had been an answer to prayer. She enjoyed going to the market for food and other items with Vivienne and trying to keep Sibilla occupied. She showed them the town, where the important and best shops were located. It became a custom for the two women to share the kitchen, preparing the evening meal and against William's inner voice, they joined the family at dinner. It created a cozy atmosphere and in the end, made the aging couple even more loyal to the family.
Sibilla, on the other hand, did NOT like the home. She didn't like her room, or her bed and refused to sleep in it. She missed her nurse, her village friends and her dolly, which for some reason, was not packed when they left London. No other dolly would suffice or was an acceptable substitute. Her parents prayed it made its way safely to Nottinghamshire and one of her brothers had it. She insisted on sleeping between her parents, much to William's ire, and not just sleeping between them, but draped over them, her head on Vivienne's stomach and her feet dangling over William's shoulder. More times than he could count, the child's big toe would prod up his nose!
Lud, who'd think a child could have such stinky feet?
deGlasson showed up late in the evening at the end of March, long after the housekeeper and her husband were away to bed.
"Success?" William poured two glasses of wine for him and his favored knight. Vivienne was upstairs, trying to get Sibilla to sleep in her own bed. From the noise going on, William decided it was not a successful venture.
There was a thud from above, much heavier than one would expect to be made by a two year old, and deGlasson looked upwards before lifting his glass. "Aye. I spoke to your cousin, who is unhappy that you are continuing to ask for aid with your problems," William snorted, "and I saw Edward, who looks to be in good spirits and healthy. He enjoys fishing down on the docks and has a few... friends... who go with him."
William rolled his eyes. There was more thumping going on upstairs and he decided that he would go up and take matters into his own hands if his daughter did not settle down. "The missive?"
"There is a priest, one Manuel Fieschi, who had attested to the wellness of the king's father. He has sent a missive to the king."
"How is Gui's daughter?"
deGlasson knew this question was coming. Truth was, he had kept his ear close to the doors to glean the answer without asking. "Married to an old man who is dying. There are no relatives and no children."
"Good. Good." William nodded as yet another thud and a child's wail rose upstairs. "As long as he dies before she does, it will go to the next male heir, which should be me. Or Hugh." He stood up and set his goblet down. "There is food in the kitchen; Thomas and Sydde will show you where it is and where you can sleep. You should find the accommodations comfortable." Another thump. An even angrier wail. "Excuse me, I need to deal with my daughter. I'll see you at breakfast."
deGlasson watched as William strode not so lightly up the stairs, making his impending arrival known to his daughter and his wife. "Heh." He filled up his goblet again. "Good luck with that."
~~~...~~~
Lord FitzGisborne and his family returned home in April. Vivienne was visibly pregnant and the trip exhausted her. Sibilla's dolly was waiting for her on her bed and she immediately curled up on the beloved quilt and went to sleep.
The following morning, a messenger from the Queen showed up at their door. According to the servants, he had been staying with Hugh and knocking on the door every morning for some weeks. The missive he carried was sealed with the queen's ring. Breaking the wax binder with his thumb, (after making sure it wasn't broken and resealed) William unrolled the scroll and read it dispassionately.
Vivienne was peering over his shoulder. "I can't see. What does it say?"
"It's from the Queen." He handed the scroll to her, knowing she could read it. "She says the king is no longer calling for my head or the immediate dissolve of our marriage. Apparently," he continued drolly, "her cousin threatened to join a convent unless her father allowed her to marry the man of her choice. I am not her choice!"
Vivienne smirked, her hand going to her back. "I wonder who her choice is?"
William started to walk away, but instead turned and pressed his hand to where she ached. Most definitely there was oil and a massage in his wife's near future. "I don't care if it is her horse's groom, so long as she digs in her heels."
Vivienne was staring hard at the missive, reading it thoroughly. "The Queen says the King is most anxious about something." She looked up at her husband. "She does not believe the matter is closed."
William thought about what deGlasson told him upon his arrival. "A missive from a third party is being sent to the king about his father," he whispered. He truly believed his servants were loyal, but he didn't want to press the point. "Hopefully, the fact a papal notary has contacted him will ease his mind."
"Or he finds something else to occupy him."
"One hopes."
Some weeks later, Edward III declared himself the true and rightful king of France and began the One Hundred Years War.
~~~...~~~
Life returned to an uneasy facsimile of normalness. Vivienne spent much time in the gardens, unable to bend over or down. She and Eleanor, who was also pregnant, sat on benches and directed servants to weed and pluck.
As with Sibilla, Vivienne went into labor in late June on a Sunday afternoon, with no one again to attend her. Vivienne insisted the babe wasn't due for another three weeks.
William was beginning to doubt her ability to count!
Another young knight was sent to round up women, Eleanor, Sister Hawise. He took Sibilla with him, William not wishing for her to witness the birth of her sibling.
This babe came faster than Sibilla. By the time the women and midwife arrived, another black-haired baby girl was safely delivered and bathed, the after birth expelled, the cord cut and Vivienne in a tub. William did not pass out this time.
Well, not until the babe was taken from his arms again.
He named her Phillipa, after the queen.
~~~...~~~
Look into her, she's my mirror
~~~...~~~