Aside from Heaven
Chapter 05A
The Ghost of Locksley Hall
Chapter 1
Well, I'll be damned -
Locksley, Nottinghamshire, England
April 1486
"I am honored," the young man dipped his head, as did his wife, "that you have graced my hall with your presence, Sire." Robert Edward FitzGisborne nodded to one of the servants to begin the next course of the meal.
"I am pleased by your warm and generous welcome." Henry VII, newly crowned King of England accepted his young host's deference. "I wished to look over my... new responsibilities and ensure all was well and safe within my realm."
"Bollocks! You wished to see what all you can tax us for!" Esabelle Eastbrook FitzGisborne mumbled beneath her breath, her words audible only – thankfully - to her husband's ears. He was grateful the twittering about the small gathering drowned out her voice.
Robert leaned over and kissed her leisurely, murmuring into her mouth, "Your tongue will kill us all, my sweet. Patience." He squeezed her thigh painfully beneath the table. "Have some wine." He pressed a goblet – not the family best – into her hand. "As you can see," he spoke up, now addressing the king, "Locksley and Nottinghamshire have fared well enough. The fields are planted. We pray for a plentiful harvest."
"Your hospitality is noted." This voice was not the king's. Rather it was annoying and nasally. According to Edward Crispin FitzGisborne, Robert's father, Stephen Winchester, was not a note-worthy member of his family. Actually, none of the Winchester's were memorable. They spent generations slithering behind thrones and men of great importance, trying desperately to find favor in someone's eyes and pockets. This branch hadn't learned from the horrid deaths of their ancestors, the Hughs le Despensers. He was, according to Robert's father, one to be wary of.
Truth be told, all of the earls who turned traitor to King Richard on Bosworth Field and betrayed the King, were men to be wary of.
Robert was suddenly aware of the great boots he was now filling. Generations and generations of wealth and responsibility lay on his young and slender shoulders. And with a sudden urgency, he missed his father greatly, grief threatening to overtake him, much as it had his mother.
The main course was set before the gathering, the king, his lone tag-a-long forgetting any manners he had ever been taught, much to the quiet disgust of the king, as well as the rest of the table. "Robert," Winchester began, speaking with his mouth full.
"Lord Robert," he corrected. The young man was reaching the end of his patience with the disgusting pig sitting where his mother should be sitting, sitting as if he belonged there.
And probably thought he did belong there.
"My apologies." Winchester sounded anything but sorry. "'Tis difficult to remember as you are so young."
"He still out-ranks you." A new voice; one Robert was grateful for.
"Timothy," Robert spoke over his shoulder to the older knight, his father's and now his, personal body guard. "Do not be rude. Remember who you are." Timothy's father and grandfather and most likely his great-grandfather had served the FitzGisborne's for as far back as anyone could remember. Even if he trusted no one else in the hall, he trusted Timothy to protect him.
Perhaps had Timothy gone to Bosworth Field with Father, he would be dealing with these pompous arses, rather than me.
"Speaking of rude," Winchester continued, "where is yer mother?" The man had been drinking the wine non-stop and was starting to slur his words. The good silver and pewter might be hidden, but Robert was serving the second best wine from Aigues-Mortes he had in his English cellars.
Robert lifted his goblet, not necessarily to drink, but to watch the reaction of the monarch sitting across from him. "She, along with my siblings, are at Ripley's Convent."
"Has she taken holy vows?" Oh yes, Winchester was interested. He sounded horrified.
"No," Robert's voice echoed eerily into his goblet. "She is due to give birth any day. She is large and very uncomfortable. The best midwives in the shire are there."
Henry's eyebrow shot up. "Truly?" He was adding in his mind. "She must have conceived just before Edward left to join Richard's forces. This makes how many children your father sired?"
"Including me, six." He didn't bother to mention or count his illegitimate half-sister in France, born before his parents married. Edward had made sure the girl was raised well, educated her, showered her with as much affection as he had his legitimate children, and made sure she was dowered and married well. Robert met her several times and was fond of her. This pompous arse sitting at the table didn't need to know about the French FitzGisborne.
"A proven breeder," Winchester smirked.
"My mother is not a brood mare." The man was getting on Robert's nerves and given the proximity to his body guard, he imagined he heard Timothy's gloved hand tighten on his dirk. Robert turned his attention back to the new king. "My parents were devoted to each other and she is taking his loss in the harshest of ways. At this time, Ripley's is quiet and a peaceful haven. It is the best place for her."
"She needs a husband to take her and her holdings into hand."
Ah. The cat was out of the bag. This man is very stupid.
"She has no holdings to take into hand," Robert spoke quickly, kicking himself beneath the table. Might as well finish it. "She was the only child and when she married my father, he took possession and control of her father's properties at his death. They are now my properties." He set his goblet down gently. "As I stated, my parents were devoted to each other, loved each other very much. I made her a promise that I would not force her to remarry and she could marry or not, at her desire."
"Upstart piece of shite!" Winchester was not aware that Henry was watching the exchange with no small amount of distaste for him. In fact, he appeared to be intrigued by the young man across from him and how he handled himself.
"Pardon?" Robert was now sitting up tall and his young wife was wide-eyed. Timothy's grip tightened on his still sheathed weapon.
Winchester was shaking his head, snarling. "How dare you make decisions as if-"
"As if I were Lord of Locksley? Of Gisborne? Of Eastbrook? I was not aware I had to answer to anyone, save the king and decisions such as this typically do not merit the king's interest, as he was not left with her guardianship. I was." With this, his eyes narrowed. "I certainly do not answer to you."
Winchester's jaw flapped uselessly for a second, before yelling. "Obviously, this child needs someone to take him in hand, sire!" Winchester was spitting. "You and I have discussed this, my lord. He needs a regent, a guardian, someone to oversee in his stead until he-"
"Wot? You?" Robert made a motion as if to shut Winchester's mouth, something not lost on either Winchester, Henry or anyone else at the table. "Sire," again, Robert turned his attention to the king, "I am a married man; my wife and I," with this, he brought Esabelle's fingertips to his lips, "are expecting a child." There was applause, congratulations. As he lowered her hand, he again addressed the king. "I have overseen my wife's properties since our marriage last year. They are not wealthy lands, but the peasants are healthy. The same with my family lands. We are not wealthy-"
Winchester shot up from his seat. "Yer a liar and a traitor-"
"You will sit down." Henry spoke quietly.
'Yer father was a traitor and yer a-"
"I said you will Sit! Down!" That seem to get Winchester's attention. He stared down at his king. "I would hear what the wolfcub has to say," he spat through clenched teeth. "Sit. Down."
Slowly, Winchester retook his chair. Henry refocused on Robert. "You have a problem with Winchester acting as regent until you are of age?"
"Yes, I do," Robert spat. "I am in no need for an over-seer or regent, much less a guardian. I am young, but I am not uneducated, nor is my wife. I am married, expecting a child, and have been raised well enough to see to my own holdings. I have advisers and a steward I trust and that would include my mother, to aid me in making decisions to ensure and prosper my people!"
Henry was toying with the goblet. "It is not so well-known that the properties and lands of the FitzGisbornes are among the wealthiest in England."
Robert smiled dryly and without mirth. "England has been at war a long time, majesty. Everyone is hurting, from the king's coffers, to the poorest of the poor." A cold, bitter draft raced through the hall. It had been raining outside and fires, unseasonable for this time of year, were blazing in the fireplaces, all of them twisting and dancing with the sudden and unsuspected wind. It cut through Henry, made Winchester shriek, and caused Esabelle to shudder. Robert, however, continued as if the winds had not taken residence in his hall. "My main concern is to ensure the people living on my properties are fed through-out the year and to harvest and that there will be enough for them after the harvest."
"Still," Henry spoke softly, "it is not unusual for one so young to have a royally-approved over-seer to aid in maintaining lands this large. Winchester-"
"-is a leech."
Conversation came to a halt. Henry looked up at Timothy. "For a simple knight, you have much freedom in your lord's hall. Your tongue is very loose."
Robert looked over his shoulder and motioning him down, whispered in his ear, so only the knight heard. "Go stand in the hallway. Tell the servants to clean quickly and if it can wait, let it do so until tomorrow. The home is restless." He nodded to the door, everyone in the room watching the man paled and left before taking a deep breath.
"Good to see you take him in hand." Henry began again. "As I was saying-"
"Winchester is a leech," Robert smiled. Winchester began to make indignant noises, while the less than a dozen guests giggled behind their hands. "Sire, do you have any idea what condition his estates are in?"
"As yew said," Winchester cut in, "the war has made everyone's lives difficult."
"Word has it, your hall is falling down. Decrepit doesn't begin to describe it. Those who live on your lands are starving, eking out a living, clothed in rags and you could seem to care less. You've wormed your way into taking guardianship of four baronies and none of the heirs lived to adulthood! Their lands have been stripped and rendered useless. Forgive me sire, if I do not wish for me or mine to because a footnote in his history." Robert's voice, despite his youth and obvious passion, was calm, something that impressed the new monarch. "I understand that England is strained and stressed at this time. I will not stand by and allow my own people's lives to go on difficult longer than they should."
Henry was contemplating the young lord across from him. "Your father followed Richard into battle against me. According to dictates, that would make him a traitor and his properties forfeit to me."
This was true. Immediately after being crowned, Henry declared himself to be king the day before the Battle at Bosworth Field, making any nobleman or knight who rode to battle on Richard's side a traitor and their properties forfeit to the crown. Again, Robert's smile was humorless. "My father stepped aside as earl the night before he left to join Richard." He nodded towards a large shelf at one end of the room. "It was sealed and witnessed by several people, including Father Augustus and Abbot Matthew from Kirksley. My father, Edward FitzGisborne, went to battle by Richard's side, as a simple knight. Not me. I was Earl of Locksley during the battle at Bosworth. I did not go to war against you."
"Your father did not-"
"Sire." At this point, young Robert sounded exhausted and in truth, he was. "Long have the FitzGisbornes been a friend to the kings of England. For some generations, we have served and personally aided them in many ways and in whatever capacity the king demanded." This much was true. Roland FitzGisborne had been the Eyes and Ears of King Henry II, keeping up with the machinations of the King of France and the Catholic Church. William Edward FitzGisborne, had been Edward II's assassin and spy and at the request of young Edward III, secreted his deposed father, Edward II, out of England and into France, saving the man from the cruel death his wife and her lover planned for him. William had also been the one to discover what Edward's queen and lover planned to do to her husband and informed his son.
And unbeknownst to anyone, Robert's own father seemed to know that the battle that put Henry on the throne, would end badly for Richard and for those who supported him. In Robert's young eyes, his father prepared him for that very possibility.
"I did not go to war against you. I did not pledge my oath or my men to Richard's cause." Suddenly, he realized why his father left his most valuable knight home. Timothy pledged his allegiance to Robert in front of the hall, in front of Robert's father. "Every man who supported you on the field, walked on to that field, supporting Richard. They lied to him. How long before those same men turn on you? And for what purpose will they turn on you?" He shrugged. "I would give you my allegiance and my oath." Robert did not mention he did not need a keeper, especially a keeper who was unable to keep his own hearth.
Esabelle began to yawn. For a moment, Henry wished he had brought his own young bride on this trip. He missed her and she would have kept Robert's wife occupied and not sitting in on the affairs of men. However, like Robert's youthful wife, she was pregnant, and having a difficult time of it. "Your lady is tired. It is late. I say we should all retire and continue this discussion in the morning." He watched as the guests curtseyed and bowed respectfully and left the hall. He waved the servants away, watching as they cleared the remnants of the meal.
"He's lying." Winchester swirled his wine in his goblet, before downing it in one swig. He reached for the decanter to refill his glass.
"About what?"
Winchester gestured about the room. "About this. About all of it. The FitzGisbornes have wealth beyond imagining!" He filled his glass, sloshing the liquid over the table. "They are wealthier than the crown. They can more than afford to fill your coffers. And mine." The last was whispered, but Henry heard it.
"Legend has it," Henry was now refilling his own glass, "that if they lost all of their English properties and titles, the FitzGisbornes would still be wealthier than most. Not only does young FitzGisborne control the wealthiest title in England, next to mine, he also, has his mother's French properties firmly in his grasp. Her lands and the family's French lands now rest in France's borders, so he answers to that monarch as well as me." Henry took a great swallow of the berry. "Gui de Gisbourne, the current Duke of Nîmes, is old and unmarried, no children. When he passes, Nîmes and Aigues-Mortes will revert back to Robert. I grant," he gestured with his own goblet, "this wine is superb. I am sure many pay a pretty crown for it."
"Your meaning, sire?"
Henry finished the glass before setting it down gently. "Meaning, that if young Robert feels we are encroaching on him, his family, or his wealth, he will have no problems packing up all of the FitzGisbornes and taking them to their soon to be-gained titles."
"They would have to survive to get to France." Winchester downed this glass, not savoring the grape, and dribbling most of it down his doublet, much to the disgust of Henry. Why did he bring this drunk with him? Oh yes, he was going to grant him guardianship of the young earl, a reward for his service in aiding Henry in obtaining the British monarchy. Strange, he had been under the impression that Robert FitzGisborne was younger than seventeen years and had no idea he was married. Nor did he know Lord Edward had given up his seat. It seemed all of Winchester's arguments for being granted guardianship, were now shattered like fragile glass.
Henry scowled. "How long has it been since you've gone home?"
Winchester's nose was in his glass. "Dunno. A while. Place is drafty," he snarled, his voice echoing in the cup. "Much like this hall."
"I think," Henry stood slowly, stretching his back, "in the morning, you should venture home and see what you need to do to set things straight within your own purse. Young Robert needs an adviser, but I'm not sure you're the right person for the job." Winchester began to complain, but Henry hushed him. "FitzGisborne is strong-minded and could prove to be difficult and yes he is quite capable of walking away and going to his family's French properties, but I prefer he didn't. As you said, there is great wealth here and I'm sure his father, traitor or no, has hidden it and hidden it well. I'd rather young Rob hand it over willingly, than strip him of it. It would be preferable that he be in our corner, rather than gone and in France. Honey, not vinegar." He shuddered once. He had to reward the man, even if he didn't like him. "Get your finances in order and I will see that Sir Edward's widow becomes yours, if you so wish. Damn, this hall is cold!"
And with that, the king left the room and headed to his assigned chamber, which coincidentally, was the Master's chambers.
Winchester scowled and draining the decanter into his wine glass, went in search of more wine. Might as well drink as much while he could.
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tbc