The Innocent

'The serf who rescued her. His name is Arthur, and we have given him sanctuary because his brave and noble actions have put him in jeopardy. You well know the punishment for a serf who hits a master.'

Sister Cuthbert nodded. 'But it would be an injustice for them to punish the boy for defending his mistress, wouldn't it?'

'We will wait to see if this knight files charges,' the abbess said. 'If he does, and they come here for the boy, we shall tell them he has sanctuary and speak for him in the courts. Knowing what has happened, it would not be right for us to do otherwise.'

Chapter 5

Hugh de Warenne looked at his youngest daughter with annoyance and distaste. She was still beautiful, and certainly young enough to make a second marriage. Yet he was extremely irritated at her. 'If you had given Richard a child, even a daughter, you would have been a very eligible widow. As it is, I shall have to find some old man, desperate for a child, who will overlook your small dowry.'

'She is barren,' Saer de Bude told his uncle. 'Both Richard de Montfort and I fathered bastards at Ashlin, but your daughter could not conceive by either of us.'

'You were at her again, then?' his uncle replied wearily. 'Well, if what you have told me is true, then at least we will have no bastards from her. Yes, an old man with gold is just what we shall find for you, Isleen. We shall blame your childlessness on him, and when he dies you will be a wealthy widow, ready for another rich old man’s bed, eh? You'll like that, won't you, you greedy little bitch?' He chuckled, then turned to his nephew. 'As for you, Saer de Bude, what am I to do with you? You are my sister’s son, and I feel an obligation toward you, but how can I settle a man with nothing to offer?'

'Richard de Monfort’s sister is Ashlin’s heiress. Arrange a match for me with her, and I shall have my own lands. She’s a pretty creature, and I want her.'

'The nun? Are you mad, boy?' his uncle snapped.

'She has not yet taken her final vows, and will not until October, Uncle. I have already had her, Uncle, but in a burst of remorse she fled back to her convent. She was aided by one of her serfs, a lad who was her childhood playmate. I am certain he has dallied with her, too, for she was no real virgin, Uncle. I have filed charges with the local sheriff. The boy will be hanged when he is caught.'

'If the girl is loose, why take her, then?' his uncle demanded.

'I forced it from her that he had only used his fingers on her, and not his male member. I ploughed her furrow well, Uncle. She may already be with child. My child. The next rightful heir to Ashlin if I can but wed her. Give me your aid, Uncle.'

The baron considered his nephew’s request thoughtfully. He was the youngest of his sister’s brood, and had always been a mercurial fellow. Still, he was a good soldier, but Saer had a weakness for women. Any woman. Baron Hugh had given Richard de Montfort a larger dowry for Isleen than he otherwise might have, for he had caught his daughter and her randy cousin in flagrante delicto, their bodies intertwined, sweating and groaning as they serviced each other. From the look of it, he had known it was not the first time. His wife, when told, had beaten Isleen thoroughly, then taught her daughter how to feign her long-gone virginity. If Richard de Montfort had realized the deception played upon him, he had never complained, for he was madly in love with her. Now Isleen was back like a bad penny, and he discovered that Saer had been at Ashlin for almost a year.

Hugh de Warenne did not want to know the truth. He had his suspicions, for Richard de Montfort had been an exceptionally healthy man until a year ago. These two bad pennies would bring ruin upon them all if he did not separate them for good and all. A young wife, children, the responsibility of a manor would certainly keep Saer’s thoughts from Isleen. As for his daughter, the sooner he could find a husband for her, the better. In the meantime, his wife must handle the problem. Isleen was, after all, in mourning for her husband. Or at least it must appear to be so. The bitch, he thought irritably.

'I'll dispatch two messengers in the morning. The first to the Bishop of Worcester, telling him what you have told me. The second to the king asking that he appoint me the lady Eleanore’s guardian. When I have that authority, I will arrange your marriage, nephew. Will that suit you, Saer?'

'Very much, Uncle,' Saer du Bude replied.

In her father’s garden that evening, having escaped her mother’s vigilant eyes, Isleen excoriated her lover. 'Why did you not help me when my father said he would find a husband for me? We will never be together, Saer. I do not think you love me at all.'

Backing her against a stout oak, Saer de Bude raised Isleen’s skirts and lifted her up to slowly push his member into her. 'Do not love you, my pretty? Is this the cock of a man who does not love you?'

'It is the cock of a lustful man,' Isleen murmured, putting her arms about him as she locked her legs about his waist.

He smiled into her face. 'You are the only woman I have ever loved or will love. Your fathers plan is perfect, Isleen. You will wed a rich man who will expect you to give him a child, which you cannot, but he will not know that. When he begins to become impatient with you, you will slowly poison him as you did Richard. In the meantime I will wed the little nun, and she will give me a son. Then she, too, will die, and lord Saer of Ashlin will marry the wealthy widow, the lady Isleen. With our wealth we will buy more land until we become a great power in the area. It is so perfect, Isleen, and all we need is to be patient, my pretty.'

'Why did you tell my father you had had her already?' Isleen demanded. 'I thought you said she escaped, thanks to her serf.'

'She did, but I knew your father would be reluctant to take any action unless I claimed to have despoiled the girl. I knew if I told him that it was a fait accompli, he would send to the bishop. The bishop, until he can prove the truth of my charges one way or another, will not allow Eleanore de Montfort to take her final vows. My claim alone may be enough to have her exiled from the safety of her convent. But if it is not, certainly the king will rule in my favor based on my testimony. Remember, I have watched her bathe. I can describe in detail the flaws and perfections of her body if I am called upon to do so. Only a lover would know such a thing, my pretty.' He thrust against her.

'You have puzzled this all out quite carefully,' Isleen said thoughtfully.

'I want Eleanore de Montfort, and I want Ashlin,' Saer de Bude said. 'And I shall have them!' He thrust again, and yet again.

'Am I a fool to trust you, Saer?' Isleen asked him. He was the most exciting man she had ever known. There was something dangerous about him that thrilled her. 'Mmmmmmmm,' she murmured as he drove them to a pinnacle. 'Ahhhhhhhhh!'

'You must decide that for yourself, my pretty,' he taunted her, withdrawing from her body and setting her down again on shaky legs.

'You are the devil himself, I am sure of it,' she said low.

Saer de Bude laughed. 'Perhaps I am, Isleen. After all, who but the devil would get such supreme pleasure violating a nun?' Then he was gone into the darkness of the garden, leaving Isleen alone.

She shivered. She was only just beginning to realize how treacherous and wicked Saer really was. At this moment she sensed he would betray her as easily as anyone. She did not doubt that he loved her. Of that she was sure, but of late she had noticed a certain evil aura about him that came close to